Author Archives: Ben Hsu
‘Seibu Keisatsu’ and ‘Abunai Deka’ star returns in action movie parody ‘Return My License!?’
The trailer for Return My License!? starts out looking like a sequel to Abunai Deka, the 80s cop show starring Hiroshi Tachi. It even features a gold-on-silver F31 Nissan Leopard undercover police car that starred in that show. However, this … Continue reading
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Tagged abunai deka, hiroshi tachi, mark II, seibu keisatsu, toyota, x80
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Honda Heritage Works reproduction parts program to launch in the US this summer
Acura has announced that reproduction NSX parts will be available to order stateside starting this summer. The parts are part of a greater Honda Heritage Works program that started in Japan last year. The NSX parts will be offered exclusively … Continue reading
Century marque opens showroom separate from Toyota brand
We knew Century was going to become its own marque separate from Toyota, but now it’s official as official can be. A new Century showroom has opened in Tokyo. To drive the point home, the inaugural window display has a … Continue reading
QotW: Who in the automotive community would you like to say thank you to?
Today, March 9, is “Thanks Day” in Japan, created because three (san) and nine (kyu) sound like “thank you” when said together. These days, saying thanks almost seems like a lost art, what with everyone on social media so obsessed … Continue reading
The Volk Racing TE37 celebrates 30 years: A brief history
This year the Volk Racing TE37 wheel by Rays Engineering turns 30 years old. To celebrate the most iconic Japanese wheel of the modern age, the TE37 now has its own official holiday in Japan. Appropriately, that date falls on … Continue reading
Acura brand to be introduced in Japan after 40 years in America
Acura, the marque created so Americans would accept the once-wild notion of spending $20,000 on a Honda, is coming to Japan. In a strange reversal of product flow and 40 years after the luxury brand’s launch, Honda will now be … Continue reading
Is the next Toyota Celica testing as a camouflaged rally car?
Some footage out of Portugal has revealed a new Toyota rally car test mule. Though wrapped in camouflage, it’s clear that the profile isn’t that of a GR Yaris. It looks like a small coupe, leading many outlets to claim … Continue reading
Nissan’s Skyline GT-R Bayside Blue color is also a city bus in Yokohama
Yokohama a great city to visit. It’s away from the hustle of Tokyo and there’s many historic and fun places to see, like the Yokohama Ramen Museum. For car enthusiasts it’s also the home of Nissan and the Nissan Headquarters … Continue reading
Honda and Nissan are still figuring things out
Despite a well-publicized dissolution of merger talks last year, it seems that Honda and Nissan are still talking to each other. The result might not be a marriage, but perhaps more of a rebadging situation. Either way, the two companies … Continue reading
Happy Year of the Horse from JNC
Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, meaning it is now officially the Year of the Horse. America may have its Broncos and Pintos, but in Japan the marque most associated with the horse is Mitsubishi. The … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite factory exterior/interior color combo on a Japanese car?
Today, February 16, is Matching Color Day in Japan. It’s a play on the words ni au iro (similar colors), which sounds like ni (2) i (1) ro (6). The occasion asks us to consider what colors go well together … Continue reading
Could Toyota be reviving the V12 for the Century Coupé?
According to a report out of Japan, Toyota is considering bringing back the V12 engine for the upcoming Century Coupé. Last fall it spun Century off as its own standalone brand to go against the likes of Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and … Continue reading
Kyosho’s FJ60 Land Cruiser looks absolutely incredible
Kyosho is coming out with an all-new RC crawler in the shape of an FJ60 Toyota Land Cruiser. It’s an all-new platform and it looks absolutely stunning. We’re big fans of Kyosho’s high-quality RC kits, but the 1/10-scale crawler isn’t … Continue reading
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Toyota’s AE86-owning, Celica-loving president has been replaced with a minivan-loving accountant
In a surprise press conference February 6, Toyota announced that president Koji Sato will relinquish his role and pass the baton to Kenta Kon, the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Sato, who owns an AE86 and said it was his life’s … Continue reading
A history of TOM’s Igeta wheel
One of the most iconic wheels among fans of classic Toyotas is the TOM’s Igeta. Introduced in 1978 by Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport, its unique crosshatch design has graced countless Toyota race cars. At the recent Tokyo Auto Salon, TOM’s … Continue reading
Toyota Mark II surprises at Tokyo Auto Salon with Amemiya-built rotary engine
One of the cars that stopped us in our tracks at the Tokyo Auto Salon was a lone Toyota Mark II parked amidst a sea of Mazdas. Why? Despite being the archetypical Bubble Era Toyota sedan, this GX71 jettisoned its … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged mark II, mazda, rotary engine, tokyo auto salon, toyota, x70
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Toyota exec confirms development of mid-engined sports car
A Toyota exec has confirmed what rumors have long hinted at: Toyota is building a mid-engined sports car. Toyota is one of only a handful of carmakers that have built a midship performance car, so although the name hasn’t been … Continue reading
Daihatsu Hijet dekotora makes epic splash at Tokyo Auto Salon
The Tokyo Auto Salon showcases the pinnacle of car customization. But if you’re Daihatsu, and you don’t have much in terms of high-performance cars in your lineup, how do you make a splash among the drift missiles, VIP sleds, and … Continue reading
