If you need something to watch during this Thanksgiving holiday, the smash sci-fi series Pluribus set a new record as Apple TV’s most-viewed show. Though it takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it’s a complete departure from Vince Gilligan’s previous works, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Both had excellent car choices, and Pluribus is no exception. We’re only five episodes in, and one of the most-seen cars in the series is this classic E30 Toyota Corolla. Continue reading
A Nissan Sunny B310 is being restored by students in Japan
Many of the most prominent automotive technical colleges in Japan are associated with OEMs. The students who graduate funnel directly into those companies or service centers of that particular brand. However, there are less known schools that are also doing cool things like the Saitama Automobile College, which is currently restoring a B310 Nissan Sunny. Continue reading
QotW: Which car had the best evolution between generations?
Today, November 24, is Evolution Day, marking the date on which Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was published in 1859. Like in the animal kingdom, when cars go from one generation to the next, changes can occur. Sometimes they’re an improvement, sometimes they’re not. Purists may prefer the undiluted driving experience of earlier generations, while leadfoots might enjoy the advancements in performance that came with subsequent ones, and there are some generational changes in which everything just went to shit. Was it the quantum leap between R31 and R32 Skyline? Or perhaps the return to basics that characterized the Z32 to Z33 Fairlady Z?
Which car had the best evolution between generations?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you satisfy your car addiction when you can’t access your actual car?“. Continue reading
Nissan Pathfinder to go BoF for next generation
A Nissan exec has reaffirmed that the next-generation Pathfinder could be a proper body-on-frame SUV. There’s already pretty solid confirmation that Nissan will be bringing the Xterra back from the dead with a BoF architecture. That design could spawn several more model ladder-frame models, like the Frontier, Pathfinder, and maybe an Infiniti-branded luxury SUV. Continue reading
Honda S660 gathering sets ‘Largest Honda parade’ Guinness world record
Last week a meet for Honda S660 owners broke a Guinness world record. On November 15, 832 of the mid-engined kei cars gathered at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture and filed down the track. A Guinness adjudicator was on site to certify the procession as the “largest parade of Honda cars”. Continue reading
Supra Turbo, Prelude Si, Mitsubishi Galant: Japanese cars at the 1987 LA Auto Show
The Los Angeles Auto Show opens tomorrow. It was once one of the four “tier one” shows (others were Detroit, Chicago, and New York, Chicago), where automakers would unveil their new models with press conferences and big production numbers. The two-day events would have afterparties going late into the night with free concerts and free alcohol. Post-pandemic such events are pretty sad affairs, with just one or two reveals and everyone’s home after lunch. In 1987 when the good times were rollin’, Motorweek was on site covering Japanese cars with major updates. Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged a70, galant, Galant E10, honda, mitsubishi, prelude, supra, toyota
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‘Gran Turismo’ fan-made ‘Beige Edition’ lets you play regular traffic cars
Speaking of ways to kill time, a new fan-made update to Gran Turismo 2 is coming. One of the many groundbreaking aspects of Gran Turismo was its sheer volume of playable cars. That allowed developers to include not just the fastest and most desirable cars on Earth, but plenty of ordinary ones as well. However, those weren’t apparently mundane enough for these fans, who are making an entire game out of regular traffic. Continue reading
QotW: How do you satisfy your car addiction when you can’t access your actual car?
It’s been raining a lot in California, a rare occurrence, keeping us from tinkering with actual cars in the driveway. But like a junkie, we’re going through withdrawal. We tried hitting up the local Target for Hot Wheels but there was nothing to buy. What should we try next, binge-playing Gran Turismo, building a Tamiya kit, or just standing outside in the rain like a serial killer and watching the water bead on cera-coated paint?
How do you satisfy your car addiction when you can’t access your actual car?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which JNC looks most proper in orange?“. Continue reading
Jay Leno pits Toyota Supra TT against Mercedes Evo II and Aston Martin Vantage
The latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage centers around a comparison test of sorts. Three non-American “muscle cars” — hailing from Japan, Germany, and Britain — face off. It’s a battle between a 1994 Toyota Supra twin-turbo, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II, and 1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, but it’s not a contest of speed. Rather, it’s a competition to see which one has risen in value the most. Continue reading
Dome and Zagato collab on carbon fiber cello case
I don’t know anything about classical music, but it seems that a cello would be a pain to lug around. Fear not, engineering firm Dome, known for the Dome Zero concept car, has come to the rescue with a carbon fiber cello case. In fact, the case is a collaboration between Dome, famed Italian coachbuilder Zagato, and racing harness manufacturer OMP. Continue reading
Mitsubishi still dreams of reviving the Lancer Evolution
At the Japan Mobility Show Mitsubishi’s stand was filled with mostly kei cars, vans, and SUVs. It was a sad state for the once great purveyor of performance. However one executive, Kaoru Sawase, said that the dream of the Lancer Evolution is still alive at the company. Continue reading
Another Honda NSX restomod is coming from Italy, this time a Pininfarina collab
A few weeks ago the famed carrozzeria Italdesign teased a Honda NSX-based tribute car. Now, another legendary Italian design firm, Pininfarina, has released images of its take on the iconic Japanese supercar. It’s a limited production road car that seeks to redefine the NSX for the modern age. Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC looks most proper in orange?
Autumn, the season of turning leaves and pumpkin spice everything. Orange objects are suddenly obligatory. But in the automotive world the color of paprika isn’t particularly popular. We can think of only two eras in which orange was widespread — the late 60s/early 70s, and a brief moment in the 2000s when metallic orange had its turn in the spotlight. There are many JNCs that are iconic in orange, but is it ever the best possible hue in the palette of factory colors?
Which JNC looks most proper in orange?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What types of cars should be preserved?“. Continue reading
Nissan’s twin-cam L-series head gets $25,000 price tag
Back in February 2024 Nissan unveiled a prototype of its twin-cam L-series head, gauging public reaction to see if they should put it into production. In June 2025 it was greenlit. Now we have a price tag of ¥3.85 million, or approximately $25,000 USD and a new release date. Continue reading
In Toyota ‘Grip’ movie GR allies with the dark side, teases fourth GR model
Toyota’s latest installment of Grip, its “anime” about human drivers in a world of automated cars, has been released. Unlike previous minute-long episode, this chapter is nearly nine minutes long and features plenty of tire-smoking action from animated cars from the GR lineup. My kids were thoroughly entertained, but it’s the ending that we have a GRipe about. Continue reading
Modified Nissan Patrol continues the vintage SUV lineup at SEMA
Looks like the vintage action at SEMA is in SUVs. Like Toyota’s turbocharged FJ60 Land Cruiser, Nissan has reached into its off-road past and modified a Y60 Patrol. with some serious shove underhood. Unlike the Toyota, the this generation of Patrol was never sold in the US, but is a hugely popular platform for modification elsewhere on the globe. Continue reading
Japan Mobility Show proves there’s still cars to look forward to
With crossovers, EVs, and crossover EVs flooding the market you’d think the future of cars looks pretty bleak. Well, a stroll through the Japan Mobility Show does have plenty of those. But, there are also highlights that might spark car enthusiasts of the next generation. Continue reading
Posted in Japan Mobility Show
Tagged copen, daihatsu, honda, hyundai, Japan Mobility Show, midget, prelude, toyota, vamos
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QotW: What types of cars should be preserved?
Today, November 3, is Classic Car Day in Japan. It commemorates the founding of the Classic Car Club of Japan in 1956 by Professor Tokutaro Hama. Hama was the first prominent scholar in Japan to argue the merits of cars purely as works of art rather than something utilitarian. The goal of the CCCJ is “preserving [classic cars] as historical and cultural heritage, while ensuring their proper use on roads and circuits and passing them on to future generations in good condition.” This feels like as good a time as any to ask:
What types of cars should be preserved?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What is your ideal Honda Civic build?“. Continue reading
Happy Halloween from JNC
It’s All Hallows’ Eve, and we at JNC hope that you have a spooky one full of frightful scares. Not too frightful, like understeering towards an immovable object or discovering a randomly occurring misfire that can’t be replicated when others are around. Maybe just a moderate scare that some mechanical malady has occurred before realizing that it’s just road noise resulting from a sudden change in the way the highway was paved. Happy Halloween from JNC!
The Toyota Crown Coupe is a rolling art museum of Japanese craftsmanship
One of the biggest topics at the Japan Mobility Show is the shocking Toyota Century Coupe. The massive fastback upends over half a century (no pun intended) of tradition, in which Toyota’s flagship sedan was just that — a sedan. But the Century wasn’t just any four-door. It was dignified, elegant, understated, and packed with nods to Japanese culture. At least the Century Coupe is one of those things. Continue reading
