Monthly Archives: January 2017
JNC PROJECT HAKO: Big in Australia
A little over a year ago, JNC‘s very own Kevin San was selected by Nulon, an Australian oil and lubricant company, to participate in a video series titled “Born This Way,” which follows hard core car enthusiasts and explores what makes them tick. … Continue reading
ART CORNER: San Mamiya’s “Bad Face” Mazda RX-3
Our friend and contributor San Mamiya has revealed his latest illustration, titled Bad Face. It depicts the angry visage of an S124 Mazda Savanna RX-3, headlights glaring, pulled up next to a Suzuki GT380 motorcycle.
Posted in Art Corner
Tagged be-1, figaro, GT380, mazda, Motorcycle, nissan, pao, rx-3, San Mamiya, suzuki
2 Comments
Consider the Following: Nissan Stanza Wagon
With the prices of the most popular models entering unattainable status for a lot of younger JNCers, we felt it necessary to highlight some painfully overlooked — often for no good reason at all — yet still affordable (for now) nostalgics. Welcome to another … Continue reading
NEWS: This new Nissan concept has an easter egg from the Bluebird SSS
Yesterday at the Detroit Auto Show, Nissan unveiled a boldly styled concept sedan. The Vmotion 2.0’s styling is decidedly brand-spanking-new school, as it heralds the design language of all future Nissan sedans, but designers stuck one easter egg from the 910 Bluebird … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 910, bluebird, concept, Detroit Auto Show, maxima, nissan, Vmotion 2.0
4 Comments
NEWS: The last of the V8 Lexus sedans
That was unexpected. At the Detroit Auto Show today, Lexus unveiled its newest flagship sedan, the 2018 LS 500. However, general manager Jeff Bracken dropped a bombshell soon after — namely, that the tip-top-of-the-line Lexus would no longer have a V8 under the … Continue reading
PIXELATED: Tokyo Xtreme Racer is coming back
Video game publisher Genki recently tweeted an picture of a Nissan GT-R idling at a Tokyo expressway pull-off zone at night, ready for action. For JNCers of a certain age, then image should instantly evoke the thrill of Tokyo Xtreme … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Video Games
Tagged alto, gt-r, honda, nissan, r35, s660, shutoku battle, suzuki, Tokyo Xtreme Racer
18 Comments
QotW: What JNC should be in the Blade Runner universe?
New Year’s in Japan is a time to take things slow. Many people leave the big city lights for the quiet hum of kerosene heaters at their grandparent’s homes in the flat countryside. I too, went outwards to Gunma prefecture … Continue reading
VIDEO: Hot Wheels designer Jun Imai details the Datsun Fairlady 2000
The Nissan Fairlady 2000 is one of the most anticipated cars of the 2017 Hot Wheels lineup, and it’s easy to see why. Dedicated collectors will easily spot the signature touches of designer Jun Imai, who has transformed it into … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
10 Comments
VIDEO: The world’s first race cars to broadcast live from the cockpit were Toyota Celicas
Toyota Australia has just released an interview with Aussie racing great Peter Williamson. As you may recall, Williamson passed away in 2016, but his legacy as the world’s first in-car camera broadcaster lives on. The interview was conducted at the 2016 Toyota … Continue reading
VIDEO: Japan’s best drivers compete in Japan’s slowest car
The brilliant thing about Best Motoring is that one day you get an epic AE86 track battle, and the next day you get antics rivaling 2002-era Top Gear in silliness. Take this 1996 episode, for example. Daihatsu had just resurrected the Midget II … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged best motoring, daihatsu, Midget II, Motoharu Kurosawa, Tsukuba Circuit
7 Comments
VIDEO: Racing Beat at the 24 Hours of Daytona
The passing of Racing Beat cofounder Jim Mederer dealt a blow to the community of rotary and Mazda enthusiasts. In remembering the accomplishments of Jim and his shop over the years, we were reminded of the magnitude of their contribution to … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 24 Hours of Daytona, gto, imsa, mazda, Mazda GTP, racing beat, rotary engine, rx-7, sa22
1 Comment
VIDEO: The ultimate AE86 track battle
In 2005, to commemorate volume number 86, Hot Version invited Japan’s top AE86 to Tsukuba Circuit to lay down some lap times. This era was the peak of innovation for AE86 tuning with the TRD N2 Corolla Levin, driven by Keiichi Tsuchiya, as perhaps … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged ae86, corolla, corolla levin, hachiroku, hot version, sprinter trueno, toyota, Tsukuba Circuit
5 Comments
RIP Jim Mederer, 1942 — 2016
2016 may be over, but we’re sad to report that on its way out an already tough year has claimed yet another luminary from us. Jim Mederer, co-founder of the renowned Mazda tuning house Racing Beat, passed away on December … Continue reading
Posted in Legends
Tagged bonneville, Jim Mederer, Land Speed Record, mazda, racing beat, rotary engine, rx-2, rx-3, rx-7
10 Comments
QotW: What’s your JNC New Year resolution?
Shogatsu, or New Year, is the most important holiday of the Japanese calendar, as important as Christmas in the US. It’s a chance to get a fresh new start on life, which perhaps means finally getting around to that project. In which case, we … Continue reading
