Monthly Archives: September 2023

JCCS Preview: A Toyota Celica Supra is the first ever JCCS “Event Car”

The Japanese Classic Car Show has always had great memorabilia, from dash plaques to T-shirts to stickers. This year the JCCS crew have come up with something truly special, their first “event car”. It’s a 1982 Toyota Supra in TRD … Continue reading

Posted in minicars | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

JCCS Preview: Sam Mitani’s Red Mist book signing

Are you revved up for the 2023 Japanese Classic Car Show yet? If you’re going, we have a special announcement that you might be interested in. Sam Mitani, former International Editor of Road & Track, will be a the JNC … Continue reading

Posted in jccs | Tagged | Leave a comment

Initial D sequel anime MF Ghost debuts next week

If you’ve been jonesing for some automotive anime action, your time has come. MF Ghost, the long awaited follow-up to Initial D, will make its debut this coming Sunday. Like its predecessor, it follows the tale of an unlikely racing … Continue reading

Posted in manga | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Honda City modernized for Tokyo Motor Show and it comes with a small bike

The Tokyo Motor Show is about to kick off, and Honda is first to the gates with a retro-modern concept. The Sustaina-C looks like a modern Honda City, and it was even revealed with a new bike, the Honda Pocket, … Continue reading

Posted in News, Tokyo Motor Show | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

QotW: What would you put in a Mitsubishi theme park?

We recently learned that Mitsubishi is opening a theme park in Japan. While not automotive-themed, we do hope that they include at least some nods to their automotive division’s long history. Why not include a Pajero jungle cruise, Lancer Evolution … Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 9 Comments

Toyota celebrates 40 years of AE86 with GR86 anniversary edition

The iconic Toyota AE86 was introduced to the world in 1983 in Japan, making this year the 40th anniversary of the beloved classic. So it was only fitting that Toyota mark the occasion by releasing a tribute edition of the … Continue reading

Posted in Next Version | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Yokohama Advan erasers remove marks instead of leaving them

A lot of the merch that automotive companies make is pretty generic. I mean, is there really anything special about a Toyota-branded water bottle or a Nissan ball-point pen? Every once in a while, though, an absolutely genius idea results … Continue reading

Posted in Aftermarket | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Mitsubishi won’t build a Lancer Evolution but it will build a Disneyland-sized theme park in Japan

As car enthusiasts we desperately want Mitsubishi to show some sign of life, preferably by building a Lancer Evolution XI or even a new Pajero/Montero. Then we read about how instead of lending a helping hand to its car division, … Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Mazda RWD straight-six sports sedan might not be dead yet

Hallelujah! The on-again, off-again Mazda FR straight-six sports sedan might not be completely dead yet. A new report out of Japan says that Hiroshima might be proceeding with the project, which was slated to be the next Mazda 6. Last … Continue reading

Posted in News | 9 Comments

Jay-Z’s Lexus GS300 on display at Brooklyn Public Library

Patrons of the Brooklyn Public Library in New York will notice an unexpected new addition to the lawn: a mid-90s Japanese luxury sedan. The two-tone Lexus GS300 is part of a new exhibit honoring hip-hop legend Jay-Z, who often rapped … Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

QotW: What automatic transmission JNC makes a great driver’s car?

My wife knows how to drive a manual, but isn’t confident and doesn’t want to deal with it in traffic. Right now she sees driving as mostly an unavoidable chore, but my hope is that if we start off with … Continue reading

Posted in News | 17 Comments

American Honda Collection Hall officially opens at Honda HQ in Torrance, California

In Japan carmakers proudly display their wares at their company headquarters, but that’s not always the case for their American subsidiaries. For years, Honda kept their US heritage collection in a warehouse — a nice one — but one that … Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Honda Motocompo revived as Motocompacto electric foldable bike

Honda has revived its foldable Motocompo city bike for the modern era. It’s called the Motocompacto, as trademark filing in 2020 revealed, and it’s a little bike that folds into a tidy rectangle. This time around, it’s electric. The original … Continue reading

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Nissan Frontier Hardbody debuts loaded with retro 1980s nods

Remember the Nissan Hardbody teaser from last week? It debuted today and as was foretold from the teaser it’s an option package on the Frontier rather than a distinct model. However, the package contains several nostalgic nods to the original … Continue reading

Posted in Next Version | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Subaru could return to WRC thanks to Akio Toyoda

Akio Toyota may have retired from being president of Toyota, but he appears to be active as ever when it comes to promoting cars. And it’s not just cars from his own company, which his grandfather founded, that he’s promoting. … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Chairman Akio Toyoda gives thumbs up from behind the wheel of a Honda

If you needed further proof that Akio Toyoda is the most delightful car executive in the world, look no further. The former president of Toyota recently charmed Japan’s netizens when he was spotted at a rally event in Japan driving … Continue reading

Posted in News | 4 Comments

QotW: What’s in your ideal classic and daily two-car garage?

Due to life circumstances, you have only two parking spaces at your residence and will for the foreseeable future. Fortunately the car gods have granted you one space for the JNC of your dreams, no questions asked except it must … Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 13 Comments

Nissan Hardbody nameplate to be revived, likely with D21 3-spoke block wheels

Nissan dropped a mysterious little teaser Thursday centered around the delightful D21 Hardbody. The no-nonsense compact pickup embodied the notion of form following function, and there was a minimalist beauty in its simplicity. We aren’t naive enough to think that … Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Toyota Century SUV design sketches show longer, wider body

The dust is still settling from Toyota’s Century SUV bombshell, and strong opinions will continue to reverberate for some time. In the meantime, thanks to some design illustrations we can glimpse what those who worked on the car originally imagined. … Continue reading

Posted in News | 7 Comments

The Toyota Century SUV is here

At the time Toyota was developing the original Century, the most luxurious cars available in Japan were foreign made. Kiichiro Toyoda wanted to build a Japanese car that could go head-to-head with them, but Toyota’s experience in building passenger cars … Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 17 Comments