Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Carlyn Dinkler, pioneering Toyota Corona restorer and preservationist, 1939-2026
We are sad to report that Carlyn Dinkler, a pioneer in the world of vintage Japanese cars, has passed. Long before the internet, long before Toyotafest, and long before anyone though old Toyotas were cool, Dinkler was already devoting his … Continue reading
Mitsubishi Pajero returns as new body-on-frame SUV
When Mitsubishi discontinued the Pajero in 2019 it was punch in the gut for enthusiasts. That was followed by a knockout uppercut when Mitsubishi shuttered Pajero Manufacturing Co., Ltd., its legendary plant dedicated to building the the famed SUV (as … Continue reading
QotW: What other ‘outdated’ things do you enjoy?
Recently my 7-year-old has become obsessed with DVDs. He was born in an age where everything you could ever want to watch is on-demand. He can’t fully grasp it when I explain (in old prospector’s voice) that back in my … Continue reading
Ken Okuyama’s supercar celebrates the spirit of 1989, a landmark year for Japanese cars
“1989 was a defining year. It gave us the GT-R, Lexus, and the RX-7. Japan’s automotive industry reached new heights,” says renowned automotive designer Ken Okuyama. His latest creation, the V12-powered Kode89, is a tribute to that seminal year. It … Continue reading
Hiroshi Okuda, former Toyota president and chairman who fast-tracked the Prius, 1932 – 2026
Toyota confirmed last week that Hiroshi Okuda, former president and chairman of the company, had passed away on August 8 at the age of 93. He was a transformative figure in Toyota’s history. When he took the helm in 1995, … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most inexpensive way to command respect at Car Week?
We just returned from Monterey Car Week, where cars of all types mingle on the streets of the central coast peninsula. Traditionally Japanese cars have been relegated to the sidelines but are now gaining respect, even among the blue-bloods. Sure, … Continue reading
Acura Nexera Vision Concept begins the next chapter for the marque
As Acura marks 40 years since its launch, the brand seeks to establish an outlook for the future. Timed alongside its 40th anniversary, Acura’s Nexera Vision (the name is a portmanteau of “next era”) concept is a low-slung sports car with … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite automotive hat?
Today, August 10, is Hat Day in Japan, formed by Japan’s love for a pun-based occasion: ha (eight) and to (ten), which together form hatto, the Japanese pronunciation of “hat”. It also happens to be one of the punniest dates … Continue reading
The second-gen Honda Accord was a technological marvel: navigation, auto-leveling suspension and ABS in the age of MTV
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Honda Accord, launched in May 1976. Pioneering ideas like front-wheel-drive and taking on environmental concerns with the CVCC engine, it sold 1.5 million examples in 90 countries. Expectations for were high when … Continue reading
QotW: What was your favorite slot car experience?
We at JNC often discuss diecast cars or model kits, but there’s another world of vintage automotive toys that many have fond memories of. In postwar America slot cars were the phenomenon that bridged the gap between toy models and … Continue reading
5Zigen’s iconic FN01R-C is coming back for its 25th anniversary
One of the quintessential wheels of the Tuner Era is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. 5Zigen has quietly teased an image of its FN01R-C wheel hinting at a special edition celebrating a quarter of a century. Like the Volk … Continue reading
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QotW: What car did you love as a kid but realized was terrible when you got older?
Kids don’t know anything, and as a kid there were many cars that I thought were incredible until I grew up and my brain got better. Growing up in the 80s, I had the obligatory Countach poster on my wall, … Continue reading
Could this test mule be the next Toyota MR2?
A visitor to Fuji Speedway may have spotted a prototype Toyota MR2 lapping the circuit. The car in question is a compact sports car with a mid-engine layout as evidenced at the large air intakes aft of the doors and … Continue reading
It’s the end of the road for the Nissan Altima: The rise and fall of the once-proud Accord rival, Part 02
The Nissan Altima is dead, confirmed by a top Nissan exec last week. In Part 01 of our Altima retrospective, we followed its rise, from compact Stanza spinoff to, by generation three, a true enthusiast’s contender against midsizers like the … Continue reading
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It’s the end of the road for the Nissan Altima: The rise and fall of the once-proud Accord rival, Part 01
The Nissan Altima is officially dead. Its demise was confirmed by Nissan’s head of product planning and senior vice president for North America Ponz Pandikuthira in an interview with WardsAuto. It’s been rumored to be on the chopping block since … Continue reading
Akio Toyoda drops wisdom on students, then takes them drifting in unforgettable graduation ceremony
There’s no question that Akio Toyoda is one of the most impressive auto executives in the world. He’s one of us — an enthusiast — who races cars in his spare time. But even if we take that bias out … Continue reading
A Toyota MR2 SC lost out to a Fiero in Motorweek’s comparo, thanks in part to its eye-watering cost
When Toyota debuted its supercharged MR2 for 1988, it was a revelation. While several automakers experimented with supercharging in the 1950s, it hadn’t really been used in a production car for decades. Sure, there were Lancias and Japanese-market Toyotas that … Continue reading
