Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Toyota has filed a GR MR2 trademark application with Japan’s patent office
Last week it was discovered that Toyota has applied for trademarks for the GR MR2 and GR MR-S names. There have been rumors of an MR2 revival swirling around for a couple of years, and Toyota has shown off a … Continue reading
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Boring no more: Toyota unveils 2000GT, Lexus LFA successors
In a one-two punch that will reverberate though the ages, Toyota pulled the curtains off of two flagship supercars today. The birth of a Japanese supercar doesn’t come along very often, and in fact there have only been five since … Continue reading
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Tagged akio toyoda, GR GT, hiromu naruse, lexus, lfa, Simon Humphries, toyota
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Toyota 2000GT appears in teaser for its next supercar, and the location is an easter egg
On November 27 televisions in Japan began airing a commercial that teases Toyota’s next supercar. The spot opens with a Toyota 2000GT, followed by a Lexus LFA, followed by a sleek black sports car. The words “The Soul Lives On” … Continue reading
‘Pluribus’ offers compelling car options for an alien invasion apocalypse
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 … 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 … 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 … 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, … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
Mazda unveils a turbo rotary ‘coupe’ and a cute hatch in Tokyo
Mazda’s stand at the Japan Mobility Show never disappoints, with breathtaking concepts like the RX-Vision taking center stage. This year, Mazda’s show cars tell a tale of two futures. The small Vision X-Compact hatchback shows commitment to a segment that … Continue reading
The Honda Super-One Prototype is a Bulldog-inspired EV
Honda never explicitly states it, but its latest EV concept takes a lot of inspiration from the 1983 Honda City Turbo II. With its aggressive stance, flared blister fenders, and asymmetric grille, the nods are unmistakable. It even comes in … Continue reading
Toyota builds twin-turbo FJ60 Land Cruiser thanks to modern Tundra engine swap
SEMA builds tend to be over the top, but when everyone has a kandy-colored, lifted, widebodied Frankenstein one way to stand out from the crowd is with an absolutely bone stock-appearing classic. That’s what Toyota did with this plain-Jane FJ60 … Continue reading
QotW: What is your ideal Honda Civic build?
Today, October 27, it National Civics Day, an occasion to learn about how our govenrment, in theory, should work. But let’s not forget the Honda Civic. To the everyman, it’s affordable, efficient, and reliable, but to those in the know … Continue reading
Century to become its own hyper-luxury marque in Toyota empire
When Toyota teased its upcoming Gazoo Racing GT3, eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the Century phoenix joined Toyota’s other major brands — Toyota, Lexus, GR, and Daihatsu — with a standalone logo in the lineup. Turns out that Toyota is indeed … Continue reading
Toyota’s ‘baby’ Land Cruiser FJ revealed as mini body-on-frame SUV
Since at least 2022 Toyota has been teasing the idea of a mini SUV that draws on the Land Cruiser’s rich heritage. Now that vehicle has arrived, revealed in full ahead of the Japan Mobility Show at the end of … Continue reading
Toyota’s motor show video unites owners from around the globe
Not to be outdone by its subsidiary Daihatsu, Toyota has its own compilation video for the Japan Mobility Show. With the tagline “To You. Toyota”, the video depicts a vast variety of Toyota cars and trucks in all walks of … Continue reading
Posted in Japan Mobility Show
Tagged a70, A80, ae86, corolla, fj cruiser, hiace, hilux, Japan Mobility Show, land cruiser, supra, toyota
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Nissan CEO discusses Silvia revival, IDx concept
Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa recently gave an interview and mentioned two model names that may be of particular interest to enthusiasts. The first was the the Silvia, which Espinosa has a special passion for and wants to bring back. The … Continue reading
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Forget the Century coupe and six-wheeled Lexus LS, peep the Daihatsu Midget concept
It’s almost time for the Tokyo Motor Show Japan Mobility Show, and Toyota is first out of the gates with a buffet of unhinged concept cars. And yes, the coupe based on the Century SUV or Lexus LS reborn as … Continue reading
Posted in Japan Mobility Show
Tagged century, daihatsu, Japan Mobility Show, lexus, midget, toyota
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Nissan designer Hiren Patel talks about his classic Pathfinder
With the news of Nissan Design America’s closing, we wanted to consider the earliest and arguably the most iconic vehicle to emerge from the studio: the WD21 Nissan Pathfinder. As it happens, we once stumbled upon this exact car at … Continue reading
Sam Mitani’s ‘Keys to the Empire’ finishes the automotive spy trilogy with a bang
The third and final installment of former Road & Track International editor Sam Mitani’s car-themed thrillers is Keys to the Empire. The trilogy began in 2018 with The Prototype, continued in 2023 with Red Mist, and draws to a close … Continue reading
