Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Nissan promises to revive Xterra as body-on-frame SUV
Back in April Nissan executives proclaimed that they really wanted to bring back the Xterra. At the time Nissan Americas chairperson Christian Meunier said, “We’re working on it. We’ll find a way.” Well, they found a way, because at the … Continue reading
Infiniti says it will bring back the stick shift RWD sports sedan
Infiniti just dropped some bombshell news at its annual dealer meeting in Las Vegas. Nissan’s luxury marque plans to resurrect the proper sports sedan with rear-wheel-drive and a manual transmission. Obviously this immediately conjures images of the beloved G35 sedan, … Continue reading
Toyota is working on two supercars; here is one of them
Lexus surprised showgoers at The Quail during Monterey Car Week by unveiling a new supercar concept. The company gave very little information on what it actually was, other than stunning. However, it’s just one of the supercars that Toyota, a … Continue reading
Indy 500 champ Takuma Sato will rally a first-gen Honda Civic RS in Monte Carlo
Two-time Indianapolis 500 champ Takuma Sato is jumping out of his Indy racer and into a vintage rally car. He’ll be piloting a 1975 Honda Civic RS in the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique, a vintage rally event that stretches 1200 … Continue reading
This model of a Honda F1 race car costs as much as a real Civic Si that you can drive
Decisions, decisions. Buy a ridiculously detailed scale model of the first Japanese car to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix, or a real 1:1 Honda Civic Si? Both cost around $29,000, but only one can actually be driven. In honor … Continue reading
Posted in minicars
Tagged Amalgam Collection, formula 1, honda, Monterey Car Week, ra272
Leave a comment
QotW: What’s an automotive bonding activity you can do with kids?
Today, August 11, is National Sons and Daughters Day. I’ve played Hot Wheels with my son as soon as he was able, but now he’s aging out of them and getting serious about Pokémon cards. Still, I’ve found ways to … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
7 Comments
Williams-Honda FW11 championship winning F1 car restored
In 1987 Honda embarked on an epic streak of Formula 1 supremacy. The Honda RA166 1.5-liter turbocharged V6 mounted in the Williams-Honda FW11 produced 1200 to 1500 horsepower at 12,000 rpm and was one of the most powerful motors of … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged Goodwood Festival of Speed, honda, Nigel Mansell, Williams-Honda FW11
1 Comment
Tomica celebrates 30 years of ‘Initial D’ with detailed premium sets of AE86, RX-7, S13, and more
Great news for Hachiroku fans this AE86 Day. Tomica has announced a set of highly detailed toy cars in honor of Initial D‘s 30th anniversary. The cars include Takumi’s iconic Toyota AE86, Keisuke’s Mazda RX-7, Iketani’s Nissan Silvia, and a … Continue reading
Posted in News
2 Comments
Here comes the Sunny: B110 grille trend continues with Suzuki Jimny mask
The B110 Nissan Sunny had one of the most distinctive grilles of all time. It has become a trend to mount its face on new, non-Sunny Japanese cars to evoke a retro feel on the modern machinery. The latest to … Continue reading
Safari Rally Datsun 240Z celebrated with trio of Seiko limited edition watches
Welcome to another edition of Japanese Nostalgic Chronograph. Hot off the heels of the Initial D 30th anniversary collaboration, Seiko has released three watches honoring the rallying successes of the Datsun 240Z. The trio are part of Seiko’s Speedtimer series, … Continue reading
Initial D celebrates 30th anniversary with limited edition Seiko watch
Automotive culture was forever changed when when Initial D launched in July of 1995. To mark the seminal touge manga’s 30th anniversary, author Shuichi Shigeno and publisher Kodansha have teamed up with renowned watchmaker Seiko for a limited edition timepiece. … Continue reading
Why a 2001 Acura Integra Type R sold for over $200,000
A 2001 Acura Integra has sold for $204,204. Unfortunately, your clapped out Viper killer is still going for the same price as it did before, because the record breaker is no ordinary Integra. For one, it’s an Integra Type R, … Continue reading
Register now to celebrate 20 years of the Japanese Classic Car Show
America’s premier show for classic Japanese cars is turning 20 this year. It’s an amazing achievement for JCCS, which started at a time when the idea of a Japanese car being worthy of collecting or restoring was still in question. … Continue reading
‘Cruising J-Town’ museum exhibit spotlights a pivotal chapter in car culture
We suspect that many JNC readers were introduced to the wonders of Japanese cars during the Tuner Era of the late 80s and early 90s. The souped up imports that took over the streets triggered a paradigm shift in American … Continue reading
Nissan Oppama plant closure is “the most difficult decision of my career” says CEO
In what CEO Ivan Espinosa has called “the most difficult decision of my career,” Nissan announced Tuesday that it would be shutting down its Oppama plant. The factory has been in operation since 1961 and was Japan’s first full-scale integrated … Continue reading
Posted in News
6 Comments
Turbo V8 GT3 race and road car duo prove that Toyota its not playing around
Toyota is not sending any mixed signals about its intent to occupy every performance niche. Hot on the heels of a rumor about a mid-engined Celica, Toyota showed off a pair of supercars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. We’ve … Continue reading
Nissan mulls Foxconn deal to save Oppama “mother” plant
Earlier this year, in a desperate financial situation, Nissan announced it would close seven of its 17 factories around the world. Among the facilities on the chopping block was the Oppama plant, founded in 1961 and long considered the “mother” … Continue reading
QotW: Which Japanese car needs to be preserved for posterity?
Today, July 7, Sevens Day, but also World Heritage Day in Japan. On this day 21 years ago the sacred pilgrimage route in the Kii Mountain Range was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trail traces a path from … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
11 Comments
Akio Toyoda presents awards to SuperGT and JGTC masters
How many jobs does Akio Toyoda have? He’s already chairman of Toyota, a semi-pro race car driver, and president of the Japan Sumo Association. Now he’s adding another feather in his cap, chairman of the Automobile Business and Culture Association … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged akio toyoda, Hiroaki Ishiura, JGTC, kazuya oshima, Lexs, nissan, SuperGT, toyota, Tsugio Matsuda, Yuji Tachikawa
Leave a comment
QotW: What’s your craziest car parking story?
Parking is one of those unfortunate tasks that accompanies the fun of driving. Whether it’s circling for open spaces, dealing with ornery/incompetent drivers, paying exorbitant prices, of fending off door dings, parking is fraught with peril. Yet we have no … Continue reading
