Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Daihatsu Charade, Flying Feather, Nissan-Diesel Minsei inducted into Japan Automotive Hall of Fame
Each year the Japanese Automotive Hall of Fame inducts a selection of historic cars. Past examples have included iconic sports cars like the Toyota 2000GT and S30 Nissan Fairlady Z, or race cars like the Honda RA272 and Mazda 787B. … Continue reading
Happy New Year from JNC
The Japanese tradition for New Year is hatsuhinode, or first sunrise. It means getting up early to view the year’s first daybreak, representing hope, aspiration, and renewal. Many who observe the tradition travel up a mountain, to the coast, or … Continue reading
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QotW: What’s your new year’s resolution for 2026?
It’s that time of year again. As one journey through the calendar ends and another begins, we are confronted with the unrelenting march of time. What will you accomplish in the next 365 days? Personally, I am finally going to … Continue reading
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Happy Boxing Day from JNC
It’s Boxing Day in many parts of the world today, so we at JNC want to wish everyone who celebrates that holiday a happy one. What better way to commemorate the occasion than with a classic boxer-engined Subaru? The one … Continue reading
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from JNC
Seasons greetings from all of us at JNC! As we roll into the holiday season. We hope you get to spend time with cherished loved ones, both human and vehicular. If you’re traveling, may your roads be smooth and salt-free, … Continue reading
Nissan Automotive College students create a Skyline Silhouette and retro mash-ups for 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon
It’s almost time for the Tokyo Auto Salon, and that means students from Japan’s technical colleges are getting their projects ready for the show. Nissan Automobile Technical College usually turns out some fairly wild stuff, and this year is no … Continue reading
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The first Mitsubishi Pajero to win the Paris-Dakar Rally has been restored
In 1985 Mitsubishi finished the seventh running of the Paris-Dakar Rally with a pair of Pajeros in a 1-2 sweep, becoming the first Japanese carmaker to win the event. The first place Pajero was immediately shipped to Mitsubishi’s collection in … Continue reading
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
