Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Daihatsu once created a concept car that turned into a bed
If you’re the type of person who’s ever wanted to get away from it all, alone, look no further than the Daihatsu Trek. Described as a vehicle for the “lone driver” to “go as you please” and “travel at your … Continue reading
Nissan declares that May 6 shall henceforth be known as V6 Day
Despite all the silly holidays we’ve covered it’s still a rare occasion that an actual carmaker declares its own. Well, Nissan has decided to plant a flag on May 6, which shall henceforth be known as V6 Day (the “V” … Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC looks most proper in green?
Today is Greenery Day in Japan, a national holiday that honors nature. Established in 1989, many parks, zoos and aquariums open free of charge today, encouraging visitors to appreciate the wonders of the natural world. Because of the Greenery Day’s … Continue reading
QotW: Which Japanese car had the best font?
Today, April 27, is World Design Day, formerly known as World Graphics Day. It celebrates graphic design, the art of making text and images look cool. The world would be pretty boring if every piece of text was in Times … Continue reading
A museum-quality exhibit of bosozoku culture is underway in Tokyo
In the 80s bosozoku were considered delinquents and looked down upon by Japanese society. With enough distance in the rear view mirror, there’s now an aura of nostalgia that surrounded their unique and impeccable style. A museum-quality and family friendly … Continue reading
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Tagged bosozoku, suzuki, Suzuki GS400, Suzuki GSX400, Suzuki GT380
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Watch Mazda rebuild a 4-rotor race motor from the 787
It’s no small undertaking to rebuild a 4-rotor R26B from a Mazda 787 race car. Most of the parts are unique to the engine and have been out of production for decades. A recent Mazda Motorsports video shows what it … Continue reading
Honda builds City Turbo II homage withS ‘Bulldog Style’
The Honda Super-One recently launched in Japan was clearly inspired by the 1983-86 Honda City Turbo II. But in case that wasn’t obvious enough, Honda has created an even more overt homage to the City Turbo II. Developed by Honda … Continue reading
Nissan execs reveal sports car plans and another Xterra teaser
In the wake of Nissan’s mega press conference earlier this week more news about its sports cars and the revived Xterra SUV has emerged. The briefing outlined how the company plans to reverse its money-shredding trajectory and undo the legacy … Continue reading
Nissan teases new Skyline, Xterra as ‘Heartbeat’ of the company
Nissan unveiled its latest business plan last night, titled “Vision of Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life”. Behind the buzzwords, however, were the first two teasers of nameplates of great importance to enthusiasts: the Skyline and the Xterra. While the long-term … Continue reading
Nissan promises manual Infiniti sedan, V6 Xterra, and maybe a 700-horsepower flagship SUV
More good news is coming out of Nissan, this time regarding its Infiniti division and the 4×4 offerings of both brands. It seems that record losses, the closing of major factories, and job cuts have forced the company to shake … Continue reading
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Ascara Integra? Fulma Legend? Rejected Acura names that could have been
When Honda debuted its Acura brand in 1986 it was navigating uncharted territory. Launching a Japanese luxury marque had never been done before, and it had to come up with the entire concept out of thin air, including the name. … Continue reading
The R36 Nissan GT-R and latest Z appear to be in good hands
Despite Nissan’s terrible financial situation the two cars enthusiasts care most about, the Z and GT-R, appear to be secure. When a company posts an annual loss of $4.24 billion, as Nissan did for the fiscal year ending in March … Continue reading
Here’s what goes into an $80,000 TOM’s Heritage AE86 restomod
One of our favorite cars at the Tokyo Auto Salon was the TOM’s Heritage AE86. Essentially, it’s a fully restomodded Toyota Corolla Levin from the top Toyota tuning house in Japan. Their goal was to retain the spirit and feel … Continue reading
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The original Acura Integra completely ruled its IMSA class
On March 27, 1986 Acura was launched as the first luxury marque from Japan. Initially, Americans scoffed at the idea. How could the purveyor of $6000 Civic hope to compete with the likes of Saab, Jaguar, or even BMW? Four … Continue reading
Posted in Anniversaries
Tagged acura, carroll shelby, da3, Doug Peterson, honda, imsa, integra, mazda, Parker Johnstone
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QotW: How do you find the car of your dreams for sale?
I haven’t really searched for a car on the internet in almost a decade. I tend to be very specific about the cars I want, and that one was a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser 40th Anniversary Edition in Antique Sage … Continue reading
Nissan heard enthusiasts and gave the Z a facelift and a manual transmission for the NISMO
Two long-awaited changes to the Nissan Z address the two biggest complaints about the car. We reported in January that the Japan-market Fairlady Z appeared at the Tokyo Auto Salon with a facelift. That’s officially coming to the US now. … Continue reading
After 58 years, former youth fashion hotspot and Citroen importer Seibu Shibuya is closing its doors
It was announced yesterday that the Seibu Shibuya department store will be closing after 58 years in operation. Even in Shibuya, the epicenter of youth culture in Tokyo, the Seibu store was once considered the trendsetter. For years Seibu was … Continue reading
Next Mazda Miata will weigh just one ton, run on pure gasoline
It was only one month ago that the rumor mill was saying that the upcoming fifth-gen Mazda MX-5 would be electrified. Multiple sites reported that the NE Miata would likely be a hybrid of some sort, based on a designer … Continue reading
Joji Luz was a pioneer for the classic Toyota community
It is with great sadness that we inform you about the passing of our friend Joji Luz. Those that knew him will remember his ever-joyous face and warm greetings whenever he saw a fellow car enthusiast. Joji was a trailblazer … Continue reading
Toyota GR Heritage Parts Program reissues moderinzed A80 Supra dashboard
Toyota has announced that it’s reissuing the dashboard for the A80 Supra, via its Gazoo Racing Heritage parts Program. Officially the part is called the instrument panel stretching from A-pillar to A-pillar with a center section that extends down to … Continue reading
