Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Rally drivers Hiroshi Masuoka and Teruo Katsuta receive Japanese government’s Sports Achievement Award
Two rally racers have received the Japanese government’s Sports Achievement Award. The honor is given to individuals that have made outstanding contributions in the world of sports. Hiroshi Masuoka won the Paris-Dakar Rally back-to-back, contributing to Mitsubishi’s era of dominance … Continue reading
This Mazda Miata quote about light weight may be among automotive history’s greatest
When answering the question of what defines the Mazda Miata, chief technology officer Ryuichi Umeshita just laid down what might go down as one of the great quotes of automotive history: “I would say the most important thing is that … Continue reading
Posted in News
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The ultimate Mazda Miata model car collection can be yours for just $1,300
Strap in, NA Miata fans. Mazda Japan has unveiled the ultimate collection of MX-5 scale models. The 17-model diecast car set, each slightly different, represents the complete history of the first-generation Mazda Roadster. And it costs a whopping ¥180,000, or … Continue reading
QotW: What car has been absolutely ruined by pop culture?
Pop culture can make cars into stars, but also destroy them. If it wasn’t for Back to the Future the DeLorean would be a historical footnote. If it wasn’t for 007, the Aston Martin DB4 would not even be uttered … Continue reading
Isuzu’s 80s pickup restomod steals the Bangkok Motor Show
At the recent Bangkok Motor Show it was Isuzu that surprised attendees with a restomod based on an 80s compact truck. The Dragonmax Concept began life as a 1988 Isuzu TFR pickup built for the Thai market. Isuzu updated almost … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your craziest tire-related story?
Today, April 7, is Tire Gauge Day in Japan. It was established by Asahi Sangyo, a tire gauge manufacturer established in 1946, to remind people of the importance of keeping your car tires properly inflated. My craziest story doesn’t involve … Continue reading
Japanese car importers get whiplash from slew of new tariffs
Car enthusiasts looking to buy an imported Japanese car or truck likely experienced a roller coaster of emotions yesterday. As the Trump administration rolls out its tariffs the news seemed to vacillate between very good and very bad for JDM … Continue reading
Honda to auction parts from iconic racing engines, starting with Ayrton Senna’s championship V10
Honda Racing will soon make engine parts from its most famous racing machines available for purchase. To kick things off, they’re auctioning pieces from the V10 Formula 1 engine in which Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger won the 1990 F1 … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged ayrton senna, formula 1, honda, honda collection hall, McLaren-Honda
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Seven & I Holdings, 7-Eleven parent company, buys controlling stake in Nissan
After months of negotiations, the fate of Nissan has been determined. Seven & I Holdings, the parent company of convenience store chain 7-Eleven, will own a controlling stake in the 91-year-old carmaker. “We welcome Nissan into our family of brands, … Continue reading
Nissan’s new CEO promises R36 GT-R
Nissan’s newly appointed “car-guy” CEO, Ivan Espinosa, wants to make sure Nissan’s heritage doesn’t get lost. Even though Nissan closed the order books on the GT-R earlier this month Espinosa, who takes the reins of Nissan in April, is reassuring … Continue reading
Get your JDM dream car now, because a 25 percent tariff is coming
Currently Japanese cars built outside the US, new or used, are subject to a 2.5 percent import tax, but soon that number is going to get a lot bigger. On Wednesday President Trump announced plans to increase the tariff on … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Mitsubishi reportedly partnering with Foxconn for electric vehicle production
Speaking of dying marques, Mitsubishi is reportedly on the verge of announcing deal with electronics giant Foxconn. The Taiwanese firm, best known for producing the iPhone for Apple, would build electric vehicles for Mitsubishi. This venture move would mark Foxconn’s … Continue reading
City pop’s Mariya Takeuchi provided the soundtracks for Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi ads
Today, March 20, is city pop queen Mariya Takeuchi’s 70th birthday. Her 1984 song “Plastic Love” may be on every single city pop playlist on YouTube, but Takeuchi recorded plenty of other hits and several them were used in memorable … Continue reading
Snow-melting sprinklers clear Japanese roads without salt
In northern areas of Japan snowfall can be a big problem for traffic. One solution that’s been used to combat the accumulation of snow on roadways is shosetsu (disappearing snow) or yuusetsu (melting snow) equipment embedded into the roads themselves. … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
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How far can a Nissan kei car go without refueling?
It’s easy to dismiss kei cars as weak, un-serious shoeboxes for misers. However, there’s a good reason why they comprise more than 34 percent of car sales in Japan. Even if you take the registration, parking and tax benefits out … Continue reading
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida steps down, opening doors for Honda merger again
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida has resigned. In typical Japanese fashion Uchida, who took the reins in 2020 after the Carlos Ghosn scandal, has fallen on his sword, likely to give the Honda merger a second chance. Merger talks between Honda … Continue reading
Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX: Once beloved, now extinct
If you didn’t live through its introduction it’s hard to grasp just how big of an impact the Mitsubishi Eclipse made. The all-wheel-drive turbo sports coupe was so beloved that major magazines devoted extra pages to it beyond the typical … Continue reading
