Author Archives: Ben Hsu
NEWS: Here’s the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in all its glory
Before the advent of science, some cultures thought that an eclipse meant demons were eating the sun. Well, here comes another Eclipse. We warned you it would happen. Behold the all-new Eclipse Cross. DSM fanboys may want to skip this one.
QotW: What car should my fiancée get?
My fiancée is buying her first car. Having lived in New York City for 17 years, where cars are nothing more than two-ton magnets for parking tickets and dents, she’s had no reason to own one. Now in LA, without wheels, she can’t … Continue reading
NEWS: The legacy of Carlos Ghosn as the Nissan CEO resigns
For sixteen years Carlos Ghosn was Nissan’s CEO, bringing the company back from the brink of bankruptcy with his brand of extreme budget-slashing. Today, Ghosn announced that he will resign his post effective April 1.
VIDEO: Nissan R381 “Monster Bird” at Fuji Speedway
Nissan built the R381 race car, affectionately known as the Monster Bird, specifically to prevent the equally monstrous Toyota 7 from winning the Japan Grand Prix. At last year’s NISMO Festival Nissan took the car out for a spin around Fuji Speedway, mixing … Continue reading
Happy President’s Day from JNC
Here’s a screen shot from 80s Japanese cop show Abunai Deka, in an episode in which a Nissan President is involved in a chase and ends up on its roof. Video of the chase may be long gone, but fortunately our screenshot is … Continue reading
QotW: What sacred model name should never be revived for a crossover?
JNC readers were pretty much in universal that the Mitsubishi Eclipse name would have been better laid to rest than revived for a crossover, even though the once great sport coupe had morphed into a bloated cruiser with little semblance of performance by … Continue reading
PIXELATED: Toyota C-HR ad stars cast of Street Fighter game
The car may not be nostalgic, but the game certainly is. Toyota has enlisted the help of the Street Fighter II cast to promote the new C-HR. In the new ad, Ryu drives the car around the world through some familiar … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1970s Toyota campus for sale
It’s finally happening. Nearly three years after Toyota announced it was relocating its US headquarters from California to Texas, the automaker’s campus has been listed for sale. Like an annoying Craiglist ad, no asking price was mentioned but according to the … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Someone is selling a Mazda 767B
You. Yes you, mere mortal. You can now own perhaps the most organ-worthy car we’ve ever come across, a Mazda 767B. While the original auction description (they have since edited it) described it as “the most iconic race car to ever come … Continue reading
Please, Mitsubishi, don’t bring back the Starion…
… if you’re going to use the name on a minivan or something.
NEWS: The Mitsubishi Eclipse Crossover is actually happening. Whyyyyyyyyyy?
Danger to Manifold! The rumors we feared were true. Scarcely believable, but true. Mitsubishi announced today that it is reviving the name of a beloved sport coupe to use on a new crossover model called the — are you ready? — Eclipse Cross. This … Continue reading
Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC
As is tradition on Valentine’s Day, Japanese chocolatier Kobe Frantz has released a set of highly realistic, 1:1 scale chocolate tools (1:64 Toyota 2000GT for scale).
VIDEO: A Datsun 240Z is the hero car in this 1979 chase movie
1970s Los Angeles was an automotive paradise. Not only did you have a diverse mix of Detroit land yachts, European compacts and heaps of Japanese runabouts, but its freeways ran long and wide. Back then, before the 405 was one giant parking lot, … Continue reading
VIDEO: The only running Toyota 2000GT in the UK
With just 351 built, the Toyota 2000GT is a rare car. According to Toyota UK, this is the only roadworthy one in the country. They’re calling it The Toyota that Lived Twice, a nod to the 2000GT’s starring role in the … Continue reading
EVENTS: Houston Morningstar Meet
You might have heard there was a football game in Houston over the weekend. We were in town for the epic clash — something about classic Fords versus Jeep crossovers — but before the big game the local JNC community welcomed us to a Sunday morning meet.
Happy TE27 Day from JNC
When you think of Toyota performance, the color palette that pops into your head may largely depend on the cars you love. Yellow, orange and red for 80s IMSA racing, red and green Castrol for WRC, white and red for … Continue reading
Perhaps the most thoroughly restored 1977 Celica ever
Inspired by TA22 Day yesterday, we stumbled across what is quite possibly the most thorough restoration of a 1977 Celica ever performed. Technically this isn’t a TA22, but it’s still a first-gen Celica and it’s an amazing story of an … Continue reading
Happy TA22 Day from JNC
Okay, it’s a stretch, but today is 2/2. In other words, Happy TA22 Day from JNC!


