Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: What car thing are you most thankful for?
With Thanksgiving nearly upon us, let’s take a pause to acknowledge the automotive things that make life worthwhile. Maybe it’s that perfect Craigslist find that you scored before the wolves got to it, or the friends who lend a bloody knuckled … Continue reading
VIDEO: The rarest Miata — 1 of 24 Le Mans Editions
The Mazda Miata has had numerous limited editions throughout the years, but when Mazda won Le Mans shortly after the roadster’s world-searing launch, it created the perfect storm of conditions under which to develop the most limited MX-5 officially sold through Mazda dealerships.
LA Auto Show: Damn, the Mazda RX-Vision is still gorgeous
At the LA Auto Show Mazda announced an all-new CX-5. There was even news of a SkyActiv-D 2.2-liter diesel engine coming to America, amidst all the controversy of the Volkswagen’s emissions cheating scandal. But at a private off-site event the … Continue reading
Happy Birthday, Soichiro Honda
If Soichiro Honda were alive today, he would be 110 years old. Here’s to the the man that gave us everything from SuperCubs to NSXes. Happy Birthday, Honda-san.
LA Auto Show: Nostalgia for the sport compact tuning days are already here
Do you want to feel old? Yesterday, ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, automakers swarmed the city to show off their upcoming models. But here’s a plot twist we didn’t see coming: for some Japanese firms, namely Nissan and … Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan Juke Black Pearl revives 280Z limited edition color
Until the late 1970s, very few Japanese cars were exported in black. It was considered a formal color, used primarily for government vehicles, chauffeured cars, and hearses. That is, until 1978 when Nissan broke with convention and brought over the Datsun 280Z Black Pearl Edition. … Continue reading
Hiroyuki Hasegawa, 1945 — 2016
Hiroyuki Hasegawa, co-founder and the “H” of renowned Japanese tuning house HKS, has passed away at the age of 71. A former Yamaha engineer, Hasegawa founded HKS in October, 1973 in a small shed at the base of Mt Fuji in … Continue reading
VIDEO: Yet more cars (and bikes) from the Honda Collection Hall
Will the Honda Collection Hall ever run out of vehicles to demonstrate? It’s positively amazing that not only do they have the cars, but that they are all kept up in running condition, whether they be motorcycles, cars, or racing machines. Often … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged accord, Accord Aero Deck, Benly, Cabina, civic, Courreges, Dream, ea, formula 1, Gorilla, honda, honda collection hall, Inspire, integra, le mans, McLaren Honda MP4, NR, NSR500, nsx, ra272, RA300, RA301, RC143, rc166, spacy, Squash, T-Series, t360, Tact, today, VFR
9 Comments
SEMA 2016: JNC sights, sounds, and more sights
As is always the case with SEMA, there’s a ton of stuff to see, and a lot that doesn’t fit into any of the other categories (or any category, for that matter). As our senior editor Dave Yuan puts it, … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240sx, 3000GT, b-series, bmw, camry, CB X, Dart, dodge, E36, fd3s, ferrari, fj40, fj60, ford, funny car, gt-r, GT86, hks, honda, infiniti, Maverick, mazda, miata, Miata ND, mitsubishi, mustang, nissan, prelude, Q60, r35, Rocket Bunny, rotary engine, rx-3, rx-7, s14, S15, sema, toyota, toyota 86, V37
8 Comments
QotW: What JNC is most “on trend” right now?
It was only fitting that a video in which Fast & Furious star Sung Kang and designer Magnus Walker meet and drive each other’s cars debut during SEMA week. After all, Sung’s Fugu Z Datsun was the star of the … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
Tagged 240z, datsun, Fugu Z, nissan, QotW, s30 z, Sung Kang
5 Comments
SEMA 2016: Datsuns, Datsuns, Datsuns!
You’ve seen what Mazda, Toyota, and Honda have done for SEMA. Nissan had no official presence, but one thing is clear. Of all the old school Japanese marques, among customizers, none is more beloved than Datsun.
SEMA 2016: Honda channels 1990 with the new Acura NSX
It was 1990 all over again at the Honda booth. There wasn’t much in the way of proper Soichiro-era steel, but the new Acura NSX was one of the biggest OEM hits at the show. People gawked non-stop. We waited 40 … Continue reading
SEMA 2016: Toyota brings out the classics
For the 50th anniversary of the Corolla, Toyota brought out one of its best SEMA displays ever, which included one example of every generation of the world’s best-selling nameplate. That alone would have been a pretty awesome display already, but Toyota … Continue reading
SEMA 2016: Two Miatas to whet your touge fantasies
They were teased last week, now they’ve been revealed at the 2016 SEMA Show. The pair of driver-focused Miatas will never see production, but they exist to show what is important to the company, and to offer two wildly different … Continue reading
MINICARS: Hot Wheels Mazda REPU prototype
Those who stopped by our booth last Sunday may have noticed a few sneak peeks from our friends at Hot Wheels, hand-delivered in a nondescript plastic bag by designer Jun Imai himself. The first of them is a brand new casting for … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? StarQuest flatty in the D
Today’s Kidney Car is a rarity, but it probably won’t even cost you an internal organ. Offered for sale on Craigslist Detroit is a 1986 Plymouth Conquest flatside for the sweet, sweet price of just $2,500.
NEWS: Scion brand name revived… as Trump hotel
Toyota had always described their Scion brand, which was axed earlier this year, as not just a car marque but a “lifestyle brand.” People seemed to either lament its passing or thought it was a horrible idea to begin with. As it turns out, Trump … Continue reading
VIDEO: Toyota GT86s in retro livery go for a drive
Toyota UK has been straight up killing it, unafraid to go all-out in promoting the marque’s vast motorsports history. They’ve decked six GT86s in the liveries of the most significant Toyota racing machines, brought an Initial D-inspired GT86 to life, and … Continue reading
NEWS: All your Mitsubishi are belong to us
Do not adjust your set. This is a takeover. Nissan’s purchase of a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors is now official. Transaction complete. Nissan-Mitsubishi-Renault-Samsung-Dacia-Venucia-Lada Alliance is now one of the top three largest automotive groups in the world. Plants will be optimized, … Continue reading
VIDEO: Why you should get a Datsun 240Z
Despite lacking the slick production values popular with online classic car videos these days, Australia’s Shannons Club TV is our favorite series on the web. That’s because they have real, well-researched, and informative content that doesn’t simply parrot conventional wisdom. Watch this video on the Datsun 240Z … Continue reading
