Author Archives: Ben Hsu
VIDEO: 157 of Japan’s best Touge roads, brought to you by the Toyota 86
Going strictly by land mass, Japan is about 10 percent smaller than California, and a full 70 percent of its terrain is mountains. That’s why the twisting passes that cut through the ridges known as touge provide Japan’s preferred method of hooning. When the Toyota … Continue reading
QotW: What was the greatest single year for Japanese cars?
We’ve discussed which automaker had the best year, but which year had the best autos? Prior to 1970, Japanese cars were either grossly overpriced or built for a populace just graduating from a moped. By the turn of the decade, the automakers … Continue reading
VIDEO: Best Motoring now has its own YouTube channel
If you’re an enthusiast of a certain age, there is a very good chance you got your first taste of JDM cars from a pirated copy of a Best Motoring VHS tape. It would be inaccurate to call it a … Continue reading
VIDEO: Why the first-gen Honda Civic makes a great race car
One of our favorite series on the internet right now is by Shannons Insurance of Australia. In the latest episode, they explain why you should go out and buy a first-gen Civic immediately.
NEWS: ND Mazda Miata is Japan Car of the Year
As if the ND Miata needed any more accolades, it has just won Japan Car of the Year. Praised for its purity and sporting driving experience, it earned 442 points, beating out the second-place Honda S660, which garnered 401. The BMW 2-Series came … Continue reading
QotW: Which Japanese automaker had the best single-year lineup?
Models come and go, and some generations are better than others. However, once in a lifetime, maybe twice, cosmic forces just align and an automaker knocks it out of the park like the 1996 Chicago Bulls. Wrong metaphor? I don’t know sports. … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: 25 Hours of Thunderhill Miatas in retro livery
If you’re watching the 25 Hours of Thunderhill this weekend you might see a very familiar livery blasting around the northern California circuit. Mazda has sent a quartet of ND Miatas into the longest enduro in America and, fittingly, they’re … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 25 Hours of Thunderhill, mazda, miata, motorsport, mx-5, ND, rx-7, sa22
1 Comment
JNC THEATER: Time Taxi takes you back in a Toyota Crown
Forget Deloreans, what would a time traveling car in Japan look like? A kujira Crown, apparently. In the drama Time Taxi an MS65 cab takes people back to rectify their mistakes — as long as they have the dough.
VIDEO: Shakotan car show rollout
And now for your viewing pleasure, a metric buttload of kyuusha leaving a car show in Japan. Every single one is a proper, old school Japanese sled. Also note the immaculate smoothness of Japan’s roads, which makes these shakotan rides possible. Watch … Continue reading
QotW: How do you prepare your JNC for winter?
As temps drop, weather gets precipitous and the dreaded salt spreaders come out, our driving patterns change. In LA the only difference is that we might have to actually check the weather report for the chance of rain. The rest of the world, … Continue reading
EVENTS: SevenStock 2015
Mazdafarians far and wide came to the recent SevenStock 18, the premiere showcase of rotary-powered Hiroshima heroes. Held at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, the all-day festival mixed a car show, track day, and basically anything that was Mazda rotary-themed.
QotW: How do you park your JNC?
Given that we’ve just finished a three-part series on the art of parking, we’d like to hear how you park your JNC. Do you seek out the least ding-prone spot in the lot, or is it a garage-only, “point A-back-to-point A” scenario, … Continue reading
Tokyo Motor Show: So what’s up with the easter egg pigs on the Toyota Kikai? [UPDATE]
We’ve waited to talk about the Toyota Kikai because we were hoping to get an answer from Toyota about one of the most bizarre easter eggs we’ve ever seen on a concept car. We still don’t have it, but hopefully … Continue reading
QotW: Which concept from the Tokyo Motor Show should be built?
The Tokyo Motor Show may be over, but the concepts have a chance to live on. This year saw a return to the far-out concepts that you don’t see at any other auto show. From oddball Suzukis to a mid-engined Yamaha, bonkers Daihatsus … Continue reading
VIDEO: Toyota at the Tokyo Motor Show, 1954-2013
In honor of the recent Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota has released a video showing a year-by-year review of every display it’s had since the show’s inception. Travel through time to see Crowns, Coronas, 2000GTs, Corollas, Celicas, and even more Crowns! Watch … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Motor Show, Tokyo Motor Show
Tagged 2000gt, celica, corolla, corona, crown, tokyo motor show, toyota
3 Comments
Tokyo Motor Show: Suzuki’s kei throwbacks
The Tokyo Motor Show ended last night, and we have one thing to say: Oh Suzuki, how we’ve missed you. Not only do we not see your funky little cars on US roads any more, but then you show up to the big … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Motor Show, Tokyo Motor Show
Tagged Air Triser, Alto Works, Ignis, mighty boy, Mighty Deck, suzuki
8 Comments
Get your free customized Toyota badge
Toyota is offering a pretty nifty promotion in which you can get a free badge in Toyota font spelling out the name of your car. Just upload a photo of yourself with your car and tell them your name at this website, … Continue reading
