Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: What’s your most terrifying car story?
Boo, it’s Halloween! Gather around the campfire and tell us your spookiest tales of automotive terror. Was it that time a simple repair turned into a months-long jack stand occupation? A near miss on the road? A 10mm nut disappearing … Continue reading
Daihatsu brings the kawaii to Tokyo, may be prepping the Vision Copen for export
Daihatsu always has one of the coolest booths at the Tokyo Motor Sh— er, I mean Japan Mobility Show. This year they were one of the few companies to bring some classics from their heritage collection to the big show. … Continue reading
Nissan Hyper Force concept is a brutalist silhouette GT-R
The hits from the Tokyo Motor Show — sorry, Japan Mobility Show — just keep on coming. Nissan has revealed its Hyper Force concept, an absolutely insane take on a future GT-R. An unsparing collections of edges and angles, it … Continue reading
Honda Prelude revived as electric sports coupe
The rumors have been swirling since around this time last year, but now it’s confirmed. Honda has revived the Prelude name on a new sports coupe boasting an electrified powertrain. While not a drop-dead stunner like the Mazda concept revealed … Continue reading
Posted in Japan Mobility Show, Tokyo Motor Show
Tagged honda, Japan Mobility Show, prelude
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Never before seen Honda concepts reveal sports cars that didn’t make it
To celebrates its 60th anniversary of building cars, Honda has shared some images of never-before-seen concepts. Like the unbuilt V8 NSX from the 1970s, these cars were dreamt up at Honda’s Wako, Saitama design studio. They have something else in … Continue reading
QotW: What Toyota model is the most Toyota?
Several weeks ago we asked you to pick the one Honda that best represents the marque. Now do the same for Toyota. In theory it should be a lot harder, as Toyota had built a wider variety of cars than … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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Honda S500, S600, and S800 explored with no stone unturned: The First Honda Automobiles 1958-1970
In the volumes of information available on Hondas, most of it centers on cars of the 1980s and newer. There hasn’t been a whole lot written about the earliest models that paved the way for the Civics and Accords we … Continue reading
Honda almost built a V8-powered NSX in the 1970s
Honda is unique among Japanese carmakers in that its first passenger vehicle was a sports car. The S500 roadster was released in October 1963, just months after the commercial T360, a small pickup that was their first four-wheeled offering. Sportiness … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged acura, concepts, fairlady z, honda, nissan, nsx, s2000, S500/S600/S800, z31
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Honda to hold inaugural Cars, Bikes & Coffee car show at US headquarters
Just a reminder: If you’ve been wanting to visit the newly opened American Honda Collection Hall, your chance is coming up. This Saturday, October 21, is the inaugural Cars, Bikes & Coffee event that Honda is hosting at its US … Continue reading
Mitsubishi teases next Delica ahead of Tokyo reveal
This year the theme of the Japan Mobility Show (formerly Tokyo Motor Show) for several companies seems to be historic models that represent their respective brand identities. For Mazda, it’s all about the Miata. For Honda, it’s the City. For … Continue reading
Mazda teases next-gen Miata’s rear end
As we near the event formerly known as the Tokyo Motor Show (now rebranded as Japan Mobility Show), Japan’s carmakers are releasing teasers of what they’ll be showing off. It’s Mazda’s turn, and they’ve announced that the theme for the … Continue reading
Daihatsu Vision Copen is gloriously retro and rear-wheel-drive
The original Daihatsu Copen was a decent enough kei car. By the time it was introduced in 2002, the Bubble Era craziness that spawned the Mazda AZ-1, Honda Beat, and Suzuki Cappuccino had faded. Those were legit kei sports cars … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Motor Show
Tagged concepts, copen, daihatsu, me:MO, Osanpo, Tokyo Motor Shoiw, Uniform
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Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser takes FJ40 heritage to other worlds
If you had to take one production vehicle on an extraterrestrial expedition, the Toyota Land Cruiser would be a pretty solid pick. The designers at CALTY, Toyota’s southern California studio, seem to agree. As part of their 50th anniversary celebration, … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged Baby Lunar Cruiser, calty, fj40, land cruiser, Lunar Cruiser, toyota
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Never before seen Toyota concepts mark 50 years of first southern California design studio
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of CALTY Design Research, Toyota’s southern California design studio. Today, almost every non-US auto company has a studio in this mecca of car culture, but Toyota was the first. To mark … Continue reading
Honda City modernized for Tokyo Motor Show and it comes with a small bike
The Tokyo Motor Show is about to kick off, and Honda is first to the gates with a retro-modern concept. The Sustaina-C looks like a modern Honda City, and it was even revealed with a new bike, the Honda Pocket, … Continue reading
QotW: What would you put in a Mitsubishi theme park?
We recently learned that Mitsubishi is opening a theme park in Japan. While not automotive-themed, we do hope that they include at least some nods to their automotive division’s long history. Why not include a Pajero jungle cruise, Lancer Evolution … Continue reading
The Mazda RWD straight-six sports sedan might not be dead yet
Hallelujah! The on-again, off-again Mazda FR straight-six sports sedan might not be completely dead yet. A new report out of Japan says that Hiroshima might be proceeding with the project, which was slated to be the next Mazda 6. Last … Continue reading
Posted in News
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