Author Archives: Ben Hsu

Watch the R32 Nissan Skyline dominate the Japan Touring Car Championship

Between coverage of the latest variants of the Nissan Z and Skyline, we’re pretty NISMO’ed out. Instead, let’s return to NISMO’s heyday, when the R32 Skyline GT-R first appeared on the scene. It had been nearly 20 years since the … Continue reading

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Nissan Skyline NISMO debuts to celebrate 60th anniversary of Prince Skyline S54

Not content to launch just a Z NISMO, Nissan has also released a Skyline NISMO in Japan. Nissan Motorsports hasn’t touched a new Skyline since the GT-R was split off into its own model, and this marks the first time … Continue reading

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Why the Nissan Z NISMO comes in automatic only

Zed-heads were all excited about the Z NISMO until it came out and it was confirmed that the only transmission option would be an automatic. That understandably caused dismay among enthusiasts, and made it the first Z in NISMO history … Continue reading

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Nissan Fairlady Z officially gets a third nose option in Japan, inspired by Z432-R

The big news on the Z front this week has been the unveiling of the Nissan Z NISMO. However, at the same time Americans were getting a view of the tuned Z and its more aggressive face, in Japan a … Continue reading

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New Toyota Land Cruiser debuts with retro styling and back-to-basics hardware

After a long wait, the next-generation Toyota Land Cruiser is finally here. The iconic truck returns for 2024 with a smaller body than the outgoing model, as well as a number of retro styling cues reminiscent of past models. Interestingly, … Continue reading

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Watch the new Toyota Land Cruiser debut live

It’s a week of Japanese icons. First Nissan introduced the Z NISMO, now Toyota is following a day later with the new Land Cruiser. Both are very much key to each company’s identity. We will have more coverage of the … Continue reading

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Nissan Z NISMO arrives with more power and new G-nose, but automatic only

The new Nissan Z has been a welcome addition to today’s bleak automotive landscape. It hasn’t quite taken off, due in part to naysayers’ complaints about the carryover chassis and interior. We found those complaints to be a bit pedantic, … Continue reading

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Next-gen Toyota Land Cruiser to take styling cues from classic FJ62

Toyota has issued another teaser for the 2024 Land Cruiser. It’s our first look at its supposedly retro nose, and to drive the point home Toyota has paired it with a classic FJ62 lurking in the background. While the similarities … Continue reading

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Honda developed a plush S600 to soothe babies with real engine sounds

Every parent knows that there’s one surefire way to get a kid to sleep. Put them in a car and go for a drive. There’s something about the motion and sound that’s extremely calming for a baby. Honda’s research has … Continue reading

Posted in minicars | 5 Comments

A Volk Racing TE37 wheel comes to life at the Rays Engineering factory (VIDEO)

The Volk Racing TE37 wheel is one of the finest aftermarket wheels ever conceived. Behind its clean design is a legendary combination of strength and lightness that justifies its seemingly high cost. And its maker, Rays Engineering, isn’t some fly … Continue reading

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Acura NSX Suzuka Circuit safety car is a tribute to beloved Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada

It’s been a couple of years since Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada passed away from cancer. His former colleagues at Mattel are honoring him with what is the most detailed 1/64 scale cars the company has ever offered. Fittingly, it’s … Continue reading

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Official Honda wedding rings for the extremely brand loyal

Do you love Hondas? Like really, really love Hondas? So much that you’d only marry someone that loves Hondas just as much, get married at the Temple of VTEC, and name your kids Grace and Jade and CR-V? Well have … Continue reading

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Infiniti logo updated to add third dimension, new signature sound and smell

Unless a clapped-out G35 is about to smack you in the ribs at a takeover, you probably don’t give Infiniti much thought these days. You might even be surprised to learn that the Infiniti logo was recently updated, along with … Continue reading

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Toyota Starlet revival is the dream of new Gazoo Racing president

Much has been written about Koji Sato, the former Gazoo Racing president and AE86 owner who has since ascended to the top job at Toyota. He’s said that it’s his life’s dream to bring back the Celica. But what about … Continue reading

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Toyota Land Cruiser teaser for 2024 seems to confirm retro front end

A new teaser released by Toyota portends good things for the upcoming 2024 Land Cruiser. Its return has been highly anticipated return after leaving the US market at the end of the 2021 model year. The image pictures it in … Continue reading

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We regret to inform you that Yamaha will also end its swimming pool business

Just days after Yamaha announced it would cease snowmobile manufacturing, it has also announced that it will stop making swimming pools too. If your reaction to this news was, “Yamaha made swimming pools?” you are not alone. I had no … Continue reading

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Mazda RX-792P quad-rotor race car, one of three built, is for sale

Mazda’s quad-rotor racing engine is the stuff of legend. It propelled the 787B to a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans proved Mazda’s rotary engine in the crucible of motorsport. Mazda only ever put triple-rotor engines in road … Continue reading

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A Honda Civic Wagon was the sound of Raiders of the Lost Ark‘s iconic boulder

The Indiana Jones movies aren’t typically very car-centric, as most of them are set in archaeological sites that date back hundreds of years before a car was even conceived. However, you might be surprised to learn that in reality, a … Continue reading

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New Toyota Land Cruiser reportedly getting FJ40 and 70-inspired design

We’re all excited about the Toyota Land Cruiser reboot in the US, but a new report has us even more stoked than before. A report out of Australia says it may get a retro-inspired design that is specific to the … Continue reading

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Nissan technical college students restoring flood-damaged Fairlady Z for bereaved family

In 2018 one of the deadliest floods in the country’s history swept through southwestern Japan. Twenty-three prefectures received evacuation notices, over 200 people perished, and damages to infrastructure, farms, and property totaled about $20 billion. One family lost an S130 … Continue reading

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