Author Archives: Ben Hsu
NISMO is planning an electrified Nissan GT-R replacement
Nissan apparently has a GT-R successor in the works, says a new report out of the UK. It has no name yet, but will take the GT-R’s spot as a NISMO-fied top-dog of Nissan’s lineup. The flagship is seen as … Continue reading
Cry for what Mitsubishi’s Ralliart division has become
Mitsubishi has rebooted its Ralliart brand, the name once synonymous with Lancer Evolution rally cars and Dakar dominance. As a new video shows, the works team once responsible for world-beating motorsports development has now been demoted to hawking mudflaps, decals … Continue reading
Posted in motorsports, News
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Bruce Canepa’s FJ Company Land Cruiser has nostalgic looks, supercharged Tacoma engine
Bruce Canepa is no stranger to amazing cars. The ex-race car driver owns a literal museum and dealer showroom of Porsches, Nissans, and Trans-Am era race cars. He’s a constant at the Monterey Historics and has raced in everything from … Continue reading
QotW: What does your car cleaning regimen consist of?
We hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving long weekend last week. Perhaps you were able to get some quality time with your car because today, November 28, is Car Wash Day in Japan. In fact, it’s one of two Car … Continue reading
Mazda Vision Study Model teases stunning next-gen Miata
Mazda is teasing car enthusiasts with a low-slung sports car design that could portend the next Miata. The Mazda Vision Study Model was buried in a mid-term plan outlining an $11 billion push toward electrification. Reading between the lines it … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite childhood road trip memory?
The holiday season is upon us, and that means a lot of traveling to visit family and friends. Some of our earliest experiences of automotive adventures are sitting in the back of the family station wagon, in the days before … Continue reading
Hayashi Racing debuts finned rear drums for classic Nissans
Hayashi Racing has announced a new product that is sure to be of interest to kyusha owners. These gorgeous rear brake drums are now available for Nissans of the late-60s and 1970s era. The aluminum drums are finned to help … Continue reading
Posted in Product Guide
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Mazda debuts Roadster Brown Top Edition in Japan
Mazda has released a new special edition Roadster in Japan. The Brown Top Edition debuts a new color to the ND, Zircon Sand Metallic, that looks kind of like a modern take on 90s champagne gold. As you can probably … Continue reading
QotW: Why aren’t there more good looking cars?
One time I was explaining to my non-car guy friend how there are entire schools specializing in automotive design. Car companies spend millions on every visual detail, like picking just the right shade of red. And everyone knows that buying … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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Enkei RPF1RS now available in 18-inch sizes
It’s been 20 years since the release of the Enkei RPF1, a timeless racing wheel for Bubble Era cars. The super lightweight design has its roots in Formula 1 racing, but its consumer version has for two decades been one … Continue reading
Japan Automotive Hall of Fame welcomes Fairlady Z, Prius, and more
The Japanese Automotive Hall of Fame has announced their 2022 inductees. Each year three vehicles representing milestones in the country’s auto industry are selected for the honor. This year, they include a sports car classic, a technological turning point, and … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged fairlady z, japan automotive hall of fame, Katana, nissan, prius, S30Z, suzuki, Torao Yamaba, toyota, Tsukuba
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QotW: What automotive dreams would you fulfill with $1.9 billion?
The Powerball jackpot has grown to $1.9 billion, the biggest ever in a national lottery according to the Guinness Book of World Records. For the winner the possibilities will be endless, quite likely in several life-ruining fashions. You could build … Continue reading
This Honda Civic EF wearing Advan Oni 2 wheels was our SEMA favorite
We’re still compiling the hundreds of photos from SEMA into a digestible gallery (and intermittently washing our eyes out with bleach), but we wanted to give credit where credit was due. Our favorite car at the 2022 SEMA Show was … Continue reading
Toyota Land Cruiser body panels are here to help you rebuild an FJ40
One of the surest signs a car has become a classic is when an aftermarket company begins to offer body panels for it. At the SEMA Show this year, we stumbled upon a outfit making replica body panels for nearly … Continue reading
Toyota’s TRD tricolor will never not look cool
At the SEMA Show Toyota unveiled a colossal number of trucks while announcing yet another line of off-road sub-brands called Trailhunter. Apparently this overlanding thing is really taking off (/s). The coolest among this gaggle of 4x4s is a Sequoia … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most sinister looking JNC?
Just in time for All Hallows’ Eve, we come to you with a question of the most sinister looking JNC. Some people think old wagons are just creepy because they look like hearses. An S40 Gloria wagon in particular looks … Continue reading
BRE Sunny Truck with Leaf powertrain leads Nissan’s SEMA 2022 lineup
In the past couple of years the pandemic has decimated participation at the SEMA Show, but there are some signs of life in Las Vegas. Nissan, for example, is bringing a diverse mix of weird and wonderful builds that capture … Continue reading
Hyundai continues to build better Mitsubishis than Mitsubishi
In 1986, to prepare for the upcoming Seoul Olympics, Hyundai needed a flagship sedan. But it was so wet behind the ears that it had to turn to another carmaker to design one for them, one that seemed like a … Continue reading
QotW: Can you help a fellow JNC reader find a ride-on car for their daughter?
This week’s question comes from Robin N., whom we are trying to help with the very worthy goal of finding a Japanese Power Wheels-type car for kids. “There are not many ride-on cars for kids that are Japanese,” Robin wrote … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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