Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Mazda RWD rotary hybrid patent discovered
News about Japanese sports cars just keep on coming this week. First there was the RWD straight-six Mazda 6, then some rumors about the new Nissan Z. Now, there’s been some discoveries about a Mazda rotary-powered hybrid mounted in a … Continue reading
Toyota UAE’s Land Cruiser Heritage Edition has stripes
Toyota released a Heritage Edition of the J200-series Land Cruiser in the US last year, one with some snazzed up wheels and brightwork, as well as cool old school badges and logos. In the United Arab Emirates, where Land Cruisers … Continue reading
NEWS: A retro-styled Nissan 400Z is rumored for 2021
A new report suggests that the seventh-generation Nissan Z is scheduled for an appearance by the end of this year, and that it will boast retro styling. We’ve reported last month on Nissan’s trademark filing of a retro Z logo, … Continue reading
Mazda’s upmarket move will spawn straight-six RWD chassis, provide a beacon of hope to future enthusiasts
It’s next to impossible to get genuinely excited about a new car these days, but if there’s one that gets our loins burning, it is the next Mazda 6. That’s because it will ride on an all-new FR platform and … Continue reading
SHOWA SNAP: Tokyo Tower under construction, circa 1958
This Tokyo street scene shows a variety of vehicles, from sedans like the Toyopet Crown to large trucks like the Toyota Toyoace to three-wheelers like the Daihatsu CO10T. What really makes the shot, though, is the ghostly bones of Tokyo … Continue reading
QotW: Daily, Garage, Sell — Flagship Sedans Edition
Welcome to another edition of Daily, Garage, Sell, JNC‘s version of Bang, Marry, Kill. By the late 1980s, Japanese carmakers were taking on the established luxury brands with guns blazing. Tired of the sales price glass ceiling that names like … Continue reading
Daihatsu, Japan’s maker of small cars, also made this giant diesel engine
Like Nissan and Isuzu, Daihatsu is now also offering virtual tours of its museum. Though known mainly for kei cars nowadays, Daihatsu is 113 years old and started life making gigantic engines for steamships and industrial diesels. Though shorter than … Continue reading
MINICARS: Lego should license this unlicensed Initial D AE86
In the old days unlicensed toys used to be somewhat janky, but in recent years in China, where manufacturing prowess and the wild west of intelletctual property law intersect, a lot of it has gotten quite good. Case in point: … Continue reading
ART CORNER: Build these retro race liveried Toyotas during coronavirus lockdown
A few years ago Toyota UK created some very cool GT86es to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary in the United Kingdom. While slapping a wrap and putting some wheels on an otherwise stock car can be a half-assed way for … Continue reading
Posted in Art Corner
Tagged 2000gt, 86, a20, A80, celica, Celica GT-Four, imsa, JGTC, papercraft, scca, st185, supra, toyota, wrc, yatabe
2 Comments
VIDEO: These Mazda at 100 videos are pretty nifty
Mazda is now 100 years old, and it’s done a lot over the past century. To prove it, the company has dug into its archives to put together some videos, mixed with newer footage, showing their highlights and imparting their … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged 787b, cosmo sport, familia, glc, Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto, mazda, miata, rotary engine, rx-7, RX-Vision
2 Comments
QotW: What’s the best JNC for extreme social distancing?
It looks like this coronavirus social distancing thing is going to last a lot longer than what was initially ordered. In fact, it might be best to take a few months’ supply of food and essentials and escape from civilization … Continue reading
Mazda 100th Anniversary Edition models include a nod to the R360 Coupé
Mazda is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, and they are marking the milestone with a series of 100th Anniversary Special Edition cars. Announced this morning in Japan, the lineup draws inspiration from Mazda’s very first passenger car, thee 1960 … Continue reading
GALLERIES: A virtual tour of Japan’s impressive Isuzu museum
Isuzu Plaza, the official Isuzu museum was opened in 2017 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, next to one of the company’s oldest factories. It’s currently closed through April 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but thanks to Isuzu you can still … Continue reading
The new Corona Pandem kit is here
The widebody masters at Rocket Bunny are preparing to launch a new kit for the T40/T50 Toyota Corona. The latest subject for their popular line of Pandem-branded kits may seem like an odd choice, but we think it’s one that … Continue reading
Bake some quarantine treats with these car-shaped cookie cutters
We know being trapped at home can be boring, and not all of us can use this time in the garage. Luckily, here’s another JNC-themed way to liven up the quarantine and possibly occupy any kids that are climbing the … Continue reading
Posted in Art Corner
Tagged aw11, Civic EF, crx, del Sol, fairlady z, fc3s, fd3s, fj40, fj60, honda, land cruiser, mazda, miata, Miata NA, mitsubishi, mr2, MR2 Spyder, mx-5, nissan, nsx, rx-7, s2000, s30 z, sa22c, starion, sw20, toyota
14 Comments
QotW: What’s the scariest thing you’ve discovered while working on your car?
Since we in California are under “shelter in place” orders due to the coronavirus, I decided to spend some much-needed time making a bit of headway in my multiple project cars. About a year ago I picked up an FZJ80 … Continue reading
VIDEO: Watch Tim Allen try to identify a Mazda Cosmo Sport while blindfolded
On Jay Leno’s Garage, there’s apparently a recurring segment where the prolific car collector puts blindfolds on his fellow showbiz car guy friends and makes them guess what car they’re riding in. In a recent clip Tim Allen, star and … Continue reading
Honda has brought back the Trail Cub
At the Tokyo Motor Show last year Honda showed a cool little concept bike that looked like a revival of the 1980 CT110. Also known as Trail Cub or Hunter Cub, the original was a more rugged version of the … Continue reading
Posted in Motorcycles
Tagged CT110, CT125, honda, Hunter Cub, Motorcycle, super cub, Trail Cub
9 Comments
VIDEO: In post-Maria Puerto Rico, cars still shine
Even though it’s about the size of Connecticut, and despite a devastating hurricane just two years ago, Puerto Rico has a thriving car scene. It’s downright amazing what enthusiasts on the small island territory are able to accomplish, considering the … Continue reading
