Author Archives: Ben Hsu
NEWS: Mazda to offer more 30th Anniversary Miatas to US buyers
The Mazda Miata 30th Anniversary Edition sold out in just four hours after its introduction in February. All 500 allocated to the US market were spoken for during pre-order, but now Mazda is giving 143 buyers who missed out the … Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan creates a watch for John Morton using his Datsun 510’s chin spoiler
Nissan has created a watch just for racing legend John Morton in honor of his SCCA championships behind the wheel of Datsun cars. The one-off timepiece incorporates not only design cues, but parts from the actual No. 46 BRE Datsun … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 240z, 510, bre, datsun, john morton, nissan, peter brock, s30 z, scca
12 Comments
Toyota brought these classic Supras to the A90 launch
At the test drive of the first 2020 Supras this week at Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia, Toyota also brought along several examples of classic Supras to go along with the new kid on the block. Sadly, though … Continue reading
QotW: What questions do you have for the A90 Supra?
We’re about to get behind the wheel of the long-awaited fifth-gen Toyota Supra. Depending on who you talk to the expectations could not be higher, or lower. Toyota says we’ll have the chance to talk to engineers, designers, and other … Continue reading
NEWS: Japan’s new emperor takes first ride in a Toyota Century Royal
On May 1, Japan’s newest Emperor, Naruhito, took his first ride as the head of the royal family to a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Of course, the media was very interested in his inheritance of the swords … Continue reading
Get ready for the 15th Japanese Classic Car Show
It’s hard to believe, but the Japanese Classic Car Show will be celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Not only that, 2019 marks “year zero” of the Reiwa Era, and is thus an opportunity for a fresh new start. The … Continue reading
NEWS: It’s the end of the road for the Nissan Z Roadster
The end of the Heisei Era has taken another model along with it. Nissan has confirmed that droptop versions of the Nissan Z will no longer be sold starting with the 2020 model year. While this doesn’t affect the Z … Continue reading
VIDEO: RE Amemiya’s rotary-powered Mazda kei car
One of our favorite tuner specials in recent Tokyo Auto Salon memory was RE Amemiya’s rotary-powered Mazda Chantez. As Ricky Silverio explained back when the car debuted in 2016, the car hearkens back to the legendary rotary tuning house’s roots, … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged chantez, mazda, Nob Tanaguchi, Option Video, re amemiya, rotary engine, Tsukuba Circuit
2 Comments
MOTORSPORT: Record-holding Dakar racer Yoshimasa Sugawara retires at age 77
After a record 36 back-to-back runs in the Dakar Rally, Yoshimasa Sugawara has decided to hang up his racing hat for good. The Hokkaido native holds dual Guinness records for most consecutive starts, having participated in his first Dakar Rally … Continue reading
Happy 430 Day from JNC
This Nissan Cedric may look plain, but nearly every aspect of it has been customized. As is the case with many forms of art, subtlety is the key. Happy 430 Day from JNC.
QotW: What’s the greatest car of the Heisei Era?
This Tuesday, April 30, Emperor Akihito will become the first Japanese royal in 200 years to abdicate his throne, citing his age and declining health and bringing the Heisei Era to a close. Though Japan’s royal family is largely symbolic … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Mazda still carries the IMSA torch
Mazda has been a dominant force in IMSA since the original 1979 RX-7 won its class at the 24 Hours of Daytona in its debut year. As our resident vintage racer Glenn Chiou mentioned in his recent piece, much of … Continue reading
NEWS: It’s the end of the road for the Toyota Mark X
All good things must come to an end, and today we must bid farewell to yet another steadfast nameplate of Japan’s automotive landscape. On the very same day that Mitsubishi announced the end of the Pajero, Toyota announced, after 11 … Continue reading
NY Auto Show: There’s a Suzuki Jimny in New York, you guys
One of the biggest surprises at the New York Auto Show was the presence of a Suzuki Jimny. We were stoked to see what was likely the first new Suzuki car on US soil, in all its highlighter yellow glory, … Continue reading
NEWS: It’s the end of the road for the Mitsubishi Pajero
It’s always sad when a storied and accomplished lineage comes to an end with no successor in sight. Today, that fate belongs to the Mitsubishi Pajero. On Wednesday Mitsubishi Motors announced that the illustrious off-roader will cease sales in Japan … Continue reading
VIDEO: Nissan celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Tomei Expressway
You are probably sick of hearing about Nissan’s many anniversaries this year, but the company is celebrating one more 50-year milestone — that of the Tomei Expressway. The 215-mile highway traces Japan’s southern coast between Tokyo and Nagoya, following a … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged 510, 521, a30, b110, bluebird, c10, cedric, cedric 130, datsun, fairlady z, gloria, nissan, S30Z, skyline, sunny, Tomei Expressway
6 Comments
EARTH DAY: The 1985 Toyota AXV got 80 mpg thanks to clever design
Toyota is known leading sales of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and pioneering hybrid tech (even as early as 1977), but back in 1985 they didn’t reinvent the wheel with a new powertrain. They simply tried to build the most efficient … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite Z?
Nissan celebrated dual 50th anniversaries last week for two of its most revered models. We’ve inquired about the GT-R already; now it’s the Z’s turn. The beloved Z has gone through countless variations over the years, from the race-ready Fairlady … Continue reading
NY Auto Show: A gallery of classic Z-cars
The GT-R’s incredible 50th anniversary display may have taken center stage at the New York Auto Show, but the Z’s half-century birthday did not go uncelebrated. Nissan also brought out several historic Z models from its US collection, and also … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, 280zx, 300zx, 370z, new york auto show, nissan, s130, s30 z, yutaka katayama, z31, z32, z34
6 Comments
NY Auto Show: Nissan built a one-night shrine to the GT-R and Z
It’s been a big week for Nissan here in New York, celebrating the 50th anniversaries of its two most revered nameplates, the Z and GT-R. Nissan hosted a reception to honor the two models, bringing art, artists, and actual cars … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240z, 370z, c10, gt-r, GT-R NISMO, GT-R50, Hakosuka, new york auto show, nissan, r35, s30 z
7 Comments
