Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Tokyo Auto Salon: Suzuki Land Cruiser? Toyota Jimny?
The Suzuki Jimny is one of the coolest SUVs to debut in recent years. With its true body-on-frame construction, transfer case, and low-range, it’s mor of a true off-roader than most of the bigger, tough-looking crossovers on the market today. … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged J70, jimny, land cruiser, suzuki, tokyo auto salon, toyota
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NEWS: This is the production 2020 Toyota Supra
After a 17 year hiatus, the Supra nameplate has returned to the automotive kingdom, unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show. A poorly kept secret and incessantly teased, the reveal is perhaps no longer really a surprise, but here are … Continue reading
Akio Toyoda’s Century GRMN has a touching easter egg
Akio Toyoda is a fashionable guy, and as such he knows how to arrive in style. At the recent Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival at Fuji Speedway, the Toyota CEO arrived in his custom Toyota Century GRMN, a version of Toyota’s … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: The Supra returns to Japan touring car racing
Toyota has announced that the fifth-gen Supra will return to Japanese touring car racing. The prototype body will be shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon this weekend, and marks the first time in 12 years that a Supra has participated … Continue reading
NEWS: 2020 Toyota Supra leaked ahead of official reveal
The production 2020 Supra wasn’t supposed to be shown until next Monday at the Detroit Auto Show, but a leaked video reveals the A90 in all its un-camouflaged glory. Toyota Mexico accidentally tweeted the video below, showing the Supra in … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda to unveil 30th Anniversary Miata next month
It’s really hard to believe, but the Mazda Miata turns 30 years old next month. The original NA generation of debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989 and single-handedly revived the roadster, which was at that point a … Continue reading
Posted in News
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THE MORE YOU KNOW: California has passed a strict new exhaust law
When the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2019, a new traffic law went into effect in California regarding aftermarket exhausts. Before, if you got pulled over for an “excessively loud” exhaust, officers had the option to give you a … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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VIDEO: The 1989 Nissan Maxima was pretty cool
Remember the original “4DSC” Nissan Maxima? The so-called 4-Door Sports Car was a notch above the standard family sedan offerings at the time. It tempted us with a dedicated chassis and V6-only drivetrain. The design was clean, it was tossable, … Continue reading
QotW: Which 25-year-old cars are you most excited about?
It’s 2019, and a new crop of cars will officially become classics this year, part of the 25 Year Club eligible for a smog check-free existence and historic car plates and insurance in most states. And then there’s the JDM … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? The oldest known Japanese car officially imported to America needs a new home – UPDATE
About ten and a half years ago, we told you about the oldest known Japanese car officially imported to the US. That car was a 1958 Toyopet Crown, which was then auctioned on eBay and purchased in part by the … Continue reading
VIDEO: Restored 1967 Toyota Corolla KE10
One of our favorite episodes of Grassroots Garage was recently posted, and features a restored 1967 KE10 Toyota Corolla. It’s a beautiful example, one that hails from the first year Corollas were imported into Australia. The owner, Nat, achieved the … Continue reading
NEWS: Suzuki reveals retro-styled Jimny Pickup
Suzuki has revealed some of its concepts for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon, and the most intriguing one is a new take on the just-released Jimny that came out earlier this year. Based on the flared-fender, 1.o-liter version, the retro-look … Continue reading
VIDEO: An R32 Skyline GT-R is worth waiting 22 years for
“I wanted the car to look like it came out of the dealership back in the 90s and you would see it on the streets of Tokyo,” says Slide Squad’s Mark Hutchinson of his 1992 Nissan Skyline GT-R. Like many … Continue reading
VIDEO: Watch these Bubble Era coupes duke it out at Ebisu
Holidays are typically a time for feasting. In your post-Christmas food coma, gorge yourself on this video reminder that in Japan, excess is not always best. There, engine displacement has a not insignificant effect on how much tax you pay … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged a70, best motoring, fc3s, galant, Galant VR-4, keiichi tsuchiya, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, r32, rx-7, s13, silvia, skyline, supra, Takahashi Ota, toyota
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Happy Holidays from all of us at JNC
A few years ago the Toyota Automobile Museum put on a spectacular holiday display with a 2000GT outlined in lights. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Alban Arthan, or Festivus we at JNC hope you have a warm and wonderful … Continue reading
A bunch of Japanese Santas gave kids rides in Mazda Roadsters
What’s better than getting a gift from Santa Claus? Getting a ride in Santa’s personal gift-hauler, of course. And if you’re a kid in Yokohama, Japan, Santa’s ride is a 150-horse (generation dependent) open Mazda. With the help of a … Continue reading
NEWS: Only 200 of these Daihatsu Copen Coupes will be sold
The Daihatsu Copen has been a gem among kei cars since it debuted in 2002. Its cheery face and folding hardtop convertible roof (still novel in those days) livened up any street it occupied, and created yet another branch on … Continue reading
Forget tofu, Arby’s gets the drift
Takumi has gotten a new job, delivering roast beef sandwiches for Arby’s.
