Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Happy 99th Birthday, Mazda
Ninety-nine years ago, Toyo Kogyo Cork Company was established in Hiroshima, Japan. Though it’s had many ups and downs over the decades, that humble little firm would grow up to become one of the most innovative and enthusiast-oriented carmakers in … Continue reading
VIDEO: Watch Gan-san whip a Hakosuka GT-R around Fuji Speedway
In 2003, Fuji Speedway was shut down for a year in order for a major redesign. It wouldn’t be its first, but it would be substantially different than any of the previous configurations. To celebrate the last days of the … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged c10, fuji speedway, Hakosuka, Motoharu Kurosawa, motorsport, nissan, skyline
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NEWS: Toyota introduces Heritage Edition Land Cruiser
For 2020, Toyota is releasing a Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, celebrating the go-anywhere SUV’s 60-plus years of continuous sales. Toyota established their US offices in late 1957, and have sold Land Cruisers in the states ever since then. Not even … Continue reading
NEWS: The Honda EV prototype loses its first-gen Civic looks
Over the weekend Honda published a new illustration of its upcoming electric vehicle, scheduled to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. Unfortunately, it’s pretty disappointing. It looks as if it has lost much of the retro, first-gen … Continue reading
QotW: Drive, Sell or Garage? 80s Drift Machine Edition
Welcome to another edition of Drive, Sell or Garage, JNC‘s version of Bang Marry, or Kill. This time, your choices are three entry-level drift machines that have grown to legend status. Each has its own mechanical advantages and weaknesses, and … Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: This Isuzu Elf was incredibly popular
Our final feature from the Tokyo Auto Salon is a vehicle that we probably would have walked right by, but proved immensely popular with our Japanese friends. Built by students at the Fukushima Science and Technology College, the 1990 Isuzu … Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: A Nissan Cedric stock car built by students
One of our favorite cars at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon was a humble Nissan Cedric sedan. Built by students at Tokyo Automobile University School, the car represented a brief period in the 1960s when Japan tried its hand at … Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: Japanese tradition in car form
The classics of the chrome era at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon could be split into two camps. Restomods look towards the future, using a nod to the past to incorporate new and modern ideas. Then there are the cars … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 521, advan, bosozoku, c10, Crown Comfort, daihatsu, datsun, Hakosuka, hiace, hijet, kaido racer, kei, nissan, skyline, tokyo auto salon, toyota
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NEWS: The first A90 Toyota Supra sells for $2.1 million, but calm down
The first production A90 Toyota Supra has sold for $2.1 million at auction. It’s an eye-watering sum, though it is going to two very worthwhile charities. Seven digit sales figures aren’t that unusual in these much-hyped, first-to-market auctions, but in … Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: Japanese Restomods
Even after 27 years, The Tokyo Auto Salon is still the premier showcase of automotive fashion from a country that has no shortage of them. Many trends have come and gone over the decades, but TAS will probably always have … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 2000gt, ae86, c10, c110, cherry, Civic Type R, copen, corolla, corolla levin, daihatsu, fairlady z, fc3s, Hakosuka, honda, kei, kenmeri, lexus, Lexus RC, liberty walk, mazda, nissan, r34, r35, Rocket Bunny, rocky auto, rx-7, s13, s14, S15, s30 z, s660, silvia, skyline, Speed Forme, star road, tokyo auto salon, toyota, wagons
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Tokyo Auto Salon: Here’s the Toyota Century GRMN in black
Here’s another quick snap from the Gazoo Racing booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon last weekend. Looks like CEO Akio Toyoda has commissioned another Century GRMN, this time in its most proper color, black.
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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