Author Archives: Ben Hsu

PRODUCT GUIDE: The IRC MB52 “footprint” tire has our new favorite tread pattern

Japan has an incredible penchant for making vehicle modification fun, something that is missing from a lot of car cultures. While going through Ricky’s excellent article about the odds and ends of the NYM, I came across the funkiest tire I’ve ever seen on … Continue reading

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ART CORNER: Japanese artist recreates Initial D touge scenes with amazing model cars

It’s an iconic scene from the pages of Initial D — Takumi Fujiwara’s AE86 touge-battling Keisuke Takahashi’s FD RX-7, drifting through a hairpin. A Japanese artist known as Shinga on Twitter has recreated the moment, but as much as the finished product looks … Continue reading

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NEWS: Next-gen Nissan Fairlady Z rumored to be co-developed with Mercedes-Benz

Should we be worried? The Axis Powers seem to be getting a bit uncomfortably close with their technology sharing. The latest rumor is that Nissan is preparing a seventh-generation Fairlady Z, one that is being co-developed with Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz. 

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MOTORSPORT: Australia’s Improved Production Racing is absolutely riveting

Even to car guys, a lot of modern racing is boring because there simply isn’t a lot of differentiation in the actual cars. Sanctioning bodies have made the rules so strict that in many cases the cars are basically identical. … Continue reading

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QotW: How excited are you about the new Supra?

Few model names evoke as much zeal as “Supra.” Last week, Toyota finally made it clear that it will revive the name for a new sports car that it unveiled in racing guise at the Geneva Motor Show. It even wore number 90 on the … Continue reading

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Happy 311 Day from JNC

Before the famous BRE Datsun 510s and 240Zs, there was the Datsun Roadster. This is the actual, restored car driven by Frank Monise. As the story goes, when asked why he hired Monise, Peter Brock said, “Because he kept beating … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 04 — Trucks

The New Year Meeting has plenty of cars and wares, but one needs to get them to the show in style. We’ve covered the classics, now let’s look at some of the commercial vehicles — utes, vans and trucks — that are … Continue reading

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Happy TE37 Day from JNC

If you were a child of the 80s, you might remember a time when E30 Corollas were just about everywhere. Today, they’re mostly gone, and don’t even get as much love amongst collectors as TE27s and other Corollas. That is … Continue reading

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NEWS: This is the new Toyota Supra

The last Toyota Supra is one of those rare cars that became a legend in its own time, but it’s been 16 years since it was discontinued. At the Geneva Motor Show this morning, the next generation of this venerated nameplate was … Continue reading

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Happy Z32 Day from JNC

Sleek lines, twin turbos, and enough swag to steal Barbie away from Ken. That was the 1990-96 Nissan 300ZX. Let’s all rewatch one of the greatest car commercials of all time (it was so great in fact that the 300ZX had already been discontinued … Continue reading

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NEWS: Subaru 60th Anniversary cars released in Japan

Subaru of America might be celebrating 50 years since its founding this year, but Subaru Japan is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018. To commemorate the occasion, it too is making a special edition car and a promotional campaign to go … Continue reading

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Happy Z31 Day from JNC

It’s March 1, the day on which we celebrate the 80s icon that is the third-generation Nissan Z. May your day be filled with pop-up headlights, turbocharging, and T-tops. Happy Z31 Day from JNC.  

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EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 01 — Sixties Specials

The New Year Meeting is the oldest classic car event in Japan, held annually at the end of January, closer to the lunar new year than the Gregorian one. Having started in 1977, this year marked the 42nd time it was held. This … Continue reading

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MOTORSPORT: Nissan will be the featured marque at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Nissan has confirmed that it will be the featured marque at the 2018 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The event celebrating vintage racing machines takes place at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Historics car week, and remains one of the most … Continue reading

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VIDEO: The introduction of Suzuki’s first car

Suzuki’s first car, the Suzulight, was launched in 1955. At a time when few in Japan owned private cars, and few roads existed, the first cars were sold to doctors so they could make house visits. 

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Tokyo Auto Salon: Subaru Rally Legends

Subaru’s headline at the Auto Salon was the Viziv STI Concept, a potential preview of its next Impreza WRX STI. To support it, they also brought out a pair of rally legends that spawned a generation of fans who bleed blue and … Continue reading

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Happy President’s Day from JNC

What better way to leave it all behind than with the memory of your last ride, a black Nissan President hearse? Get carried away by its grace, class, and dignity, and forget your troubles back on Earth. ‘Cause at the end of … Continue reading

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Happy Year of the Dog from JNC

For all those that celebrate the lunar new year, we at JNC wish you a happy Year of the Dog. Look at those li’l P’ups coming down the ramp, so eager to see you!

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NEWS: Subaru of America celebrates 50 years

February 15 marked the 50th anniversary of Subaru of America. Half a century ago, the company consisted of two guys hawking Fuji Rabbit scooters and trying to drum up interest in the Subaru 360 kei car. Now it sells nearly … Continue reading

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You can now get Honda-branded fashion at Forever 21

Most of us at JNC are what the kids today call “old” and therefore our fashion tastes very rarely converge with those who consider Snapchat a news channel. However, fashion retailer Forever 21 has a new collaboration with Honda that we finally get. 

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