Author Archives: Steve Chang

Off-roading game from ‘Art of Rally’ creator announced

In 2020 the indie game Art of Rally dazzled us with its gorgeous lo-fi graphics and incredible selection of cars. Its creator has now announced Over the Hill, a new game with the same graphical style but with classic off-roaders … Continue reading

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The meaning behind MF Ghost’s “MF” initials finally revealed

Since MF Ghost’s inception there has been speculation about what the “MF” initials actually stand for. Author Shuichi Shigeno didn’t reveal it from the jump, and fans have been speculating about the meaning since the manga debuted in 2017. Some … Continue reading

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Tokyo Auto Salon sonohoka (odds and ends)

The Tokyo Auto Salon can be sensory overload. There’s just so much to see, you probably can’t finish it all in one day. In Japan the term sonohoka means “the rest” or “the others”, sort of like “etc.” in English. … Continue reading

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TOM’s Classic restoration division to sell complete 4A, 3S and 2JZ engines

At last year’s Tokyo Auto Salon TOM’s announced it would begin a restoration business to mark its 50th anniversary. At the time they displayed a complete A80 Supra that represented the type of restomod they could build. This year, they … Continue reading

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QotW: Which Japanese classic should be remade for the modern age?

One of the biggest stunners at the Tokyo Auto Salon was Rocky Auto’s remake of the Prince R380, constructed using the original body molds but with modern engines underneath. It got us thinking about which cars might be ideal for … Continue reading

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This 1000-horsepower Sera is the Honda-Nissan merger we’re hoping for

With the impending Honda-Nissan merger, the big question is what kind of cars will the joined companies build? If an example from the Tokyo Auto Salon is any indication, we are all for it. At first glance it might not … Continue reading

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The Work VS-KF# revives a 5-spoke favorite

Work Wheels’ iconic VS-KF wheel is making a comeback. Announced at the Tokyo Auto Salon over the weekend, the tuner favorite will enter production again later this year after a long hiatus. The revived version, called Work VS-KF#, has seen … Continue reading

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‘Tokyo Xtreme Racer’ returns after 18-year hiatus on January 23

The long wait is almost over. The developers of Tokyo Xtreme Racer have announced that the first TXR game in 18 years will be released on January 23 on Steam. The team has also been sharing glimpses of the game … Continue reading

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QotW: What car and color combo is the perfect fit?

Today, January 6, is Color Day in Japan because the first syllables of ichi (one) and roku (six) color, can be combined to spell iro, which is “color” in Japanese. Color on cars is interesting, because the right combo can … Continue reading

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Nissan Technical College students build a modern Kenmeri Skyline, U11 Bluebird, and Z wagon for Tokyo Auto Salon

It’s almost time for the Tokyo Auto Salon, and that means wild vehicular creations are afoot. The Nissan Technical Colleges around Japan have completed three custom cars that they plan to display at the show, which include a modern Kenmeri … Continue reading

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Nissan 240SX barn find gets first wash in almost 30 years

In Japanese tradition anĀ osoji (literally “big clean”) is conducted to welcome in the new year with a fresh start. Therefore, here is a 45-minute video in which a barn find Nissan 240SX gets a thorough wash and detail. It’s extremely … Continue reading

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QotW: What are you asking JNC Santa Claus for this year?

There’s a legend in Japan that a jovial, rotund man in a white suit with a big red dot on it lives at the northernmost tip of Hokkaido. He keeps a list of lonesome car boys and girls and for … Continue reading

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QotW: What mods have you regretted making on your JNC?

We were all young and dumb once. Our tastes change as we mature and we realize that what we once thought was cool is actually something cringe. Turns out a giant wing and underglow don’t really make a car go … Continue reading

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Car & Driver‘s twin-engined Honda CRX rides again, with Jay Leno behind the wheel

We don’t normally we don’t pay much attention to crazy Frankenstein builds. They might be impressive feats of engineering and construction, but they usually exist to show off the owner’s insane wrenching skills or satisfy some performance metric at the … Continue reading

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This Lego Toyota Supra looks absolutely terrible

Images of an upcoming Lego set depicting an A80 Supra have been leaked, and the model looks really, really bad. Even more shockingly, none of the badness has to do with the fact that it’s a Fast & Furious car. … Continue reading

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Toyota AE86 drifts into Diet Coke commercial

We think the fake sweetener in Diet Coke makes it taste horrible, but we don’t mind the soft drink’s latest ad, which includes a surprise appearance by a Toyota AE86. In the spot the two-tone light pink/dark pink Corolla slides … Continue reading

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QotW: What indispensable items are in your toolbox?

It’s the holidays and we need some gift ideas. So tell us the things that have made your automotive wrenching easier, saved your butts, or are simply so satisfying to use that you want to spread the joy. They can … Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 17 Comments

QotW: What automotive things are you thankful for this year?

It’s almost Thanksgiving (here in America, at least), a time when we reflect on the things we’re grateful for in life. In an automotive landscape that can often look bleak, what are some of the silver linings and rays of … Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | 14 Comments

QotW: What’s your favorite feat of civil engineering?

Cars wouldn’t be any fun if there were no roads to drive them on. Today, November 18, is Civil Engineering Day in Japan, and it honors those who built the highways, bridges, and tunnels that help us get where we’re … Continue reading

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QotW: Which marque would you never recommend?

Earlier this year we asked which marque you most often recommend. We presume that, as car enthusiasts, friends and family will ask you about what car they should buy. But what about the cars they shouldn’t buy? What are the … Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | 17 Comments