Author Archives: Steve Chang
QotW: What car would Barbie drive if she went “JDM”?
Ads for Barbie‘s live-action film are everywhere, and her 1956 Corvette seemingly plays a significant part. It makes sense, as the movie has massive GM product placement (the Blazer, Hummer EV, and Suburban also feature heavily). But for her next … Continue reading
Cutaway Nissan RB30 made out of Lego actually spins
The creativity that people can manage with a pile of plastic bricks never ceases to amaze. The most recent Lego marvel we’ve come across is a completely operational Nissan RB30 engine. Powered by an electric motor, the approximately 1:3 scale … Continue reading
QotW: What should the next-gen Nissan Skyline really be?
Nissan harshed our mellow last week when it was reported there’s a good chance the next Skyline will become an electric crossover, and not a sedan like it’s been since 1957. It seemed like a sad fate for one of … Continue reading
Watch this cracked taillight be repaired to like-new condition by a master craftsman
A cracked or broken taillight lens is usually considered something that’s unfixable. When the unfortunate happens, you’re usually off to a junkyard or scouring eBay for a replacement. But what if you’re taillight is so old and rare that replacement … Continue reading
Nissan Skyline reportedly morphing into electric SUV
A new report out of Japan says that the Nissan Skyline is about to change forms and become — you guessed it — an electric SUV. The popular tuning platform has been a sedan since 1957 (years before Nissan) when … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Mugen celebrates 50th anniversary with Casio watch
In 1973 Mugen was founded to build race and aftermarket parts for Honda motorcycles and cars. Its racing engines, composites, and tuning parts have powered everything from Formula 1 cars to hooptie Civics over the decades. This year marks its … Continue reading
QotW: What are your favorite cars as emoji?
Today, July 17, is World Emoji Day. The digital pictograms that have proliferated ants were invented in 1999 in Japan. However, the date of July 17 originated from the day Apple launched iCal application in 2002. When emoji were added … Continue reading
Nissan is getting ready to throw a 90th anniversary bash
Nissan is about to throw a big birthday party for itself as it readies itself for its 90th birthday. In the coming months, the carmaker will roll out a series of initiatives to celebrate its heritage and DNA. This includes … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your oil change routine for your car(s)?
There’s the old joke about a wrenching noob that goes into an auto parts store to ask for a 710 cap. Well, in Japan they’ve gone and made an entire day out of it. Today, July 10, is officially Lubrication … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most “American” JNC?
These days if you look at a Japanese car company’s US lineup and the hometown Japanese lineup, there isn’t much overlap. Almost all the US models have been engineered for the US market, built in the US, and sold here … Continue reading
Honda CRX Si returned to family and restored to Tuner Era glory after 20 years
Anthony Pedatella’s 1990 Honda CRX Si was his pride and joy when he and his wife-to-be Marisa began dating in midst of the Tuner Era. It epitomized the style of the times, with a ZC twin-cam, Clarion stereo, and a … Continue reading
QotW: Do friends and family actually take your car advice?
Like it or not, as car enthusiasts we often serve as the go-to people among our normie friends and family for advice on cars. Some people do follow our recommendations, but others, after picking our brains for hours and asking … Continue reading
Is Kanye West a closet JDM car enthusiast?
Kanye West’s lyrics have not been kind to Japanese cars. Not only are they jammed with references to typical rapper fare like Mercedes-Benzes and Lamborghinis, he often rips on cars like Nissans and Toyotas. But a recent spate of West … Continue reading
Forza Motorsport promises 80s Group 5 vs IMSA crossover
The official trailer for Forza Motorsport has dropped, giving us a glimpse of the racing action contained within. What’s most compelling is that the game seems to lean heavily into actual racing machines, which leads to some interesting match ups, … Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
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The Mitsubishi Fuso Canter turns 60 years old
Among the oldest nameplates in Japan’s auto industry is the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter. Though perhaps not as exciting as Nissan’s Skyline or Toyota’s Crown, the Canter has been a staple of Japanese roads for 60 years. The cabover light-duty truck … Continue reading
RIP Tina Turner, singer, actor, DSM spokesperson
Japan is known for poaching American celebrities for car commercials, and at first glance this spot for a DSM starring 12-time Grammy winner Tina Turner could easily be mistaken for that. But no, it’s a home-grown all-American ad for the … Continue reading
Overtake, a new racing anime, is coming this fall
The world is still waiting for the next Initial D, the last racing anime to really take the globe by storm. Could a new series about open wheel racing take the mantle? Titled Overtake, the series focuses on Formula 4, … Continue reading
