Author Archives: Steve Chang
A Toyota Corona runs from the law in Assassin
Almost exactly 40 years ago, on September 15, 1982, the movie Assassin was released in Japan. The plot was loosely based on the Setouchi Seajack Incident of 1970, one of the country’s most notorious hostage situations at the time. In … Continue reading
Watching an immaculate 1,500-mile Mazda Miata get even cleaner is extremely satisfying
You might think that a 1990 Mazda Miata with only 1,500 miles on the odometer would not need a thorough detailing. Especially when that Miata was lovingly cared for by its original owner and is so “new” that even its … Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC looks best in black?
Today, September 6, is Black Day in Japan. A number of businesses producing black goods promote their wares on this day, so it’s a good day to wear black clothes, eat black Kagoshima pork, or indulge your inner goth. It’s … Continue reading
Oops, someone has already wrecked a new Nissan Z
As you read this the Nissan Z is just arriving at dealers, but the first documented crash involving the new 400-horsepower sports car has already occurred. As it happens, the Z configurator went live on Nissan’s US site only two … Continue reading
QotW: Daily, Garage, Sell — Roadster Edition
Welcome to another edition of Daily, Garage, Sell, JNC‘s version of Bang, Marry, Kill. You are presented with three cars. One is going to be your daily beater no matter what the weather, distance, or cost. Another will be parked in your … Continue reading
Toyota Land Cruisers sure are starring in a lot of movies and TV shows these days
I don’t get the chance to watch a lot of movies or TV, but even with my limited media consumption I’ve seen a ton of Toyota Land Cruisers appearing in all types shows. They’re not just retro background decoration, either. … Continue reading
Toyota Supra successor rumored to spawn Mazda rotary variant
According to reports out of Japan, Toyota is reportedly working on a new sports car to be released sometime in 2026, around the time the current GR Supra is scheduled to sunset. The next version will allegedly be an electric … Continue reading
Rate This Ad: Nissan off-roads through the decades
A new Nissan commercial takes viewers on a ride through the decades. Titled “60 Years in 30 Seconds”, it features spokeswoman Brie Larson time-jumping from the 1959 to present day in various Nissans. If you think that sounds familiar, it’s … Continue reading
Posted in cm
Tagged 240z, Armada, Baja 1000, d21, datsun, hardbody, nissan, pathfinder, S30Z, safari rally
8 Comments
QotW: What is the most “Japanese” car?
On this day 45 years ago, August 8, 1977, the fifth-generation Nissan Skyline debuted. We know the car today by its nickname, the Skyline Japan. It originated from the car’s ad campaign slogan, which claimed (by way of translation), “A … Continue reading
Nissan Z with revised grille, NISMO seats spotted testing in Los Angeles and Arizona
A new Nissan Z test mule has been spotted testing on Angeles Crest Highway near Los Angeles and in Arizona. Notably, it features a revised grille that evokes the Fairlady Z432R-inspired prototype unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. … Continue reading
Rate This Ad: Multi-generational Toyota family
Normally “national sales events” ads are pretty boring. You have the latest models zipping along a city street while APR financing options are recited at Micro Machine Man speed. For this summer’s Toyotathon, however, Toyota is pulling out the classics … Continue reading
After 30 years Honda finally acknowledges “tuners”
One of the biggest mysteries of the universe will always be why Honda never capitalized on the whole “tuner” phenomenon of the 90s. Back in the era of front-wheel drag racing and underglow, car enthusiasts in the 18-34 age range … Continue reading
Nissan Skyline Super Silhouette returns to Gran Turismo after 23 years
After a 23 year absence, the fire-breathing Nissan Skyline Super Silhouette race car is back in Gran Turismo. The iconic race car is part of the July 2022 free update to GT7, making its long-awaited return to the franchise. This … Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
Tagged gran turismo, group 5, masahiro hasemi, nissan, r30, skyline, super silhouette
2 Comments
Rent a classic Toyota on your next trip to Japan
About five years ago a bunch of automakers were trying to rebrand themselves as “mobility companies” to deal with the shifting trends of the industry. Car ownership was dead! People were just going to pay subscriptions to borrow a car … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged a20, a70, celica, corolla, corolla levin, Kinto Vintage Club, soarer, supra, te27, toyota, z10
5 Comments
Shinzo Abe carried through Tokyo by Toyota Century limousine hearse
After his assassination on July 8, the body of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was carried to its final resting place in a Toyota Century limousine hearse. Toyota’s most elegant car is a fitting way to travel through Tokyo for … Continue reading
