Author Archives: Steve Chang
Honda Super Cub art from around the world celebrates the iconic bike
At what point does a mass-produced consumer product become art? The Honda Super Cub has been in production since 1958 and proliferated the landscape of humanity by selling over 100 million units. There’s no arguing that the Super Cub is … Continue reading
Shaking Toyota Land Cruiser demonstrates force of 7.5M earthquake
Rescue and relief efforts are still under way in Japan after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Japan on New Year’s Day. Demonstrating the force of the tremor, an eyewitness video shows a parked Toyota Land Cruiser being rocked on its … Continue reading
Toyota releases map of drivable roads after New Year’s Day earthquake
This is not how we wanted to start off 2024, but on New Year’s Day a 7.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in Japan. The epicenter was in the Sea of Japan, just off the Noto Peninsula near Ishikawa Prefecture. The death … Continue reading
R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R tissue box will dry your nose super quick
If your home is anything like ours, this winter has been a revolving door of viruses. Tissues flow non-stop. But now at least there’s an entertaining dispenser to make blowing your stuffy nose a bit less of a drag. Behold … Continue reading
The Bridgestone Super R.A.P. aluminum wheel has been resurrected
It looks like a steelie, but the Bridgestone Super R.A.P. is an aluminum wheel. Introduced in 1987, it was designed to be “the ideal competition wheel”. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Bridgestone’s motorsport program, so the company has … Continue reading
Posted in wheels
5 Comments
R35 conversion turns Nissan GT-R into R34 Skyline homage
The R35 Nissan GT-R has always been an incredible performance machine, but it hasn’t been traditionally beautiful. In fact, it departed quite a bit from tradition by splitting off from its R32/R33/R34 predecessors to become its own thing. However, a … Continue reading
Drive a classic Toyota Supra when you stay at the Fuji Speedway Hotel
If you’re planning to visit Fuji Speedway soon, you might want to look into the Supra Winter Festival. The program lets guests of the Fuji Speedway Hotel drive a Supra during their stay. While the main purpose of the promotion … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged a60, a70, A80, A90, fuji speedway, Fuji Speedway Hotel, supra, toyota
3 Comments
The Subaru Legacy turbo wagon had one fatal flaw
Long before the WRX was even a glint in the eye of Subaru USA’s marketing team, Fuji Heavy Industries was offering a turbo wagon in the US market. The first-generation Legacy Sport Wagon was the most athletic wagon Subaru had … Continue reading
Posted in Video
9 Comments
Toyota MR2 reportedly returning at the expense of mid-engine GR Yaris
A rumor out of Japan says that not only is Toyota reviving the MR2, but that it will have a purely gasoline-powered engine. In fact, the mid-engined runabout is likely to be the last combustion-only Toyota sports car ever made. … Continue reading
QotW: What car would you show an alien to help them appreciate cars?
Today is ET Day in Japan, commemorating the day in 1982 when the movie E.T. The Extraterrestrial was released there. Using that as a jumping off point, let’s say you encounter a curious and benign life form that has traveled … Continue reading
QotW: What series should we binge over the holidays?
In 2014 a new trilogy of Initial D movies came out. Called New Initial D Movie — Legend, It was a reboot complete with new animation style, a retelling of the earlier chapters of the beloved series. We watched the … Continue reading
QotW: What car-related things are you thankful for?
This week is Thanksgiving (if you’re reading from the US), that time of year when we talk about the things in life that, big or small, we are grateful for. In the very futuristic sounding year of 2023, we are … Continue reading
Plymouth Arrow promotional video from 1976 shows its many quirks
The Plymouth Arrow is nearly forgotten today, but the badge engineered Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste had a lot to offer. Its handling was rated quite positively in magazine tests of the era, and Mitsubishi’s signature “silent shaft” technology used a counterbalanced … Continue reading
Posted in Video
9 Comments
QotW: What technology made modern cars less interesting?
To the average consumer the formula is pretty straightforward: new = good. But JNC owners know better than that. The last couple of decades have seen an in-car technology boom, but if you’re reading this you likely long for the … Continue reading
Toyota teams up with streetwear brand Huf for 70s-inspired swag
Toyota is teaming up with streetwear brand Huf on a new line of apparel. Said to be inspired by 70s graphics, the clothes and accessories feature heaps of Toyota trucks and plenty of the red-orange-yellow tricolor. Some of the designs … Continue reading
Watch the R31 Nissan Skyline GTS-R take the 1989 JTC Drivers’ Championship
The dominance of the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R in Japan’s touring car racing is well known. But before Godzilla stepped into the ring, it may surprise you to learn that the All-Japan Touringcar Championship was dominated by Ford — specifically, … Continue reading
QotW: What would you put in a JNC theme park?
A few weeks ago we asked what you would put in a Mitsubishi theme park. It’s something worth considering since the Mitsubishi Group is actually building one. But that may have been too restrictive. Today, October 16, happens to be … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
8 Comments
QotW: What’s your favorite Japanese truck?
Today, October 9, is Truck Day in Japan. Like many such days, the occasion is a pun on the word toraku, which means “truck” in Japanese. The syllables to and raku are alternate pronunciations of 10 and 9, respectively. While … Continue reading
Toyota GR86 meets its Initial D and MF Ghost predecessors in new ad
Toyota has teamed up with the creator of Initial D and MF Ghost again in a new ad. The spot features the new GR86, the old 86, and the really old AE86 on a late night touge run while a … Continue reading
Toyota Tacoma with FJ60 Land Cruiser face is Flex Auto’s first USDM offering
Last year we reported that Flex Auto was opening its first US office. The Japanese company is known for grafting old school noses onto modern Toyota vehicles, mostly classic Land Cruisers and HiAce vans. Upon opening their first American branch, … Continue reading
