Category Archives: News
Toyota renews Cressida trademark but don’t hold your breath
It’s been 34 years since the last Cressida was sold in the US and there have been no whispers that the long-dormant nameplate might return. The final rear-wheel-drive gasoline Toyota sedan was last available new here in 1992. However, on … Continue reading
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Honda celebrates 50 years of the Accord with Collection Hall exhibit and goods
The Honda Accord debuted fifty years ago this month. To celebrate, Honda has put up a special exhibit at the Honda Collection Hall in Japan. The display features a timeline of all eleven generations, as well as a fourth-gen wagon … Continue reading
RIP Alex Zanardi, race car driver, Paralympic champ, and inspiration to all
One of the most inspiring figures in motorsport has passed away. The family of Alex Zanardi has revealed that the Italian race car driver and Paralympic athlete died peacefully on May 1. The two-time CART champion and Paralympic gold medalist … Continue reading
A Mitsubishi V12 tank engine is about to undergo restoration
A group in Japan has been trying to establish a museum about Japan’s military. They’ve been gathering parts and equipment that may some day be displayed in its halls. One such example is a rare Mitsubishi V12 tank engine that’s … Continue reading
How Honda’s ASIMO predecessor shocked the robotics world 30 years ago
The international Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has recognized the Honda P2 robot as an IEEE Milestone. Introduced in 1996, the P2 was a revolutionary step in the field of robotics, the first self-contained humanoid robot capable of balanced … Continue reading
Could this Nissan Terrano concept preview the new Pathfinder?
Nissan has pulled the wraps off of a new SUV concept called the Terrano PHEV at the Beijing International Auto Show. Since the Terrano was the Japanese-market name for the original Nissan Pathfinder, it’s only logical to look to this … Continue reading
Watch Mazda rebuild a 4-rotor race motor from the 787
It’s no small undertaking to rebuild a 4-rotor R26B from a Mazda 787 race car. Most of the parts are unique to the engine and have been out of production for decades. A recent Mazda Motorsports video shows what it … Continue reading
Honda builds City Turbo II homage withS ‘Bulldog Style’
The Honda Super-One recently launched in Japan was clearly inspired by the 1983-86 Honda City Turbo II. But in case that wasn’t obvious enough, Honda has created an even more overt homage to the City Turbo II. Developed by Honda … Continue reading
Nissan execs reveal sports car plans and another Xterra teaser
In the wake of Nissan’s mega press conference earlier this week more news about its sports cars and the revived Xterra SUV has emerged. The briefing outlined how the company plans to reverse its money-shredding trajectory and undo the legacy … Continue reading
Nissan teases new Skyline, Xterra as ‘Heartbeat’ of the company
Nissan unveiled its latest business plan last night, titled “Vision of Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life”. Behind the buzzwords, however, were the first two teasers of nameplates of great importance to enthusiasts: the Skyline and the Xterra. While the long-term … Continue reading
Nissan promises manual Infiniti sedan, V6 Xterra, and maybe a 700-horsepower flagship SUV
More good news is coming out of Nissan, this time regarding its Infiniti division and the 4×4 offerings of both brands. It seems that record losses, the closing of major factories, and job cuts have forced the company to shake … Continue reading
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Ascara Integra? Fulma Legend? Rejected Acura names that could have been
When Honda debuted its Acura brand in 1986 it was navigating uncharted territory. Launching a Japanese luxury marque had never been done before, and it had to come up with the entire concept out of thin air, including the name. … Continue reading
The R36 Nissan GT-R and latest Z appear to be in good hands
Despite Nissan’s terrible financial situation the two cars enthusiasts care most about, the Z and GT-R, appear to be secure. When a company posts an annual loss of $4.24 billion, as Nissan did for the fiscal year ending in March … Continue reading
Here’s what goes into an $80,000 TOM’s Heritage AE86 restomod
One of our favorite cars at the Tokyo Auto Salon was the TOM’s Heritage AE86. Essentially, it’s a fully restomodded Toyota Corolla Levin from the top Toyota tuning house in Japan. Their goal was to retain the spirit and feel … Continue reading
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The revived Toyota Celica Sport will be an electrified SUV
The highly anticipated return of the Toyota Celica, which has been teased for almost three years now, may end up disappointing enthusiasts. New reports now believe that the car will be an AWD “sporty” crossover and not a modern reincarnation … Continue reading
Nissan heard enthusiasts and gave the Z a facelift and a manual transmission for the NISMO
Two long-awaited changes to the Nissan Z address the two biggest complaints about the car. We reported in January that the Japan-market Fairlady Z appeared at the Tokyo Auto Salon with a facelift. That’s officially coming to the US now. … Continue reading
Next Mazda Miata will weigh just one ton, run on pure gasoline
It was only one month ago that the rumor mill was saying that the upcoming fifth-gen Mazda MX-5 would be electrified. Multiple sites reported that the NE Miata would likely be a hybrid of some sort, based on a designer … Continue reading
Toyota GR Heritage Parts Program reissues moderinzed A80 Supra dashboard
Toyota has announced that it’s reissuing the dashboard for the A80 Supra, via its Gazoo Racing Heritage parts Program. Officially the part is called the instrument panel stretching from A-pillar to A-pillar with a center section that extends down to … Continue reading
Mazda and Ferrari clash over usage of the name ‘Luce’
Ferrari is about to debut its first EV, the Luce (pronounced loo-chay, meaning “light” in Italian). However, as JNCers know, Luce has been the name of a beloved Mazda model introduced 60 years ago. Now, the two carmakers are locking … Continue reading
