Category Archives: News

NEWS: Mazda completes first factory NA Roadster restoration

Mazda has completed its first factory restoration of a Eunos Roadster. The program was launched in August 2017 to help owners get their beloved NAs back to new condition, as well as to manufacture discontinued parts for the first-gen Roadster. … Continue reading

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NEWS: Akio Toyoda actually built a Century GRMN

It seemed like a throwaway joke. Shortly after the Tokyo Motor Show last year, where Toyota unveiled only the third new Century design in 50 years, the company’s car-nut CEO Akio Toyoda was interviewed on a Japanese talk show called … Continue reading

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NEWS: Nissan chief designer “excited” to be working on new Z

Nissan is working a new Z, or at least a concept. The revelation comes from none other than the company’s most senior designer, who said he was under “huge pressure” but at the same time “completely excited” at the prospect … Continue reading

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NEWS: Honda to release retro Neo Classic kit for S660

We first saw the Honda S660 Neo Classic Kit at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon, but it quickly got lost in the heaps of automotive absurdity the show is known for. Unlike most of the concoctions there, however, Honda will … Continue reading

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NEWS: Mazda was likely testing a rotary sports car as recently as eight months ago

Somehow this slipped past our radar, but it seems that Mazda was testing what is likely a rotary powered sports car as recently as December 2017. Spy photos captured a prototype based on a Mazda RX-8, a car that has … Continue reading

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NEWS: A Nissan Fairlady Z goes up in flames in Japan

Last week a Nissan Fairlady Z caught fire near Lake Yamanaka in Japan. The area, located by Mt Fuji, is known for its outdoor sports, scenery, and driving roads, and it’s a frequent hot spot for Miatas, Toyota 86es, and the … Continue reading

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VIDEO: Five generations of Supra together for the first time

Recently, a small gathering of Toyota Supra owners in the UK got to see the new Supra up close and personal. It was the first time all five generations of the Supra had been together under one roof. 

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NEWS: Toyota brings back vintage tricolor livery on 86 TRD Special Edition

Toyota has announced a new version of its 86 sport coupe and bringing back some retro colors to go with it. The 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition is the most performance-oriented 86 (née Scion FR-S) offered in the US … Continue reading

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NEWS: Toyota is making a Celica, but they’re not calling it that

The more news about the Supra that comes to light, the more head scratching it elicits. First there was the revelation that it wouldn’t come in a manual, then that it would race in NASCAR, and lest we forget, the … Continue reading

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NEWS: The Nissan Titan Surfcamp concept was inspired by the Hot Wheels JNC Surf Patrol Datsun wagon

To celebrate summer Nissan has created a show truck called the Titan Surfcamp, modded to the nines and described a “beach oasis.” Nissan says it was inspired by the beach trucks of the 1960s and 1970s, old Patrols, and — get … Continue reading

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NEWS: Toyota launches GR Sport 86

The first true sports car since Toyota’s launch of its Gazoo Racing performance sub-brand goes on sale in Japan today. The GR Sport 86 is based of the Toyota 86 (née Scion FR-S, aka Subaru BRZ) but features a series of mild upgrades. And before … Continue reading

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NEWS: Daihatsu debuts retro-styled Mira Tocot kei car

Daihatsu says that its Mira Tocot is designed for women, but we kind of want one. The styling is appealingly somewhat retro, and reminds of the Nissan Pao. It has the same utilitarian look and comes in cool throwback colors, and as most kei … Continue reading

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NEWS: Get ready to VIP because the third-generation Toyota Century goes on sale today

For decades, it has been the preferred chariot of high-ranking government officials, captains of industry, and bosses in some of the shadier corners of Japanese society. The essence of the Toyota Century is tradition, and as evidence the latest redesign is only … Continue reading

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Proposed import tariffs could make your next JNC or their parts a lot more expensive

If you’ve been following the news, you may have heard about President Trump proposing a 25 percent tariff on imported cars and their parts. So far, much of the discussion has focused on new cars but in reality, the proposed rules would affect … Continue reading

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NEWS: Power to the people — Mazda confirms 181-horsepower Miata for US

Last week Japanese media confirmed that Mazda was giving the 2019 Miata a significant power bump from 155 to 181 horsepower, and raising the redline from 6,850 to 7,500 rpm. Now Mazda North America has confirmed that the more powerful version of the world’s most affordable … Continue reading

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NEWS: First official images of 4th-gen Suzuki Jimny released

Suzuki has finally released official images of the fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny, the first update to the mini-SUV in 20 years. They confirm much of what we’ve already seen from spy shots, that the trucklet sports charmingly retro design and real off-roader … Continue reading

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NEWS: Toyota confirms production of 986-horsepower supercar

Toyota has confirmed that the 986-horsepower (1,000 DIN hp) Gazoo Racing Super Sport Concept will enter production. At a press conference ahead of the 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Gazoo Racing president Shigeki Tomoyama revealed that development has already … Continue reading

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NEWS: It’s probably not a good idea to speed in Japan anymore

A Nissan GT-R patrol car is now on duty in Japan. At a ceremony today, the country’s fastest pursuit vehicle was donated by Nissan to the Tochigi Prefectural police department. The gift marked 50 years of operations of Nissan’s Kaminokawa, Tochigi factory, … Continue reading

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NEWS: Mazda Miata gets major horsepower increase, high-revving redline

Mazda is about to give the MX-5 Miata a significant bump in horsepower, and a screaming redline to go with it. The move to increase output from the current 155 horsepower to a reported 181, all the while pushing the redline to … Continue reading

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NEWS: Retro fourth-gen Suzuki Jimny leaked ahead of July debut

Though it has been on the market for nearly 50 years, the stalwart Suzuki Jimny has had only three complete generational changes. The fourth generation of the kei SUV debuts this July, but renderings based on leaked information in Japan’s Best … Continue reading

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