Category Archives: Next Version
Honda Prelude production confirmed, at least for Europe
Honda has confirmed that the Prelude name will be resurrected for a production car. The company announced that the upcoming sports coupe will be sold in Europe, but we’re still waiting to learn if it will come to the US. … Continue reading →
Suzuki Cappuccino may be revived by Toyota, which will continue sports car partnerships
Toyota might be single-handedly responsible for reviving Japan’s sports car market, if a whirlwind of rumors prove true. The latest says that Suzuki is working on resurrecting the legendary Cappuccino with Toyota’s assistance. The car might even spawn two other … Continue reading →
Nissan Z Heritage Edition lands stateside to mark 55th anniversary of the Z-Car
The rumors were right. Nissan is celebrating 55 years of the iconic Z by bringing Japan’s much-praised Customized Edition to America. Inspired by the S30 Fairlady Z and Datsun 240Z, the 2024 Nissan Z Heritage Edition adds several styling cues … Continue reading →
Bayside Blue and Midnight Purple origins: How the Nissan Skyline GT-R got its most iconic colors
Earlier this year Nissan announced that two colors forever linked to the legendary Skyline GT-R would be making a return. Bayside Blue and Midnight Purple are available as paint options on special editions of the R35 GT-R. We recently spoke … Continue reading →
Posted in Next Version
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Tagged calsonic, mid night club, nissan, r32, r33, r34, r35, Skyline GT-R, wangan
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4 Comments
Mazda CX-70: Why you’d get one over a nearly identical CX-90
We suspect that the Mazda CX-90 is, for nearly all of our enthusiast-minded — not to mention highly intelligent and super good-looking — readers, the best three-row SUV on the market today. Think Mazda handling. Now add an inline-six and … Continue reading →
Toyota Starlet revival could actually be happening, maybe
After Akio Toyoda stepped down as CEO of Toyota last year a shuffling of the ranks put Tomoya Takahashi at the helm of Gazoo Racing. As it happens Takahashi was a big fan of the Toyota Starlet hot hatch, and … Continue reading →
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Tagged Gazoo Racing, GR Starlet, GR Yaris, rally, starlet, takahashi, toyota
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3 Comments
Toyota 4Runner’s sixth generation answers one big question about the new Land Cruiser
Ever since the Toyota Land Cruiser nameplate was revived last August, we at JNC have been a bit flummoxed about it. Though it wore the legendary name, it didn’t feel like a real Land Cruiser. It just felt off somehow, … Continue reading →
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Tagged 4runner, J250, J300, land cruiser, Land Cruiser Prado, lexus, Lexus GX, toyota
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6 Comments
Mitsuoka M55 drapes Kenmeri Nissan Skyline skin over modern Honda Civic
The ever-controversial Mitsuoka has released its latest concoction, taking the lines of a beloved classic and shoehorning it onto a modern chassis. In this case, the modern platform is that of a Honda Civic, but which classic is it? English … Continue reading →
Posted in Next Version
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Tagged `, c110, civic, honda, kenmeri, mitsuoka, Mitsuoka M55, nissan, skyline
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6 Comments
Toyota Tacoma X-Runner revived to take on the new Nissan Z
A huge SEMA surprise from Toyota this year came in the form of a revived Tacoma X-Runner. The original Tacoma X-Runner debuted in 2005 as a hot rod variant of the popular pickup. At the time, Toyota admitted to a … Continue reading →
Akio Toyoda admits he’s pushing for a Celica (and Subaru and Mitsubishi WRC) revival from behind the scenes
Akio Toyoda is no longer president of Toyota. We were sad to hear of his resignation, as he is was the most outspoken “car guy CEO” in the industry. His advocacy for fun-to-drive cars resonated throughout Toyota and Japan at … Continue reading →
Toyota celebrates 40 years of AE86 with GR86 anniversary edition
The iconic Toyota AE86 was introduced to the world in 1983 in Japan, making this year the 40th anniversary of the beloved classic. So it was only fitting that Toyota mark the occasion by releasing a tribute edition of the … Continue reading →
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Tagged ae86, corolla, corolla levin, GR86, sprinter, sprinter trueno, toyota
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4 Comments
Nissan Frontier Hardbody debuts loaded with retro 1980s nods
Remember the Nissan Hardbody teaser from last week? It debuted today and as was foretold from the teaser it’s an option package on the Frontier rather than a distinct model. However, the package contains several nostalgic nods to the original … Continue reading →
Nissan Skyline NISMO debuts to celebrate 60th anniversary of Prince Skyline S54
Not content to launch just a Z NISMO, Nissan has also released a Skyline NISMO in Japan. Nissan Motorsports hasn’t touched a new Skyline since the GT-R was split off into its own model, and this marks the first time … Continue reading →
Posted in Next Version
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Tagged Kazuyoshi Hoshino, NISMO, nissan, prince, s54, skyline, V37
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Hardest core Toyota Land Cruiser returns to Japan
It’s almost eerie how similar this week’s Toyota’s Land Cruiser launch has mirrored Nissan’s Z NISMO launch. Both made a big splash with the global announcement for an iconic nameplate, both had stylistic nods to heritage, and both then quietly … Continue reading →
Watch the new Toyota Land Cruiser debut live
It’s a week of Japanese icons. First Nissan introduced the Z NISMO, now Toyota is following a day later with the new Land Cruiser. Both are very much key to each company’s identity. We will have more coverage of the … Continue reading →
Nissan Z NISMO arrives with more power and new G-nose, but automatic only
The new Nissan Z has been a welcome addition to today’s bleak automotive landscape. It hasn’t quite taken off, due in part to naysayers’ complaints about the carryover chassis and interior. We found those complaints to be a bit pedantic, … Continue reading →
Which Toyota Crown is the real Toyota Crown?
After much consternation and speculation the 16th-generation Crown was launched earlier this month, and to be honest we are still vexed. The Crown Crossover is, to us, such an affront to nearly 70 years of tradition that we can’t stop … Continue reading →
Toyota, Daihatsu, and Suzuki to build 1.0-liter sports car?
Toyota, Daihatsu, and Suzuki are reportedly teaming up to build a 1.0-liter sports car. There hasn’t been a real compact sports car from Japan since the Honda S660, and that was discontinued last year. A one-liter car would exceed kei … Continue reading →
30 years of Type R, 50 years of Civic converge into Honda’s next masterpiece
It’s been 30 years since a tiny red letter “R” appeared on a Championship White Honda. That car was the 1992 NSX Type R, an even more hard core, light weight, and track focused version of Honda’s already brilliant supercar. … Continue reading →
Patent images of Toyota Crown confirm doubts of ultra-loyal sight-unseen buyers
For decades, there has been a particular breed of customer for the Toyota Crown. These buyers were so loyal, dealers could count on them to trade in for each new generation before they had ever laid eyes on the car. … Continue reading →
