Over the weekend Honda published a new illustration of its upcoming electric vehicle, scheduled to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. Unfortunately, it’s pretty disappointing. It looks as if it has lost much of the retro, first-gen Civic charm that drummed up much excitement among JNCers when the original concept debuted. Continue reading
QotW: Drive, Sell or Garage? 80s Drift Machine Edition
Welcome to another edition of Drive, Sell or Garage, JNC‘s version of Bang Marry, or Kill. This time, your choices are three entry-level drift machines that have grown to legend status. Each has its own mechanical advantages and weaknesses, and its own storied heritage. You probably can’t go wrong with any of them, but we want to hear your choices and your reasoning.
Drive, Sell, or Garage: Toyota AE86, Nissan S13, or Mazda NA Miata.
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Should carmakers use classic nameplates for new models?” Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: This Isuzu Elf was incredibly popular
Our final feature from the Tokyo Auto Salon is a vehicle that we probably would have walked right by, but proved immensely popular with our Japanese friends. Built by students at the Fukushima Science and Technology College, the 1990 Isuzu Elf 250 got a lot of attention. One reason was that large cab-over medium-duty commercial trucks simply don’t get modified that much. Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: A Nissan Cedric stock car built by students
One of our favorite cars at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon was a humble Nissan Cedric sedan. Built by students at Tokyo Automobile University School, the car represented a brief period in the 1960s when Japan tried its hand at NASCAR-style stock car racing. Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: Japanese tradition in car form
The classics of the chrome era at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon could be split into two camps. Restomods look towards the future, using a nod to the past to incorporate new and modern ideas. Then there are the cars that stand firmly in tradition, incorporating old school Japanese style to make a statement. Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 521, advan, bosozoku, c10, Crown Comfort, daihatsu, datsun, Hakosuka, hiace, hijet, kaido racer, kei, nissan, skyline, tokyo auto salon, toyota
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Tokyo Auto Salon: A rallying cry for WRC’s return to Japan
At the Tokyo Auto Salon this year the carmakers of Japan joined forces for a display of their iconic rally cars. Toyota, Nissan, Subaru and Mitsubishi each brought turbocharged monsters to the halls of Makuhari Messe. For rally fans, it was a rare opportunity to see all the cars at once, without having them fling dirt and rocks at you. Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 240rs, celica, crown, impreza, lancer evolution, Lancer Evolution VI, mitsubishi, mobilgas trial, nissan, s110, s30, silvia, st185, sti, subaru, tokyo auto salon, toyopet, toyota, wrc, wrx
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NEWS: The first A90 Toyota Supra sells for $2.1 million, but calm down
The first production A90 Toyota Supra has sold for $2.1 million at auction. It’s an eye-watering sum, though it is going to two very worthwhile charities. Seven digit sales figures aren’t that unusual in these much-hyped, first-to-market auctions, but in this case the sky high number is at once meaningless and significant. Continue reading
QotW: Should carmakers use classic nameplates for new models?
Last week, we finally got a glimpse of the forever-teased fifth-gen Supra. Toyota can now add their historic nameplate back into their lineup to evoke the glory years of exciting expressway champions and literally unbelievable “Gentleman’s Agreement” performance. Honda and Nissan also have historic badges running the streets in the NSX, Z and GT-R, as well as upcoming models like the Urban EV. Looking at the selection, we ask you to ponder:
Should carmakers use classic nameplates for new models?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the coolest JNC you’ve spotted in the cold dark of winter?” Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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Tokyo Auto Salon: Japanese Restomods
Even after 27 years, The Tokyo Auto Salon is still the premier showcase of automotive fashion from a country that has no shortage of them. Many trends have come and gone over the decades, but TAS will probably always have classics in one form or another. Updated with today’s technology and build techniques, here are (to borrow a term from modernized muscle cars) the Japanese restomods. Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 2000gt, ae86, c10, c110, cherry, Civic Type R, copen, corolla, corolla levin, daihatsu, fairlady z, fc3s, Hakosuka, honda, kei, kenmeri, lexus, Lexus RC, liberty walk, mazda, nissan, r34, r35, Rocket Bunny, rocky auto, rx-7, s13, s14, S15, s30 z, s660, silvia, skyline, Speed Forme, star road, tokyo auto salon, toyota, wagons
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Tokyo Auto Salon: Behold this Japanese wave pattern carbon fiber
Carbon fiber came out of the racing and tuning world, but has grown stale over the years. The epitome of this has to be the faux carbon fiber appliqués stickered onto the so-called “sport” trims of new cars. At this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, we finally spotted a fresh take on carbon fiber, and it incorporates one of the most traditional Japanese patterns into its design. Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: Here’s the Toyota Century GRMN in black
Here’s another quick snap from the Gazoo Racing booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon last weekend. Looks like CEO Akio Toyoda has commissioned another Century GRMN, this time in its most proper color, black. Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: Suzuki Land Cruiser? Toyota Jimny?
The Suzuki Jimny is one of the coolest SUVs to debut in recent years. With its true body-on-frame construction, transfer case, and low-range, it’s mor of a true off-roader than most of the bigger, tough-looking crossovers on the market today. Plus, with a starting price of ¥1,458,000 ($13,400 USD), you can afford to have fun with it. That’s exactly what one company did at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, when they dressed one up as a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged J70, jimny, land cruiser, suzuki, tokyo auto salon, toyota
6 Comments
Tokyo Auto Salon: Here are some proper Supras
If you’re sick of all the A90 news, here are some true, Toyota-built Supras to soothe your nerves. The Tokyo Auto Salon took place last weekend, just a day before Toyota chose to reveal the production 2020 Supra at the Detroit Auto Show. Of course, Toyota still teased the A90 at TAS, but it also brought along some of its predecessors. Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged a70, A80, A90, JGTC, juichi wakisaka, SuperGT, supra, tokyo auto salon, toyota
2 Comments
MINICARS: Someone 3D-printed a working Toyota 22R-E
If there was one engine that did not need to be preserved digitally, it would be the Toyota 22R-E. They are pretty much indestructible and will likely last beyond human civilization. Still, one clever engineer 3D-modeled a surprisingly faithful replica of the evergreen truck mill — and it moves just like a real one. Continue reading
NEWS: This is the production 2020 Toyota Supra
After a 17 year hiatus, the Supra nameplate has returned to the automotive kingdom, unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show. A poorly kept secret and incessantly teased, the reveal is perhaps no longer really a surprise, but here are the details Toyota provided at today’s press conference. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the coolest JNC you’ve spotted in the cold dark of winter?
For half of the United States it is winter and that means the cool JNCs have been stowed away as winter beaters roam the streets. While people in places like California continue to enjoy weekly magazine coverage worthy car shows, we enthusiasts in the north might as well hibernate with our machines. As such, we begin to itch for some excitement on the roads. We get twitchy and do weird things, like get inordinately excited about seeing a V20 Camry in traffic. Which. brings us to our question:
What’s the coolest JNC you’ve spotted in the cold dark of winter?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which 25-year-old cars are you most excited about?” Continue reading
MARKETWATCH: Damn straight the Toyota Supra is worth $121,000
Last week, a 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo with approximately 7,000 original miles sold for $121,000. About a minute later, the automotive interwebs went into meltdown.
While prices for the most desirable Japanese cars have been steadily moving upward for several years, the notion that a fourth-generation Toyota Supra was suddenly a six-figure automobile seems to have been more than many could swallow. Reactions were largely negative, with commenters across a broad spectrum of platforms echoing the sentiment that this was “crazy” or “stupid” money for “just a Toyota.” Continue reading
Akio Toyoda’s Century GRMN has a touching easter egg
Akio Toyoda is a fashionable guy, and as such he knows how to arrive in style. At the recent Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival at Fuji Speedway, the Toyota CEO arrived in his custom Toyota Century GRMN, a version of Toyota’s flagship sedan tuned by his company’s racing division. At the time of this event, there were reportedly just two examples in existence (there should be another one at the Tokyo Auto Salon this weekend), built for internal use. It just might the ultimate Toyota unobtainium. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: The Supra returns to Japan touring car racing
Toyota has announced that the fifth-gen Supra will return to Japanese touring car racing. The prototype body will be shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon this weekend, and marks the first time in 12 years that a Supra has participated in SuperGT (formerly JGTC). Continue reading
NEWS: 2020 Toyota Supra leaked ahead of official reveal
The production 2020 Supra wasn’t supposed to be shown until next Monday at the Detroit Auto Show, but a leaked video reveals the A90 in all its un-camouflaged glory. Toyota Mexico accidentally tweeted the video below, showing the Supra in action. Continue reading
