2018 marks 40 years since the debut of the original Mazda RX-7. According to Mazda UK, Mazda has sold 2 million rotary-engined cars, with 850,000 of them being RX-7s. To honor the occasion, they’ve produced a video bringing together three generations of the beloved sports car (in the shape of a rotor). Continue reading
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 us JNCers just as much. Currently, the import duty is 2.5 percent, so imagine that increased by a factor of 10 for car or part imported from Japan. Here’s what you can do about it. Continue reading
EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2018, Part 04 — RWD Celicas
With a new Supra on the way and Toyota’s increased focus on more powerful and likely very expensive sports cars, let us not forget the humble Celica. For seven generations it was Aichi’s entry level sports car, and long before the zippy front-drivers and AWD rally monsters, the Celica was a proper, lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe.
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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 sports car will indeed be coming to America and Europe. Continue reading
Happy 620 Day from JNC
Hey guys, let’s all take our Datsun 620 pickups to the beach and not worry about splashing salt water into every crevice. Happy Datsun 620 Day from JNC!
Why Toyota is building an insane 986-horsepower supercar
Toyota’s had a big week. They finally achieved their decades-long push to win Le Mans, overcoming a series of agonizing near-misses. It also announced the production of an insane 986-horsepower road car based on a 2021 Le Mans race car. While the given reason for the supercar was to homologate the racer, the real reason was buried deep in the Gazoo Racing president’s announcement. Continue reading
Posted in toyota
Tagged 2000gt, 24 Hours of Le Mans, akio toyoda, Gazoo Racing Super Sport Concept, toyota
9 Comments
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1984 “Imported for Dodge” Conquest
Early flat-sided Mitsubishi Starions are far less common than their later, wide-body counterparts. Early, flat-sided Mitsubishi Starions badged as Dodges are even rarer. And finding an early, flat-sided Mitsubishi Starions badged as a Dodge Conquest with a factory black-on-gold two-tone and color-keyed wheels? Well, that’s like stumbling upon Bigfoot and Ogopogo having a party in the woods. Yet, there’s an impossibly clean example for sale in Abbeville, Louisiana for sale right now. Continue reading
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 bones. Now we know a bit more about the specs, so our North American readers can gaze longingly at it with the knowledge we won’t get it on our shores. Continue reading
QotW: If you had a chance to buy your JNC again, what would you do differently?
Depending on the circumstances, you may have found yourself behind the wheel of your current JNC via pure luck. Maybe it was a good deal, a family member gifted it to you, or better. Perhaps it was such a rare car to find or such a sweet price that it clouded your buying. Or, it could have been a sale with hidden gremlins the seller “forgot” to disclose. Maybe you learned a few things to avoid, or keep clear in your head for next time.
If you had to buy your JNC again, what would you do differently?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which JNC Nissan should be in your garage?” Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Toyota wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Toyota has finally won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Aichi automaker broke their long-running curse at one of the world’s most prestigious races this morning, when their two TS050 race cars crossed the finish line in 1-2 position. Though it must have been satisfying to at last attain this elusive goal, in some ways the victory seems bittersweet. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Gazoo Racing Super Sport Concept, Kazuki Nakajima, le mans, toyota, TS010, TS020, TS050
16 Comments
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 begun, hinting at a return to the glory days of GT1 road cars. Continue reading
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, where GT-R is built.
“The members of the patrol unit were excited to hear that the GT-R is joining the fleet,” said Masaki Tanaka, commander of the expressway patrol unit. Ya think? Continue reading
JNC THEATER: Bleed blue after watching Between the Lines, the documentary about global Subaru culture
Two independent filmmakers have created an amazingly crafted and moving documentary about their most cherished marque. Between the Lines by Jan Lim and Jose Valdez delves deep into the world of Subaru fandom, and goes beyond the technical aspects of the cars themselves. It explores the many facets of Subaru culture, from rally racers to campers to show-goers. Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? The actual Honda Today from You’re Under Arrest is for sale
Today, we have a very special Today. Specifically, it’s a Honda Today painted like the star car of the You’re Under Arrest series. Even more specifically, it’s the actual Honda Today used in the live-action adaptation of Kosuke Fujishima’s popular manga. Continue reading
It would be great if Toyota sold stuff like this AE86 sweat shirt again
Back in 2003, my brother and I went on our first trip to Japan. Being the Toyotaku that I am (and especially fanatical about AE86s), one of the first things on our agenda was hitting up Toyota’s Megaweb showroom in Tokyo. At the gift shop there, I came across the most amazing sweat shirt I had ever seen. Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1954 Datsun 6147 Double-Cab
Right now, one of the rarest Nissan vehicles on Earth is up for sale on Craigslist in northern Virginia. It is so rare, in fact, that it took some digging just to find out what year and model it is. Behold, a 1954 Datsun 6147 Double-Cab. Continue reading
NEWS: Honda is bringing Cubs and Monkeys to the US
We were pretty torn up when Honda announced in April 2017 that it would discontinue its Monkey motorcycle by the end of the summer, especially when it was the 50th anniversary of the 50cc mini-bike. The reason given was that it was too hard to certify the engine for emissions, but as it turns out, Honda had (literally) bigger plans, like bringing it back to the US. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: The Toyota 86 in classic Le Mans liveries
In preparation for the this year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota has decked out a trio of 86 sport coupes in the racing colors of former contenders. A win at the famed endurance race has proven to be a heartbreaking and elusive dream for the Big T. They’ve even won the World Endurance Championships overall, in which Le Mans is just one race of many, but Le Mans itself has always remained just out of reach. Perhaps decking out these 86s in the warpaints of challengers past will bring them better fortune. Continue reading
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 7,500 rpm, should help quell the clamors for more power, even though we didn’t think the car needed it. Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC Nissan should be in your garage?
Everyone’s first instinct is to head towards a Skylines or Z, but Nissan, Prince and Datsun all have long histories of varied models and cool special editions that deserve a spot in your garage to leave a small oil stain.
Which JNC Nissan should be in your garage?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Tell us a tale of a JNC you helped rescue” Continue reading
