As much as we love to drive manual transmission cars in real life, when we sit down for a round of Gran Turismo we almost always choose automatic mode. Shifting on a PlayStation controller is just another added level of unnecessary difficulty, and the computer’s shifts are so good that there’s no need to lose valuable milliseconds fumbling around with L2 and R2. That’s the idea behind Toyota adding an automatic transmission to the GR Corolla. Continue reading
Honda’s restored 1984 HP-X concept is coming to Pebble Beach
Forty years after its debut, the Honda HP-X concept has undergone an extensive restoration. It was originally shown at the 1984 Turin Auto Show and is billed as Honda’s first concept car (though that is debatable). Regardless, it’s a fascinating car that predicted many automotive trends, and helped pave the way for the NSX. Continue reading
Legendary Honda CB72 returns to Suzuka after six decades for 70th anniversary of Yoshimura celebration
Legendary motorcycle tuner Hideo “Pop” Yoshimura was recently reunited with one of the machines that changed Japan’s motorsports history. The occasion was the 70th anniversary of Yoshimura R&D’s founding, and the bike was the Honda CB72. It was the first the the bike had been shown in Japan in 60 years. Continue reading
Posted in Motorcycles
Tagged CB72, CB77, honda, Suzuka 8 Hrs, suzuka circuit, yoshimura
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Matchbox 2025 lineup gains Acura Integra Type R, Mitsubishi Pajero, Mazda RX-3, and more
Collectors of Japanese diecast cars will have a lot to look forward to in the Matchbox lineup of 2025. Last weekend Matchbox’s annual convention was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the hosts from Mattel previewed next year’s lineup. There are some excellent casting choices ranging from iconic models to once-ordinary cars that are now cool classics. Continue reading
Posted in minicars
Tagged accord, acura, cb7, century, honda, Integra Type R, land cruiser, lexus, Lexus GX, Lexus LC, matchbox, mazda, mitsubishi, pajero, rx-3, tacoma, toyota
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QotW: What marque do you most often recommend?
We’re assuming that because JNC readers are car enthusiasts, you often get asked by your normie friends what kind of car they should buy. Obviously the recommendation will depend on the various needs of the buyer, but is there a brand you find yourself gravitating towards? Do you minimize the number of repair shop visits with a Toyota, open their eyes to the joy a driving experience could be with a Mazda, encourage them to get out and see the world in Subaru? Maybe you’re just a misanthrope and foist a Mitsubishi on everyone. Years ago Honda would’ve probably been at the top of our list, but is it still the king? We want to hear your suggestions and your reasons.
What marque do you most often recommend?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What car do you not regret selling or letting get away?“. Continue reading
The Nissan Primera P10 was an international touring car that raced on four continents
As the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R was finishing up its four-year dominance of the All-Japan Touringcar Championship (JTC), winning every single race from 1990-93, a new Nissan race car was on the horizon. The FIA had announced new rules for 1994, which required four-door base cars and naturally aspirated engines of 2.0 liters or less. Goodbye Godzilla, hello Primera. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged fuji speedway, infiniti, Infiniti G20, jtcc, masahiro hasemi, nissan, P10, Primera
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Initial D parody sees an R32 Skyline GT-R touge battle a Lincoln Town Car limousine
If there’s any question about how influential Initial D is, the references to it in popular culture should provide a clue. It’s been parodied in countless other works, but one of the nuttiest we’ve seen has to be this touge battle between an R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R and a full-on Lincoln Town Car stretched limo. We don’t even know what anime this clip is from, but it’s hilarious. Continue reading
Nissan Silvia revival is the “dream” of new global product chief
The Nissan Silvia, the once abundant sports coupe and darling of the drift community, was recently name-checked by Ivan Espinosa, the company’s new chief of global product planning. Espinosa has been in product planning since 2017, and starting in 2019 worked on the sports car and NISMO programs. He says that the idea of a Silvia revival is far-fetched, but that it would be a dream of his to make it happen. Continue reading
Is this the new Mazda logo?
Mazda may be updating their logo, according to new trademark filings in Japan. The logo began circulating on Japanese social media on Monday after users unearthed it from the Japan Patent Office. It appears to follow the trend of “flattening” logos into a 2D design so that they can be better adapted to screens. Continue reading
QotW: What car do you not regret selling or letting get away?
Every car enthusiast has a few stories of the cars that got away. Perhaps it was a car you regret selling when times were hard. Maybe it was a car you should’ve bought but didn’t. On the other end of the spectrum are the ones we couldn’t get rid of fast enough — the money pit projects, the cursed cars that kept breaking down, used examples that slowly revealed a scammy seller. Personally, I owned a 240SX convertible that was just terrible. The ASC conversion was poorly assembled, the roof never sealed right, and the extra bracing was so heavy the doors sagged. I should’ve bought a coupe and I was glad to be rid of it.
What car do you not regret selling or letting get away?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What car(s) from Japan would you import right now?“. Continue reading
Calsonic R32 Skyline GT-R replica gets the beans at Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb
The dust has settled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the fastest cars from the week’s hillclimb are now known. Coming in in the top ten was a replica of the Group A Calsonic R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R, one of the world’s most faithful recreations of the iconic All-Japan Touringcar Championship racer. It absolutely scorched its way up the course, and it’s worth a watch because it’s beauty in motion. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged Goodwood Festival of Speed, nissan, r32, skyline, stout, subaru, subaru gl, toyota
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The Nepros NBR390X is a lightweight ratchet for your dream garage
If you know Japanese tools, you’re probably familiar with Kyoto Tool Co., a top manufacturers known for their high quality. But if KTC, established in 1950, is the Toyota of tools, their top-of-the-line Nepros sub-brand is the Lexus of tools. Now imagine that someone took that LS400 and gave it the Colin Chapman treatment, adding lightness, without sacrificing any of the strength or quality. Continue reading
Before Initial D, its author penned the illegal motorcycle racing manga Bari Bari Densetsu
Shuichi Shigeno is best known for penning the seminal touge battle manga Initial D, which played a huge part in bringing drifting to the US. But long before the beloved panda AE86 delivered its first tofu order, there was Bari Bari Densetsu, Shigeno’s award-winning manga about motorcycle racing. The two stories have a lot of parallels, not least of which was Shigeno’s realistic depiction of bikes, various riding styles, and real-world locations. Continue reading
Posted in manga
Tagged Bari Bari Densetsu, honda, Kawsaki, Kenny Roberts, MotoGP, motorcycles, NSR500, Pop Yoshimura, suzuki, yamaha
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Mitsubishi car chase compilation from ‘Gorilla: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Investigation Unit 8’
In the late 80s much of Seibu Keisatsu‘s original production team, actors, and directors reunited to create a new TV show. Gorilla: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Investigation Unit 8 sought to recapture the feel, action and popularity of Japan’s most famous police action series. Complete with plenty of gunfights and car chases, it even occupied the same time slot as Seibu. This time around Mitsubishi Motors, not Nissan, was the sponsor, and supplied fleets of cars as fodder for the action sequences. Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged debonair, eclipse, Galant VR-4, Mirage Cyborg, mitsubishi, pajero, starion
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QotW: What car(s) from Japan would you import right now?
Let’s say a rich relative you never heard of died suddenly and left you a big chunk of cash. The only condition is that you use it to buy a Japan-market car in today’s rather favorable exchange rate climate. There are a few rules, however:
- It has to be at least 25 years old per America’s import laws.
- It shouldn’t be a car that was sold in the US unless it is significantly different (ie, engine, drivetrain, body style).
- It should be a lesser known model. Go-tos like Nissan Skyline GT-Rs and Toyota Centurys are cool, but you’d need really good justification.
What car(s) from Japan would you import right now?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What non-Japanese car would you modify in Japanese style?“. Continue reading
The 1983 Nissan NX-21 concept was dead wrong about 21st century cars
At the 1983 Tokyo Motor Show the star of Nissan’s booth was a prediction of what an 21st century sedan might look like. Its hopes were right there in the experimental saloon’s name, the Nissan NX-21. As we know now from actually living in the 21st century that this future never came to be. In fact, with Nissan reportedly about to kill off almost all its sedan offerings in the US, this may be a good time to reflect on the misplaced optimism we once had. Continue reading
A Toyota Celica takes on 1970s sports coupes plus a Daihatsu Taft in Hong Kong’s ‘No U-Turn’
The 1981 film No U-Turn is a car-centric romp with an 8-minute illegal race as its centerpiece action sequence. In it, an orange A20 Toyota Celica races a “who’s who” lineup of performance cars of the era, including a BMW 2002, Opel Manta, Ford Cortina, Mini, and Subaru Leone. However, its greatest rival is, inexplicably, a Daihatsu Taft. According to reviews it’s not a great movie, but the automotive choices are second to none. Continue reading
Posted in News
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This 1973 Datsun promo video makes us want to travel back in time
Created to introduce its audience to the Datsun brand, a 1973 Datsun promotional video serves up loads of drool-worthy imagery. The 20-minute short film presents a primer on Nissan history dating back to the 1930s before going behind the scenes at factories and testing facilities. It’s a technicolor feast for the eyes, as vivid Sunnys, Bluebirds, and 240Zs, dance across the screen. Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged 310, 510, 620, b210, bluebird 610, c210, cedric, Cherry E10, datsun, nissan, Rallye Monte-Carlo, s30 z, safari rally, skyline, sunny
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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. A concept finished in bright red will make its European debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this week. Continue reading
QotW: What non-Japanese car would you modify in Japanese style?
The 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV we posted for Independence Day is a perfect example of how Japanese customization style can work on even non-Japanese cars. The Linc is a ridiculous car to begin with, and its nearly 20 feet of angular sheetmetal makes the perfect canvas for the jutting edges of the kaido racer style. From to dekotora to VIP, Japan has given us countless ways to modify cars.
What non-Japanese car would you modify in Japanese style?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you navigate when driving your JNC?“. Continue reading
