QotW: What’s your most terrifying car story?

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Ben Hsu

Boo, it’s Halloween! Gather around the campfire and tell us your spookiest tales of automotive terror. Was it that time a simple repair turned into a months-long jack stand occupation? A near miss on the road? A 10mm nut disappearing into a dark and unreachable crevice?

About a year ago I was driving my original, 67,000-mile factory 5-speed SC300, a car I have babied for over 20 years. Suddenly, a truck tire came bounding over the freeway jersey barriers, bouncing a good two stories high and headed right towards me. Luckily traffic was light and I swerved two lanes to get out of its way.  In the rear view mirror I saw it obliterate the front end of the Prius behind me. I don’t think my heart moved for a good three minutes afterwards.

What’s your most terrifying car story?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What Toyota model is the most Toyota?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 13 Comments

Daihatsu brings the kawaii to Tokyo, may be prepping the Vision Copen for export

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Ben Hsu

Daihatsu always has one of the coolest booths at the Tokyo Motor Sh— er, I mean Japan Mobility Show. This year they were one of the few companies to bring some classics from their heritage collection to the big show. The 1957 Midget and 1977 Charade were important cars for Daihatsu but they weren’t considered beautiful or fast. They’re just honest transportation and that’s refreshing to see. It’s probably also somewhat easier to throw a few extra cars in the trailer when they’re so small. Also, there’s some exciting news about the Copen. Continue reading →

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Nissan Hyper Force concept is a brutalist silhouette GT-R

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Ben Hsu

The hits from the Tokyo Motor Show — sorry, Japan Mobility Show — just keep on coming. Nissan has revealed its Hyper Force concept, an absolutely insane take on a future GT-R. An unsparing collections of edges and angles, it looks like something from a dystopian cyberpunk future. But, it seems like there are nods to Skyline history, and we are all about that. Continue reading →

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Honda Prelude revived as electric sports coupe

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Ben Hsu

The rumors have been swirling since around this time last year, but now it’s confirmed. Honda has revived the Prelude name on a new sports coupe boasting an electrified powertrain. While not a drop-dead stunner like the Mazda concept revealed earlier in the day, the Prelude is still a fairly decent design, as far as modern Hondas go. Continue reading →

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Mazda Iconic SP concept blends Miata and RX-7 into future rotary sports car

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Ben Hsu

The Japan Mobility Show (formerly known as the Tokyo Motor Show) is happening today, and Mazda is kicking things off with a bang. The Mazda Iconic SP concept presages what the future might hold for its sports car lineage. Problem is, Mazda has two sports car lineages, the Miata and the RX-7. The concept combines both into one car, and it’s so beautiful it hurts. Continue reading →

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Never before seen Honda concepts reveal sports cars that didn’t make it

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Ben Hsu

To celebrates its 60th anniversary of building cars, Honda has shared some images of never-before-seen concepts. Like the unbuilt V8 NSX from the 1970s, these cars were dreamt up at Honda’s Wako, Saitama design studio. They have something else in common: they’re all sports cars, as Honda has been committed to building drivers’ cars since the 1963 S500 roadster. Continue reading →

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QotW: What Toyota model is the most Toyota?

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Ben Hsu

Several weeks ago we asked you to pick the one Honda that best represents the marque. Now do the same for Toyota. In theory it should be a lot harder, as Toyota had built a wider variety of cars than Honda. Is it the ubiquitous Corolla? The rugged Land Cruiser? The legendary Supra? Which single model embodies the fundamental aspect of the Toyota name?

What Toyota model is the most Toyota?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What would you put in a JNC theme park?”. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 14 Comments

Honda S500, S600, and S800 explored with no stone unturned: The First Honda Automobiles 1958-1970

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Ben Hsu

In the volumes of information available on Hondas, most of it centers on cars of the 1980s and newer. There hasn’t been a whole lot written about the earliest models that paved the way for the Civics and Accords we know and love. This weekend Don Laughton, author of The First Honda Automobiles, 1958-1970, will be at the inaugural Cars, Bikes & Coffee event at Honda’s US headquarters, signing copies of his book. We got an (very) advance copy of is book for review: Continue reading →

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Honda almost built a V8-powered NSX in the 1970s

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Ben Hsu

Honda is unique among Japanese carmakers in that its first passenger vehicle was a sports car. The S500 roadster was released in October 1963, just months after the commercial T360, a small pickup that was their first four-wheeled offering. Sportiness has always been in their DNA from CRX to NSX, and an army of double-wishboned Civics in between. This year marks Honda’s 75th anniversary as company and its 60th anniversary in crafting cars. To mark the occasion, it has shared some images of a long-buried sports car concept that never made it into production. Continue reading →

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Honda to hold inaugural Cars, Bikes & Coffee car show at US headquarters

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Ben Hsu

Just a reminder: If you’ve been wanting to visit the newly opened American Honda Collection Hall, your chance is coming up. This Saturday, October 21, is the inaugural Cars, Bikes & Coffee event that Honda is hosting at its US headquarters. The event is open to all makes and models, so feel free to bring non-Hondas to the venue as well. The collection hall will be open to the public and Honda’s on-site coffee shop — called the Power of Dreams Café — will be there serving beverages and food. Continue reading →

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Watch the R31 Nissan Skyline GTS-R take the 1989 JTC Drivers’ Championship

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Steve Chang

The dominance of the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R in Japan’s touring car racing is well known. But before Godzilla stepped into the ring, it may surprise you to learn that the All-Japan Touringcar Championship was dominated by Ford — specifically, the Sierra Cosworth RS500. Nissan had tried for several years to wrest the crown away from the Blue Oval without success but in 1989, just before the debut of the game-changing R32, the R31 Skyline did have its moment. Continue reading →

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QotW: What would you put in a JNC theme park?

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Steve Chang

A few weeks ago we asked what you would put in a Mitsubishi theme park. It’s something worth considering since the Mitsubishi Group is actually building one. But that may have been too restrictive. Today, October 16, happens to be the 100th anniversary of Disney, so we’re giving you a blank check to build your own JNC theme park with whatever attractions you can dream up. Will there be an arcade with every driving game ever made? A Watanabe-shaped ferris wheel? A roller coaster that simulates a race on the Shuto?

What would you put in a JNC theme park?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite Japanese truck?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 8 Comments

Akio Toyoda admits he’s pushing for a Celica (and Subaru and Mitsubishi WRC) revival from behind the scenes

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Ben Hsu

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 large. However, it seems that retirement has given Toyoda the freedom to do even more for enthusiasts, even subtly pulling the strings to champion the revival of the Celica. Continue reading →

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Mitsubishi teases next Delica ahead of Tokyo reveal

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Ben Hsu

This year the theme of the Japan Mobility Show (formerly Tokyo Motor Show) for several companies seems to be historic models that represent their respective brand identities. For Mazda, it’s all about the Miata. For Honda, it’s the City. For Daihatsu, it’s the Copen. For Mitsubishi it appears to be the overlander’s darling, the Delica, and it’s really leaning into the whole off-road adventure van angle. Continue reading →

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Mazda teases next-gen Miata’s rear end

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Ben Hsu

As we near the event formerly known as the Tokyo Motor Show (now rebranded as Japan Mobility Show), Japan’s carmakers are releasing teasers of what they’ll be showing off. It’s Mazda’s turn, and they’ve announced that the theme for the 2023 show will be all about the Miata. The teaser they’ve revealed is likely the next-generation Roadster/MX-5/Miata, but we’ve all basically seen the whole thing already. Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Motor Show | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Daihatsu Vision Copen is gloriously retro and rear-wheel-drive

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Ben Hsu

The original Daihatsu Copen was a decent enough kei car. By the time it was introduced in 2002, the Bubble Era craziness that spawned the Mazda AZ-1, Honda Beat, and Suzuki Cappuccino had faded. Those were legit kei sports cars and the front-wheel-drive Copen more of a cute cruiser. Now, Daihatsu has revealed a concept called the Vision Copen that transforms it into a droolworthy Miata-fighter. Continue reading →

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QotW: What’s your favorite Japanese truck?

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Steve Chang

Today, October 9, is Truck Day in Japan. Like many such days, the occasion is a pun on the word toraku, which means “truck” in Japanese. The syllables to and raku are alternate pronunciations of 10 and 9, respectively. While the holiday was started by the Japan Trucking Association, established in 1954 to promote the interests of cargo haulers, it’s not a stretch to include pickups, kei trucks, vans, and other workhorses from Japan’s long history of trucks.

What’s your favorite Japanese truck?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Do you give your cars names and, if so, what are they?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 10 Comments

Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser takes FJ40 heritage to other worlds

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Ben Hsu

If you had to take one production vehicle on an extraterrestrial expedition, the Toyota Land Cruiser would be a pretty solid pick. The designers at CALTY, Toyota’s southern California studio, seem to agree. As part of their 50th anniversary celebration, they’ve dreamed up the Baby Lunar Cruiser, an off-road vehicle inspired by the FJ40 that’s meant for exploring non-Earth lands. Continue reading →

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Never before seen Toyota concepts mark 50 years of first southern California design studio

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Ben Hsu

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of CALTY Design Research, Toyota’s southern California design studio. Today, almost every non-US auto company has a studio in this mecca of car culture, but Toyota was the first. To mark the occasion, Toyota has released some images of CALTY-developed concept cars that have never before been shown to the public. Continue reading →

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Toyota GR86 meets its Initial D and MF Ghost predecessors in new ad

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Steve Chang

Toyota has teamed up with the creator of Initial D and MF Ghost again in a new ad. The spot features the new GR86, the old 86, and the really old AE86 on a late night touge run while a eurobeat soundtrack blares in the background. The release of this commercial is timed to coincide with the recent launch of the MF Ghost anime series and even features a foreword by author Shuichi Shigeno. Continue reading →

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