A lot has changed since the 1982 Toyota Cressida debuted. It’s a shocking amount, to be honest. Forty years ago Motorweek test drove the then-new second-generation Cressida, and we learned a lot from the review. For example, they state that in 1982 only 14 percent of Americans wore seat belts. Just 14 percent! Like, we know that this was a time when commercial airliners still had smoking sections, but that number still seems shockingly low. Also, the Cressida was apparently classified as a subcompact. Continue reading
Kunimitsu Takahashi posthumously awarded Order of the Rising Sun for his contributions to motorsports
The Japanese government has posthumously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun to Kunimitsu Takahashi. The revered motorcycle rider and race car driver passed away March 16 at the age of 82. The Order of the Rising Sun is the highest honor a non-government, non-royal individual can receive in Japan. Takahashi received the award for his contributions to motorsports. Continue reading
As part of Star Wars ad campaign, C-3PO and R2-D2 once helped sell Mitsubishi cars in Japan
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away a couple of droids landed on a remote, unremarkable planet of mostly water. Its primitive inhabitants had yet to discover interstellar travel, but for some reason these advanced droids got really stoked about this one specific ground transport manufacturer. Today is Star Wars Day, so let’s take a look at the time C-3PO and R2-D2 appeared in a series of Japanese ads to promote Mitsubishis. Continue reading
The history of Japanese Rally Cars at the Toyota Automobile Museum
The Toyota Automobile Museum recently ended a special exhibit about the history of Japanese cars in rallying. As those who’ve visited the TAM will know, despite the name, the institution welcomes all marques. As such, the exhibit assembled cars from the heritage collections of not just Toyota, but its rival carmakers as well. Since Japan has been and is still under strict travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was really no way for anyone overseas to see this exhibit in person. Here’s what you missed. Continue reading
QotW: What cars would you put in your dream garage for $250,000?
We at JNC often play fantasy garage games, some of which turn into Questions of the Week. The latest one involves selecting eight (8) collector or fun cars, no more, no less. This does not include your daily driver, but these have to be forever cars, meaning you’re stuck with them for the rest of your life. The budget? $250,000.
You’ll be building your collection from scratch, and you may keep one (1) car from your existing real-life fleet if you choose. However, you’ll have to subtract the value of what you paid for it originally from the total. If you want any more, you gotta buy the rest at current (inflated) prices. The idea here is to help a normal person with some ambition come up with a plan for future acquisitions. Can you narrow a list of dream cars down to a Top 8, and could that list be acquired for $250,000?
What cars would you put in your $250,000 dream garage?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the best road trip car for the whole family?“. Continue reading
Datsun ends production as Nissan’s Ghosn era continues to unravel
The vestiges of Carlos Ghosn’s reign at Nissan continue to crumble. This week, it was reported that the former CEO’s revival of Datsun branded cars has ceased production after falling far short of sales expectations. The news comes hot on the heels of a separate report that Renault is considering selling off a a sizeable chunk of Nissan shares, unraveling the alliance that Ghosn considered his crowning achievement. Also, Ghosn is now wanted in France as well. Continue reading
The Mazda Museum in Hiroshima will soon open its newly renovated halls
If you ever find yourself in Hiroshima, you owe it to yourself to visit the Mazda Museum. It’s easily accessible by either car or train, and is located right at the heart of the company’s headquarters. Recently, Mazda renovated their museum to bring it more in line using the colors, materials and design they’ve been slowly rolling out to their global dealerships. The result is a unified look and feel that says “Mazda” whether you’re at a showroom in Hoboken or the master collection in Hiroshima. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best road trip car for the whole family?
When car enthusiasts talk about the best drivers’ cars, it’s usually selfish. Taking off for a long drive in the Z is fantastic when you’re young and free, but once the kiddos come along you’ll something bigger. By all means, have your weekend sports car or GT, but why suffer when traveling with the brood? We’re looking for a vehicle that can carry two parents, 1-2 kids, and all associated gear for multi-day road trips. It should be reliable, comfortable for passengers, and get decent mileage. But — and this is the part that makes it challenging — it must also be fun to drive.
What’s the best road trip car for the whole family?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite automotive invention?” Continue reading
The 1991 Nissan FEV was an electric concept that should be built today
Every Earth Day we at JNC highlight a car engineered with conservation in mind. This year, we go back to the 1991 Tokyo Motor Show, when Nissan unveiled their first “modern” electric vehicle. Whereas previous EVs had been tiny city cars with very limited range, the Nissan FEV (for Future Electric Vehicle) was the first to boast usable highway range, and a fast-charging system. Though it’s over 30 years old, its specs would not disqualify it even in today’s cutting edge EV market. Continue reading
Honda Super Cub honored by Japan’s Post Office
Spend any amount of time in Japan and you’ll eventually come across a red Honda Super Cub laden with bags zooming down a narrow street. These are the delivery bikes of Japan Post, the nation’s mail delivery service. Japan Post has had a long relationship with the Super Cub, one that dates back to 1971, when Honda developed a special variant of its popular motorcycle especially for the postal service. Now, Japan Post is honoring the venerable bike in return. Continue reading
Importer selling entire inventory of 90,000 mostly vintage Honda parts
Consider this a JNC public service announcement. A defunct Honda importer is selling off its entire inventory of parts, numbering over 90,000 individual pieces. The items date back to 1974, and the majority of them are for Y2K or older Civic, Accord, and Prelude models. Photos from the warehouse show a staggering number of items, mostly in their original boxes. There’s only one hitch. Well, two, actually: the items are sold as a lot for $1.75 million and they are all located in Amman, Jordan. Continue reading
SSR MK-I deep dish wheel goes back into production with a limited run of 600 units
SSR will soon be putting its game-changing wheel, the SSR MK-I in deep-dish spec, back into production for a limited run. How limited? There will be only 600 units made, enough to make only 150 sets of four. SSR’s now-parent company, Tanabe, says it is remanufacturing the iconic wheel due to high demand from nostalgic car fans. Continue reading
Toyota AE86 goes drifting with 86 and GR86 in Japanese commercial
Toyota commercials have been getting better, and the latest Japanese-market ad continues the trend. To market the new GR86, they bring out the previous-generation 86 and the one that started it all, the original AE86 Sprinter Trueno. The trio do what they do best, or at least are most famous for, and tandem drift around a tight track. However, the most impressive thing about the ad isn’t the driving, but the camerawork. Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite automotive invention?
Today, April 18, is Invention Day in Japan, a remembrance of the day in 1885 when the Japanese patent system was established. The automotive world has often been on the forefront of innovation, whether its advanced stuff like carbon fiber composites or what-took-them-so-long ideas like the humble cupholder. And don’t forget the Bubble Era gimmicks like the Pulsar EXA’s swappable rear hatch. For the purposes of not stating the obvious, we’ll exclude items like engines and, you know, the wheel, unless you have a unique take on the topic.
What’s your favorite automotive invention?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you listen to audio content in your car?” Continue reading
The Toyota Crown sedan will live on, joined by SUV, report says
The big news of the day yesterday was a report on Toyota bringing an SUV-ified version of the Crown to the US market. It sounds like an abomination. However, buried deep in the report was a separate item, one that was largely glossed over by the mainstream automotive press, and it shines a ray of hope into our crossover-filled world. Reportedly, the Crown sedan will live on as its own model, alongside the Crown SUV. Continue reading
The Nakagin Capsule Tower, a symbol of Japan’s golden age of innovation, is being demolished
On April 12, demolition of the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo began. The once-futuristic building was a symbol of Japan’s modernism during its golden age of innovation. The avant-garde concept consisted of 140 detachable apartments that could be removed and replaced without disturbing the other units. It opened on April 5, 1972, the same year that the Kenmeri Skyline, TE27 Corolla Levin, and Honda Civic hit the streets. The Nakagin Capsule Tower just celebrated its 50th anniversary a few weeks ago; now it’s being dismantled. Continue reading
Speed Racer celebrates 55th anniversary with 24-karat gold Mach 5
The seminal Japanese racing cartoon Speed Racer debuted in 1967 and became a bona fide worldwide hit. It didn’t just influence a generation of gearheads, but it was one of the earliest examples of anime introduced outside of Japan. This year marks the 55th anniversary of Speed Racer, and to commemorate the occasion the production company has licensed a 24-karat gold model of the star car, the Mach 5, that costs ¥5,500,000 ($44,000 USD). Continue reading
The 4×4 Engineering Bradley V returns for the wheel’s 40th anniversary
We’re sure most readers here are familiar with Japan’s most famous racing wheels from the likes of Rays, SSR, Work, Enkei, RS-Watanabe, and so on. On the off-road side of things, however, there’s another iconic wheel that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the 4×4 Engineering Bradley, a series that has appeared on Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Isuzu SUVs as optional equipment and that has been forged in the crucible of motorsports, adorning multiple Paris-Dakar and other rally competitors. Continue reading