It’s been a tough year, but Mazda is trying to make it just a little bit better by giving away 50 Miatas to deserving individuals. These are people Mazda describes as “selfless” and who have “gone above and beyond for their community.” And not only will they be getting a Miata, but it will be one of the special 100th Anniversary Editions that feature some unique color and trim. Continue reading
QotW: What cars bookended your favorite era of Japanese cars?
There’s a lot of talk these days about whether we have passed the golden age of the automobile, and what the future of transport will bring. While technological improvements in safety, efficiency, and performance are hard to argue with, many of us hold on to an irrational love for cars of a certain era. What is that era for you? One could argue that the best period in Japanese motoring began in 1967 with the debut of cars like the Toyota 2000GT, Mazda Cosmo Sport, and Datsun Fairlady 2000. From there, it was a steady rise in automotive excellence moving hand in hand with Japan’s skyrocketing economy. The closing bookend is a bit harder to pin down, but 2003 seems like a pretty good stopping point. By then, cars like the 350Z, RX-8, and S2000 had been released, but it seemed like denouement.
What cars bookended your favorite era of Japanese cars?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Where’s the greatest place for Japanese cars outside of Japan?” Continue reading
2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 08 — Finale
We have arrived at the finale of the 2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, the awards section. In a normal year, this would take place at the end of the show, at the main stage. Winners would be called up and handed their trophies while the crowd applauded. Instead, the awards are now announced in the above video for the world to see. Congrats to all the winners, and we will be sending out the prizes to the winners of the JCCS x JNC trivia contest next week. Hopefully, we will all be able to meet in person next year.
2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 07 — More 90s
Today is the final day of the 2020 JCCS, a virtual show known as World Matsuri Week. Once again it focuses on what many consider the golden age of Japanese cars, the 1990s. Sponsored by Toyota, the episode rounds out the top entries this year. Tomorrow, we will learn which cars are award winners. In the meantime, here is the seventh and final JCCS x JNC trivia question.
VIDEO: Feast your eyes on this 30th anniversary Honda NSX development film
The 30th anniversary of the production NSX took place last month, and Honda is releasing some excellent content to celebrate this phenomenal machine. Last night, a video showing the development of the NSX dropped. And even though we can’t understand all the Japanese, it’s a thrilling ride nonetheless. Continue reading
2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 — 90s
For the next installment of the 2020 JCCS World Matsuri Week virtual show, we are entering the final era that can reasonably called a classic. The 1990s was when Japan’s car scene peaked internationally, so it features an interesting mix of vehicles from the US, Japan, and abroad. Today, our JCCS x JNC trivia contest is sponsored by Mother’s Polish and can be found here.
The Mazda rotary will return in 2022 as a range extender
Mazda’s dream of reviving the rotary engine is finally coming true. In a Japanese presentation about the hybrid MX-30, CEO Akira Marumoto announced that Mazda will introduce “multi-electrification technology using a rotary engine” in the first half of 2022. While not the performance application some were hoping for, the rotary has always symbolized innovation at Mazda. This is certainly an innovative use of the rotary engine and a laudable successor to Mazda’s heritage. Continue reading
2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05 — More 80s
Here’s the fifth installment of JCCS 2020, sponsored by Honda. It’s a great episode with some JDM gems and an evergreen collection of AE86s, CRXes, MR2s, and Preludes from around the world. And, if you want to participate in the trivia contest, click here.
Honda made a whole video just to support JCCS
It’s no secret that 2020 has been hard on car shows. Because we help out our friends at JCCS, we are privy to some of the behind-the-scenes goings on this year. And let us just say, it has not been easy to pull off a virtual car show remotely, especially with big sponsors. However, Honda has really stepped up to the plate by producing an entire video just for the show, featuring the five car they would have brought to the event if it had been physically held. Continue reading
Posted in jccs
Tagged accord, Accord 1G, acura, civic, Civic EA, Civic Type R, honda, prelude, Prelude 4g, S500/S600/S800
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2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 04 — 80s
In the fourth installment of this year’s Japanese Classic Car Show, machinery from the 1980s takes center stage. For many, this is the peak era of Japanese cars, and should be an exciting episode. This segment is sponsored by Yokohama Tire, and as always, you can also enter the JCCS x JNC trivia contest.
Second-gen Subaru BRZ revealed, sort of
Normally the annual Subiefest event in southern California is a cornucopia of stanced WRXes, flat-brimmed hats, and vape smoke. This year, though, Subaru brought something pretty special: a well-camouflaged example of the long-awaited second-generation Subaru BRZ. Continue reading
2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 03 — More 70s
Here’s the next installment of the 2020 JCCS, aka World Matsuri Week, sponsored by Nissan. There are a lot of 70s cars to cover, so they’ve been split into multiple episodes. We’ve seen some excellent entries from around the world, so get excited for what comes next. And, if you’re playing along in the JNC x JCCS Trivia Contest, you can find today’s question here.
QotW: Where’s the greatest place for Japanese cars outside of Japan?
All week we will be featuring videos from this year’s virtual Japanese Classic Car Show. Though JCCS 2020 is online only this year due to that whole pandemic thing, they are allowing entries from all over the world. Which brings up an interesting question. What countries or regions are the best for vintage Japanese cars (other than Japan, naturally)? Our neighbors to the north, Canada, have access to an incredible array of imports due to more relaxed import laws. Australia and New Zealand have insane access to Japanese goods due to their proximity. The UK and Ireland seem to really prize authenticity and period correctness. In some areas of southeast Asia and South America, these cars are still daily driven.
Where’s the greatest place for Japanese cars outside of Japan?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What stupid question have you always wanted to ask about Japanese cars?” Continue reading
2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 02 — 70s
The JCCS 2020 World Matsuri Week continues in Part 02 of their virtual car show. The theme of this episode, presented by Motul Oil, is more 1970s J-tin. Tune in every day this week for more episodes, and click here if you want to enter the JNC trivia contest. Good luck!
2020 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 01 — 60s and 70s
This year, the Japanese Classic Car Show could not be physically held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the organizers took the opportunity to expand the show into a global virtual event for 2020, allowing entries from all over the world. So, all this week, they will be releasing videos of the best cars, categorized by decade. Today at noon (Pacific Time) we will see the first episode, sponsored by Toyota and covering the 1960s and 1970s. Also, be sure to look for a mention of a special trivia contest held in conjunction with JNC (hey, that’s us!). Enjoy!
VIDEO: The fifth-gen Honda Accord was “the most widely anticipated family sedan ever”
The Honda Accord was the first imported car to hold the crown of best selling car in America. Starting in 1989, the third-generation CA Accord‘s 362,707 in sales held the top spot, and carried it over through the first two years of the fourth-gen. Ford regained the title with the Taurus in 1992, so when Honda debuted of the fifth-gen in 1994 it was indeed looked upon with excitement. Continue reading
The Prince Skyline Sport is an unsung legend of Japan’s motoring history
During the 1960s the upper echelon of car buyers were at a crossroads. For the previous 80 years of automotive history, if you wanted the best car money could buy you would get a car bodied by the great coachbuilders of Europe. Prior to World War II, names like Pourtout, Saoutchik, Touring, or Pinin Farina signified of the finest automobiles of the age, massive cars with equally massive engines. While you would occasionally get a relatively sporty coachbuilt car like a Duesenberg SSJ, the majority were built for decadent luxury. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Calsonic colors live on, even though the company’s gone
When Calsonic was merged with Magnetti Marelli in September of last year and renamed to just Marelli, the fate of its famed blue livery was uncertain. It would have been sad to see Calsonic go, as they had been a title sponsor of Hoshino Team Impul since 1982, making them the longest-running title sponsor in in the world of motorsports. Turns out, the blue lives on, even though company doesn’t. Continue reading
PIXELATED: Art of Rally looks like a ripping good time
A new driving game, Art of Rally, has been at the top of the upcoming games chart on Steam for a while now and it looks like loads of fun. Described as a stylized game that lets you progress through the “golden age” of rallying, it features dozens of rally machines based on classic icons from the real world. Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
Tagged 222D, ae86, Art of Rally, aw11, celica, group b, impreza, lancer evolution, mazda, mitsubishi, mr2, rally, rx-3, rx-7, sa22c, st185, subaru, toyota, wrc, WRX STI
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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 5,400-mile Lexus LS400
As the world creeps towards apocalypse on a daily basis, we are reminded of the necessity of an apocalypse-proof vehicle. As luck would have it, a 1994 LS400 with a scant 5,400 miles on the odometer has appeared on the market in Long Branch, New Jersey. Given that a first-generation LS400 with a hundred thousand miles is still more reliable than the most vehicles on American roads, one that has only ticked four digits on its odometer since new might just be the right car for the coming cataclysm(s). Continue reading
