Tag Archives: kei car

How far can a Nissan kei car go without refueling?

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Ben Hsu

It’s easy to dismiss kei cars as weak, un-serious shoeboxes for misers. However, there’s a good reason why they comprise more than 34 percent of car sales in Japan. Even if you take the registration, parking and tax benefits out … Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

PIXELATED: Kat’s Run Zen-Nippon K Car Senshuken

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Ryan Senensky

Have you ever played Mario Kart and thought, “I wish these were all kei cars.”? If so, we have a game for you. Kat’s Run: Zen-Nippon K Car Senshuken produced by Atlus Games in 1995 was available exclusively for the Super … Continue reading →

Posted in Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Subaru celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Sambar

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Ben Hsu

It’s not fast, luxurious or particularly sexy, but the Subaru Sambar is a key part of Japan’s automotive history and one of its first kei trucks. If you’ve ever set foot in Japan you’ll know these little breadboxes are everywhere, … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, subaru | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Saitama Air-Cooled Yard

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Skorj

Students of automotive design and history advise us that the death of the rear-engine air-cooled car was dictated by a number of changing fashions and requirements. Pollution and noise requirements ensured two-strokes, with their oil-burning lubrication systems, were phased out … Continue reading →

Posted in honda, mazda, mitsubishi, subaru, suzuki | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Reader Build: Mitsubishi 360 Van

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Congrats to JNC reader Nakazoto for getting his 1967 Mitsubishi 360 Van project featured on both Jalopnik and Speedhunters in the same week! David lives in Nagoya, Japan and came across this kei commercial vehicle rotting away in a field. … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, mitsubishi | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments