Tag Archives: Lexus LS

Bose’s jumping “Magic Carpet” Lexus LS400 is now a parts donor

Posted on October 18, 2024 by Steve Chang

Remember the “leaping Lexus” developed by Bose? Back in 2004 the audio electronics company revealed an active suspension system and installed it on a first-gen Lexus LS400. The results were extraordinary. The car exhibited zero body roll, even under heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged Bose, lexus, Lexus LS | 3 Comments

In its 26th year, Toyotafest is still going strong — a brief history of TORC, the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club

Posted on September 2, 2022 by Dan Hsu

We’ve been attending Toyotafest every year since JNC started in 2006, and it’s consistently one of our favorite events. Last year was the 25th Toyotafest, which means the show itself is now old enough to wear historic plates, buy collector … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged 4runner, a20, a60, a70, A80, ae86, aw11, cabe toyota, celica, corolla, corona, e20, e70, fj40, fj60, GR86, hilux, J70, kp61, L10, land cruiser, lexus, lexus is, Lexus LS, mr2, N60, RAV4, scion, sports 800, st185, st205, starlet, stout, supra, sw20, t40, tacoma, tercel, toyota, toyotafest, W30, xb | 7 Comments

Japanese Classic Car Show 2021, Part 01

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Ben Hsu

To close out 2021, a year where things were finally opening up again, we’re going back to the Japanese Classic Car Show. After a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, JCCS was back in full form. Perhaps trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in events, jccs | Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, 3000GT, 411, 4runner, 510, 521, 610, 620, 720, a10, a20, a60, a70, accord, Accord 2G, Accord CA, Accord Wagon, acty, acura, ae86, Alto Works, aw11, az-1, b110, b120, beat, Bighorn/Trooper, bluebird, c10, c110, CA77 Dream 305, camry, cappuccino, cb1100, CB700SC, CB92 Benly, celica, celsior, civic, Civic EA, Civic EF, Civic EG, civic wagon, corolla, cressida, crown, Crown Majesta, crx, CRX EA, CRX EF, CT90, Daniel Wu, dc2, del Sol, DT250, e100, e20, e70, e80, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, fc3s, fj60, Fugu Z, galant, Galant VR-4, glc, greddy, GT750B, Hakosuka, hilux, Hilux Surf, honda, Honda N-Series, honda z, HT1, impreza, impulse, infiniti, Infiniti J30, Infiniti M30, integra, Integra 1G, Integra 2G, Integra Type R, isuzu, J200, J80, japanese classic car show, kei, kp61, L10, L25, land cruiser, legacy, Legacy Wagon, legend, Legend 1G, Legend 2g, lexus, Lexus LS, lexus sc, mazda, miata, Miata NA, mitsubishi, monkey, mr2, MX-3, n10, N30, N60, nissan, nsx, NSX NA1, pao, prelude, Prelude 2g, Prelude 3g, Prelude BB6, pulsar, QA50, r100, r30, r31, r32, r33, r34, rx-2, rx-3, rx-7, Ryu Asada, RZ350, s12, s120, s13, s130, s14, s30 z, s50, S500/S600/S800, s800, sa22c, sambar, Sera, silvia, skyline, soarer, sports 800, st185, st205, starlet, subaru, Subaru 260, Sung Kang, sunny, sunny truck, Super 90, SuperCub, supra, suzuki, sw20, T160, T180, te27, te37, tercel, toyota, TT500, U11, v10, wagons, x30, x60, x80, XS650, yamaha, z31, z32, Z34B | 7 Comments

Japan’s Automotive Hall of Fame inductees for 2021 include Toyota Celsior and Nissan Be-1

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Ben Hsu

The Japan Automotive Hall of Fame has announced its 2021 inductees. Each year three vehicles representing milestones in the country’s auto industry are selected for the honor. This year, they include two cars from the Bubble Era and a classic … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged be-1, f10, japan automotive hall of fame, kawasaki, lexus, Lexus LS, ls400, nissan | 4 Comments

The Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins trailer gets Japanese cars right

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Ben Hsu

Hollywood movies often get car scenes wrong, but especially when the setting is in Japan. Typically they just sprinkle in some a Nissan Figaro in the background or set up a parking garage drift in Los Angeles that stands in … Continue reading →

Posted in JNC Theater | Tagged 4runner, celsior, century, crown, Hilux Surf, lexus, Lexus LS, Snake Eyes, toyota, vip | 6 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? 5,400-mile Lexus LS400

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Ryan Senensky

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged Celisor, f10, kidney anyone, lexus, Lexus LS, toyota | 7 Comments

MINICARS: 2021 Matchbox lineup includes MR2, BRAT, T360, and more

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Ricky Silverio

The annual Matchbox collector’s convention was supposed to be last weekend, but the coronavirus happened. Instead, it was held virtually, with a video presentation to show what’s coming down the line. There’s a lot of excellent new castings for fans … Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged 280zx, 510, aw11, brat, c10, civic, d21, datsun, eclipse, f10, fj cruiser, Forester, Hakosuka, hardbody, hilux, honda, Honda e, infiniti, Infiniti G, Insight, lexus, Lexus LS, matchbox, mitsubishi, mr2, nissan, Nissan Junior, s130, s2000, sambar, skyline, subaru, T360/T500, tacoma, toyota, v36, Xterra | 17 Comments

There was a Subaru 360 on The Sopranos, youse guys

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Last week we asked what show had the best background JNCs. I had no idea at the time that I would find one of Japan’s iconic kei cars on HBO’s groundbreaking Y2K-era mobster drama, The Sopranos.

Posted in JNC Theater | Tagged F20, kei, lexus, Lexus LS, subaru, subaru 360 | 1 Comment

Akio Toyoda celebrates Lexus’ 30th anniversary with a champagne glass throwback to the original LS

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Ben Hsu

How does one celebrate a milestone anniversary? If you’re Lexus, it’s with champagne… glasses in the form of a tower on the hood of an LS. One of the most famous car commercials of the 1990s was Balance, the spot … Continue reading →

Posted in cm | Tagged akio toyoda, f10, lexus, Lexus LS | 4 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest, Part 05 — Big Sedans

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Dan Hsu

There’s nothing like a big Toyota sedan, and Toyotafest was full of ’em. Whether you’re talking about the brilliant luxury of a Lexus LS or the deadbolt reliability of a Camry, each one had its fans and fastidious owners. With … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged bosozoku, camry, century, chaser, cressida, crown, f10, F20, G40, lexus, Lexus LS, mark II, prius, s130, Taxi, toyotafest, V20, x60, x70, x80, X90 | 9 Comments

NEWS: Japanese Royal Family to get new parade car, Nissan out of the running

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The Japanese royal family is about to choose a new car. That’s a big deal, since they haven’t had a fresh whip since about 2006, when Toyota delivered four specially modified Century limousines to the Imperial household. The new car … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged Carlos Ghosn, century, Century Royal, lexus, Lexus LS, nissan, Prince Royal, Rolls Royce, toyota | 7 Comments

How five Japanese carmakers chose to represent 1989

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Finally for some non-Ghosn news. The Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival was held in Tokyo over the weekend. This year’s theme was “Japanese Vintage Year 1989,” and though the event was hosted by Toyota, it invited other Japanese automakers to … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged acura, celsior, f10, honda, legacy, lexus, Lexus LS, mazda, Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival, miata, Miata NA, mx-5, nissan, nsx, r32, skyline, subaru, toyota | 9 Comments

EVENTS: Nisei Week Car Show, 2018

Posted on August 21, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The annual Nisei Festival in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles is a celebration of Japanese American culture. Nisei means “second generation” in Japanese, but with its 84 years since the inaugural festival, the event has already been passed … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240sx, 240z, 280zx, a60, A80, abunai deka, acura, ae86, celica, century, civic, Civic EG, corolla, corona, crown, datsun, e70, f31, fairlady roadster, fd3s, G50, hilux, honda, infiniti, integra, Integra DA, itasha, lancer, lancer evolution, Lancer Evolution VI, Lancer Evolution X, Lancer Turbo, legend, Lexus LS, m30, mazda, miata, Miata NA, mitsubishi, mustang, mx-5, N80, Nisei Week, nissan, Q45, rx-7, s13, s130, s14, s2000, s30 z, s50, silvia, supra, T180, t80, toyota, vip | 9 Comments

EVENTS: Petersen Museum Cruise-in, Part 01

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Last weekend the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles hosted their annual cruise-in for Japanese cars. J-tin of all eras and styles flocked to the museum’s parking structure at the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire Boulevards on a sweltering LA … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240sx, 240z, 3000GT, 70, a60, A80, accord, Accord 1G, acura, ae86, aw11, b310, c10, celica, civic, Civic 1G, Civic EF, Civic EG, Civic EK, civic wagon, corolla, corolla fx, cressida, datsun, e80, f10, fc3s, fd3s, fit, Hakosuka, honda, integra, Integra DA, Lexus GS, Lexus LS, mazda, mr2, Mtisubishi, N360/N600, nissan, nsx, pathfinder, Petersen Museum, r32, r33, r34, Rogue, rx-7, s13, s14, S160, s30 z, S500/S600/S800, scion, Scion FRS, silvia, skyline, sti, subaru, sunny, supra, sw20, T200, wrx, x30, x80, Z360/Z600 | 7 Comments

EVENTS: Radwood NorCal 2018

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The Radwood phenomenon is spreading faster than hairspray-induced polyester fire. The celebration of 80s and 90s autodom is now on its fourth show in just two years, and the organizers tell us it was the biggest one yet. We attended … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2.5RS, 240sx, 3000GT, 300zx, A31, a40, a60, a70, A80, accord, acty, acura, ae86, ae92, aw11, az-1, b-series, cappuccino, Cefiro, celica, corolla, crx, delica, fc3s, fd3s, figaro, fj60, GC8, honda, impreza, integra, land cruiser, LC70, LC80, legend, leone, lexus, Lexus LS, lexus sc, Lotus Esprit, mazda, miata, Miata NA, Mighty Max, mitsubishi, montero, motocompo, mr2, mx-5, nissan, nsx, pajero, r32, r34, Radwood, rx-7, s13, skyline, subaru, sunchaser, supra, suzuki, sw20, toyota, Toyota Van, z31 | 14 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2018, Part 01 — Sedans

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Ben Hsu

If there’s one thing Toyota is known for, it’s sedans. Yes, the Camry is basically the default car that pops into most brains when the word “sedan” is uttered, but Toyota also has a mean portfolio of old school, rear-wheel-drive mobbers. From Cressida … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged bosozoku, century, cressida, crown, f10, F20, F30, kaido racer, lexus, Lexus GS, lexus is, Lexus LS, mark II, s190, s60, sportcross, toyota, toyotafest, x30, x60, x70, x80 | 10 Comments

EVENTS: Radwood 2 – Electric Boogaloo

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Ben Hsu

From the moment co-organizer Art Cervantes told us the name of the event, we knew it would be incredible. Radwood. It was a car show exclusively for 80s and 90s machines. Like Goodwood but, you know, rad.

Posted in events | Tagged 240sx, 300zx, 4runner, 80-series, 929, a60, a70, A80, acura, ae86, aw11, brat, CBR900RR, celica, charade, chaser, civic, Civic EF, Civic EG, corolla, corona, cr-v, cressida, crx, daihatsu, delica, Dodge Raider, e70, eclipse, fc3s, fd3s, fj60, fj62, galant, Galant VR-4, honda, infiniti, integra, KA4, KA7, land cruiser, legend, lexus, Lexus LS, mazda, miata, Miata NA, Mighty Max, mitsubishi, montero, motocompo, mr2, MX-3, mx-5, N60, nissan, nsx, pajero, prelude, Q45, r33, r34, Radwood, rx-7, s13, sa22, skyline, subaru, supra, sw20, x70, x80, z31, z32 | 11 Comments

SEMA 2017: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Ben Hsu

As the largest trade event for custom cars in the US, possibly the world, SEMA can serve as a showcase for innovation and creativity, sometimes giving a spotlight for bloody knuckled backyard builds to shine. The flip side, though, is that SEMA’s high profile pressures talented craftsmen into pouring cash into cars whose sole purpose … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240sx, 360 Modena, A80, acura, ae86, arrow, C-HR, c10, civic, Civic Type R, corolla, daihatsu, ef, eg, fd3s, ferrari, ford, GC8, Grom, gt-r, Hakosuka, hijet, honda, isuzu, lancer celeste, lexus, Lexus LC, Lexus LS, Lexus RC, liberty walk, mazda, miata, Miata ND, mitsubishi, mustang, mx-5, nissan, NPR, nsx, plymouth, r30, r32, r33, r35, Ridgeline, rx-7, s14, sema, SEMA 2017, sienna, skyline, subaru, supra, TLX, toyota | 20 Comments

NIHON LIFE: Stumbling across random car shops in Tokyo

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Ben Hsu

It’s easy to get lost in Tokyo. The streets aren’t laid out in a grid and often have no signs on them, or if they do, they’re in Japanese. As a car otaku, the problem is compounded because rather than looking at … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged atenza, aw11, b310, celsior, Ciic Type R, Cima, civic, Civic EK, cosmo sport, Countach, datsun, F50, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, honda, infiniti, Infiniti Q45, lamborghini, lexus, Lexus LS, lfa, mazda, mr2, nissan, porsche, prius, r33, RUF, s130, skyline, sports 800, sunny, Sunny California, toyota, vip, W50 | 11 Comments

EVENTS: 2017 All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 01 — New Digs

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Like RAV4 sales numbers, the number of cars at Toyotafest is ever-expanding. Now in its 22nd year, the country’s most comprehensive Toyota, Lexus and Scion car show has outgrown its home at the Queen Mary. This year, organizers from the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 4runner, a20, a40, a60, ae86, avalon, aw11, camry, Camry Coupe, celica, Colin Project, corolla, corolla levin, corona, cressida, e70, e90, focus racing, ke10, lexus, Lexus GS, Lexus LC, Lexus LS, Lexus RC, longchamp xr-4, mr2, s190, scion, Scion xB, star sharks, sunchaser, sw20, t80, toyota, Toyota Van, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017, UCF20, UCF30, x30, XV10 | 7 Comments