Tag Archives: lexus

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: Japanese Automotive Invitational 2019

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Dan Hsu

Now in its second year, the Japanese Automotive Invitational seeks to introduce the idea of collectible Nihon steel to a crowd that considers a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM not classic enough. Located at the Infiniti booth that sits just outside … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, 200sx, 240z, 280zx, 3000GT, 300zx, 310, 411, 510, 929, acura, adam carolla, alcyone, bellett, bluebird, c10, contessa, corona, cosmo, cosmo sport, crx, CRX EA, CRX EF, csp311, datsun, fairlady roadster, fc3s, fj55, g2, galant gto, Hakosuka, hino, honda, Honda S-Series, honda z, infiniti, Integra g1, isuzu, J80, Japanese Automotive Invitational, jc, jimny, land cruiser, legend, Legend g1, lexus, Lexus LX, lexus sc, lj20, luce, mazda, miata, Miata NA, mitsubishi, Model 70, Monterey Car Week, mx-5, nissan, nsx, paul newman, r130, r382, rx-7, s10, s130, S30Z, scca, Sera, silvia, skyline, sports 800, subaru, subaru xt, suzuki, svx, t40, toyota, Type 16, VehiCROSS, Z30, z31 | 7 Comments

NEWS: Lexus’ Nori Green Pearl is the new best color

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Normally we don’t really report on a new car unless there’s some link to a past model, like a revived beloved nameplate, or some throwback design touches. There’s not much that’s retro about the new Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series, … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged corona mark II, lexus, Lexus LC, toyota, x20 | 11 Comments

EVENTS: Radwood NorCal 2019

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Glenn Chiou

Just a week after my colleagues were at SpoCom in SoCal, Radwood returned to its ancestral home in NorCal. The traveling show of 80s and 90s nostalgia started in the Bay Area in 2017, and has been expanding rapidly. There … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240sx, 300zx, 4runner, acura, ae86, aw11, cappuccino, celica, corolla, crx, CRX EF, fc3s, fd3s, fj60, honda, impulse, isuzu, kei, land cruiser, lexus, lexus sc, mazda, mr2, N60, nissan, nsx, piazza, rx-7, s13, s14, sa22, silvia, soarer, st185, suzuki, sw20, T180, toyota, z31 | 9 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

EVENTS: 2019 Osaka Auto Messe

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Kevin San

Everyone knows the Tokyo Auto Salon, the massive annual car show where the big brands and tuning houses of Japan’s automotive aftermarket goes all-out to show its wares. But, there’s an equally big show that’s not quite as well known, … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged A90, Beet, bosozoku, c10, c130, c210, carry, century, Century GRMN, civic, Civic EA, crown, crx, ferrari, gt-r, Hakosuka, honda, jimny, jun auto mechanic, kei, Lapin, laurel, lexus, Lexus LC, liberty walk, mark x, motorcycles, NISMO 400R, NISMO Z-Tune, nissan, Osaka Auto Messe, porsche, r32, r33, r34, r35, Rays Wheels, s130, S200, skyline, soarer, supra, suzuki, toyota, vellfire, vip, volkswagen, work wheels, z10 | 11 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: Japanese Restomods

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Even after 27 years, The Tokyo Auto Salon is still the premier showcase of automotive fashion from a country that has no shortage of them. Many trends have come and gone over the decades, but TAS will probably always have … Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged 2000gt, ae86, c10, c110, cherry, Civic Type R, copen, corolla, corolla levin, daihatsu, fairlady z, fc3s, Hakosuka, honda, kei, kenmeri, lexus, Lexus RC, liberty walk, mazda, nissan, r34, r35, Rocket Bunny, rocky auto, rx-7, s13, s14, S15, s30 z, s660, silvia, skyline, Speed Forme, star road, tokyo auto salon, toyota, wagons | 3 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: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 10 — Bubble Era

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Ben Hsu

For 2018, the Japanese Classic Car Show expanded eligibility to cars up to 1995. That means for the first time, a flood of Bubble Era greats were able to attend. Welcome to a JCCS full of pop-up headlights, T-tops, and … Continue reading →

Posted in jccs | Tagged 200sx, 240sx, 3000GT, 300zx, A80, Bubble Era, celica, charade, daihatsu, f31, fc3s, fd3s, Galant VR-4, GC8, impreza, infiniti, jccs, lexus, lexus sc, m30, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, Q45, rx-7, s12, s13, subaru, supra, T180, toyota, z31, z32 | 10 Comments

MARKETWATCH: 2018 Monterey auction round-up

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Patrick Strong

The collector car auctions that occur each year as part of Monterey Car Week are a widely accepted barometer of the state of the marketplace, perhaps even more so than the January auctions of Scottsdale. The clientele in Monterey represents … Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged 2000gt, 240zg, acura, c10, century, Civic 1G, elf, fairlady z, fire engine, fj40, fj55, fj60, Hakosuka, hiace, honda, isuzu, jimny, land cruiser, lexus, lfa, Monterey Car Week, nissan, nsx, pao, president, S-Cargo, s30 z, skyline, toyota | 13 Comments

JNC LIBRARY: Sam Mitani’s The Prototype is a thriller with Japanese cars at its center

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Ben Hsu

In the world of spy thrillers, full of CIA agents, gunfights, and global power balance-changing secrets that cannot fall into the wrong hands, there typically aren’t a lot of Japanese cars mentioned. However, when the author is former International Editor … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Tagged 370z, beat, brz, cappuccino, Crown Majesta, delica, fuji speedway, honda, kei, lancer evolution, lexus, Lexus GS, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, rx-7, Sam Mitani, silvia, suzuki, The Prototype, toyota | 6 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Nissan Fairlady 240Z-G

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Monterey Car Week takes place next week, and we’re seeing more Japan-market classics trickling their way over to US shores. Perhaps the most desirable among this year’s crop is a genuine 1972 Nissan Fairlady 240ZG, a homologation special with factory … Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged 2000gt, 240zg, acura, fairlady z, honda, lexus, lfa, monterey historics, nissan, nsx, s30 z, toyota | 3 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

VIDEO: How to pronounce Japanese carmaker names properly

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Ben Hsu

A couple of years ago we were at a dinner with several journalists and a Mazda executive. At the other end of the table, a debate broke out about whether the proper pronunciation of the Hiroshima carmaker was the standard issue “MAHZ-dah” or the Australian-accented “MAAZZ-dah.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning Japanese | Tagged datsun, honda, lexus, mazda, mitsubishi, mugen, nissan, subaru, toyota | 7 Comments

NEWS: Toyota launches bare-bones Land Cruiser

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Ben Hsu

As lovers of nostalgic cars, a common gripe is that modern machines have too many bells and whistles, too many electronic nannies that stand between you and the driving experience. As it turns out, Toyota has heard your sad cries and just released … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged J150, land cruiser, Land Cruiser Prado, lexus, Lexus GX, toyota, trucks | 10 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: Maybe it’s time to stop calling Toyota boring

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Modern Toyota often gets a bad rap for not indulging enough in its fun side. At the Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan’s carnival of car customization and tuning, the Big T reminded us that few other Japanese automakers willing to commit this level of far-out … Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged crown, lexus, Lexus LC, nurburgring, S220, tokyo auto salon, toyota, toyota 86, vitz, wrc, yaris | 5 Comments

25 YEAR CLUB: Lexus SC

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Ben Hsu

It was somewhere just west of Omaha that I said to myself, “This car was made for this shit.” I was in the midst of a cross-country drive with nothing but a Lexus SC, a toothbrush, and fewer changes of underwear than days on … Continue reading →

Posted in 25 Year Club | Tagged 25 Year Club, calty, Erwin Lui, lexus, lexus sc, soarer, toyota | 35 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