Tag Archives: subaru
KIDNEY, ANYONE? The Subaru Impreza WRC test car that you can’t have
Above is a press photo from 1997 of the then-newly debuted Subaru Impreza WRC, built to the new World Rally Car specification that replaced Group A rules. Though similar in livery as Subaru’s older works Impreza and Legacy, this model would go on … Continue reading →
NY Auto Show: The coolest car in New York right now
JNC is at the New York International Auto Show, and despite all the big reveals of new crossovers and luxury sedans, the coolest car in city right now is what our own Ryan Senensky describes as “the first Japanese car to … Continue reading →
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from JNC
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from JNC! Here’s some midori cars for you’re viewing pleasure.
EVENTS: 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon, Part 01 — Legends of Rally
The Tokyo Auto Salon this year was its usual bacchanal of outrageous VIP luxury sleds, retina burning drift machines, and European exotics dripping money and diamonds out of their exhaust pipes. But in the midst of the madness, some companies actually brought … Continue reading →
EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2017, Part 06 — Trucks, Wagons, Vans, and Kei Jidosha
One of the great things about the New Year Meeting is that in addition to all the brilliant classics and street machines, commercial vehicles are welcomed as well. There aren’t many places on the planet where you’ll see such a gathering of classic Japanese … Continue reading →
VIDEO: Gerard’s Subaru GS-R Coupe and Subaru Ranch
There are people who collect classic Ferraris or Volkswagens. Some people are named Jay Leno and collect everything. Then there’s Gerard Kleyn, who collects classic Subarus. Specifically, he collects cars that utilized the 4×140 lug pattern, predating Legacys and Imprezas. … Continue reading →
KIDNEY, ANYONE?: 1979 Subaru DL “50 Shades of Brown”
After a series of seriously expensive kidney candidates ranging from a Fairlady Z432 to the entire Toyota campus, it’s high time we offer something for the proletariat. Seen on Craigslist Milwaukee is a 1979 Subaru DL Wagon, a perfect candidate at just $7,500. It’s … Continue reading →
VIDEO: Let’s not forget how awesome the Legacy RS was
Before the WRX, STI or any of Subaru’s three-letter suffixes for the Impreza became synonymous with rallying, there was the Legacy RS. Here’s a thrilling video of Colin McRae tearing through the 1993 Tour de Corse. Turbocharged first-gen Subaru Legacys are … Continue reading →
Driving Japan’s Car of the Year, the Subaru Impreza, and its great-great-grandfather
“Twenty years ago, no one was at our booth,” recalls Kazuhiro Abe, chief engineer of the 2017 Impreza. He was reminiscing about the launch of the third-generation Legacy at the Chicago Auto Show with a wry smile. He had joined the … Continue reading →
50 YEAR CLUB: Fuji Speedway
In a year of momentous anniversaries for Japanese automotive institutions, one stands above all others in shaping the cars we love. Fuji Speedway, which opened in 1966 and turned 50 this year, has been the birthplace of countless legends, whether … Continue reading →
25 YEAR CLUB: Subaru SVX
“We made the SVX from our hearts,” said Nobumasa Saeki, general manager of Subaru’s engineering division 25 years ago, in a booklet published at the model’s release. “It is the kind of car that we wanted to drive. It was … Continue reading →
100 YEAR CLUB: Isuzu Motors
What’s Japan’s oldest automaker? Like most questions, the answer isn’t necessarily a simple one, but there’s one thing that we can guarantee. It’s not Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, or any of the marques you might expect. One candidate, however, is Isuzu, … Continue reading →
BOXING DAY: 50 Years of the Subaru Boxer Engine
Lead vehicle designer Shinroku Momose “was not fussy about the engine,” recalls Motomitsu Honda, who worked in Subaru engine department in 1966. Momose merely “presented the required dimensions and performance and said that any type of engine would suffice providing … Continue reading →
TUNE UP: Remember George Michael with this supercharged Subaru kei car ad
The Subaru Rex Combi VX Supercharger was introduced in March 1988, and along with it came a snazzy new ad campaign. The addition of a supercharger to the 550cc kei hatchback boosted output from 36 to 54 horsepower, which doesn’t sound like … Continue reading →
EVENTS: Kiryu Classic Car Festival, Part 02 — The Parade
By any standard the Kiryu Classic Car Festival is a memorable and diverse gathering of kyusha with no shortage of charm. Even better, however, is that after the car show part of the event concluded, the cars go for a parade through the streets … Continue reading →
MINICARS: Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada talks about his cars, career, and his love for Hondas
“Honda for Life” is the motto of Ryu Asada, star designer at Hot Wheels. Born in Osaka, Japan and a lover of cars since infancy, he’s the man responsible for the Hot Wheels CRX, S2000, EF Civic, 1990 NSX, Integra and … Continue reading →
EVENTS: 2016 Kiryu Classic Car Festival, Part 01
The Kiryu Classic Car Festival holds a special place in the history of JNC. Back in 2006, long before any other English-language sites were interested in kyusha, it was the first show we covered in Japan. That also happened to be the first time … Continue reading →
EVENTS: 2016 Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival, Part 02
In Part 01 of our coverage of Tokyo’s Classic Car Festival at Meiji Jingu Gaien Park, I had just finished rolling up my tongue back into my mouth from which it had dropped, Tex Avery style, due to the cars brought out … Continue reading →
EVENTS: 2016 Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival, Part 01
During the end of November, Tokyo was gray, hammered by a never-ending barrage of snow. Two weeks earlier there had a bone-shaking earthquake. Luckily, last Saturday welcomed us with a clear blue sky and a crisp, dry late-November day. The 26th marked … Continue reading →
GRAND TOURING: Chubu and Kinki, Part 03
In Part 02 of our grand tour through central Japan, we experienced some of the best touge roads the country has to offer. After making it as far west as Matsue City, we decided to head back home to Chiba via a … Continue reading →