If your computer mouse isn’t the fastest downhill peripheral on Mt Desktop, perhaps you need to upgrade to this Initial D one. Modeled after Ryosuke Takahashi’s FC Mazda RX-7, the mouse is a dead ringer for the White Comet of Akagi. But if its cursor pointing style is too clinical for you, there’s the option of getting its younger brother, Keisuke Takahashi’s more flamboyant FD. Continue reading
Toyota Corona ads like this helped establish the brand in the US
Toyota’s entry into the US market was famously disastrous. The Toyopet Crown was built for crowded Japanese alleys, not wide American highways, and its troubled launch almost sent Toyota back to Japan entirely. What redeemed the company was the introduction of the 1965 Corona, a car that went head-to-head against the Volkswagen Beetle. Continue reading
Mitsubishi restored the Lancer Evolution III that won the 1000 Lakes Rally in 1996
If you were to ask which Japanese carmaker was least likely to drop some coin on their heritage collection, we doubt Mitsubishi would be at the top of anyone’s list. It hasn’t been a good couple of decades for them, what with scandals, getting bought out, and the slow atrophy of their lineup. And yet, Mitsubishi recently restored a prized WRC Lancer Evolution from their collection, then promptly hooned it. Continue reading
Baby Toyota Land Cruiser rumored to arrive next year
Since last fall there have been rumblings of a baby Land Cruiser joining the Toyota lineup, a vehicle said to be called a “Jimny killer” internally. A new report out of Japan suggests that, whatever it’s called, the public could see it as early as next year. And, unlike the FJ40-inspired Compact Cruiser electric concept, it’ll be gasoline-powered. Continue reading
QotW: Which carmaker takes the best care of its heritage?
The recent revelation that the Toyota USA Museum was crushing two of its cars was gut-wrenching for enthusiasts. Every carmaker struggles with the conflicting forces of keeping their heritage alive and having to juggle constraints of cost or space or legal liability. Some do a better job of managing those factors than others, and we enthusiasts benefit from seeing those collections come alive.
Which carmaker takes the best care of its heritage?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What advice or stories do you have about tires?“. Continue reading
Ex-race car driver and Japan National Diet member Junko Mihara just had her car stolen
Japan is a famously safe nation, but car thefts have been on the rise. Among the most popular targets are high-end Toyotas like the Alphard, Land Cruiser, and Lexus LX. The thefts have even struck some of the highest-ranking people in Japan. Last week, the Land Cruiser of politician Junko Mihara, a former race car driver, has been was stolen. Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 24 Hours of Spa, a60, celica, corolla, corolla levin, e90, honda, integra, J200, JGTC, jtcc, land cruiser, long beach grand prix, Masahiro Matsunaga, mr2, prelude, pulsar, Super Taikyu, supra, sw20, tom's, toyota
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A first look inside the remodeled Honda Collection Hall at Twin Ring Motegi
If you’re a Hot Wheels collector, sometimes you just have to pull everything out of storage and go through it. Honda has been doing a similar thing, except with its entire car collection. It recently opened a new Racing Gallery at Suzuka Circuit, an American Honda Collection Hall, and it remodeled its flagship museum, the original Honda Collection Hall at Twin Ring Motegi. In a new video, Honda offers a peek inside the facility, and its much more museum-like atmosphere. Continue reading
Toyota 4Runner’s sixth generation answers one big question about the new Land Cruiser
Ever since the Toyota Land Cruiser nameplate was revived last August, we at JNC have been a bit flummoxed about it. Though it wore the legendary name, it didn’t feel like a real Land Cruiser. It just felt off somehow, almost toy-like. We couldn’t quite put our finger on it until now, because the newly unveiled sixth-gen Toyota 4Runner is the actual real deal. Continue reading
Posted in Next Version
Tagged 4runner, J250, J300, land cruiser, Land Cruiser Prado, lexus, Lexus GX, toyota
6 Comments
The Mitsubishi Eclipse was named after an undefeated racehorse, not the astronomical event
On April 8 a rare total solar eclipse took place in North America. Despite the many “Eclipse Day” references in automotive media, the beloved 1990s sports coupe is not named after the astronomical event — not directly, anyway. In fact, Mitsubishi named its car after an undefeated thoroughbred racehorse from the 18th century. Continue reading
QotW: What advice or stories do you have about tires?
Today, April 8, is Tire Day in Japan. The day was established by the Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association to remind people to inspect their tires, and in fact JATMA holds free tire inspections at popular expressway rest stops throughout Japan on this day. Our biggest dilemma with tires — other than the time we had a blowout on an 800-mile road trip — is that it’s become so hard to find tires in smaller sizes for older cars. When the average new car has 18-inch wheels, manufacturers aren’t offering as many 13- and 14-inchers any more.
What advice or stories do you have about tires?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the biggest joke in the automotive world?“. Continue reading
A first look inside Suzuka Circuit’s Honda Racing Gallery
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Honda’s entry into Formula 1 at the 1964 German Grand Prix. Today, April 5, Honda is using the occasion to open a new museum dedicated to Honda motorsports at Suzuka Circuit, which began hosting the Japanese Grand Prix in 1987. It was only a year after Honda had started producing cars, and the sport was largely unknown in Japan. Continue reading
The Toyota USA Museum is crushing a classic Cressida and record-setting Prius
We are sad to report that the Toyota USA Museum appears to be sending two of its cars to the crusher. A gold 1978 Cressida and a 2003 Prius with a very distinct livery have surfaced in a recycling yard near Dallas, Texas, close to Toyota USA’s headquarters. Both of these cars are almost certainly from Toyota’s museum. Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged Bonneville Salt Flats, cressida, mark II, prius, toyota, Toyota USA Museum, x30, XW20
15 Comments
Nissan Z and GT-R will live to see another generation, says execs
Nissan is working on the next-generations of its two most cherished nameplates, according to a new report. Despite a hostile climate to traditional sports cars, the Z and GT-R will soldier on in a new generation, though it might be a while before we see those cars in the metal. They may also be dramatically different than the cars we’re used to. Continue reading
Mitsubishi’s Ralliart history comes alive in this short film
Mitsubishi Motors has produced a short film covering its rallying history. In this 10-minute short film, engineers from Mitsubishi’s WRC program reminisce about what got them into rallying and their passion for the sport. They discuss important Mitsubishi rally cars, now carefully preserved, many of which have been gathered together in a very rare joint appearance. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged lancer, lancer evolution, mitsubishi, pajero, Ralliart, Triton
2 Comments
QotW: What’s the biggest joke in the automotive world?
Happy April Fools’ Day. Instead of playing a joke on you this year, we’re going to explore the jokes that this cruel world has played on all of us. It would be too easy to mock the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, a car so ugly and strange it’s almost endearing. Instead, we’re going to laugh at how Nissan actually spent good money to produce it during a time when it was absolutely slashing costs in all other aspects. The CrossCab came out just as Nissan began obliterating decades of hard-earned reputation by installing its worst generation of CVTs across its entire lineup. Rumor is that Carlos Ghosn’s wife came up with the idea, which fast-tracked the car into production. That alone should have been cause enough to have sent him packing in a musical instrument box. Your answers of the week don’t have to be a specific car, though many certainly deserve the ridicule. They can be a personal story, a trend, or a sad universal truth.
What’s the biggest joke in the automotive world?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What car still feels new to you even though it’s actually old?“. Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
23 Comments
Here’s what Initial D would look like if it took place in America
The web has countless works of art inspired by Initial D, but here’s a completely original take on the seminal anime. A “what if” short imagines what the touge racing tale would look like if it took place in America. Instead of a Toyota AE86, we get the quintessential 1980s street machine, a Fox Body Mustang — and not the showy GT, but the sleeper LX 5.0. Continue reading
Toyota GT-One arrives in Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7‘s latest update packs some serious horsepower. Notably, it marks the return of the Toyota GT-One, among the most beautiful and the most tragic Le Mans racers of the last 25 years. The 780-horsepower monster was a force to be reckoned with in previous installments of the racing simulator, and we expect that trend to continue. Continue reading
Watch the Nissan R92CP claim its third “double title” in a row
Nissan has released a video of its efforts in the 1992 Japan Sports Prototype Championships. The 1992 season was a significant one as it marked the tenth and final year of the JSPC. With the bubble economy having burst the league struggled to get automakers’ participation. However, in its sunset year Nissan was on a dominant streak to claim its third “double title” (winning both Constructors and Drivers Championships). Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
1 Comment
Why the NA Mazda Miata OEM wheel has 7 spokes instead of 8
As has often been said, the original NA Mazda MX-5 Miata wheel was designed to evoke popular aftermarket wheels of the 1960s. However, as keen-eyed observers might note, all those wheels and the many copies they inspired have eight spokes. The Miata’s wheel only has seven. What gives? Continue reading
QotW: What car still feels new to you even though it’s actually old?
As lovers of classic cars our perception of time can get seriously warped. That often manifests itself when we see a car like the Nissan 350Z, which because we grew up admiring the S30-Z32 generations, we think of as new even though it came out over 20 years ago. Maybe it’s because there was a Z hiatus between Z32 and Z33, or perhaps it’s the styling, but the 350Z just doesn’t give us the same warm fuzzy feeling or jolt of excitement as its predecessors when we see one.
What car still feels new to you even though it’s actually old?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which Nissan model is the most Nissan?“. Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
7 Comments
