japanese cars
Toyota GT 86 TRD Officially Revealed: 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon
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The GT 86 will spawn a new legion of fanboys for the Toyota brand – a result it was purpose-built to achieve. And if there’s one thing die-hard automotive enthusiasts love more than spouting off engine and chassis codes, it’s factory performance parts. In this case: Toyota Racing Development… or TRD for short. With Toyota…
Modelista Toyota GT 86 Gets Lippy: 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon
Just a few weeks after the debut of the GT 86, Toyota tuners are getting a crack at the new sports car and showing what modified visions they can dream up at Japan’s largest aftermarket expo, the Tokyo Auto Salon. One of the very first machines is built by Toyota’s in-house Modelista tuning division, focused…
Consumers Do Not Find Hybrids Appealing
For the last number of years, automakers have been pushing gas-electric products at auto shows across the world. However, according to researcher LMC Automotive, hybrid sales in the United States have slowed last year to 2.2 percent compared to 2.4 percent in 2010. Mike Jackson, chief executive of auto retail chain AutoNation Inc., said that…
NHTSA Closes Honda Accord Hybrid, Kia Sorento Investigations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that investigations of the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Kia Sorento have both ended. The NHTSA first looked into Accord Hybrid models after initial investigations linked unintended acceleration to a fatal accident. After a thorough investigation, the agency found no evidence of defect within the Accord Hybrid. No…
Acura NSX: Old Meets New In Gran Turismo 5 Promo [Video]
If it’s impossible, implausible or just plain awesome and you can’t have it in real life, there’s always going to be video games to let you live out the fantasy. Amid the buzz building around the new Acura NSX, we can’t help but think to ourselves that it would be nice to just jump in…
Infiniti Extended Range Sports Car Concept Teased [Video]
Infiniti knows sexy. Their cars have flowing curves that look right at home next to car show babes, a set of golf clubs or a well-manicured lawn. That’s why it really was a tease when they released photos last October of their new extended-range electric sports car. The company is still playing coy about the…
Honda Previews Tokyo Auto Salon Lineup
Honda has announced its lineup of vehicles for the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, the automotive aftermarket expo of Japan. The Honda exhibit will feature a variety of models including automobiles, motorcycles, power products, racing vehicles and other highlights in order to convey the joy of mobility and motorsport excitement. Honda Access Corp., manufacturer of genuine…
Nissan Leaf Predicted to Double Sales in 2012
As with all new products, analysts are quick to analyze its success after its first year of sales. When Nissan reported that its Leaf electric vehicle sales tallied 9,674 units last year, industry analysts claimed that the poor sales number proved that a market does not exist for electric propulsion. CEO Carlos Ghosn saw differently,…
2013 Nissan Pathfinder Concept Video – First Look: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Taking a page out of Ford’s playbook, Nissan appears ready to follow suit in the move from SUVs to crossovers announcing that the 2013 Pathfinder will ride on a car-based unibody platform rather than a body-on-frame truck chassis. Over a year ago, Ford made a similar switch with its new Explorer. As a concept Nissan…
Toyota Prius c Video – First Look: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Expanding the Prius range of vehicles to four, the new “c” model is the smallest and most affordable Prius yet. Toyota also promises it will be the most fun to drive and it will get an even higher fuel economy rating than the standard Prius with 53 mpg combined. Unveiled this week at the North…
2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept Video – First Look: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
With a recently launched new Camry and Ford unveiling the production version of the new Fusion mid-size sedan at the Detroit Auto Show, Honda previewed its next-generation Accord with a stylish concept coupe. With no dramatic new styling changes, the 9th generation Accord will be the first Honda to receive the brand’s new lineup of…
2013 Acura ILX First Look – Video: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
With a new flagship supercar planned in the NSX Concept, Acura also unveiled a new entry-level model at the Detroit Auto Show this week. Called the ILX, it’s based on the new Honda Civic platform, but significantly modified. It also gets some distinct bodywork and three unique engine choices, including a hybrid option – the…
2013 Subaru BRZ Finally Lands in America: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Powered by new generation FA-Series 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder, generating 200 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, the production BRZ boasts one of the lowest centers of gravity of any car currently available
Lexus LF-LC Concept Video – First Look: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Easily one of the stars of this year’s Detroit Auto Show, and arguably the best looking, the Lexus LF-LC hybrid coupe concept is a bold look at the future styling direction of the brand, while also hinting at a new model. With styling cues from the new GS and the LFA supercar, there’s plenty of…
2013 Prius C Gets 53-MPG, Priced Under $19,000: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Toyota is updating its Prius family once again with the production version Prius C. The C stands for city, because this version of the Prius is smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient than its classic predecessor. The 2013 Prius C will be powered by a 1.5L four cylinder engine which produces 73 hp as well…
2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept Looks Very Familiar: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
No one will accuse Honda of breaking the mold with the new Accord Coupe concept, revealed today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Then again, consistency is part of the Honda plan and has earned the company an excellent reputation. On hand for the car’s debut, American Honda Motor Co. Executive VP…
2013 Nissan Pathfinder Concept is a Crossover and Looks it: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Nissan introduced its new Pathfinder Concept SUV at the Detroit Auto Show today. Boasting an all-new design, Nissan looks to provide more passenger comfort, innovative technology, and fuel-efficient performance when production versions hit the showroom this coming fall. The next Pathfinder promises an aerodynamic body combined with a more efficient V6 engine as well as…
Nissan to Build Mercedes Engines in the U.S.
Renault-Nissan and Daimler have announced the joint engine production of Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder engines at Nissan’s Decherd, Tennessee, plant beginning 2014. According to the press release, this marks the first ever production of a Mercedes-Benz engine within the North America Free Trade region. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of…
2012 Nissan Cube Gets Mild Price Hike
The 2012 Nissan Cube is getting a little more expensive, though not by a significant margin. The company chose to raise the base price $260 to $15,760, which includes a $780 destination charge. The real news is that the decision to cut back from four to three versions of the box on wheels has been confirmed….
Foreign Cars Produce Domestic Jobs
Finally, we can now buy foreign products without the guilt of knowing that we are creating jobs on the other side of the planet. A study conducted by the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) has concluded that 70% of Japanese cars sold in the U.S. are built on North American soil. The JAMA says that roughly…
2013 Scion FR-S Headed to Detroit Auto Show
Scion has announced it will show its new FR-S sports car to the public at the Detroit Auto Show next week. The new flagship vehicle for the youth-oriented brand, the FR-S is essentially a rebadged version of the Toyota GT 86 (or just Toyota 86), which will go on sale in other markets later this…
Subaru BRZ to Make US Debut at Detroit Auto Show
Subaru will use next week’s Detroit Auto Show to stage the first North American showing of its new BRZ sports car. Co-developed with Toyota, the BRZ is an unconventional Subaru as it is rear-wheel drive and not all-wheel drive. It does, however, feature a 4-cylinder boxer powerplant, which allows the car to have an ultra-low…
Lexus LF-LC Fully Revealed in New Photos: Detroit Auto Show Preview
Lexus has released new photos of its stunning new concept car, pointing to the future of the brand’s styling as well as a possible new model. The LF-LC hybrid concept adapts the brand’s new grille, as first seen on the 2013 GS, while looking like a luxurious 2+2 version of the LFA supercar. Lexus has…
Honda Planning Smaller CR-V
Honda is rumored to be planning another crossover model to join its lineup in the near future. Slotting in between the CR-V and Civic, it would be the brand’s smallest utility vehicle. Word of the new model comes out of Europe where Honda sells a Civic hatchback that rides on a different platform than the…
