japanese cars
Video of Nissan GT-R’s 7:26.7 Nürburgring Lap Time Surfaces
Back in April, Nissan set a new personal-best lap time at the Nürburgring and now video of that run has made its way onto the web. The car is Nissan’s revised 2010 GT-R and at the wheel is Nissan’s top test driver Toshio Suzuki. The 2010 GT-R boasts 5 more horsepower than the previous model,…
Lexus to Build High Performance IS-F Convertible
With the launch of the IS convertible, rumors started almost immediately that Lexus might build a high-performance F version of the retractable hard-top. Now it appears those hoping for such a drop-top beast will get their wish. According to a report by Car & Driver, a convertible version of the IS-F will be due out…
Lexus Wins Its First Pro Off-Road Race at Baja 500
Cancer Survivor Joe Bacal and navigator Paul Williamsen may just have set a record this weekend, taking first place in their class at the grueling Baja 500 race. It was the first win for Bascal, the JTGrey Racing Team, the Cancer Treatment Centers of America LX570 and for Lexus in professional off-road racing. More amazing…
Honda Confirms 2010 Accord Crosstour on Sale This Fall
We have just received word from Honda that its Toyota Venza competitor will go on sale this Fall. As for the name, it has been confirmed as the Honda Accord Crosstour. Early unconfirmed reports stated the on-sale date as October 26th. The crossover vehicle will be a 2010 model. Honda is set to release further…
Suzuki Offers ‘Free Gas For the Summer’ Incentive
To help boost sales Suzuki is offering a simple incentive plan – free gas for the summer, when you buy an SX4 sedan or hatchback. Here’s how it works: when you buy an SX4 sedan or hatch your local Suzuki dealer will throw in a gas card. The card is valued at $270 for the…
Plug-in Prius Due Out in 2012; Two Years After Chevy Volt
According to a report in Japan’s Nikkei business paper, Toyota expects to sell as many as 30,000 plug-in Prius models annually once production begins in 2012. This would put the PHEV Prius on the market almost two years after General Motors has said its plug-in hybrid, the Volt, will be launched. The paper is also…
Lexus Offers 20 Percent Off F-Sport Performance Parts
Lexus has just announced a special offer of 20 percent off on all F-sport accessories. The coupon is good until July 31st at participating Lexus dealerships and can be used on F-Sport goodies up to a maximum of $10,000. That’s $2,000 off! Lexus recently expanded its line of F-Sport products to include the new Lexus…
Mazda Prepping Sub-Miata MX-2?
We wouldn’t go so far as to say that the folks at AutoExpress are just making stuff up, but the prospect of a smaller MX-5 Miata (the MX-2) does sound unlikely. Still, the British auto pub is reporting that such a vehicle is in the works and could be here as early as 2012. This…
Suzuki to Release Sporty SX4 Sportback
Suzuki will bring a more driver-oriented SX4 Sportback model to market this year based on the SX4 Crossover. This five-door hatchback will get a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 150hp and 140 ft-lbs of torque and get a combined 26 mpg. Buyers can opt for a CVT automatic transmission with paddle shifters or stick with the…
Suzuki Denies Talks With Volkswagen
After news reports late last week that Suzuki was in talks with Volkswagen, the Japanese automaker’s CEO has officially denied the story. “So far there’s been absolutely no contact (with Volkswagen),” said Chief Executive Osamu Suzuki to the Chunichi Shimbun daily. “Lately, we’ve been the victim of a lot of rumors (of equity tie-ups and…
Consumer Reports Trash Talks Honda’s Insight
In the latest issue Consumer Reports tests 22 small cars and hatchbacks and Honda’s new Insight only rates a “Good.” That might not sound all that bad, but CR usually gives all Hondas an “Excellent” or “Recommended” or “Top Pick” rating. Out of 22 cars, the Insight is just 21st. The only car to rate…
Toyota to Launch iQ Mini Car in U.S. as Scion Model
Toyota will bring its iQ city car to North America by 2012, badged as a Scion model. Scion debuted a concept of the iQ (shown above) at the New York Auto Show this year. When it does launch, however, expect it to look significantly more tame. Currently the mini car (about the size of a…
Infiniti to Show Essence Concept at Goodwood Festival of Speed
To help promote the launch of the Infiniti brand in the U.K., the luxury Japanese automaker will bring its stunning Essence Concept to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in September. Alongside the Essence will be Infiniti’s brand new G37 Convertible. Sadly, Infiniti explicitly points out in its press release that while the G37 will be…
Toyota Prepping Supra-Successor
According to its sources, 7Tune is reporting that Toyota is in fact preparing a successor to the Supra. This top-level sports car has taken a back seat to the economy-minded 086A – the code name for the yet unnamed joint Toyota/Subaru project. It’s also likely that development of a Supra-successor has been slowed due to…
Volkswagen Looking To Buy Stake in Suzuki
Volkswagen is reportedly looking at purchasing a 10 percent stake in Suzuki as it looks to create a solid partnership with the Japanese automaker. Te reason for VW’s interest is Suzuki’s expertise in mini cars – like the Suzuki Alto, pictured above. The Alto is currently the best-selling vehicle in India and Volkswagen wants to…
Stillen to Give Away Trip To Targa Newfoundland
Several months ago world renowned racer Steve Millen announced his intentions to race in the Targa Newfoundland road rally in a Nissan GT-R prepped by his own tuner shop – Stillen. Now Stillen has announced that it is running a contest, the winner of which will receive an all expenses paid round trip for two…
Japanese Company Considers Building Toyota Prius Hearse
Thanks to Lequios, you can do more for the environment once you’re dead than just become fertilizer for pushing up daisies. The Japanese hearse manufacturer is designing a hearse based on the 2010 Toyota Prius, meaning your last trip in a car can be an environmentally-responsible one. And you thought saving the planet for future…
Lexus Planning Sporty LS460 SZ
According to a recent report in Japan’s Best Car magazine, Lexus is planning a sport version of its flagship LS sedan. The LS460 SZ, as it is to be called, will get a stylish new aero kit with a new front and rear bumper, new side skirts and a dark black chrome grille. The SZ…
Subaru of America Seeks Guinness World Record for Largest Suby Parade
Subaru of America is looking to set a Guinness World Record for the largest parade of Subys… er, Subies… um, Barus? And its reaching out to fanatical, AWD, boxer engine owners to help. Subaru and the Subaru Great Lakes Region is asking owners from all over the country to meet on July 11 at 500…
Shoichiro Toyoda Lashes Out at Toyota Execs
One of the last things Shoichiro Toyoda did as honorary chairman at Toyota Motor Corp., was to assemble all of the company’s executives and give them a tongue lashing. Toyoda even called out president Katsuaki Watanabe and blamed him, as well as those other executives in charge of the Japanese automaker, for leaving behind the…
Nissan to Build Electric Cars in the U.S.
A U.S. government initiative that would see low-interest loans granted to automakers who build environmentally-friendly cars in the U.S. appears to have one taker – Nissan. The Japanese automaker will spend anywhere from $500 million to $1 billion to update its Smyrna, Tennessee plant to build a green car and produce lithium-ion batteries. While no…
Mugen Civic Type-R Pics & Video Emerge
We recently reported that Honda tuner Mugen was planning a version of the Euro-spec Civic Type-R and now that story has essentially been confirmed as Mugen has released photos and a short video of its front-drive hot-hatch. Mugen still hasn’t release any details on the model, but it is expected to follow the format set…
2010 Subaru Legacy Gets 31 Highway MPG
Subaru has just released its EPA fuel-economy numbers for the 2010 Legacy with some impressive figures. The base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, when paired with Subaru’s CVT transmission, gets 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway for a combined total of 26 mpg. This rating is better, Subaru notes, than base-engine competitors…
Toyobaru Rumors Resurface As Insider Gushes About Small Sports Car’s Design
The Toyobaru, in case you haven’t heard, is a secret car that, as the name would suggest, is being built as a joint project by Toyota and Subaru. Code named the 086A, the possibility that the two Japanese automakers might actually build the thing sounds like a dream – and yet the rumors about it…
