GC8 Subaru Impreza WRX & Early STI Models Defining Commitment to Motorsports Pedigree While Subaru currently anchors North American sales recovering from past economic troubles peddling tall-riding SUVs with quirky marketing campaigns, the roots of enthusiast appeal began tracing back over 25 years ago towards raw Rally-developed sports sedans without distraction or tech reliance. Tuners…
Spotlighting Lexus 2nd Gen IS350 Balancing Sport Sedan Capability When Lexus launched in 1989 as a spinoff luxury division from parent company Toyota, the bold maneuver initially questioned whether adequate separation distanced itself stylistically and reputation from economy car roots. But wider subsequent model ranges broadened appeal attracting customers seeking refined reliability absent from some…
Mitsubishi Fast Cars High-Performance Machines While trotting a lengthy automotive history dating back 100 years, Mitsubishi earned respect as a performance powerhouse relatively recently on the world’s rally racing stages and burgeoning sport compact scenes. Unique turbocharged engines packing substantial horsepower into lightweight packages helped the brand stand out from direct Japanese rivals. We revisit…
Honda NSX Anime Iconic Manga Appearances As Japan’s original everyday supercar, the Honda NSX pioneered uncompromising precision sending ripples across automotive circles through unmatched reliability and accessibility combined with impressive performance credentials. The NSX naturally starred across several influential anime and manga centering around Japan’s tuning culture and motorsports legends. We revisit a few of…
Japanese Coupe Excellence History Japan’s proud automotive legacy intertwines deeply with the golden age of compact, innovative, and fun-to-drive 2+2 sports coupes from the late 1970s until today. While American counterparts chased cubic inches as muscle car wars raged, Japanese auto manufacturers focused engineering resources around lighter curb weights, nimble chassis dynamics, and higher technology…
Toyota Altezza RS200 – Japan’s Quirky Yet Understated Sports Sedan While sporty four-door models today present themselves decked out in aggressive body enhancements and contrasting exterior trim, one unsuspecting sleeper sports sedan quietly rolled off Toyota assembly lines at the turn of the millennium featuring an unlikely pairing of reserved business exterior draped over uncompromised…
Toyota Crown 1990 – Japan’s Pinnacle Executive Sedan Arrives While automakers today stagger high technology rollout between model lines or premium divisions, in 1989 Toyota rather remarkably inaugurated an extensive mechanical and electronic suite update for its flagship full-size Crown luxury sedan entering a sixth generation. This thorough evolution modernized the brand’s pinnacle vehicle…
R34 Cars Movie Appearances Introduction Even those unfamiliar with Japanese tuning culture can instantly recognize the fourth-generation high-powered ATTCK Race Car Skyline GT-R R34 thanks to its trademark angular styling punctuated by the signature round taillights. The R34 GT-R’s big screen cameos over the years have embedded Godzilla’s reputation for dominance into the worldwide pop…