1983 Nissan 300ZX – Birth of a Japanese Sports Icon In an era remembered largely for boxy transportation appliances, the 1983 debut of Nissan’s sleek first-generation 300ZX sports car previewed bolder styling directions leveraging advanced wind-cheating aerodynamics. Wearing higher performance ZX nomenclature, visually longer and lower dimensions joined with flip headlights and tucked front/rear bumpers…
Formula 1 Racing – Pinnacle of Automotive Performance & Technology As the highest echelon of open-wheel racing, Formula 1 has consistently showcased bleeding-edge automotive and material science since debuting in 1950. Blending supreme driver talent with teams of engineers pushing boundaries using racing as a lab, F1 regularly births advancements migrating to road cars. Revolutionary…
Each January as competitors converge on Saudi Arabia, they prepare for over 7,500 miles of intense off-road competition across the region’s stark, unforgiving terrain. Since inaugural events starting in 1979 traversed from Paris to Dakar, Senegal, the namesake rally evolved into motorsports penultimate test of endurance. Originally conceived by Thierry Sabine after getting lost in…
80s Japanese Cars – Pushing Technology Limits & Shattering Stereotypes As the 1980s rolled around, Japanese automakers set sights on claiming performance prestige after establishing mass-market dominance. Revolutionary sports cars and sedans elevated the likes of Honda, Toyota, and Nissan onto the world stage. Japanese R&D departments channeled Formula 1 inspiration coupled with pioneering refinements…
Mk2 Ford Focus RS – Bringing Rally Speed to the Street When the Mk2 Ford Focus RS thundered onto the scene in 2009, it shook competitors to the core by translating full-bore rally aggression into a practical hatchback form. Evolving the genre-busting 2004 Focus RS formula, Ford selected the freshly facelifted Focus as a donor…
Toyota Curren – The Pinnacle of Japanese Luxury Grand Touring Among discerning Japanese luxury car enthusiasts, few nameplates garner more respect than the Toyota Curren. Sold exclusively in Japan from 1992 to 1996, this range-topping sedan aimed directly at premium European makes by mating a smooth inline-six engine to a comprehensively appointed cabin. As the…
1997 Acura Integra Type R – Peak of Front-Drive Performance The 1997 Integra Type R Stretched Front-Wheel Drive Limits The 1997 Acura Integra Type R coupe took front-wheel drive performance to new heights. It paired refined suspension with a 195-hp VTEC engine. This allowed the Type R legend to be born. Everything on the Integra…
2001 Honda NSX – Japan’s Supercar Handles Like a Dream The 2001 Honda NSX – Japan’s Supercar Handles Like a Dream First introduced in 1990, the Honda NSX wowed drivers with a peculiar mid-engine layout hosting an ultra-smooth, 270 hp V6 powerplant. By 2001, refinements to the NSX formula made it an even more potent…