Honda to Build More CR-Vs in the U.S., Plans to Increase the use of Parts from Low-Cost Countries

The strong yen is affecting all Japanese automakers that are exporting their locally produced cars to America. Honda is one of them, as of the 72,000 CR-Vs built last year in Japan, 35,000 made their way to North America. Japan’s third largest automaker wants to invest in its North American plants to increase the number of CR-V it builds here and reduce exports from Japan, thus minimizing losses

A Nissan Silva Coupe with a Schizophrenic Personality

In October of 2010 we brought you a Toyota Soarer / Lexus SC that had been transformed into an abomination with a Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM front end and a Nissan 200SX rump. It was bad, but I still liked it better than the snooze-mobile that was the ‘91 Soarer / CS.Well, from the same website that brought us that automotive mullet comes yet another creation that’s been refashioned into something

Nissan to Sell Rebadged Mazda5 MPV in Japan

Nissan and Mazda said Friday that they are expanding their original equipment manufacturing (OEM) projects to include the Mazda Premacy, otherwise known as the Mazda5 MPV in markets such as North America and Europe. Under the agreement, Mazda will supply a "clearly differentiated version" of the Premacy to Nissan for sale in Japan, starting from May this year, the two companies said in a joint

Tokyo Auto Salon 2011 Mega Photo Gallery

Yes, what you are looking at in our opening picture is a previous generation Subaru Legacy with some very Audi R8-like touches. And that's just a sample of what lies ahead in the second part of our photo tour of the Tokyo Auto Salon 2011. All you have to do is simply follow the jump, sit back, click, and enjoy the view. In case you missed it, you can also check out the first part that includes

Toyota Prius Tops Corolla's 1990 Record as Japan's Best Selling Model in 2010

The Toyota Prius has set a new sales record in Japan as the automaker delivered more than 315,000 units (final figures will be released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association in mid-January). of the gas-electric hybrid model in 2010, overtaking the Corolla for the first time in two decades. The previous annual record was held by the Corolla which sold around 300,000 units in 1990. Read more »

Noblesse Wings Up Honda CR-Z Hybrid Sport Hatch

Japanese tuner Noblesse has been steadily releasing numerous aftermarket bits and pieces for the new CR-Z ever since Honda launched its hybrid sport hatch . Among other parts, the company has developed a ground aero-kit with front and rear bumper aprons, side skirts, a rear diffuser and a large roof wing. These can be complemented by a lightweight carbon fiber hood, underbody aero parts, larger

New Honda CR-Z JCOTY Memorial Award Edition Shows off with Special Paint...and that's About it

To commemorate its "Japanese Car of the Year" award, Honda will release a limited edition of its CR-Z sport-hybrid hatch in Japan. Billed as a "Memorial Award Edition", the car will be coated in a hue called Pearl Deep Sapphire Blue and will roll on unique Dark Pewter Gray 16-inch rims. Read more »

Japan’s Economic Future in Doubt: A National Introspective

It’s not been a good year for Japan. China has recently overtaken the Land of the Rising Sun as the world’s second biggest economic power and a recall of over ten million vehicles by one of the nation’s biggest and most respectable companies, Toyota, kicked off a global PR debacle that some analysts predict will take years to recover from. Add to that Japan’s aging population, its growing

Suzuki Launches New Solio Small Wagon in Japan, will Also be Available by Mitsubishi

Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp. on Friday unveiled its new domestic market Solio, a tall mini wagon that will go on sale in the country in early January. The Solio measures 3,710mm in length and will be available exclusively with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine producing 91HP, linked to a CVT and either front- or optionally, four-wheel drive. The Japanese automaker said it targets domestic yearly sales of

Subaru Drops a Carbon Roof on the Impreza WRX STI tS

Destined only for the Japanese market, the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI tS is the latest addition to the performance sedan's range. The highlight of the car is the new lightweight carbon fiber rooftop, but to sweeten the deal, Subaru's STI division also added some more goodies such as a lighter aluminum hood, a front lip spoiler, mutlispoke 18-inch alloy wheels, a rather discrete boot lid spoiler

New 2012 Toyota Yaris / Vitz Breaks Cover in Japan [Photos and Video]

The new Toyota Vitz, or as we'll come to know it on both sides of the Atlantic, the third generation Yaris supermini, was unveiled Wednesday in Japan. Even though what you see pictured here is the Japanese domestic market (JDM) version, as was the case with the previous generations of the Vitz, we expect the European and North American Yaris to look more or less the same when it arrives in the

Nissan Announces Nine Models for Tokyo Auto Salon Including Juke Sporty and Leaf Aero Concept

At the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2011 with NAPAC (Japan Car Parts and Aftermarket Promotion Association), to be held from January 14 to 16, Nissan, together with Autech Japan and its in-house NISMO performance division, will premiere a total of nine vehicles. Read more »

Nissan and Mitsubishi Plan Deeper Ties, Expand OEM Projects

Japan's Nissan Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors today announced that they plan to deepen their business ties by establishing a new minicar joint venture in Japan and further expanding their OEM projects, to save costs and increase their competitiveness in the global car industry. Under the new agreement, the automakers will build more cars for each other under what is known in the industry as

Daihatsu Launches New Move, Claims Title of Japan's Most Fuel Efficient Non-Hybrid Passenger Car

Toyota Motor Corp's small-car making subsidiary, Daihatsu, has unveiled a new generation of its Move mini in Japan. The five-door hatchback has been redesigned from the ground up and is claimed to be the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid, gasoline passenger car in Japan achieving up to 27.0km/liter, which is equal to 65.5 mpg US and 3.7 lt/100km. Read more »

Mitsubishi Outlander “Roadest” Special Edition

Available exclusively for the Japanese market, the Outlander “Roadest” is a special edition version of Mitsubishi’s SUV that stands out from the standard model thanks to a new full bodykit that includes a new front grille and chromed mirror caps along with a set of 7-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside the “Roadest” is equipped with dark colored sport cloth seats and decorative aluminum trim.

Mitsubishi Outlander “Roadest” Special Edition

Available exclusively for the Japanese market, the Outlander “Roadest” is a special edition version of Mitsubishi’s SUV that stands out from the standard model thanks to a new full bodykit that includes a new front grille and chromed mirror caps along with a set of 7-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside the “Roadest” is equipped with dark colored sport cloth seats and decorative aluminum trim.

Mitsubishi Outlander “Roadest” Special Edition

Available exclusively for the Japanese market, the Outlander “Roadest” is a special edition version of Mitsubishi’s SUV that stands out from the standard model thanks to a new full bodykit that includes a new front grille and chromed mirror caps along with a set of 7-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside the “Roadest” is equipped with dark colored sport cloth seats and decorative aluminum trim.

Japanese Monorail Gets IKEA Makeover

As part of an advertising gimmick for the opening of a new outlet at Port Island in Japan later this month, Swedish furniture giant IKEA has transformed the Kobe Portliner Monorail in Japan into a mobile showroom. The train’s interior has been outfitted with IKEA’s lively sofas and curtains while even the outside has received a new paintjob. Luckily IKEA had nothing to do with the monorail’s

Japanese Monorail Gets IKEA Makeover

As part of an advertising gimmick for the opening of a new outlet at Port Island in Japan later this month, Swedish furniture giant IKEA has transformed the Kobe Portliner Monorail in Japan into a mobile showroom. The train’s interior has been outfitted with IKEA’s lively sofas and curtains while even the outside has received a new paintjob. Luckily IKEA had nothing to do with the monorail’s

Japanese Monorail Gets IKEA Makeover

As part of an advertising gimmick for the opening of a new outlet at Port Island in Japan later this month, Swedish furniture giant IKEA has transformed the Kobe Portliner Monorail in Japan into a mobile showroom. The train’s interior has been outfitted with IKEA’s lively sofas and curtains while even the outside has received a new paintjob. Luckily IKEA had nothing to do with the monorail’s