Articles about Japanese Cars

This looks badass

Here in the Philippines, pickup enthusiasts usually have to turn to aftermarket establishments to transform their rides into towering, extreme off-road-capable beasts. Local manufacturers just don't offer much in this department, save for unique cases like the Ford Ranger

We’re jealous...again

Don't get us wrong. We're perfectly fine with the Philippines being a pickup and midsize-SUV country. Taller rides make sense around these parts after all on account of our s*** roads. Every once in a while, though, something comes

Kawaii!!

Warning: If you suffer easily from cuteness overload, you might not want to read about this car. Seriously, it's the automotive equivalent of a kitten. Look at that little face, it's so sweet! It won't leave puddles of oil

So, what’s next?

Another week, another inconspicuous Toyota clad in Gazoo Racing (GR) bits.To be honest, we think the boys at the Japanese car manufacturer's racing wing might be tired at this point. It can't be easy coming up with ways to

It will be used as an official company vehicle

Earlier this month, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMPC) brought attention back to the local auto industry's green scene by officially introducing the Outlander PHEV. Right now, this is the only plug-in hybrid SUV offering from a mainstream Japanese car manufacturer in

We imagine it’s pretty fun to drive

Every single kei car is cute, but some are lucky enough to hit every branch of the cute tree on their plummet to the streets of Tokyo. Kei cars like the Honda N-One.This is it in mildly updated form, but

Who needs friends, anyway?

There's just no two ways about it: The Suzuki Jimny, as great an off-roader and as fun a car it is, isn't a very practical vehicle. A large part of this is due to its cramped rear, from where

Don’t expect much

Frankly, seeing this is like being served a single french fry as an appetizer while waiting for a juicy 16oz ribeye steak dinner to pop out of the kitchen. Will it do? Not a chance. But whatever, we're damn hungry and

Do you like the result?

Man, Toyota is really going all out with its Gazoo Racing (GR) accessories. Even the likes of the Harrier and refreshed Hilux have undergone GR transformations. Now, you can add the Yaris Cross subcompact crossover to that growing list, too.The Japanese

Better fuel efficiency is just one of the possible benefits

Improved fuel efficiency and better driving dynamics are just two of the more prominent benefits of using carbon fiber when building cars. So, why isn't the material utilized more often? Simply because it's more expensive and more time-consuming to

Excited?

We finally have a date: The new Toyota Hilux will be launched digitally on September 12 at 6pm.Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) took to Facebook to tease the midsize pickup's local debut, showing off the refreshed vehicle's silhouette. While the

They’re relatively subtle, though

Frankly, the Honda e is a good-looking car even without any visual add-ons. This isn't stopping the carmaker from offering the clean, minimalist electric vehicle with a couple of aesthetic upgrades, though.In the Japanese market, the Honda e

He resigned earlier this month due to health reasons

Some very sad news from Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) today: The Japanese car manufacturer has announced that its special adviser and former CEO Osamu Masuko has died at the age of 71.Masuko, who stepped down from his position as chairman of the

And we still want it

Here's some exciting kei-car news from Japan! This is a Honda S660 modified by Mugen, and we need little else in our lives. Any possessions that won't fit in its diminutive storage areas aren't worth hanging onto. Let'

In the US market, at least

Mazda has just endowed the CX-5 in the US market a few upgrades, as well as a new Carbon Edition variant. While we're more than happy with the new CX-5 that arrived in the Philippines late last year, frankly,

The carmaker is adjusting to the new normal

Doing business under the new normal is going to take a few adjustments. Even Toyota, one of the world's largest and most successful car manufacturers, knows this.In an exclusive interview with Top Gear Philippines, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) president Hiro

Is a local launch in the pipeline?

The cat's out of the bag: The new Toyota Hilux is already in the Philippines. The refreshed version of the hot-selling pickup truck was recently spotted on public roads in Santa Rosa, and photos sent to us by reader Cedric

Batman would approve

Despite a size that's relatively incompatible with Philippine roads and a gas-guzzling powertrain that most wallets wouldn't approve of, the Toyota Sequoia remains a vehicle we dream will one day become available in the local market. Ironically, we love

Only 150 units are being released

The Subaru WRX and WRX STI are two cars that have seen more than their fair share of limited-edition releases over the past few years. In 2019, there was the Series.White which was capped at just 500 units, and prior

It’s supposedly easy to install, too

Now, this is one turbo you'll definitely want to feel kick in. Spoon has just released a new turbo kit for the current-generation Honda Civic L15 engine developed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and it raises the vehicle's power and