Latest news with #JDM
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Old Japanese Cars That Make Ferraris Seem Affordable
Japanese cars, often called JDMs, have steadily risen in price as pop culture embraces these stylish and speedy classics. However, some are fetching much more than others, whether that's due to their rarity, performance, or unique history. The car community loves old school JDM cars for their experimentation and boundary pushing designs, often competing with luxury cars and sports cars from other countries while also maintaining their reputation for being reliable. My 1993 Mazda Miata now has over 280,000 miles and is still going strong. But while the Miata is coveted for its cost-effectiveness, there are Japanese cars that have prices that rival those of iconic supercars. The first step in creating this eclectic and exciting collection of vehicles was to find out how much a Ferrari costs. The average price is said to be around $200,000 to $400,000 (although there are Ferrari models that cost much, much more). Would there really be 10 older Japanese cars that cost $200,000 or more? After some digging, which included checking car auctions and average prices on I was able to find 10 glorious JDM vehicles from the past that break the bank — but for good reason. These vintage cars are record breakers and boundary pushers that aren't afraid to stand out. From the car community's favorite engine sound to race-winning prototypes, these are 10 old Japanese cars that cost as much as a Ferrari. The M-Spec Nur is a limited production variant of the already popular and desirable R34 Skyline GT-R, named after the Nürburgring race track where the Skyline was often tested during development. Only 285 M-Spec models exist, which is partially why the price has skyrocketed. With improved suspension, an aluminum hood, and an RB26DETT twin-turbo inline six engine (with huge turbochargers), the M-Spec earns the Nürburgring reference — and the high price tag. While the engine was rated at 276 horsepower due to Japan's hp limit agreement (which has since ended, according to Car and Driver), the real power is said to be 330 hp. Last year, a 2002 example — said to be one of the last ever produced — sold on Bring a Trailer for $181,000. Car enthusiasts felt that the car would have sold for higher back in Japan. Another car sold for $455,000. This special widebody variant of the Subaru Impreza saw limited production when it was released to celebrate Subaru's 40th anniversary. This high-performance variant has an improved drivetrain, a larger turbocharged flat-four engine, and STI-branded fog light covers and exhaust tip. There are only around 420 total examples of this special Impreza, which were mostly sold in Japan. While they weren't sold in the United States originally, the 22B STi has been imported into the country since then. They're still rare to come across, however, which is why some have sold for more than $300K on Bring a Trailer. Only 450 base model Lexus LFAs were built in 2012, making this an extremely rare supercar. But that's not why the Lexus LFA has reached such extreme pricing. Many car enthusiasts argue that the Lexus LFA is a beautiful car — and has an even more beautiful sound. The Lexus LFA has Toyota's 1LR-GUE engine, a naturally aspirated 4.8L V10. It's able to rev from idle to a 9000 rpm redline in under 1 second. That 0.6 seconds are the best thing you'll ever hear, according to the majority of the car world — Toyota even made a three-hour video of LFA engine sounds for any ASMR freaks out there. The engineering team even took inspiration from music to create the distinct symphony, according to an interview by Toyota Times. Japan was known for its practical commuter cars back in the 1960s, but the Toyota 2000GT changed that reputation in an instant. First displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965, it was Toyota's first shot at a proper sports car — and it's safe to say that the automaker nailed it. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe was just 2,400 pounds and considered a blast to drive. Its beautiful looks and sleek curves are thanks in part to Toyota and Yamaha engineers using a Lotus Elan chassis, which had a very high rear strut mounting point that led designers to hide it behind sheet metal. Only 351 units were sold worldwide, according to Car and Driver, with just 62 of those making it to the United States. Today, the extremely rare vehicle is considered Japan's first collectible sports car. Three Toyota 2000GTs were modified by legendary car designer Carroll Shelby to compete in SCCA C-Production racing. The collaboration led to a 2000GT with lowered suspension, a tuned engine, and a new racing livery. One of the three 1967 Toyota-Shelby 2000GTs sold for well over $2.5 million at a Gooding & Company auction, setting the record as the most expensive Japanese car ever sold, according to Robb Report. The NSX Type R, or NSX-R, is a limited edition of the NA1 Honda NSX, introduced in 1993 exclusively for Japan. The Type R is 265 pounds lighter than the standard NSX, but that comes at the price of comfort. The NSX-R was a high-performance sports car that ditched comfort for the sake of improved speed and handling. According to Honda, this meant eliminating sound-deadening materials, power windows, air conditioning, and the audio system. Despite being sweaty and loud to drive, the NSX-R is very pricey to purchase. One reason it's so coveted is that there are only about 500 NSX-Rs that were made before production ended in 1995. The other reason is that it's a seriously fun car to drive, despite a lack of creature comforts. Said Project Leader Kyoji Tsukamoto to Top Gear: 'The idea behind the R was not to create a swan song rendition with a massive dose of additional power, but to go back to basics.' There are only seven of these race cars in existence, constructed by Clayton Cunningham Racing for the IMSA GTO competition. Steve Millen raced one of these cars into second place at the 1991 12 Hours of Sebring, then scored six additional poles and four victories. With carbon fiber bodywork, a rear wing with a Gurney flap, a front splitter, and side-exit exhaust pipes, everything about this model screams power. Underneath the red, white, and blue livery, there is a 3.0-liter V6 engine, two Garrett turbochargers, and an intercooler mounted ahead of the two front wheels. This has allowed the 300ZX to continue winning decades after it was produced. The Drive reported that the Nissan 300X IMSA GTO won two vintage car races in 2019 — the Long Beach Grand Prix and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. All American Racers' Toyota Eagle MKIII is one of the last Grand Touring Prototypes to be made — but it went out with a bang. The MK III GTP won 21 of the 27 races it entered, making it one of the most dominant racing car prototypes in history. The Toyota Eagle MK III GTP has a turbocharged 2.1-liter Toyota inline-four engine and can reach top speeds of 220 mph thanks to its incredible 1,000 reported hp. Because it's a race car, it's not street legal, but that hasn't stopped it from selling for over $1 million at auction multiple times. Only three of these race cars exist, making them an exciting opportunity for collectors the rare time they appear at auction. The story goes that Toyota saw the success of All American Racers and became hungry for a racing program for the Celica to inspire sales in the United States. A partnership formed between Toyota and AAR in 1983, and its front-wheel drive compact Celica IMSA GTO won 10 races against competitors like the Ford Mustang, Porsche 911, and Chevrolet Corvette. A blend of American engineering and Japanese muscle, the IMSA GTO isn't very Celica-like. It has a four-cylinder Toyota T engine, which was also used in cars competing in Formula Two and the World Rally Championship, and its body was heavily modified for racing. It fetched over $242,000 when it went up for auction due to its rarity and racing pedigree. A Nissan Fairlady Z432R sold at a Japanese auction for about $805K, making it one of the priciest vintage Japanese cars out there. According to Road and Track, this was a rare model with only 400 units ever produced. It's very rare to see one come up at auction, which is likely part of why it sold for so much when it finally appeared. The Fairlady is more than a pretty face, however. This aggressive version of the Fairlady has a 2.0-liter inline-six producing almost 160 hp and was stripped down of its cabin comforts to make it lightweight and agile (it was only 1,885 pounds). Glass was replaced with acrylic, and there is no heater, clock, soundproofing, or radio. It was likely a bit uncomfortable to drive, but it did have a performance that could hold its own against the Porsche 911 R back in the late 1960s. Whether you love race-winning track cars or beautifully designed classics, there are plenty of expensive old Japanese cars out there for those who want to shell out some cash. If you don't want to spend a Ferrari's worth of money on a JDM car, however, you can just enjoy the above images with their sleek curves, aerodynamic features, and distinct styling. Or you can even listen to the Lexus LFA's engine for three hours as you fall asleep tonight, dreaming of winding through the streets of Tokyo in one of these glorious and rare machines.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘I Went Against The Game Plan'
Photo byBelal Muhammad has a reason for losing his UFC welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena earlier this month at UFC 315. 'Remember the Name' simply didn't stick to the gameplan. Coming into his first UFC title defense at UFC 315 Muhammad was a betting favorite and for good reason. Muhammad hadn't lost in 11 UFC fights and was coming off a landslide win over Leon Edwards back in July 2024. Many expected Muhammad to utilize his world-class pressure, cardio, and takedown attempts along the cage to take away JDM's striking and wilt him in the later rounds. Advertisement Unfortunately, Muhammad didn't follow the game plan that his team put in place all camp. Instead of shooting for takedowns and forcing Della Maddalena to defend and scramble, Muhammad willingly exchanged on the feet. It allowed JDM all the time in the world to land his patented punches and run away with a decision win (highlights HERE). Muhammad offered a brief response following his loss at UFC 315, but now he's diving in a little deeper. According to the former champion, he 'just felt good' for his fight against Della Maddalena and in the moment wanted to go toe-to-toe with the Australian fighter. The night simply unraveled the way it did and now Muhammad will have to fight his way back to being UFC champion. 'Our strategy was to take down Jack. It wasn't to go blow for blow with him,' said Muhammad during a recent episode of the Remember the Show podcast (shown in the above video player). 'I went out there and I just felt good... 'I went against the game plan, and at the end of the day I'm going to live with that... Advertisement 'Was my game plan wrong? It could've went the other way. Could it have been an easier fight? It could've.' What do you think, Maniacs? If Muhammad would have stuck to his original gameplan would he still be UFC champion? Let us know! More from
The Drive
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
‘JDM: Japanese Drift Master' Is a New Open-World ‘Initial D' Style Driving Game
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Sim racing is serious stuff, and there's a long list of video games to satisfy our inner pro race car driver. Within that gameplay universe, drifting has a place too, of course. But a newly released game possibly raises the bar on mountain pass racing, drawing heavy inspiration from familiar anime and film legends Initial D , Akira , and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift . Launched this week, JDM: Japanese Drift Master is exactly as its name suggests. Touge-style racing is an expected focus, but the open-world game map offers 250 kilometers (155 miles) of diverse driving roads and iconic landmarks from throughout Japan. These include the Himeji Castle, Mount Akina, Tatara Bridge, and Daikoku Parking Area. The sim racing game features fully customizable vehicles officially licensed from Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and others. Personalize and tune your drift king in a number of ways, from styling and suspension to powertrain and braking distances. If you don't see something you like from the current crop of 27 cars (oh, come on, race the Acty), feel free to request one. JDM offers two driving physics: arcade and simcade. According to developer Gaming Factory, the arcade model is designed for beginners by offering simplified steering and easy-to-learn controls. Its target audience is also players who want to focus on fun rather than realistic gameplay. The simcade setup offers a more natural car feel and is recommended for players using wheels. Note that in arcade mode, initiating and maintaining drift will be easier, but keeping the car in line during grip events will be a challenge. The opposite will be true in simcade where players will have an easier time maintaining grip but be tested in setting up a drift. As for the game plot, the story focuses on a Polish-born drift racer named Touma. After a personal tragedy, Touma relocates to Japan to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a legitimate drifter. JDM offers 40-plus narrative-driven events as well as storytelling via a manga mode. Gaming Factory Curious about how the new JDM sim drifting game really handles? Stay tuned for our full review coming soon. Adam Ismail has a copy and is going to dig into it as soon as he has time. JDM: Japanese Drift Master is available on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store for $34.99 but comes with a 15% discount if purchased within the first two weeks of its launch. Any other car games not called 'Gran Turismo' that we should know about? Hit us up at tips@ Beverly Braga has enjoyed an eventful career as a Swiss Army knife, having held roles as an after-school teacher, film critic, PR manager, transcriber, and video producer – to name a few. She is currently a communications consultant and freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous outlets covering automotive, entertainment, lifestyle, and food & beverage. Beverly grew up in Hawaii but roots for Washington, D.C., sports teams.
The Drive
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Honda Hot Wheels Set Is the Perfect Gift for the VTEC Fan in Your Life
The latest car news, reviews, and features. A new Hot Wheels set is about to drop, and it's going to make the Honda boys jump out of their shoes. Rightfully so, to be fair. This new box set is flippin' sweet. It combines both Hot Wheels and JDM royalty into one perfect package for any fan of either or both, and it's currently available for pre-order. In this set, you get four pieces and a little stand: A Honda Sakura Sprinter transport truck, a 1999 Honda Civic Type R, a 2020 Honda S2000 20th Anniversary edition, and the legendary 2003 Honda NSX-R. Those three are essentially the holy trinity for any Honda fan, even if one of them isn't actually real. And even the truck is cool. The 2020 Honda S2000 20th Anniversary was never actually put into production. It was a show car, designed to flex Honda's accessories and parts division's muscles. But it looked so good that fans begged Honda to bring the S2000 back for real, 11 years after it left production. While that won't ever happen, this die cast is the closest anyone will ever get to owning one. Hot Match Collectibles While the Civic Type R might not seem special to the average car enthusiast, the first-generation 'EK9' version is a legend in the JDM community. But that status is well-deserved, as it's still widely regarded as the best Civic Type R of them all and had a 185-horsepower 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine. That gave it the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated engine ever, at the time. Lastly is the Honda NSX-R. Just before production of the NSX ended, Honda released one final version, the facelifted NSX-R, and it was about as perfect as a mid-engine car could be. It was lighter, stripped-out, more focused, and had better aero than the already brilliant normal NSX. Honda only made 140 of these, so getting your hands on a real one seems unlikely. But you can have Hot Wheels' take on it. And to carry them all is the Honda Sakura Sprinter, a transport truck designed to look like a Hino ZM Series COE. It's a collectible in its own right, finished in Championship White to match the sports cars it hauls. For a Honda fan, this Hot Wheels set is just about the perfect gift. But you're going to have to act fast, as pre-orders are already selling out at multiple vendors. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
GCL Announces ‘JDM: Japanese Drift Master' Worldwide Launch
SINGAPORE, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GCL Global Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: GCL) ('GCL' or the 'Company'), a leading provider of games and entertainment, today announced the highly anticipated launch of 'JDM: Japanese Drift Master' that is regionally published and distributed in Asia by GCL's game publishing subsidiary 4Divinity. After several years in active development by Polish development studio and publisher Gaming Factory, ' JDM: Japanese Drift Master,' is now available on Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store for $34.99 USD — with a 15% launch discount available for the first two weeks to welcome all new drivers to the streets of Guntama, Japan. Explore the Soul of Japan Through a Manga Story Mode That Shifts Gears From buzzing city centers to remote mountain passes, 'JDM: Japanese Drift Master' invites players into an open world inspired by Japan's iconic scenery and underground racing culture. Cruise freely, participate in exciting driving events, or simply take in the view – every road tells a story. Featuring officially licensed cars from top Japanese automakers like Honda, Mazda, Nissan, and Subaru, each vehicle is modeled with stunning detail and different handling for a truly authentic ride. Experience the fictionalized world of Guntama through a narrative that blends fast-paced racing with emotional storytelling – all brought to life through fully illustrated manga panels. Rise through the ranks, meet unforgettable characters, and carve out your legacy in the underground drift scene. 'Today marks an exciting milestone for Gaming Factory, our team at 4Divinity, and for fans of high-performance driving around the world. Built around one of the most comprehensive tuning systems in the genre, 'Japanese Drift Master' empowers players with unparalleled control over both performance and style—driving deep engagement and strong community retention,' said Sebastian Toke, Group CEO of GCL. 'With a robust post-launch roadmap featuring new content, cars, and ongoing feature updates, we're positioned to support sustained growth and long-term player investment. We're excited about the momentum this sets for the future, and we can't wait for you to see what's next.' About GCL Global Holdings GCL Global Holdings Ltd. unites people through immersive games and entertainment experiences, enabling creators to deliver engaging content and fun gameplay experiences to gaming communities worldwide with a strategic focus on the rapidly expanding Asian gaming market. Drawing on a deep understanding of gaming trends and market dynamics, GCL Group leverages its diverse portfolio of digital and physical content to bridge cultures and audiences by introducing Asian-developed IP to a global audience across consoles, PCs, and streaming platforms. Learn more at About 4Divinity 4Divinity is a digital and retail games publishing company and a wholly owned subsidiary of GCL, focused on bringing exciting game content from around the world to Asia and introducing Asian content to a global market. Along with its sister company, Epicsoft Asia, 4Divinity is partnering with publishers and development studios to introduce brand-new IP to the region. About Gaming Factory Founded in 2017, Gaming Factory is a Polish game development studio and publisher dedicated to delivering engaging and innovative gaming experiences. As both a creator and distributor, the company focuses on crafting high-quality titles across various genres. Gaming Factory's flagship project, JDM: Japanese Drift Master, is an open-world drifting simulation that captures the spirit of Japanese car culture. With a passion for immersive gameplay and a commitment to excellence, Gaming Factory continues to expand its portfolio while bringing unique gaming experiences to gamers worldwide. Learn more at Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes 'forward-looking statements' made under the 'safe harbor' provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may be identified by the use of words such as 'estimate,' 'plan,' 'project,' 'forecast,' 'intend,' 'will,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'seek,' 'target' or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements may also include, but are not limited to, statements regarding projections, estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and expectations, the estimated implied enterprise value of the Company, GCL's ability to scale and grow its business, the advantages and expected growth of the Company, and the Company's ability to source and retain talent. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of GCL's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although GCL believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, GCL cautions you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. In addition, there are risks and uncertainties described in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement relating to the recent business combination, filed by the Company with the SEC on December 31, 2024 and other documents which will be filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. GCL cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. There may be additional risks that GCL presently knows or that GCL currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of GCL as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while GCL may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of GCL as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, GCL does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements. GCL Investor Relations: Crocker Coulson A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
