Hot Import Nights 2022

What is “Hot Import Nights?”

Hot Import Nights is an event company based in California, showcasing unique custom cars from all over the world, all in the same location.

In addition to the stunning display of even more customized show cars, this unique pop culture experience also features live performances with social media influencers in a unique lights-out nightclub atmosphere. For years, revelers have been treated to elaborate product exhibits from participating sponsors and vendors. Every year for two generations, the event attracts thousands of automotive and entertainment enthusiasts from around the world.

JDM Cars

I saw many Japanese cars at this venue. Maybe more than half of the cars were Japanese. Those cars are called JDM. JDM stands for Japanese domestic market. Originally, JDM was used to refer to the state of normal sales in Japan, but today "JDM" is used to refer to "cars customized by Americans to Japanese specifications" or "right-hand-drive Japanese cars that can now be exported due to the 25-year rule.”

The JDM craze is said to have been greatly influenced by the popular "Wild Speed" car action movie series. It is well known that the late actor Paul Walker, who was also the face of the "Wild Speed" series, owned many Japanese cars. Paul Walker especially loved the R34 Skyline GT-R and the 80 Supra. Both of these cars appeared in the film as Paul Walker's favorite cars.

Overseas, mainly in the U.S., the term "JDM" is often used to refer to all cars that have been customized for driving and are equipped with orange blinkers, carbon parts, lip spoilers, small wheels (or black wheels), Japanese stickers, etc. The term "JDM" is also used to refer to cars that are customized for drifting, the making special kinds of turns while racing. In addition, due to the influence of the D1 Grand Prix (D1GP), which came from Japan and is held locally, the term "JDM" is also used to refer to those who drift, or to cars that have been customized for drifting, and the definition of the term has been changing in the United States.

In general, it can be said that this customization is based on the motif of the Japanese "racer" style, especially popular in the 90's, which has become part of the local North American style, and that "style-oriented and functionally meaningless" parts are not used much, and that the emphasis is on improving driving performance. In many cases, the customization is focused on the improvement of driving performance without using many "style-oriented and functionally meaningless" parts.