Monday 12th January 2015

Tokyo Auto Salon 2015

JDM wackiness is alive and well at the Tokyo Auto Salon - full show report from our man on the ground

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Detroit isn't the only show in early January! Packing over 800 cars and countless parts makers into the cavernous Makuhari Messe complex 20 minutes east of Tokyo, the Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan's biggest customising show and third largest in the world behind America's SEMA and Germany's Essen equivalents.

While scantily-clad 'companions' were the target of hundreds of zoom lenses, those interested in the sheet metal side of the show were treated to a mix of new and dressed up models and concepts from the likes of Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Daihatsu, Suzuki and even and Alfa Romeo.

Mitsubishi Evo X Final Concept
Firstly, let's explain the Evo 10's swansong performance. Mitsubishi had already announced that its iconic Lancer Evolution series would be phased out at the end of the production run for the Evo X. According to the company, that will happen this year. But Mitsubishi decided to create one last concept, the most powerful Evo ever. Called the Evolution X Final Concept, it incorporates an ECU tune and new HKS turbo making its 2.0-litre engine good for 480hp.

Based on a five-speed GSR, on top of that power boost it gets larger intakes and intercoolers, an upgraded cooling system and exhaust, adjustable suspension from HKS and 19-inch Rays forged wheels. A Mitsubishi source tells us that when it phases out the six-speed SST auto transmission in March, the limited edition model will be offered with a six-speed manual. The finish is a mix of matte and gloss black, and chrome trim.

Mazda MX-5 World Series
Mazda had already launched its all-new MX-5 last year, so the version sitting on the stand was nothing new. But the car to its right was. We'd heard about a new Mazda MX-5 Global Cup car destined for one-make race events across the world but today was the first time Japanese showgoers had seen the machine in the flesh. Based on the US-spec Cup Car with six-point roll cage, bespoke suspension, tyres, brakes, harness and seats, the new MX-5 racer will be the instrument for a brand new world series in 2016.

Speedy crossover needs sorted by CX-3

The annual four-hour MX-5 Media Race at Japan's Tsukuba Circuit in September this year will be the first time to see the car pushed to its limits in competition when 25 examples take to the track. But while the US-spec car car will incorporate a 2.0-litre engine, the Japan-spec car will get the fuel-sipping 1.5-litre Skyactiv engine that will be offered on the JDM model due to land in showrooms in June this year.

Even though the CX-3 is not yet on sale, Mazda jumped the gun to display a hopped up version packing 4WD, unique paint, larger wheels and tires, bespoke aero parts and uprated brakes and suspension. Mazda also revealed a Mazda3 Racing Concept with many of the same parts fitted as the sporty CX-w3.

Just after managing executive officer Masahiro Moro finished explaining the details behind the new MX-5 events, he welcomed Japan's fastest woman racer Keiko Ihara on stage to introduce a new initiative supporting women in motorsport. Sanctioned and supported by the Japan Automobile Federation and the FIA, this initiative aims to actively get more women participating in grassroots racing, rallying and gymkhanas.

NISMO GT-R N Attack
Meanwhile NISMO showed off a whole bunch of tuned production cars with its GT-R N Attack Package centre stage. This limited edition claims to match exactly the spec of the car that blitzed the 'ring in just 7min 8.679sec. In order to meet customer needs, Nissan offers two different packages, the N Attack Package A and the N Attack Package B. Package A comes with everything to achieve the same performance as the time attack car while Package B is more friendly for daily driving. Both kits also employ revised suspension set-ups, high performance brake pads, a new ECM and TCM and a bespoke front and rear limited-slip differential.

NISMO also exhibited the NISMO 370Z, Juke NISMO and March NISMO, showing that no model is immune to the tuning boys at Nissan's motorsport house. One other concept that stood out was the Juke Personalization Concept which offers buyers a choice of 10 body, roof spoiler and wheel colours in addition to different coloured body stripes, door mirrors and door handles.

Honda's Mugen hybrids
Meanwhile Honda focused heavily on combining its best technologies in a range of hybrid-powered, Mugen-tuned production cars. With the carbon-winged Mugen Legend leading the way, Honda has also waved its hybrid Mugen wand to create the Mugen Grace, Mugen HR-V, Mugen Fit RS AutoSalon Special and Mugen Jade.

Also featuring prominently on the stand was the sporty S660 mid-engined coupe powered by a turbocharged 660cc engine. Expected to land in Japanese showrooms by mid-2015, the S660 is seen as a spiritual successor to the quirky Beat Kei car of the early 90s.

Barbie made a surprise appearance at Honda this year. The zany Honda N-Box Splash Barbie Edition confirms Japanese kitsch is alive and well, female Honda staff even wearing specially created Barbie nail art.

Toyota and Lexus
Toyota revealed customized Harrier, Mark X, Prius and GT86 models. Not surprisingly, the rear-driven JDM Mark X sedan took the limelight thanks to its GRMN-tuned (Gazoo Racing Meister Nurburgring) sport suspension, beefed up brakes, 19-inch alloys and gutsy 320hp V6 powerplant with six-speed manual and Torsen LSD. As could be expected, numerous examples of tuned GT86s and Subaru BRZs dotted the site.

Aw, sweet...

One wacky creation for which the Auto Salon has become famous was the Toyota Sweets concept. Half a dozen students from the Toyota Tokyo Automotive College spent three days making over 2,000 handmade plastic cakes and pies and candy to cover the Toyota WiLL Vi.

Lexus meanwhile showed off the luxury arm's latest iterations of its high performance V8-powered RC F coupe, the RC-F CCS Concept and the RC F GT3 Concept. To put visitors in touch with what it's like to drive an RC F, Lexus dangled dozens of headphones from the ceiling, each playing taped versions of the RC F accelerating and cornering at speed.

Subaru B4 Blitzen
In addition to shining the spotlight on the revised WRX STI entry for this year's Nurburgring 24-hour, Subaru revealed the Legacy B4 Blitzen concept. It gets wider and lower wings and air vents as well as bespoke tyres and rims, apparently inspired by the company's famed boxer engine. Subaru also displayed the Outback First Rescue Operation vehicle which is being offered as a fast response for incidents at Japan's Super GT and other races.

Suzuki and Daihatsu focus on 660cc minicars
Suzuki unveiled the Alto Turbo RS Concept boasting a bespoke grille and headlights in addition to 17-inch rims, Recaro seats, revised suspension and paint. The RS gets a 65hp 660cc engine that spins to 6,500rpm. Rival minicar maker Daihatsu had a field day with its just-launched Copen, displaying some 14 examples of how to 'dress-up' the tiny convertible. Most radical by far was the frog-green D Sport Copen with its oversized flared bodywork and huge rear wing. The HKS Copen was turning heads as well.

College students create their own masterpieces
One of the highlights of the Auto Salon each year are the inspired and often zany creations of the students from NATS, the Nihon (Japan) Automobile College. Each year students take basic car bodies and chassis and mould them into fantastic reinterpretations of automotive bliss. Some of the stand out cars this year were the autonomous driving NATS ZMP 'Prius Robocar', the Suzuki Twin-based 'Choro-ru' with the Rolls Royce front end, the 'Extreme' coupe based on a Toyota GT86 and the original M3-inspired MBW550 sitting on a Suzuki Mighty Boy platform.

Okuyama collaborates with Alfa
Ex-Pininfarina designer and man behind the Ferrari Enzo, Ken Okuyama made an appearance at the show through a collaboration with Alfa Romeo. The Giulietta Ken Okuyama Speciale employs bespoke paintwork and wheels, designs similar to rims fitted to his own creations and inspired by TAG Heuer watch designs.

Super GT Evora looks interesting

Another car - this time a race car - to debut at Tokyo was the Lotus GT300MC SGT Evora, a 475hp machine that will compete in this year's Japan Super GT Series. Incorporating a regulation bathtub chassis and undisclosed engine, this car will vye with the likes of very quick Toyota Prius in 2015.

But it's the cars that defy definition that make the Tokyo Auto Salon. Cars like the Pink Panther Jeep by tuning house Tiger Package, with a life size example of the panther himself atop the roof.

 

[Nobby77]

XJS! (hopefully it'll have some japanese wiring in it)

[buckline]

Love the little Kei Car creations particularly the 3 series!

[xRIEx]

Note to self: don't try to make a GT86 look like an Aventador.

[Oz83]

Is it still 1990 in Japan.

[CliveM]

That kei car with a rolls royce grill - just barmy/wonderful.

[Triumph Man]

There's something about the E30 kei car... Lost points for not putting smileys in it though!

[M@1975]

Tokyo Auto Salon is definitely a bucket list item!

[samoht]

Pretty huge show, here is the coolest thing I saw - the Jun/Synergy V8 engine swap for the BRZ/GT86 twins:



That's 2397cc delivering 367hp at 10,680rpm, lighter than the stock engine. It's based on a motorbike engine heads, drops in without any cutting and bolts up to the standard gearbox. The guy reckoned on 3,000 mile oil changes, maybe 30-60k miles before an 'inspection' (presume possibly overhaul).

dyno vid, skip to 3 minutes for the rev out

[jiggawhat2k]

samoht said:

Pretty huge show, here is the coolest thing I saw - the Jun/Synergy V8 engine swap for the BRZ/GT86 twins:



That's 2397cc delivering 367hp at 10,680rpm, lighter than the stock engine. It's based on a motorbike engine heads, drops in without any cutting and bolts up to the standard gearbox. The guy reckoned on 3,000 mile oil changes, maybe 30-60k miles before an 'inspection' (presume possibly overhaul).

dyno vid, skip to 3 minutes for the rev out

ok that is awesome, I like that it is potentially bolt-on too (according to youtube comments, although you know what youtube comments are often like...)

[samoht]

Some GT86s

On the official Toyota stand, we found a rally car - not sure what class this is prepared for but the idea is very cool, as are the wheels:

Ita-sha (car covered in anime characters)


Widebody car that's been on Speedhunters, pretty awesome to see in the metal:


HKS demo car, love the wheels/fitment on this:


^ HKS Supercharger kit giving 35% more power, 45% more torque

Rotaries are still popular in Japan

A truly awesome 326Power kit



I don't normally care for bodykits on FDs, but this looked amazing in the flesh, so characterful and exciting to look at.

Drift FD:


RE Amemiya car with beautifully fitted 20B:


and an NB MX-5/Miata/Eunos Roadster with Renesis:



Totally cool / wacky custom cars

Very cool Ken Okuyama version of the Alfa 4C:



Toyota (Gazoo Racing) TES-Cross pickup


This is a Merc SL underneath:


Sunny Truck with extended-cab featuring reverse-raked rear window, perhaps taken from a Mazda Carol?

(sorry for the bad pic. This was a university project ;-) )

Maserati Quattroporte Shooting Brake:


Daihatsu Copen Shooting Brake:



Miscellaneous interest

R31House do a pretty comprehensive job of supporting this lesser-spotted Skyline variant:


Liberty Walk Aventador was impressive in the carbon:


and the Alanis Morissette prize for TAS 2015 goes to the students behind this, a Pious with the 1.8L Atkinson-cycle four & hybrid drivetrain entirely replaced by a small block Chevy V8