CHIBA, Japan – The Tokyo Auto Salon – Japan’s version of the Specialty Equipment Market Association show – kicked off Jan. 12, filled with tricked-out, hopped-up, super-tuned hotrods and speed demons.
With nearly 900 vehicles on display, the three-day show attracted 230,073 visitors. Japan’s top automakers were out in force, fielding funky concepts, race cars and tweaked production vehicles. And of course, there was plenty of eye candy from the country’s customizers.
HONDA: Japan’s No. 2 automaker showed a worked-over version of the Civic Type R compact called the Type R Mugen Group.B, above, replete with its Mugen tuner subbrand treatment and hood vents. Also unveiled was the Civic RS Prototype, top, which previews an upcoming manual transmission option for the Japan market.
TOYOTA: The world’s biggest automaker wants to bring its Gazoo Racing subbrand to a wider audience. Thus, enter the GR Yaris hot hatch with a new 8-speed automatic transmission, opening opportunities for those who steer clear of its current stick-shift setup.
MAZDA: The Hiroshima-based carmaker rolled two concepts that are racing-ready versions of road cars. The Mazda Spirit Racing RS concept, above, is based on the MX-5 Miata roadster, while the Mazda Spirit Racing 3 concept, top, is based on the Mazda 3 hatchback.
MITSUBISHI: Off-road specialist Mitsubishi headed for the slopes with a lineup of white snow-battling trucks, including the Triton Snow Shredder concept pickup truck.
SUBARU: Subaru Tecnica International debuted the WRX S4 STI Sport#, a new variant of its sporty sedan for the Japan market. The car is loaded with special STI parts and tuned for better stability and handling. Recaro seats and Michelin performance tires complete the package.
LEXUS: Japan’s top luxury brand unveiled an F Sport Performance special edition of the Lexus RZ 450e all-electric crossover, above. This 100-unit lottery-limited vehicle gets a host of aerodynamic and tuning tweaks to improve ride and handling. Lexus also exhibited the LBX Morizo RR Concept, top, a version of the LBX crossover based on the Yaris Cross platform that replaces the UX in markets such as Japan and Europe. It gets yellow accents to the grille, brake calipers and seatbelts.
NISSAN: Nissan outfitted its Ariya all-electric crossover with the brand’s Nismo tuner kit, upping total powertrain output by 10 percent and giving the green machine some attitude with red trim and a race stripe down the hood. It previews a product expected to land in Japan this spring.
Here are other vehicles displayed in Tokyo:
