Event>> Tokyo Motor Show 2011 – A First Look

And so yet another Tokyo Motor Show comes to an end. Well for us folks that are part of the press at least. The show will open its doors to the public from this weekend, when thousands of visitors will flock in to get a closer look at the cars that made this year considerably more special than the last time it was held in 2009. First up, since 1987 the show finally returns to Tokyo, the futuristically sculpted Big Sight exhibition center hosting the event rather than the Makuhari Messe, which is actually situated in Chiba and quite a hike from the center of the capital. Following on from all the attention that Toyota and the 86 has been enjoying over the last few days it was time for the Subaru BRZ to be shown but most importantly of all, at least for me, was seeing the Super GT version of the car that will participate next year in the GT300 class. Seriously, can this car look any better? But more on that later on.

One concept that really stood out was the Mazda Tekeri, a world debut that hints heavily on next year's replacement of the Mazda 6, or Atenza in the home market. The beautifully styled sedan once again proves that Mazda designers know how to impress, all they have to do now is tone it down in a way that it retains its unique lines.

Of course Toyota's 86 was a show favorite but after having sampled the car back on Sunday at Fuji I found myself concentrating more…

…on the BRZ.

Subaru's version, as well as Scion's FR-S as Larry and Linhbergh have shown us, are all very similar to each other. The BRZ does have a different front bumper and darker headlights…

…as well as a different front fender highlight.

The wheels remain the same, albeit with a the Pleiades badge…

…as does the rear except of course the BRZ name. Despite the Mica blue example on display it was this flat pearl white one I kept taking shots of, the matte color allowing the reflectors to highlight each crease of the body.

Over at Nissan Carlos Ghosn made a series of interesting announcements and presented the all electric…

…ESFLOW sport car, hinting that the company really is trying to explore the possibility of sporty electric cars.

However the announcement that most people were very happy to hear was that Nismo will be playing a greater interest in Nissan's line up. With an all new Nismo HQ being currently built in Yokohama and opening in 2013 Nissan promises their recognized tuning and motorsport arm will be not only developing more tuning parts, but creating tuned versions of mainstream Nissan models. It's good to see that Nissan has finally recognized the potential of such a recognized and historical name.

The announcement came with the presentation of the Juke Nismo Concept a lightly tuned example made to gauge interest in a potential complete model. The Juke gains a reworked 1.6 L turbo motor, aerodynamic improvements sculpted by the designer of their GT cars, bigger wheels and brakes. 

During my first stroll through of the show the Suzuki Regina concept grabbed my attention. It hints at a future global car for Suzuki and like many cars at the show is built to be extremely fuel efficient and economical.

It's powered by an 800 cc turbocharged engine. From this angle it reminds me of the old Citroen 2CV!

Despite the attention the 86 was generating…

…Toyota's minimalistic exhibition certainly didn't skip out on showing the company effort's in pushing alternative means of propulsion as was shown by the futuristically styled FCV-R hydrogen-powered concept.

But this drive for more ecological and efficient cars doesn't necessary need to be a bad thing as the GRMN Concept proves.

We saw this car at the Gazoo Racing Festival on Sunday. Maybe a potential comeback for the MR2?

Things got really exciting on the Lexus side of the display with this LFA fitted with the Nurbugring Package.

The kit was created to make the car perform better around the track it was deveoped on and the aero additions certainly make it stand out from the regular LFA. The engine develops a bit more power at 571 HP, enough to counteract the effect of the extra downforce that is now generated so the 0-60 mph time and top speed remain the same.

BMW will be collaborating with Toyota in the future, the two companies sharing their knowhow; Toyota will allow BMW access to its hybrid technology while BMW will share its experience in diesel engines. The show also marked the Asian unveil of the i8 hybrid sports car, a sporty four seater that boasts a carbon fiber chassis and a whole new design language for BMW's EV side of the brand.

But no matter how exciting and interesting EV and hybrid cars are, I would still take a brute V8 powering the rear wheels for the time being thank you very much! Something like this C63 AMG Coupe maybe! 

It always impresses me how Porsche manages to completely change the 911 with each generation, but not make the change so obvious that they distract from the instantly recognizable shape. The 991 is a car I look forward to driving next year.

That's about it for this first stroll through the halls of the Big Sight. I'll leave you with this picture of this Lotus Elise CR fitted with an automatic transmission, developed especially for Japan. Yes the manual is still available!

Back soon with more from the Tokyo Motor Show.

-Dino Dalle Carbonare

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1

I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we could have gone the rest of our lives not knowing that Elise is an autotragic. :/

2

wow! some interesting car right there! cant wait to see part 2!!!

3

Nissan ESFLOW is quite possibly the most butt-ugly concept of all time. Monstrosity...

4

I was there too today, such an amazing display :)

5

I'm Trying to understand which one are we getting in America... Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S or the Toyota FT86?

6

awwurgh..haha... damn...

Club Racer Elise, Auto? It just sort of misses the point! Changing your own gears isn't necessary in 99% of cars, but in a car made specifically for fun...



If it helps sell MORE lotus' though, i guess I'm all for it. :)

7

all the great amazing.

when I can feel it.

8

An automatic Lotus? Isn't that a paradox?

9

Im Loving the BRZ and the GRMN concept.......I would love to see the BRZ with an agressive looking street kit..I also love the JGTC Version...

10

So jealous, wish I was back in Japan. Such a shame to see two of the worlds great car makers releasing their newest sports cars and the biggest difference between the two is the darkness of the front lights! Passenger car re-branding maybe but flagship sports cars? Can you ever imagine this happening with two German manufacturers latest release sports cars? I think not.

Give me more 'unique' JDM!

11

BRZ is going to out sell the ft and frs by a large margin I think.

12

Elise front :D

13

I like the rims on the Suzuki Concept lol

I like too the concepts of Nissan, the ESFLOW is strange about the design ... but I don't know it take my attention :).

The angle from the photo of the BMW is amazing

14

I think that its cool and all about how they did a colaboration and all with subaru but I didnt think that it was necessary for three cars to look the same just minor differences. lol alot of people can get confused.

15

Nissan should better leave their electric and hybrid concept and jukes, leaves and other crap at home, I hate that they are trying to cheat us by presenting such cars as sports car. If you want to build electric cars build them but dont present them as sports cars. And dont misuse the name of NISMO on cars where it should never be placed. Just make some new factory tuner something like ELEKTRISMO or HYBRIDISMO and you can start tunig these jokes

16

the ESFLOW looks awsome in my opinion, although i can see why others wouldnt!

17

show KTM's setup

18

that Nissan should be called EFSLOW, cause it's probably gonna be effin slow :P and ugly, and pointless. I like the BRZ and FT86 very much.

19

BRZ=FTW. i'm sold. where do i sign up

20

WOW. the Toyota/Subaru is just a failure. it's so bland, and big, and obviously too concerned with trunk space, rear leg room, and all that stuff that we JUST DO NOT CARE ABOUT. I understand that they need to sell a lot of these to make a profit, but seriously, it just does not excite me. In general all the Nissans are so ugly. And a NISMO leaf? WTF is happening to my world!

21

Sooo much JDM goodness...

22

@Leo Malfatt ha if you cant figure this out??

23

the look toyota 86 seems to get better and better, everytime i look at it.

24

NISMO!!!!!!!!

25

Who would have thought that Toyota's concept cars were going to be so much better than Nissan's?



The 86 is an awesome car and that GRMN thing would be pretty cool if it had a NA gasoline engine... meanwhile in Nissan, they have that ugly ESFLOW turd, the slow Leaf and that horrible Juke.



And I'm not liking Mazda's new front ends too much... I hope their new models don't come out with such big and protuberant grilles.

26

Nissan's doing the Juke-R.....will Toyota return volley with the LF86?



I can't be the only one who's thought this...V10 in an 86...word.

27

The Mazda 6 replacement is so dam gorgeous I really hope they don't dull it down so much before it comes out

28

the BRZ GT car looks amazing. I seriously cant wait to drive one that has a turbo! oh and BRZ > 86

29

BMW Hybrid? really? wheres all the hydrogen powered development gone??? DX

30

Autotragic? Haha I like it, Tyler. It's a shame they're so common, especially in the states. And Lotus should be kicking itself for considering that an automatic would help sales. Anyone knowledgeable and wealthy enough to consider owning a Lotus would most likely be more than capable with a third pedal.

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