AT THE Tokyo Auto Salon, car manufacturers find new ways to make sure that they also set the trend in the highly active aftermarket and custom car industry. Inquirer Motoring takes a look at some of the highlights from this year’s carmaker exhibits.
According to Sam Liuson of Wheel Gallery, the distributor for several key wheel and tire brands like BBS, Nitto Tires, Concept One and Carlsson, and who is a veteran visitor to the annually held event, the Tokyo Auto Salon is very different from other motor shows held around the world. The custom car culture is being about creativity and coming up with the wildest setups both for aesthetics and performance.
His favorite pick on the best show car, a highly modified Nissan GT-R with an elaborate engraved paint finish, won best award in the concept car category.
For this feature, we look at what the carmakers have come up with to dazzle the visitors of this year’s show.
Honda pays homage to Ayrton Senna and signals return to F1
At the Honda pavilion, all eyes were on the fully enclosed glass booth of Ayrton Senna’s Formula One. Senna, who was killed in a tragic accident 20 years ago, was touted as the greatest F1 driver and is highly respected even by today’s F1 racecar drivers. His F1 race car is a homage to Honda’s return to the world of Formula One motorsports.
On display, too, was the S660 concept car and a custom Vezel (locally known as the HR-V) model designed by fashion house Samantha Thavasa.
Other custom cars unveiled by Honda were the Cyber Concept N-Box Slash Code:89, the Odyssey Absolute 20th Anniversary edition, and the Mugen-tuned Legend (Acura RLX), Grace and Fit RS.
Lexus creates world’s first racecar soundtrack
At its pavilion, Lexus showcased the RC F GT3 and installed several headphones to allow visitors to listen to a specially-composed soundtrack using the exhaust notes of its GT3 race car.
Lexus collaborated with Sick Individuals, one of the leading names in Holland’s big room house music scene. This is the world’s first release of an audio experience that mashes up with the running sounds of the RC F GT3 concept car, and is an original soundtrack by Sick Individuals.
Mazda shows off its CX-3 racing concept and all-new Roadster
At its pavilion, Mazda unveiled the CX-3 Racing Concept, a pimped-out version of its latest B-segment crossover vehicle. It’s stylish body kit is complemented with carbon-fiber accent appliques and graphics that matches well with its 19-inch alloy wheels.
With racing bucket seats and four-point racing seatbelts, this Mazda also comes with Alcantara leather interior and special interior treatments.
The CX-3 Racing Concept has a height-adjustable suspension, allowing the car to have a more aggressive stance that goes well with a sports-tuned air intake kit and exhaust system.
Aside from this, another highlight was its all-new Mazda Roadster, which won an award under the concept car category, and its MX-5 Global Cup race car.
Mercedes-Benz unveils a pickup for the ultra-rich
One of the main highlights at the Mercedes-Benz pavilion was the brutish G 63 AMG 6×6. This limited-edition double cab pickup is priced close to 400,000 euros. It was a project based on the military version of the G320 CDI, designed and engineered for the Australian army.
The 3775-kilogram, civilian-version G 63 AMG 6×6 model is fitted with a massive 5.5-liter V8 engine tuned by AMG that delivers 536 horsepower and 758.40 Newton-meters of torque.
It is possibly the most expensive car in the AMG lineup right now, aside from the SLS Electric Drive supercar.
The fine leather and interior accoutrements make sure that Japan’s ultra-rich crowd will not be disappointed with the hefty price tag that comes along with the car.
Nissan showcases its Nismo model lineup
What’s a Tokyo Auto Salon without the venerable Nissan GT-R? Aside from the dozens of highly customized GT-Rs scattered around the halls of Makuhari Messe, Nissan also showcased the GT-R Nismo N Attack Package and the GT-R Nismo GT3 race car.
Aside from this, Nissan’s performance brand Nismo showcased its lineup of performance Juke, 370Z, March and Note models.
We will have more features on the wildest GT-R setups in another feature.
Mitsubishi unveils Lancer Evolution X Final Concept
After Mitsubishi Evo fans and enthusiasts went aghast over the company’s announcement that production of the highly successful Lancer Evolution will soon be ceased, Mitsubishi unveiled its most powerful Lancer Evolution ever in its global debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Dubbed as the 2015 Lancer Evolution X Final Concept, the 2-liter turbocharged engine packs a walloping 473 HP, thanks to a number of enhancements, including an updated turbocharger, intake and exhaust system, fuel-delivery system, cooling system and Engine Control Unit (ECU) from performance tuner brand HKS.
Based on the five-speed manual Lancer GSR model, Mitsubishi and HKS were able to increase the power by about 182 horsepower.
Subaru’s debuts the WRX STI race car for Nürburgring
Subaru, and its Subaru Tecnica International Inc. (STI) performance subsidiary, unveiled its new racing car developed from its WRX STI for the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race set in 2015.
It also announced the highlights of Subaru Motorsport activities for this year at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon.
STI will once again join the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race in Germany this coming May, which it has been doing so for eight consecutive years.
The enhancements and upgrades include modifying its aerodynamics, stability, body rigidity, and engine output with figures outdoing its previous model.
Aside from this, it now has a lefthand-drive version to ensure better visibility of the racing flags put up at several stages of the race.
On display also was its BRZ GT300 race car, to be used in the Super GT series this year.
The race is widely regarded as Japan’s top motorsports category. This race car uses the same front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout as the production BRZ model.
Suzuki unveils the Alto Turbo RS concept
Suzuki unveiled the Alto Turbo RS concept which is based on the current-generation Alto model. Fitted with new headlights including LED daytime running lights, 17-inch OZ alloy wheels, and body kit enhancements including modified front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a roof-mounted spoiler, the Alto Turbo RS concept looks ready to take on the streets of Japan.
The base Alto model is a popular urban car in Japan. This tiny 660-cc gasoline, three-cylinder turbocharged engine is also a fuel miser.
On the inside, the concept RS has a pair of Recaro bucket seats. Suzuki likewise upgraded the suspension to match its aggressive looks.
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