JAPANESE carmakers seem to be catering to two extremes of the market at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show, exhibiting small city car concepts as well as sporty premium models. But a visitor to the biennial show would hardly have realised this from its theme - Catch the News, Touch the Future.
Quirky Japglish aside, there is no chance of misinterpreting the intent of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, Japan's biggest carmaker and soon, the world's too. Its LF-Xh concept is a specialty SUV with seven seats and the famed Lexus hybrid drive system. This muscular-looking sport-utility vehicle is seen as the next RX model but it has been upsized, probably to better appeal to the American market. As a result, there is speculation that a smaller SUV will be introduced.
Meanwhile, the LF-A super sports car, which has previously been at many other auto shows, looks more production-ready than ever. The sleek two-seat coupe with the V10 engine will be Lexus's first supercar and takes on exotics like Ferrari and Lamborghini.
The Lexus IS F is being premiered in Japan. This high-performance version of the compact sedan was first shown in Frankfurt and has a five-litre V8 and sufficiently aggressive styling to rival the AMG and M cars from Mercedes-Benz and BMW's tuning divisions respectively.
Honda, Japan's No 2 carmaker, is displaying the CR-Z. It is not a coincidence that this lightweight sports concept bears a strong resemblance to the CR-X of the 1990s. From the long roof to the rear double-glass hatch, this is definitely the spiritual successor to the CR-X but with a lower kerb weight and a powerful yet economical petrol-electric hybrid system.
It looks like the CR-Z is near production, with a possible 2009 launch date although the sensational shark nose grille will probably be toned down.
A production-ready model is the Honda Inspire. Sold as the Accord outside Japan, it is wider and longer than the car it replaces. Vaguely reminiscent of a BMW 5 Series from the side, its new size is intended to reposition it as a car that is significantly larger than its traditional competitor, the Toyota Camry. It is also being pitched in a more premium segment, and Honda expects its shape, styling and space to give it a new sheen of prestige. Engines include a 3.5-litre V6 unit with new variable cylinder management technology, which allows for operation in three, four or six-cylinder mode for improved fuel economy.
Japan's third largest carmaker, Nissan, is premiering the final version of the GT-R. This 2+2 coupe has a 3.7-litre V6 turbocharged engine with 473 PS fed to all four wheels. As Nissan's halo model, it has the looks and the extreme sportiness to continue making it a cult car.
Nissan is also showing the Skyline sports sedan in Japan for the first time. The two-door version of this car has been offered by Singapore's parallel importers for almost a year, but the four-door model will likely be offered by the distributor.
The Mitsubishi Evo X also enjoys its Japan premier. This all-wheel-drive sports saloon with a 280 PS two-litre turbocharged engine has a whopping 422 Newton-metres of torque. It also features a twin-clutch Sportshift transmission, making Mitsubishi the first Japanese manufacturer to offer a DSG-style gearbox. The DSG direct shift gearbox was pioneered by Volkswagen of Germany.
At the other end of the performance spectrum, Japanese carmakers showed small environmentally friendly urban transport in the form of the Honda Puyo, Toyota Rin, Toyota iQ Concept, Nissan Round Box, Mitsubishi iMiEV, Daihatsu HSC and Subaru G4E. The first two are amoeba-like blobs with four wheels, but all models emphasise eco-conscious motoring and sustainable mobility with either ultra-efficient petrol engines or high-tech fuel cell propulsion.
But there are other interesting new models that don't fit into the two above-mentioned segments. They include the Honda Fit. Sold outside Japan as the Jazz, this all-new five-door mini has expanded proportions and clever details. Its cabin is even bigger than before and the new rear axle promises a better, less bouncy ride. One particular trim version has distinctive bumpers and LED running lights in front and on the side.
The Toyota iSt is another small hatchback, but unlike the previous generation car this new model is hardly exciting to look at. It is bigger but less funky and could easily pass for a more ordinary Corolla hatch.
The Toyota juggernaut also has the Mark X Zio multi-purpose vehicle. While it has a nose that is reminiscent of the stylish Mark X sedan, it does not have the same rear-wheel-drive layout. Instead, this front-wheel-driven model may be Toyota's reinterpretation of the large MPV because it offers maximum seating comfort for five passengers but with the flexibility of a third row.
Another new seven-seater model is the Subaru Exiga. A so-called 'concept', it will be offered for sale in Japan 'very soon'. Its three rows of seats allow it to compete with the popular Honda Stream and Toyota Wish but with one distinct advantage - all-wheel-drive. Permanent AWD and a unique horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine mean the Exiga will be a very sporty alternative for young families who occasionally need a couple more seats.
But an unlikely highlight of the show, which opened to the public yesterday and runs until Nov 11, has to be a diminutive Daihatsu roadster. The OFC-1 is a 'kei' car - a special Japanese mini-car class - but it is not your usual econocar. Instead, it is a 'higher-end' coupe-convertible with a retractable hardtop roof.
Unlike the Copen it will eventually replace, this new model has better proportions and cooler styling.
Like Daihatsu, Audi is also re-writing the small-car rules. The German brand is showing for the first time the Metro Project Quattro. Likely to be a premium small car called the A1, this three-door, four-seat hatchback boasts hybrid technology. A 1.4-litre direct injection engine is supplemented by an electric motor above the rear axle that can deliver an extra 200 Nm of torque. It looks like Japan isn't the only country to make small wonders.
