2016 Tokyo Auto Salon

The motor show season is looming on the horizon as we look forward to seeing a bunch of new cars and concepts from the Detroit Motor Show and Tokyo Auto Salon in January. While we have already talked about India-bound cars that are to be shown at the Detroit Motor Show, the lesser known Tokyo Auto Salon is also worth looking at, especially if you’re into tuned cars (not The Fast & The Furious kind, though).

Here’s a quick preview of what you can expect from all the major Japanese carmakers including Honda, Nissan, Suzuki,Subaru and even Daihatsu.

Mugen Honda Vezel

Crossovers rarely come out as sporty looking – a fact belied by Honda if we look at their previous creations such as the CRX from the 80s or the CR-Z from 2010. Now though, the brand has resorted to making mundane looking crossovers like the Vezel.

This Mugen-developed Vezel, however, is quite interesting. Finished in a shiny metallic red paint, the car gets a not-so-subtle body kit, a new grille and possibly the most unusual looking set of alloy wheels you will ever see on a Honda.

Mugen Civic Type-R

When it came out earlier this year, the latest-gen Civic Type-R literally put an end to all of those ‘still more torque than a Honda’ jokes. Packing 306bhp and bucket loads of torque from its turbocharged 2-litre VTEC engine, the Civic Type-R is anything but slow. Better still, this Tokyo-bound Mugen Civic Type-R will be even more extreme. Featuring a variety of go-faster bits that are currently under development, the show car is expected to come with sportier bucket seats, lightweight alloy wheels and a new rear wing.

Mugen S660

The S660 is an indigenous two-seater sports car which fits the Kei car category in Japan. The regular versions of this mid-engined model are powered by a 660cc, 63bhp engine though what Mugen seems to have tried to do with their creation is to make it look like a bigger engined car. As a result, the Mugen S660 comes with more vents and scoops than a 1980s TV set.

Nissan, on the other hand, will have a packed show floor at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon. The brand is out to showcase no less than 14 vehicles including special edition models of the March (called Micra in India), the X-Trail and the Juke. All three cars will be seen with a white paint scheme and contrasting black roof. Besides these, Nissan will also have a slew of GT-Rs (including the Nismo verison) at the Salon to keep Nurburgring and Play Station enthusiasts occupied.

Suzuki Ignis concept

As if the regular Ignis wasn’t funky enough, Suzuki has gone all out in making the Ignis Water Activity Concept which, of all the things, gets a kayak on its roof. Additionally, the concept also gets black wheels and orange inserts for the wheels, wing mirrors and the grille.

Subaru BRZ STI performance concept

Small Japanese Kei cars are seriously cool, but the BRZ STI performance concept might end up being our favourite vehicle at Tokyo. It is one mean looking sports car, thanks to an assortment of STI goodness such as the big rear wing and a prominent body kit. And with 300bhp and 447Nm from its turbocharged 2-litre engine, the BRZ STI performance concept should be plenty fast as well.

Daihatsu Copen Coupe

Japan has its fair share of odd looking two-door cars but perhaps the most universally accepted of them all is the Daihatsu Copen. Launched in 2002 as a rival to the likes of Suzuki Cappuccino, the Copen is a roadster that happens to be even smaller than a Mazda MX-5. For 2016, though, Daihatsu will add a fixed roof and introduce the Copen in Coupe form.