Our all time favourites at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show
28 Oct 2019|11,913 views
Themed 'Open Future', this year's Tokyo Motor Show seems a tad quiet. Even big brands like Audi, BMW and Volkswagen weren't there and you could count the number of Japanese brands worth looking at with just a hand.
But that didn't stop us from pursuing our goal: Seeking out worthy cars and interesting concepts.
Here are some of the exhibits at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show we think is worth walking the 30,000 steps for.
Honda N-Van
Yes, the Honda N-Van takes the mini vehicle N Box model to a more spacious and stylish level. While the latter may be available via Parallel Inporters here in Singapore, the N-Van isn't - which could well be the reason why it makes this car, and arguably the rest of the cars in this list, that much more desirable.
The Honda N-Van sports a Kei car-sized 660cc engine that's mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT to help realise a superior real world fuel economy.
That's quite important, especially when the N-Van is designed for commercial use. Equally important is the car's low floor and large cargo space, which can be easily access via the tailgate opening and the front passenger side opening.
Kawasaki Teryx Krx 1000
Oh, what a good-looking car, this one. It's probably one of those cars (if you can even call this a car) that will make the Land Rover Defender look like child's play. Hell, even the name reminds you of a meat-eating, blood-drinking dinosaur.
It may only pump out a maximum torque of 104Nm from its 1.0-litre four-stroke eight-valves powerplant - something that sounds soft and weak. But at over 3.3m long, 1.7m wide and 1.9m tall, the Teryx naturally exudes ample presence and aggression, even at a standstill.
Plus, given its genre as a monster off-roader, you can be sure the Teryx will defeat even the harshest trails anywhere in the world.
Mitsubishi Super Height K-Wagon Concept
We cannot deny it. Just the name makes this concept car cooler than it really should, but that's not the only reason why it's in this article.
Instead, it's the fact that this concept has been created to cater to drivers who require more space and functionality without compromising on design that puts this car on this list. On top of that, there's an instantly recognisable design language up front that will not let the casual observer mistake this for another brand other than Mitsubishi.
More importantly, other than its looks, the K-Wagon Concept comes with a suite of safety technologies, including single-lane driver assistance on highways and collision prevention assistance for pedal misapplication.
Subaru STI EJ20 Final Edition
While we know the Subaru STI to be powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged powerplant, the car that you see here at the motor show sports a 2.0-litre engine called EJ20.
The Final Edition moniker, as the word suggests, is basically there to signal the end of the 2.0-litre engine. And to commemorate this, Subaru decided to debut the STI EJ20 Final Edition right here in Tokyo.
The car is good for 304bhp and 420Nm of twisting force - all of which will be sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Design wise, the car gets the legendary blue and gold look - a classic trim for Subaru's rally car that was decked out in the iconic 555 cigarette brand livery. Coincidentally, only 555 models of this car will be made.
Suzuki Hanare
Making its world premiere amongst other cars on stage such as the Hustler Concept and the Waku Spo, the Hanare is a spacious autonomous lounge on wheels where all on board can enjoy comfortably and luxuriously.
Hanare, which translates to 'detached cottage' in Japanese, is arguably the most interesting subject at the Suzuki booth, which is exactly why it made it to our all time favourite list this year.
Design wise, details on the front fascia has been reduced, cabin appears minimalistic and all four wheels have been pushed to the corners, which explains the ample space that's big enough to fit a television screen.
Toyota LQ
Learn, grow and love. That's what the Toyota LQ is all about, and it's also the main reason why we love it enough for it to be here.
Toyota makes it clear about how important it is for people to love their cars, but the brand isn't expecting a one-sided love. Instead, Toyota has created an Artificial Intelligent (AI) agent, YUI, that's capable of communicating with the driver.
A variety of sensors are available within the car that will help YUI to understand the feelings and interests of the passengers in the LQ. For instance, if the driver starts feeling lethargic while driving, YUI is capable of starting a conversation about something the driver likes, such as baseball, and can direct the driver to a nearby rest stop.
Specialty shops
One of the best things about being at the motor show in Tokyo is getting hold of specialised vintage books. When we say specialised, we mean books that showcase specific makes and models that will interest a very niche group of enthusiasts.
These stores not only sell a whole lot of books and magazines (and they are mint, mind you), they also carry several rare car models of different sizes. Needless to say, these things do not come cheap.
Still, considering how we do not get to attend a show like this every other month makes this bi-annual visit a rare opportunity.
Thus, this writer did not get any books this time round. He went for the car models instead.
Themed 'Open Future', this year's Tokyo Motor Show seems a tad quiet. Even big brands like Audi, BMW and Volkswagen weren't there and you could count the number of Japanese brands worth looking at with just a hand.
But that didn't stop us from pursuing our goal: Seeking out worthy cars and interesting concepts.
Here are some of the exhibits at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show we think is worth walking the 30,000 steps for.
Honda N-Van
Yes, the Honda N-Van takes the mini vehicle N Box model to a more spacious and stylish level. While the latter may be available via Parallel Inporters here in Singapore, the N-Van isn't - which could well be the reason why it makes this car, and arguably the rest of the cars in this list, that much more desirable.
The Honda N-Van sports a Kei car-sized 660cc engine that's mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT to help realise a superior real world fuel economy.
That's quite important, especially when the N-Van is designed for commercial use. Equally important is the car's low floor and large cargo space, which can be easily access via the tailgate opening and the front passenger side opening.
Kawasaki Teryx Krx 1000
Oh, what a good-looking car, this one. It's probably one of those cars (if you can even call this a car) that will make the Land Rover Defender look like child's play. Hell, even the name reminds you of a meat-eating, blood-drinking dinosaur.
It may only pump out a maximum torque of 104Nm from its 1.0-litre four-stroke eight-valves powerplant - something that sounds soft and weak. But at over 3.3m long, 1.7m wide and 1.9m tall, the Teryx naturally exudes ample presence and aggression, even at a standstill.
Plus, given its genre as a monster off-roader, you can be sure the Teryx will defeat even the harshest trails anywhere in the world.
Mitsubishi Super Height K-Wagon Concept
We cannot deny it. Just the name makes this concept car cooler than it really should, but that's not the only reason why it's in this article.
Instead, it's the fact that this concept has been created to cater to drivers who require more space and functionality without compromising on design that puts this car on this list. On top of that, there's an instantly recognisable design language up front that will not let the casual observer mistake this for another brand other than Mitsubishi.
More importantly, other than its looks, the K-Wagon Concept comes with a suite of safety technologies, including single-lane driver assistance on highways and collision prevention assistance for pedal misapplication.
Subaru STI EJ20 Final Edition
While we know the Subaru STI to be powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged powerplant, the car that you see here at the motor show sports a 2.0-litre engine called EJ20.
The Final Edition moniker, as the word suggests, is basically there to signal the end of the 2.0-litre engine. And to commemorate this, Subaru decided to debut the STI EJ20 Final Edition right here in Tokyo.
The car is good for 304bhp and 420Nm of twisting force - all of which will be sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Design wise, the car gets the legendary blue and gold look - a classic trim for Subaru's rally car that was decked out in the iconic 555 cigarette brand livery. Coincidentally, only 555 models of this car will be made.
Suzuki Hanare
Making its world premiere amongst other cars on stage such as the Hustler Concept and the Waku Spo, the Hanare is a spacious autonomous lounge on wheels where all on board can enjoy comfortably and luxuriously.
Hanare, which translates to 'detached cottage' in Japanese, is arguably the most interesting subject at the Suzuki booth, which is exactly why it made it to our all time favourite list this year.
Design wise, details on the front fascia has been reduced, cabin appears minimalistic and all four wheels have been pushed to the corners, which explains the ample space that's big enough to fit a television screen.
Toyota LQ
Learn, grow and love. That's what the Toyota LQ is all about, and it's also the main reason why we love it enough for it to be here.
Toyota makes it clear about how important it is for people to love their cars, but the brand isn't expecting a one-sided love. Instead, Toyota has created an Artificial Intelligent (AI) agent, YUI, that's capable of communicating with the driver.
A variety of sensors are available within the car that will help YUI to understand the feelings and interests of the passengers in the LQ. For instance, if the driver starts feeling lethargic while driving, YUI is capable of starting a conversation about something the driver likes, such as baseball, and can direct the driver to a nearby rest stop.
Specialty shops
One of the best things about being at the motor show in Tokyo is getting hold of specialised vintage books. When we say specialised, we mean books that showcase specific makes and models that will interest a very niche group of enthusiasts.
These stores not only sell a whole lot of books and magazines (and they are mint, mind you), they also carry several rare car models of different sizes. Needless to say, these things do not come cheap.
Still, considering how we do not get to attend a show like this every other month makes this bi-annual visit a rare opportunity.
Thus, this writer did not get any books this time round. He went for the car models instead.
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