Home of the Japanese Imperial Family, Tokyo - the capital of Japan - was dubbed as one of the most liveable cities in the world. Even the Michelin Guide has awarded Tokyo by far the most Michelin stars of any city in the world.
Perhaps that's why a total of 177 exhibitors/180 brands from 12 countries have participated in this year's Tokyo Motor Show (TMS). Themed 'Compete! And shape a new future', car manufacturers have gathered from around the world to vie with each other, showcasing their latest technology and passion reflected in their vehicles.
Here are some of the highlights of the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show:
Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
Together with the R18 e-tron quattro, the latest plug-in hybrid from Audi - A3 Sportback e-tron - took centre stage at the Audi booth in Tokyo this year.
First unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in its concept form, the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron offers 204bhp of system power and achieves an average consumption of only 1.5L/100km. With a maximum torque of 330Nm available virtually from the word go, the plug-in hybrid takes a mere 4.9 seconds to finish the century sprint.
In the electric mode, its operating range is up to 50km, with the 1.4-litre TFSI engine adding a further 890km. Although the car will go on sale in Europe next year, it's unsure when it will arrive in Singapore.
BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor
As you would expect, the Bavarian marque showcased two of its much talked about the electric i3 and plug-in hybrid sports car i8. But in this case, enough talk about BMW i because the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor, together with the 4 Series Convertible, took centre stage in Tokyo.
The Concept Active Tourer Outdoor's new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drive concept combines the benefits of an electric motor and the attributes of the vehicle's conventional 1.5-litre petrol engine.
It has a range of over 30km in all-electric mode, with a total system output of 190bhp while returning average fuel consumption figures of around 2.5L/100km and CO2 emissions below 60g/km.
It's not known when the car is coming to Singapore yet.
BMW Alpina
B4 BiTurbo Coupe
According to the President of Alpina BurkardBovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG, Andreas Bovensiepen, he mentioned that over the years, they have learned that the Japanese customer greatly values the extensive engineering and design work that goes into creating exclusive automobiles. Thus, they have decided to choose the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show to present the new high-performance luxury sports coupe, the B4 BiTurbo.
Based on BMW's new 4 Series Coupe, the B4 BiTurbo Coupe is the successor to the highly popular E92 B3 BiTurbo Coupe and combines stylish lines with Alpina's acclaimed twin-turbo 3.0-litre in-line six engine.
Hence, the car is capable of 410bhp between 5,500rpm and 6,250rpm and has a mountain-moving torque of 600Nm at only 3,000rpm. Mated to the smooth ZF eight-speed Sport-Automatic transmission, the B4 BiTurbo Coupe will complete the century sprint in a respectable 4.2 seconds.
BMW Concept M4 Coupe
Considering its good looks and high-performance figures, it'll be easy to get over the fact that the upcoming M car has a new number.
Following the production of more than 40,000 units of the predecessor model, the fourth generation BMW M3 Coupe, which is now known as the BMW M4 Coupe, took its place at the BMW M booth in Tokyo.
With the 'M4' type designation, BMW is establishing a link to the series, which serves as a starting point for the new M model.
There is speculation that the global launch of the car will be around the mid of next year and that the car is arriving in Singapore at the end of 2014.
Daihatsu Kopen future included Rmz
Daihatsu seems to be playing to its strengths by showcasing the fun and wide range of possibilities of small vehicles and the Kopen is no exception.
Measuring 3,395 in length, 1,475mm in width and 1,275mm in height, the 660cc three-cylinder sports car offers new value in a different form, body panel designs of the car can be removed and replaced like a cover, offering drivers a new way of enjoying the car.
To further enhance the car, Daihatsu showcased two of the body panel designs at the motor show - one with a 'Stylish & Emotional' exterior and the other with a 'Tough & Aggressive' stying.
Honda Vezel
Apart from the N-WGN and the N-WGN Custom - the fourth model of the N Series - Honda unveiled the planned production model dubbed the Vezel. It's a new vehicle that belongs to a new category of automobiles that fuses the dynamic qualities of an SUV, the elegance of a coupe and the functionality of a minivan.
In Japan, both the hybrid and petrol models of the Vezel will go on sale. The hybrid model will be equipped with SPORT HYBRID i-DCD (Intelligent Dual-Clutch Drive) that combines a 1.5-litre direct injection engine with a high-output motor. The petrol model, on the other hand, will be equipped with a 1.5-litre direct injection engine.
It's still unknown if this model is coming to Singapore.
