Japan’s wildest cars revealed at Tokyo Auto Salon

High-performance tuning companies compete to build attention-grabbing machines, helped by manufacturers keen to move new metal.

Toyota

Japan’s biggest car company is on a roll, particularly in the performance car sphere.

The manufacturer has three of the hottest affordable fast cars on sale, including the new Toyota 86 coupe.

The Toyota 86 was a star of this year’s auto salon, where tuners and race teams worked their magic on the popular coupe.

Rally-bred examples of the all-wheel-drive GR Yaris hatchback were also thick on the ground.

Toyota revealed a Japan-only GRMN example of the giant-killing hatchback, fitted with a roll cage, two ring seats and plenty of carbon fibre parts that might be available to Aussie Yaris owners in the future.

The latest Supra also won plenty of attention, led by an open-topped version built by Veilside.

Toyota also hinted at a new race car program with a GT3 concept car that could take on the likes of Audi’s R8 and the Porsche 911 at events such as the Bathurst 12 Hour.

Subaru

As with the Toyota 86, Subaru’s BRZ cousin had plenty of support at the Salon.

Aftermarket parts suppliers cashed in on the popularity of the original BRZ and 86 duo – no doubt they hope for similar success from the latest cars.

Subaru’s WRX has been a performance car darling for almost three decades, so the launch of a new generation is a welcome development for car lovers and the tuning scene.

Subaru also made headlines with an STI-tuned version of its Solterra electric SUV.

And the brand’s vision for an electric performance car future was brought to life by the STI E-RA concept that combines battery power with racing know-how.

Nissan

Expect the new Nissan Z to feature heavily at tuning shows in the future, helped by its strong heritage and the tuning potential of a twin-turbocharged V6 engine. Nissan built a retro-themed “Fairlady” version of the Z that traded on the brand’s storied past.

The Nissan GT-R is an ever-present fixture at high-performance car shows, and this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon didn’t disappoint, with several examples of the iconic beast on display.

Honda

With the Civic Type R on the cusp of replacement and the NSX phasing out of production, Honda had a somewhat quiet year at the show.

A mildly reworked example of the latest Civic hinted at the sort of parts Mugen might be able to offer Honda enthusiasts.

And a revolutionary take on the latest NSX by the ARTA race team brought Lamborghini-style looks to what was once a conservatively styled machine.

Mitsubishi

Few car makers have turned their back on high-performance car fans like Mitsubishi. The brand once responsible for the world championship-winning Lancer Evolution, plus lesser-known performance cars such as the Galant VR4, 3000GT and screaming Mirage “Cyborg” has precious little to offer modern enthusiasts.

That might change with the rebirth of its Ralliart sub-brand, which unveiled its take on a tuned version of the Outlander plug-in hybrid.

Suzuki

Checked the price of a Suzuki Jimny in the used car classifieds? The little four-wheel-drive remains a sought-after machine with a strong following.

Tokyo tuners worked their magic on the Jimny with retro-inspired models that put a classic spin on the compact crossover.

Lexus

Capitalising on the booming popularity of off-roading, Lexus focused its efforts on the camping scene with rugged versions of its LX and UX luxury SUVs.

Liberty Walk

Famous for extreme modifications to some of the most extreme cars on sale, Liberty Walk won plenty of attention with new projects including this race-inspired Mitsuoka Orochi.

Lamborghini’s Aventador also came in for attention, as did the latest Chevrolet Corvette supercar, which arrives in Australia soon.

Originally published as Japan’s wildest cars revealed at Tokyo Auto Salon