Tokyo Auto Salon 2015

Final Lancer Evo was not the only highpoint of quirky automotive event

Last week, we gave you a taste of the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan's premiere customizing show starring a 353kW Lancer Evolution 10 Final Concept and dozens of other outrageous creations. Now it's time for the main event. Here is a rundown of the most important reveals at this year's Salon.

Evo's swansong exit

Firstly, let's explain the Evo 10's swansong performance. Mitsubishi had already announced that its iconic Lancer Evolution series would be phased out at the end of the production run for the Evo 10. According to the company, that will happen this year. But wanting to go out in glory, bosses at Mitsubishi decided to create one last concept, the most powerful Evo ever to come forth from the WRC rally winning manufacturer. Based on a five-speed GSR and called the Evolution 10 Final Concept, this sedan incorporates a tuned ECU and new HKS turbo making its 2.0-litre engine good for 353kW.

On top of that power boost it gets larger intakes and intercoolers, an upgraded cooling system and exhaust, adjustable suspension from HKS and 19-inch Rays forged wheels. A Mitsubishi source tells us that when it phases out the six-speed SST auto transmission in March the limited edition model will be offered with a six-speed manual. The finish is a mix of matte and gloss black, and chrome trim.

Mazda to introduce MX-5 World Series

Mazda had already launched its all-new MX-5 last year, so the coupe sitting on the stand was nothing new. But the car to its right was. We'd heard rumours about a new spec Mazda MX-5 Cup Car destined for one-make race events on a global scale, but today was the first time we'd seen the fully painted, and slick-tyre shod machine in the flesh. Based on the US-spec Cup Car with 6-point roll-cage, bespoke suspension, tyres, brakes, harness and seats, the new MX-5 racer will be the instrument for a brand new world series that will decide a global winner when races begin in earnest in 2016.

The annual four-hour MX-5 Media Race at Japan's Tsukuba Circuit in September this year will be the first time to see the car pushed to its limits in competition when 25 examples of the coupe take to the 2km long track. But while the US-spec car will incorporate a 2.0 litre engine, the Japan-spec car will get the fuel-sipping 1.5 litre SKYACTIV engine that will be offered on the Japan-spec production model due to land in showrooms in June this year.

Just after managing executive officer Masahiro Moro finished explaining the details behind the new MX-5 events, he welcomed Japan's fastest woman racer Keiko Ihara on stage to introduce a new initiative that supports women in motorsport. Sanctioned and supported by the Japan Automobile Federation and the FIA, this initiative aims to actively get more women participating in grassroots racing, rallying and gymkhanas.

Nismo releases Nurburgring lap special

Meanwhile, Nissan's motor sports arm Nismo showed off a whole bunch of tuned production cars with its GT-R N Attack Package as the star attraction. This limited edition just happens to be the same spec car that blasted around the Nurburgring posting a record time of 7 minutes 8.679 seconds, making it the fastest mass-produced car ever. The package outfits the coupe with the dedicated parts that were specifically developed to optimise aerodynamics and performance, recreating the same vehicle that took the Nurburgring by storm.

In order to meet customer needs, Nissan offers two different packages, the N Attack Package A kit and the N Attack Package B kit. Package A comes with everything to achieve the same performance as the time attack car while Package B is more friendly for daily driving. Both kits also employ revised suspension setups, high performance brake pads, a new ECM and TCM and a bespoke front and rear limited slip differential.

Nismo also exhibited the Nismo 370Z, Juke Nismo and March Nismo showing that no model is immune to the tuning boys at Nissan's motorsport house. One other concept that stood out was the Juke Personalisation Concept which offers buyers a choice of 10 body, roof spoiler and wheel colours in addition to different coloured body stripes, door mirrors and door handles.

Honda shows off its hybrid-Mugen combo

Meanwhile Honda focused heavily on combining its best technologies in a range of hybrid-powered Mugen-tuned production cars. With the Mugen Legend leading the way boasting a bespoke Mugen carbon fibre spoiler and rear wing and 20-inch wheels, Honda has also waved its hybrid-Mugen wand to create the Mugen Grace, Mugen HR-V, Mugen Fit RS AutoSalon Special and Mugen Jade.

Also featuring prominently on the stand was the sporty S660 mid-engined coupe powered by a turbocharged 660cc engine. Expected to land in Japanese showrooms by mid-2015, the S660 is seen as a spiritual successor to the quirky Beat minicar of the early 90s.

Barbie made a surprise appearance at Honda this year. The zany Honda N-Box Splash Barbie Edition took its inspiration and pink and white colour scheme from the aging doll to create an excessively cute car that had every female guest at the Honda stand screaming with joy. Honda female staffers even wore specially created Barbie nail art.

Toyota shows off hyper Mark X and Sweet WiLL Vi

Toyota revealed customised Harrier, Mark X, Prius and GT86 models. Not surprisingly, the Japanese domestic market rear-drive Mark X sedan took the limelight thanks to its GRMN-tuned (Gazoo Racing Meister Nurburgring) sport suspension, beefed up brakes, 19-inch alloys and gutsy 236kW V6 powerplant with six-speed manual and Torsen LSD. As could be expected, numerous examples of tuned GT86s dotted the site as did tuned Subaru BRZ models.

One wacky creation for which the Auto Salon has become famous was the Toyota Sweets concept. Half a dozen students from the Toyota Tokyo Automotive College spent three days making over 2000 handmade plastic cakes and pies and candy to cover the Toyota Will Vi, a car created through the WiLL marketing initiative shared by a small group of Japanese companies who decided to offer products and services that focused on a younger demographic from 1999 until 2004.

In the Lexus stand, Toyota's luxury arm showed off the company's latest iterations of its high performance V8-powered RC F coupe, the RC F CCS Concept and the RC F GT3 Concept. To put visitors in touch with what it's like to drive an RC F, Lexus dangled dozens of headphones from the ceiling, each playing taped versions of the RC F accelerating and cornering at speed.

Subaru unveils bright red B4 Blitzen

In addition to shining the spotlight on the revised WRX STI entry for this year's Nurburgring 24-hour challenge, Subaru revealed the Legacy B4 Blitzen concept. Bathed in a premium red colour scheme, the stock Legacy gets wider and lower fenders and air vents as well as bespoke tyres and rims, apparently inspired by the company's famed boxer engine. Wanting to further enhance its corporate image, Subaru also displayed the Outback First Rescue Operation vehicle which is being offered as a fast response for incidents at Japan's Super GT and other races.

Suzuki and Daihatsu focus on 660cc minicars

Suzuki unveiled the Alto Turbo RS Concept boasting a bespoke grille and headlights in addition to 17-inch rims, Recaro seats, revised suspension and body paint. The RS gets a 48kW 660cc engine that spins to 6500rpm. Rival minicar maker Daihatsu had a field day with its just-launched Copen, displaying some 14 examples of how to "dress-up" the tiny convertible. Most radical by far was the frog-green D Sport Copen with its oversized flared fenders and huge rear wing. The HKS Copen was turning heads as well with its over-the-top paint job.

College students create their own masterpieces

Among the highlights of the Auto Salon each year are the inspired and often zany creations of the students from NATS, the Nihon (Japan) Automobile College. Each year students take basic car bodies and chassis and mould them into Fantastic reinterpretations of automotive bliss. Some of the stand out cars this year were the autonomous driving NATS ZMP 'Prius Robocar', the Suzuki Twin-based 'Choro-ru' with the Rolls Royce front end, the 'Extreme' coupe based on a Toyota 86 and the original M3-inspired MBW550 sitting on a Suzuki Might Boy platform.

Okuyama collaborates with Alfa

Ex-Pininfarina chief designer and man behind the Ferrari Enzo, Ken Okuyama made an appearance at the show through a collaboration with Alfa Romeo. The Giulietta Ken Okuyama Speciale employs bespoke paintwork and wheels, designs similar to rims fitted to his own creations and inspired by TAG Heuer watch designs.

Another car – this time a race car – to debut at Tokyo was the Lotus GT300MC SGT Evora, a 350kW machine that will compete in this year's Japan Super GT Series. Incorporating a regulation bathtub chassis and undisclosed engine, this car will vy with the likes of a very quick Toyota Prius in 2015.

But it's the cars that defy definition that make the Tokyo Auto Salon. Cars like the Pink Panther Jeep by tuning house Tiger Package with a life size example of the panther himself atop the roof.

And who can ignore the girls and their costumes, many of them skimpy and all inspired by anime and manga. This Salon is as much a platform for customisers to show off their parts and creations as much as it is a stage for scantily-clad young ladies to show off what they are hardly wearing.

Next year we can expect more of the same, only 2016 will no doubt focus heavily on tuned versions of the new Mazda MX-5 and Honda NSX both of which will debut this year.

More photos from 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon

Tokyo Auto Salon 2015

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