TOKYO MOTOR SHOW: Ken Okuyama's KODE 9

Two of the most stylish world premieres to surface at the Tokyo motor show this week can be found gracing the Ken Okuyama Design stand. One is a street-legal clubman racer, and the other is a tractor!

Inspired by legendary race cars from 1963 to 1973, the KODE 9 sports car is a bold new concept that marries the best of 20th Century automotive design with 21st Century technology.

Part race car, part sports car, the KODE 9 is a coupe that employs stunning but simple proportions and a driving experience to rival some of today’s greatest sports cars.

“This is my message to today’s car industry, which seems stuck in a rut of overly complicated lines and styling based on the lowest-common-denominator,” says designer Ken Okuyama.

After stints at GM, Porsche and Honda, Okuyama led the creative design team at Pininfarina as it penned some of the world’s most striking designs, including the Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari 599, Maserati Quattroporte and Maserati Birdcage 75th.

This street-legal clubman coupe combines a hydro-aluminium centre chassis section with front and rear chassis sections specially designed and unique to this car.

Tipping the scales at just 890kg, the KODE 9 incorporates wet carbon components developed in-house, manufacturing technology using the latest 3D printers, Yamazaki Mazak’s precision CNC cutting technology and the latest aerodynamic trends.

Powered by a Japan-sourced 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with HKS supercharger, the KODE 9 generates an impressive 275kW. Sources say the engine is from the Honda S2000, which means it will rev effortlessly well past 8000rpm.

All suspension components are unique to this coupe, together with its fully adjustable suspension set-up and four-piston Akebono brake calipers. Okuyama plans to start taking orders for the limited-edition KODE 9 by April next year.

As part of its Carrozzeria activities, Ken Okuyama Design has teamed up with Yanmar Corporation, a Japanese heavy machinery manufacturer celebrating its centennial year, to create the Y-Concept YT01 Advanced Tractor.

Known in Japan for his penmanship of the country’s latest 300km/h Shinkansen bullet train, Okuyama decided to turn his artistic flare towards Yanmar to spruce up its otherwise conservative shapes.

The Y-Concept also incorporates an advanced GPS sat-nav system that will eventually enable it to work autonomously with one driver operating two tractors.

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