Here’s Everything We Saw At The 2019 Tokyo Motor Show

We love the Tokyo Motor Show for its variety of cars and innovative concepts, but the show has relevance to us beyond eye-candy, as it offers a glimpse of the latest in technology that the automotive industry has to offer. The 46th Tokyo Motor Show was no different, and it was chock-full of cars that had us pining for them, and we hope to see some of them here soon. Some of the cars that we know will come to India include the 2020 Honda Jazz and the cute Toyota BEV. Then there were also other model updates from these two manufacturers as well as Suzuki, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Daihatsu, Isuzu, Mazda, and many more. Here’s a list of every car that we saw at the show. 

Honda 

The Honda pavilion was out in full force at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show with a showcase consisting a host of hybrid and electric cars. Kicking off the lineup was the 2020 Jazz that’s bound for India. It debuted the new dual-motor hybrid powertrain. Honda also previewed the tenth-generation Accord which gets a variety of upgrades and hopefully make it to India soon. It comes with a 2.0-litre hybrid motor and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. And finally, the all-electric ‘e’ was showcased in Japan for the first time. Unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, the ‘e’ comes with an insane five-screen dashboard. Head here to know more about Honda’s Tokyo Motor Show lineup.

Toyota

Toyota continued to go big at the Tokyo Motor Show with a variety of concepts and production-ready cars. It unveiled a range of vehicles under the theme ‘Play the Future’. Toyota’s lineup kicked off with the tiny, but ultra-compact BEV electric vehicle (EV) which is about to make its way to India. However, the Rise compact SUV was given a miss at the Tokyo Motor Show. But no worries as we did find its platform cousin, the Rocky, at the Daihatsu pavillion. We also got to see the 2020 Yaris that boasts a chic design and a hybrid setup. However, it is unlikely to come to India, especially in hatchback body style. 

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The next car on the list was the premiere of the GranAce MPV that gets a host of features ranging from six/eight seat configurations, latest safety tech to adequate power in the form of a 2.8-litre diesel motor. Another tiny car that was displayed at the show was the Copen GR Sport, a Kei sports car that’s sorely needed in the Indian market. The tiny tike gets a host of performance related tweaks from Toyota’s racing division. As for concepts, Toyota showcased the LQ concept that gave a glimpse into Toyota’s latest in autonomous driving tech alongside an AI that adapts to the driver’s preferences. The next concept was the Mirai, which is essentially the next-generation of the Mirai sedan. Scheduled for a late 2020 launch starting from Japan to North America and Europe, the next-gen Mirai is more of an eco-car with a host of improvements in FCEV technology. Toyota also  showcased a variety of electric autonomous mobility solutions as well as wacky solutions that include mobile chargers, e-care medical exam tech as well as an e-broom (what?). Head here for more on Toyota’s Tokyo Motor Show lineup.

Lexus

The Lexus pavilion saw the carmaker taking the wraps off the LF-30 Electrified, an all-electric concept. It is a swanky crossover that previews the future design and technology of Lexus’ electric models. Another major talking point is its all-electric powertrain that’s capable of offering a range of 500km range (WLTP claimed). To know more about the concept car head here.

Suzuki

Suzuki revealed three new concepts with different design philosophies at the ongoing 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. The first one is the shape-shifting Waku concept, a retro-styled PHEV coupe. Then there’s the Hanare, a driverless minibus for near future complete with couches and a large display. The Hustler concept, meanwhile, is a Kei crossover SUV with some rugged bits. Head here to know about these concepts.

Nissan 

While Nissan displayed a total of 14 models at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, its main highlights were the reveal of two future Nissan models, the IMk Kei car concept and the Ariya crossover -- both electric vehicles (EVs). Moving toward autonomous mobility and electric drivetrains, the Ariya and IMk are based on completely new platforms tailored to the needs of EVs. The IMk concept is a Kei car with an all-electric drivetrain and advanced autonomy features. The Nissan Ariya concept, unlike the city car, is a crossover SUV built on an all-new electric car platform. It will be powered by a motor at each wheel. It houses a range of cameras and sensors for the ProPILOT 2.0 autonomous driving, which helps users drive with their hands off. The technology is still undergoing testing in Japan and will make it to production soon. Head here for more details about Nissan’s Tokyo Motor Show showcase.

Renault

Renault showed off special editions and a performance variant of its current lineup at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. The lineup consisted of three cars: the Twingo, Lutecia, and Megane RS Trophy. While the fifth-generation Clio-based Lutecia was unveiled for the Japanese market, the Twingo got a special ‘polished in Paris’ edition. The new Megane RS Trophy edition also broke cover. It is unlikely that either of the three cars will ever make their way to India. To know more about the three Renault cars showcased, head here.

Daihatsu

Daihatsu showcased four concepts at the show which covered different segments and niches with one common theme - their diminutive size. First on the list is the WakuWaku, a hatchback-mini-SUV concept which comes with various features and cubbies to make packing for a camping trip more fun than ever. Some of them include a split tailgate that doubles as a bench. The next concept, theTsumuTsumu, looks like a one-third replica of a regular single-cab truck. It will come with a variety of bed designs. 

Third on the list is the WaiWai, is a minivan targeted towards parents. It has three rows of seats, sliding rear doors, and a two-part sliding canvas sunroof.  It features a cab-forward design that looks awkward from some angles but opens up a lot of room on the inside. And finally, the Icolo is the fourth and final concept showcased by Daihatsu. It is a mini city bus concept which features sliding seats and room to accommodate a wheelchair. An app for the IcoIco enables people in the city to request a pickup using their phone. Head to the link to know more about Daihatsu’s Tokyo lineup.

Subaru

The Japanese carmaker revealed two new cars at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show: the Levorg and the EJ20 Final Edition. The Levorg is a station wagon that has a sporty look and promises to pack a punch. The Levorg will get a 1.8-litre turbocharged Boxer petrol engine, which is expected to be mated to an all-wheel drivetrain. 

The EJ20 Final Edition bids farewell to the WRX STi’s horizontally opposed 2.0-litre twin-turbo engine that made its debut back in 1989. The 2.0-litre unit develops 308PS of power and 422Nm of torque. It sends power to all four wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. Head here for more on the two Subaru models revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Alpine 

Alpine gave the Japanese market a showcase of the even more aggressive A110S that was unveiled in June this year. It is essentially a souped-up variant of the A110 sports car, with its 1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine now tuned to bump up to 292PS compared to 252PS in the standard A110.  Other performance enhancements include stiffer springs, new anti-roll bars, and carbon-ceramic brakes. It rides 4mm lower than the standard car and comes with stickier Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres for better cornering speeds. Even the ESC has been tweaked for better handling. Head here for more about the Alpine A110S.

Mazda

Mazda finally joined the electric bandwagon with the reveal of its first mass-production electric vehicle (EV), the MX-30, at the Tokyo Motor Show. It is powered by Mazda’s e-Skyactiv powertrain that’s coupled with the carmaker’s G-vectoring system. Sadly, Mazda did not stand true to rumours by avoiding the showcase of a new rotary-engined car at the show. 

Visually, the MX-30 looks every bit a Mazda thanks to the expansion of the Kodo Design Range that debuted with the Mazda 3 sedan. In profile, the MX-30 EV looks like a two-door crossover thanks to the suicide-style rear door a la the Rolls Royce Ghost. The Mazda MX-30 EV is expected to go on sale in international markets by early next year. Based on the specifications, the MX-30 EV is a direct rival to the recently launched Kona Electric. 

Mitsubishi 

Mitsubishi stuck to its concept philosophy of future SUVs at the Tokyo Motor Show. It revealed the MI-Tech and the Super Height K-Wagon Concept, two SUVs with very different design directions. The MI-Tech is essentially the buggy of the future with a radical, yet simplistic design. The Super Height K Wagon is essentially what a next gen Kei wagon could look like. It boasts of a long wheelbase as well as acres of passenger comforts. Here’s more about Mitsubishi’s lineup in the link.

Smart 

Smart had a relatively low-key showing at the Tokyo Motor Show with the Fortwo Cabrio on display at the Tokyo Motor Show. Smart was recently included in the EQ line of Mercedes electric vehicles (EVs), but none of the EQ Smarts were on display. The Fortwo Cabrio is powered by a 0.9-litre engine that is naturally aspirated in the base Sports trim and turbocharged in the Xclusive trim. At 2.8 metres long, the Fortwo is much smaller than the 3.5-metre keijidosha regulation, offering unmatched manoeuvrability in narrow lanes. To know more about the Smart Fortwo Cabrio, head here.