#TamerThanPreviousYears
This was the hashtag that photographer Ken Saito used in his Tokyo Auto Salon Instagram post. No caption. While the sea of black suits and middle-aged men creates an austere atmosphere at TAS, there are always pockets of madness. But is that madness disappearing?
I’m not a big fan of crowds at the best of times, so the population of a small town crammed into the narrow alleys between the stalls of the Makuhari Messe is never the most inviting. But I force myself to compete against the sea of people, determined to seek out the quirks of the Tokyo Auto Salon.
This year was the fourth time I went to TAS, but even in this short period the atmosphere seems to have mellowed.
There are now many more 4x4s and vans than the outrageous cars
Looking back at some of Speed Chasers’ 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon coverage, the crazy level seemed clearly higher then. Remember the Mustang, the cake car and those wrapping paper covered supercars? Compared to what I saw at the SEMA Show, TAS now feels particularly tame – at least in my experience.
There are still a lot of the same things; I spotted the Hello Special pink boulder truck and the human-sized rabbit at last year’s Osaka Auto Messe. And companies like Rohan and Kuhl are still churning out complex body kits and complicated paint jobs.
Speaking of Kuhl, what do we think of the new A90 Supra kit?
Ten years ago, cars like the SLR McLaren were dressed in wild custom kits Hakosukas got V8 engine changes. Today, these cars are too valuable to be modified in such extreme ways.
Instead, we’ll just have to make do with striking Toyota Centurys…
Or this GX100 Cresta, which now has a Crown Crossover front, a Camry XV70 rear and a 1JZ-GTE engine swap. What the TAS may have lacked in quantity this year, it certainly made up for in quality.
Especially if you are a fan of Transformers.
Look at this – believe it or not, underneath is a 2002 Jaguar XJ. Somehow it’s been reimagined as a Chevrolet Impala.
Most of the cars on display show off crazy body kits and costume parts.
It’s no secret that Hyundai is absolutely on fire right now. The Korean carmaker’s production Inster – and the Inster Cross Tarmac Concept on display at TAS – cement its position as one of Asia’s leading car designers. The model name may raise a few eyebrows, but this is one seriously well-proportioned electric bulldog.
Some of the most interesting things at TAS are hidden in the larger stands, where you can often get a glimpse into the future of car design and mobility. Imagine stepping off the grid, throwing your turntables and audiophile sound system into the back of an SUV and leaning back on your sculpted box truck. Doesn’t sound so bad, right?
The number of new and vintage Toyota Land Cruisers on display was overwhelming.
Not that I’m complaining.
99.9% of the 4x4s on display were Land Cruisers, although there were also some Land Rovers and mini G-Wagons. And you don’t see a five-door Suzuki Jimny every day in Japan.
Bryce Menzies’ Trophy Truck was by far the most extreme off-roader on display. It’s probably a good thing there’s no room for license plates.
Speaking of trucks, this NASCAR Craftsman Truck/787B-inspired mashup turned heads. Unfortunately, there is no howling V8 – or screaming rotary engine – under the hood of this Mazda CX-5, which has been converted into a pickup.
There is still hope for the future of Japan’s weird and wacky tuning culture. Kei Miura was on hand to demonstrate the latest version of his custom tubular-frame race car – the same chassis design used to create Mad Mike Whiddett’s five-rotor ‘787D’.
The last time I saw it was in his garage in Kyoto, where the stainless steel frame had just been welded together. The engine was still in the air.
Surprisingly, Miura-san has opted for a Subaru boxer engine with twin turbos and a six-speed gearbox. The beauty of the AWD layout is that the engine and gearbox remain in their original orientation, with the axles that once drove the front wheels now driving the rear. That low center of gravity and the placement of the mid-engine should keep the car on track. I can’t wait to see the rest of the custom body.
Finally, here’s a look into the future of mainstream tuning in Japan. This is what most people want: a stove and wood cladding in the back boulder truck.
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 may not have been as crazy as we’re used to, but one thing’s for sure: it’s still pretty crazy.
Toby Thyer
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tobythyer.co.uk
