Welcome to Tokyo Auto Salon 2024! If it may be tuned, widened, slammed, lifted, drifted, gripped or fettled in any manner, form or kind, there’s a great likelihood you’ll discover it throughout the halls of the Makuhari Messe this weekend.
TAS, which was began in 1983 by Daijiro Inada of Possibility journal fame, has grown into a serious worldwide occasion, nevertheless it nonetheless maintains its uniqueness because of the extraordinary stuff the Japanese stand up to with automobiles. We’ve obtained a number of protection deliberate from Tokyo Auto Salon 2024, however as typical I wish to kick issues off by heading to the venue throughout the Thursday arrange for a preview submit.
It’s all the time a good way for me to get an concept of what automobiles have been constructed and the place they’re displayed throughout the expansive occasions middle, facilitating my plan of assault for the subsequent few days as I make my manner by the present intimately.
On the similar time, it hopefully offers you a style of what’s to return. Like this Lancia Delta-themed Suzuki Jimny, probably the good factor I got here throughout throughout arrange.
Not too far-off I discovered Star Highway’s newest creation, a extra street-focused model of their wide-body S30 observe/road all-rounder. This Z sports activities barely narrower overfenders and a 3.1L L-series that options an all-new solid aluminum cylinder head.
In fact, being Tokyo Auto Salon it wasn’t lengthy earlier than I used to be left scratching my head. Right here’s a Mazda Roadster with a really surprised-looking entrance finish conversion and Toyota badges throughout.
It additionally wouldn’t be TAS with no few Tremendous GT race automobiles…
…or Hachirokus…
…Or one thing completely wild from Liberty Stroll. We already know what this automotive is because of Kato-san having teased the wide-body Lamborghini Countach on social media for weeks now, however the way it seems to be in particular person will all be revealed when the covers come off on Friday afternoon.
It joins a large choice of automobiles from Liberty Stroll, together with their new RZ34 with overfenders, that Ferrari F40 – now with a recent Inozetek wrap – and a custom-made UD Truck. Is Kato-san reinventing Dekotora?
Tokyo Auto Salon all the time manages to carry a lot collectively in a single place, and import automobiles are a large a part of it.
As are off-road autos. That is an ever-growing section in Japan, and one which Toyota has just about dominated lately with the Land Cruiser 300. That mannequin is not accessible, however with the brand new 70 Sequence remake having simply landed in native dealerships, the domination is about to proceed. The need is so robust!
Tokyo Auto Salon is as a lot a present about automobiles as a place to satisfy with folks from everywhere in the world, to not point out an actual event for abroad manufacturers to get a foothold within the Japanese home market.
The scholars from Nihon Automotive Faculty (in any other case identified NATS, an acronym for Nihon Automotive Know-how College) are as soon as once more exhibiting us than unrestricted creativity can ship some insane creations. Who is aware of what we’re truly right here?
Proper beside NATS’ Hummer-themed customized is that this Suzuki Mighty Boy transformed to appear to be the #73 KPGC110 Skyline GT-R race automotive that by no means truly raced.
Not every little thing at Tokyo Auto Salon is completely loopy although. Right here’s a fantastic instance of gently modified Japanese conservatism, courtesy of Rozel. With extra aggressive bumpers and fashionable flared fenders, this Toyota Century is impossibly cool. Rolls-Royce, eat your coronary heart out.
This yr’s theme on the HKS sales space is… prepare for it… Ecology. I’m unsure how their R35 GT-R suits into that in any manner, however let’s give HKS the good thing about the doubt till we see what else they’ve to indicate.
Kansai Service alternatively has targeted solely on efficiency, and I wouldn’t count on something much less from them.
An early standout for me is that this turbocharged BMW E36 by Moontech, which was inbuilt collaboration with GReddy.
The automotive sports activities the LTO physique conversion designed by Khyzyl Saleem and seems to be sensational. In truth, there are two E36s on the present with this equipment.
In the meantime on the RE Amemiya sales space, it seems to be like Ama-san has constructed a customized Roadster. I didn’t get to see what’s underneath the hood, however I’m keen to guess it’s a rotary.
The KW sales space is all the time on level with automotive choice, and this yr there’s a model new BMW M2 sporting some top-of-the-line aftermarket upgrades, together with an Akrapovič exhaust, BBS wheels, and a set of KW Variant 3 suspension.
It’s now Friday morning in Japan and the doorways to Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 have simply opened. So keep tuned for extra from TAS, plus protection from different occasions taking place in and across the metropolis this week – we’ll have a lot to share!
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
