Unlike other motor shows and/or car-related trade shows, the Tokyo Auto Salon manages to strike a good balance. Exhibitors have a platform to show off their wares, and event goers genuinely have a good time with the variety that’s on offer.
It is no wonder that it is on the bucket lists of many die-hard car enthusiasts. Because alongside the launch of new products, cars and experiences, is the variety of race cars from various global series.
This isn’t just a motor show held with capitalism in mind. There’s a certain culture that I’ve personally never experienced in any other car show before.
Tokyo Auto Salon – A Car Enthusiast’s Bucket List Item?
Exhibitors brought a wide array of competition cars from across the motorsport world. Professional drift cars, legendary touring cars and even hypercars from WEC. If you’re into racing of any kind, chances are that there’d be something for you.
The Toyotas featured above are alternative-fuel prototypes built to go endurance racing. The GR86 uses sustainable bio-fuels, whilst the GR Corolla has been modified to run on hydrogen. Both cars competed in the recent Thailand 25H Endurance Race.
Drift royalty Daigo Saito’s D1GP A90 Supra was showcased at the Works booth. Modern day drift cars have very little ‘road car’ left in them, and this is no exception. Gone is the B58 under the bonnet – you’d find a 2JZ pushing close to four digit power levels.
The entire rear structure has been cut out, replaced with a tube frame. This makes the car easier to repair in competition. To deal with the different wheel speed requirements at different tracks, most modern competition cars will also have quick change differentials.
Want something even wilder than the A90? How about an S15 with a four rotor engine and a bodykit that screams 1980s silhouette race car? Fielded by Tetsuya Hibino in Formula Drift Japan, this very car has also shredded up the iconic Goodwood hillclimb.
What really tickles my car guy fancy is how functional these cars are. And yet they still look like legitimate show cars. Aside from the removal of the rear end metalwork, their radiators have also been relocated to the back of the car. This makes for better cooling, and also better protection against impact.
This being Japan, there is no shortage of representation from its native premier touring car racing series. SuperGT cars of all eras graced the numerous exhibition halls, from the latest GR Supras and Z cars…
…to older cars like the BRZ. But the touring car that has the most history of the lot would have to be HKS’s iconic GTR R32. The R32 (not specifically the HKS car featured) was so dominant in every category it entered that it was eventually banned from competition in Australia.
It also won everything in Japan for four consecutive years.
Toyota also showcased their WEC-winning Toyota GR010 Hybrid at the Tokyo Auto Salon, with both entries finishing on the podium in all races of the 2022 season.
To round off this article, there’s a need to feature something from the world of Formula One. Well, not quite.
This is the HKS 300E. Built on a Lola F3000 T92 chassis, it was to serve as a test bed for the Japanese tuning house’s F1 engine attempt. It had a displacement of 3.5 liters, an output of 650 bhp, and an F1-worthy redline of 13,500 RPM.
Unfortunately, the car was never raced.
The Marvels of the Tokyo Auto Salon
I finally understand why this car show has the online cred and culture that it has. It balances product sales and the showcase of car culture icons to a tee. The variety on offer is equally impressive, and there’s going to be a display of some sort that you’d be interested in if you are into any kind of racing.
I cannot wait to head back to the Makuhari Messe convention halls for the 2024 iteration!
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