AutoExe Mazda CX-60
As Mazda moves upmarket, so does tuning house AutoExe. This small, reputable company plans on showing off its kitted-out CX-60 crossover that features a full body kit, lowering springs, a sports exhaust system, and plenty of aftermarket bracing. In case that doesn’t float your boat, AutoExe is also working on a big brake kit and a performance intake. Very nice.
BMW’s Giant Grilles
Ever the subject of controversy, BMW is rolling into Tokyo Auto Salon with its biggest grilles yet – two massive kidneys mounted to its booth. It’s a giant middle finger to the internet, a physical assertion of identity, and a sign BMW’s moved on from the crowd it lost when the F30 3-Series went to electric power steering. Oh, and BMW’s also showing off a new model in Japan, although it’s still to be seen whether or not it’s a world premiere. You can read a bit more about this booth here.
Honda Sports Accessory Concepts
While “Sports Accessory Concepts” isn’t the most inspired name for a pair of kitted-out vehicles, Honda’s still rolling with it. The Japanese marque plans on making the regular Civic hatchback look a lot more like a Type R with a big wing and skirts, and a ZR-V (the American HR-V) look a bit, um, sportier with a similar treatment. Fingers crossed these modifications make their way to Honda’s American accessory catalog.
Liberty Walk Ferrari F40
Purists, avert your eyes: Liberty Walk is drilling into an actual Ferrari F40. Yes, the overfender firm is soaring to new heights by widening one of the most iconic supercars of the 20th century. While the stanced Miura from last year was a kit car-based replica, this job’s for real. Check out some more renders and Instagram pics of the kit in process here.
Mugen ZR-V
Mind you, Tokyo Auto Salon isn’t just a bunch of modified sports cars. It’s a place for modified regular cars too, and Honda tuner Mugen plans on showing off a customized ZR-V. Known in America as the HR-V, this docile subcompact crossover gets a body kit, turbine-style wheels, and some stripes to become a more distinctive form of transportation. Mugen also plans on showing off an upgraded Civic Type R, but we’ll have to wait to learn more about that.
Nissan Fairlady X
While the Fairlady X is a one-off car from the students at Nissan Automobile Technical College, there’s a whiff of Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross going on here. Basically, it’s an old Murano with Z styling traits, which is unfortunate given how vastly different the proportions are between the two cars. There’s certainly a lot of craftsmanship that’s gone into building this thing, but it’s just left me scratching my head wondering why a Murano? It really feels like this was a job better suited for the Skyline Crossover, aka Infiniti EX. Mind you, the Fairlady X won’t be the most outlandish thing Nissan is bringing to Tokyo Auto Salon. That would be a six-wheeled Roox kei car with a built-in piano. Of course, expect a litany of Fairlady Zs, Autech models, and even a modified Cube which went out of production in 2019. Yeah, it’s getting weird.
Subaru Levorg STI Sport
What’s a show for modified Japanese cars without a few tricked-out Subarus? The Pleiades marque is bringing a few cars to Tokyo Auto Salon, starting with a Levorg that’s received several STI parts. It’s basically a wagon version of the WRX, and a painful reminder that North Americans can’t have nice things. Best of all, the Levorg STI Sport # will be an actual car Japanese customers can buy, not just some one-off showpiece. Also on display will be a modified Impreza, a beefed-up outdoor-focused Crosstrek, a similarly-altered Rex, and a BRZ GTC300 race car. Good stuff. As the days count down toward Tokyo Auto Salon, I’m sure we’ll see more and more cool stuff announced. Until then, I’d love to know what your favorite expected debut is. Whether your jam is a six-wheeled Nissan Roox or the hot AutoExe CX-60, there’s a whole lot of excellence going on here. (Photo credits: AutoExe, BMW, Honda, Liberty Walk, Mugen, Nissan, Subaru) Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
BMW’s Giant-Grille Tokyo Auto Salon Booth Is A Big ‘Eat Shit’ To The Internet Japanese Tuning House Liberty Walk Is Bolting Overfenders To A Real Ferrari F40 Your Scientists Were So Preoccupied With Whether They Could, They Didn’t Stop To Think If They Should: Nissan Z Becomes A Crossover Here’s Every Car The $43,990 Honda Civic Type R Competes With The 2024 Subaru Impreza Revives The Impreza 2.5 RS And Kills The Sedan Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage. Man, I didn’t realize BMW was also having panel gap issues these days. I haven’t seen any new WRXs on the road. I see my local dealer actually has 2 in stock…and actually in stock, like they had time to take pictures of it and everything. Manual transmission, so no “no one wants a CVT WRX” excuse here. Sure seems like the black plastic trim model is a flop. In the immortal words of Sam Goldwyn, include me out. If I’m going all the way to Japan, I want to see Mitsuoka turn a Mazda crossover into a covered wagon.
