In hindsight, everything could be seen as its highest point. Because of this, most people think that the Japanese auto industry reached its peak in the late 1980s when many new sports cars were shown off at the Tokyo auto show, which happens every two years. At the 1989 show in Chiba’s Makuhari Messe convention center, the first Acura NSX, Mitsubishi GTO, Subaru SVX, second-generation Toyota MR2, and the cute Suzuki Cappuccino kei-roadster were all shown for the first time. The show also included several futuristic concepts. (The Mazda Miata was first seen in Japan, but it had also been seen in Chicago.) The rebranded 2023 Japan Mobility Show, on the other hand, has far surpassed the 1989 mark. Focusing on fast cars, it was one of the best auto shows ever. Japanese automakers fight to show off their ideas for a future where performance cars are primarily electric. Some of them might not even make it to the United States, and others might not even be made. But we will never be sorry that there are more fast cars worldwide. Eye Copen Daihatsu Japan’s strict kei-car rules meant that earlier versions of the Daihatsu Copen were limited in size and speed. However, the Vision Copen concept is going up to a (slightly) higher class thanks to its 1.3-liter turbocharged engine and shape that looks a lot like a Mazda Miata. Calling it a racing car might be too much of a stretch, but it’s cute. A working version will never come to the United States. Honda Prelude Idea We were shocked to hear that Honda is returning the Prelude car at least 22 years after ending the line after five generations. Honda says the Prelude concept’s powertrain is a hybrid, but it is “electrified” instead of fully electric, which makes it different from the other cars on show. Still, it looks smooth and, in our opinion, totally producible. Let’s hope for the best. The well-known SP design from Mazda Mazda has been teasing us with rotary-engine designs for as long as it has made rotary-engine cars. Ten years ago, the RX-8 was taken off the market. The sleek, Iconic SP coupe, which has a fully electric motor and a twin-rotor engine that can also work as a generator, shows that the idea is still valid today. (Basically, a better form of the system is the MX-30 R-EV, which can now be bought in many places worldwide.) According to Mazda, the Iconic SP is 10 inches longer than the Miata, even though it resembles the Miata. Does bringing it back with the RX-7 logo make more sense? Nissan Hyper Force Idea The Hyper Force looks like an angry kid’s drawing of an R35 GT-R, proving that the Nissan GT-R will live through the combustion age. Even though the engines have changed, the models still look like Godzilla. Nissha says the Hyper Force idea has a solid-state battery and can make up to 1341 horsepower. Subaru Sport Mobility is just an idea This year’s Sport Mobility Concept is a nod to the famous Tokyo expo 1989, where the Subaru SVX appeared. It’s another aggressively styled coupe, but the ride height is set up for off-road use. Subaru says the prototype can “control all four wheels at will” and has an electric engine, which could mean it has four motors and can crawl through the woods. We hope this idea comes to life, even if it only seems more possible than the flying car that Subaru showed off in Tokyo. Toyota FT-Se Idea The sleek Toyota FT-Se is a prototype for the electric sports car that will replace the light MR2 even though it hasn’t been approved for production. We have yet to determine the exact specs of the FT-Se’s engine, but its sleek, low profile shows how well Toyota’s planned ultra-compact battery cells will fit inside. It has rear-wheel drive and is fun to drive. Toyota also works on a “virtual manual” transmission for its speed electric vehicles. Could this be the first car to use it? Triumph of Tricera The Yamaha Tricera is the last item on this list. The three-wheeler, which Yamaha says has a steerable rear wheel along with the front wheels to “sharpen turn-in response,” shows that people will still be trying to blur the lines between cars and bikes even when they’re electric. It’s both exciting and scary to me.
