I know, I know, it’s been months since TAS2023 ended! But with work and other comitments piling up, I’ve been hving much less time to sit down and update my blogs. Nevertheless, here’s a continuation of my short truncated sojurn through the halls of Makuhari Messe.
Having given you a quick look at the fancy Euro machines of the event, I figured now would be a good time to bring on all the other JDMs that caught my eye. It’s going to be a rather long post. I hope you enjoy it.
Toyota
Now, we can’t talk about JDMs without starting with Japan’s biggest and most influential manufacturer right? Apart from stealing a big part of the show with their new GR86 and eco-conscious AE86s (and perhaps, a smaller part of the show with their new Crown), Toyota (bless them) were also well represented for us driving aficionados with the excellent GR Yaris and its newer, slightly larger sibling, the GR Corolla showcased throughout the event.
Although not quite as visually appealing as its smaller Yaris cousin, one can’t deny the added usability of an extra set of doors and larger boot.
Toyota also showcased their Hydrogen powered GR Corolla, if you want to see this thing in action, just do a quick search on the youtubes, you won’t regret it.
But, if you (like me), still prefer the charm of the Yaris, there were quite a number on display. As you can see, Tom’s had a particularly good looking one.
I wish they brought back thier 4-spokes though.
Garage Vary brought out their forged carbon bonnet, I guess this is the new CF trend?
While these might NOT have Toyota badges, it’s not big secret that they are all from one big happy family. Albeit, a tad more fancy.
Do you also like the rear end of this RC?
Or is your preference more towards something like Kazama Auto’s very tough-lookign D1-spec IS?
There were, sadly, not many Mark IIs on the showfloor this year and totally no 110s at all. Pity. I guess I joined the party too late.
Subaru
Moving on to Toyota’s distant distant relative from Fuji Heavy Industries, it was somewhat sad to see what has become of this once magnificent and beloved marque, when a manufacturer keeps harping on its illustrious past without offering anything that really brings that unique heritage to the mass market today, it can get rather tiresome.
I mean, the highlight of Subaru’s stand was a “limited edition” Levorg “STI Sport#” with some fancy bits stuck on. Still the same engine, same power and same CVT gearbox. Subaru couldn’t even be bothered to engineer a proper manual gearbox into a car that would be limited to just 500-units.
Sure, there’s the new WRX, but it takes a lot of visual enhancements for that stop looking like a bloated SUV sedan.
Sometimes, it seems as if they just don’t care anymore.
They did have this snazzy watch though
Honda
One manufacturer that does seem to care about sharing their sporting heart with car-buying fans has to be Honda, because here is one brand that have taken the views of their audience to heart when it came to redesigning their latest icon. With the outrageously Gundam-esque styling of the previous car sadly on the receiving end of many an internet commentator, Honda set to work toning down the aesthetics on its successor and the end result is a winner.
Gone are the multiple fake cartoony vents and unnecessarily fussy lines of the previous model in favour of a much more congruent yet still strong exterior design with pumped out sculpted fenders encompassing a purposeful stance. The only outlier? The rear spoiler, which has split many an opnion. Some hate it for looking like an aftermarket add-on, but others, like me, love it for that very same reason. Perhaps, it was done in such a fashion as they knew many owners would be swapping out the stock standard wing for aftermarket items anyway!
That said, Honda brough along a Mugen-ised variant of their new Type-R chock full of expensive carbon bits that will no-doubt cost a lot of Yens.
I love everything about it other than the carbon bonnet. The shutlines just don’t flow as well as they run up towards the A-pillars and with the sharp visual contrast provided by the carbon shade on this championship white example, it just looks a tad off to me. But that’s just my opinion. I’m sure many of you will think otherwise. I’d go for a painted bonnet with the side vents left in exposed carbon.
That Mugen wing though. Massive!
Start saving up.
Spoon also brought along a lovely new Type-R that was slightly less dramatic than Mugen’s but still great looking no doubt.
Gotta love those iconic Spoon wheels.
Like I said, iconic.
Speaking of iconic, there’s no mistaking the S2000 for any other Honda out there now isn’t it? Such a pity Honda releases these beauties and just let them die out after their productions end.
With so much love for the S2000 the world over, it’s no surprise parts are still being made for it almost 14 years after the last unit rolled out of the factory.
While there were a number of S2000s on the show floor, BN Sport’s car had plenty of people crowding around it, no doubt due to its striking new widebody aero.
It even came with an extra wide wang!
Will we ever see a return to lightweight fun cars? Sadly, with the push towards heavy SUVs and EVs, chances of such a thing happening are slim.
And here’s something a little more, let’s say, quirky. ARTA’s heavily rebodied NSX which has made the original car’s svelte shape much more chunky in the vein of a GT racer. Whilst not as “challenging” as their rebodied GR86. it still doesn’t seem to flow as well as the car upon which it is based.
See what I mean?
Mazda
Since we’re now (once again) on the topic of vehicular aesthetics, we have to bring in Mazda. Quite possibly the most “designer-y” marque amongst all the Japanese marques. Whilst this manufacturer from Hiroshima might not be the biggest in their home country, they do have some of the prettiest. From the elegantly beautiful Cosmo, through to their stunning FD3S, Mazda have had plenty of aesthetic hits throughout their 103-year history with few misses.
Hard to believe this design is over 30 years old now. Mazda really did good when they penned the lines to their 3rd generation RX-7 which. Stylistically, the FD was a radical departure from the Porsche 924/944 inspired lines of the earlier generation and Mazda’s approach to their latest sports car’s visuals differed vastly from Porsche. The German manufacturer making only incremental styling updates to the succesor of the 944, the 968. A conservative approach which ultimately, and sadly, doomed the future of the transaxle Porsches.
Would the FD be as beloved if it received only incremental updates to its bodywork? Somehow, I doubt so. What I cannot doubt though is the power that must be lurking within this rather “stock” looking FC3S because as we all know too well, looks can be rather deceiving at the Tokyo Auto Salon because sitting up front in A-RF’s (Anniversary Racing Factory) FC3S is a 4-Rotor 26B! Something that will definetly wake up the neighbours!
It seems clean builds are the order of the day when it comes to these hachimaru heroes.
For a little more flair, we’ve got to move ahead in time where things these exist. Here, is an ND Roadster (or Miata depending on where you’re from) from Garage-I. Fully equipped with a monstrous set of pipes and equally fat rubber to put some power down. Power that comes courtesy of (you guessed it), a 13B Rotary. Currently in NA form but we here force induction is in the works.
Over at Mazda’s official booth, they had a club-racer spec ND on display. While it might not be as hardcore as a rotary-swapped unit, it still looked like a right blast to drive. These NDs sure are great looking don’t you think? Pity they cost so much in Singapore, way out of the financial abilities of their intended demographic.
If prices in Singapore were much more sane, I’d happily pick one up.
But if you prefer to run your ND with more emphasis on street style, Zenithline have got you covered.
Nissan
And finally, we have Nissan. The powerhouse of Japanese sports cars from the Golden Era of JDM machinery and a manufacturer that I’m sure many have grew up watching and admiring on grainy handycam shot videos that took an entire night to download.
While many of us are still wishing and hoping for Nissan to get back their mojo with a brand new S-chassis or 510-inspired car, don’t get your hopes up. And if you’ve ever had the chance to own a Nissan from that era, consider yourself lucky. If you still have the keys to an S-Chassis today, don’t ever let em go.
We have to sadly accept that they will NEVER come back, or at the very least, will never come back in any way or form that we’ve come to love. Because, with ever tightening emissions and heavier punishing requirements from governments to force manufacturers towards EVs, the chances of Nissan ever going back towards fun, attainable and relatively lightweight sports cars are all but gone. And if they were to build one, they’d have no choice but to make it an overweight hybrid or EV. Do you really want an electric Silvia? No, neither would I.
What I’d like is an Impact Blue S13. I came so close to scratching that itch years back but failed to pull the trigger. With the way prices are lately, I’ve probably missed yet another boat.
And if you have the keys to either of these, we can’t be friends. Can’t believe just a little over a year ago R33s were still hovering around the USD$30,000 mark. They probably require you to sacrifice your first born now.
Yummy.
I think there is an engine inside somewhere…
Oh here it is!
Yes, that is a proper HKS built RB30 sitting proudly next to that giant Garrett hoover.
Over at HKS, I’m sure you’ve heard of their unregistered Zero-R now undergoing a full on resto. Madness.
Elsewhere at Motec…
No mention of their infamous exhaust system.
While many GTRs have been built to do battle on the circuits, the streets of Tokyo or even, to conquer mountain passes, this particular unit is a drag racer!
And before I sign off, here’s a look at an R35 in an unmistakable shade of gold. Thanks for staying with me on this long post! We’re almost done with our TAS2023 coverage!
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