With every new motor show comes a raft of concept car unveilings that are more and more bonkers than before.
But even by the automotive industry’s standards, the motor show going on in Tokyo currently has been a wave of ultra-futuristic prototypes that blow the meaning of ‘car’ out of the water.
The Japan Mobility Show features the latest creations from Asia’s major automotive and tech players – and they’re going all out.
From Lexus making a single-seat premium pod to get around town, to Mazda’s new combustion engine technology that’s cleaner than an electric vehicle, there’s a lot to digest.
So we’ve rounded up 11 of the most bizarre and impressive motoring solutions for the future revealed in Tokyo this week.
Here’s a brand-by-brand countdown, from Lexus to the eagerly-anticipated return of ‘Godzilla’…
1. Lexus Micro LS – a first class pod
The most unique concept from the Japan Mobility Show is perhaps this: The Lexus Micro LS Concept is a self-driving pod for one
It’s an autonomous ‘car’ and is about the same size as a Citroen Ami at 2.5m long
Lexus has debuted concepts left, right, centre at the Tokyo Motor Show but the scene stealer is the Micro LS concept.
It’s being called a Peel P50 from the future, or a three-wheeler Citroen Ami, and this micro pod is one of the most bizarre concepts we’ve ever seen – especially for an ‘LS’.
The single-seater, self-driving ‘pod’ is a bit like a business class plane cabin. Cocooned in by bamboo floors and walls, there’s a a leather reclining armchair seat, a canopy-style entrance, bespoke glassware and a slide-out luggage compartment with a Lexus luggage set (of course).
Because it’s autonomous there’s no need for a steering wheel, so instead there’s a massive vertical display screen for entertainment.
It’s being called a Peel P50 from the future because it only has three wheels and is made for inner city travel
Cocooned in by bamboo floors and walls, there’s a leather reclining armchair seat which will comfortably transport just one person
Apparently it’s designed to give ‘a luxury mobility experience for one’ and opens up ‘like a jewel box’. And don’t worry about it being attention-grabbing – the windows are slated for privacy.
Other than running on three wheels, and that it’s about the same length as the Citroen Ami (2.5m), we have no technical details.
The Micro LS is meant to show a ‘completely new kind of mobility’ for ‘premium’ ‘intra-city travel’.
We aren’t exactly sure what the designer at Lexus are drinking, but it’s definitely different than before.
2. Lexus LS – the six-wheel van
From three wheels to six: the Lexus LS Concept is a huge people carrier from the future and has six wheels – four at the back to accommodate its sheer size
The cabin is made to be like a lounge, with bamboo privacy screens, opulent lighting and luxury materials. There are three rows of seats and it has a yoke steering wheel
The six wheels are to ‘revolutionize packing and maximise floor space’ and the body is hugely stretched
From the single-seater to the multi-seater, Lexus concepts coming out of Tokyo are covering all capacity needs.
The LS Concept is the opposite end of the scale to the Micro LS: It is so big that it has four wheel at the rear, six in total, and two axles.
The six wheels are to ‘revolutionize packing and maximise floor space’ Lexus says.
The van is as sleek as sleek gets.
The front and rear ends look like trigonometry questions and inside the stretched body are three rows of reclining seats, a yoke-style wheel that seems to be made for autonomous driving and two digital gauge clusters.
The cabin is made to be like a lounge, with bamboo privacy screens, opulent lighting and luxury materials.
Lexus says that LS now means ‘Luxury Space’.
3. Lexus LS SUV – saloon meets SUV
From the front the Lexus LS SUV concept looks like an ultra-sleek crossover but Lexus has surprises in store…
The point of the LS SUV is to make an SUV coupe feel like a sedan inside but be a proper driver’s car
As well as the rear suicide doors, the boot extends into a wood-lined, ambient lit storage area
Inside there’s the same yoke wheel as the LS Concept, and two digital clusters, and a large screen for the passenger. Rear passengers also have portrait screens
This SUV looks like it’s just a ultra-sleek four-door crossover.
But no – Lexus want to surprise everyone with rear suicide doors and a boot that extends into a wood-lined, ambient lit storage area.
Inside there’s the same yoke wheel as the LS Concept, and two digital clusters, and a large screen for the passenger. Rear passengers also have portrait screens. And there’s wood throughout.
The point of the LS SUV is to make an SUV coupe feel like a sedan inside but be a proper driver’s car.
There’s a high-speed drone that can deploy from the rear deck to ‘document your journey – because why not?
4. Toyota Corolla – world’s most popular car reimagined
The Corolla is the best-selling model of all time and in Tokyo it’s been reimagined entirely
The new Corolla would be a saloon vehicle, but hatchback and estate version would be available too
The driver and front passenger having their own displays that are separated by an island column with the drive selector and start button
Few people have been inspired by the Toyota Corolla because it has really remained largely the same for a long time now, but the potential new-gen version is a whole new beast.
The new Corolla would be a saloon vehicle, but hatchback and estate version would be available too.
It’ll be available as an EV but also, if it ends up in production, as an ICE car and PHEV.
The radically new design is dominated by a deep windscreen that goes all the way back into the panoramic roof and a rear end with a small rear window that looks like it’s floating above a ducktail spoiler.
Inside it’s welcome to the future of Toyota, with the driver and front passenger having their own displays separated by an island column with the drive selector and start button.
5. Toyota IMV Origin – the barely-there 4×4 truck
The IMV Origin is an off-road utility vehicle that Toyota has designed for rural villages in remote areas of Africa
If the concept turns into reality then it will be easy for remote areas to set up mini production facilities and for local importers to modify the car to suit the local needs
Alongside the luxury, Toyota is delivering the utilitarian concepts too – concept is designed to have a real impact.
The IMV Origin is an off-road utility vehicle that Toyota has designed for rural villages in remote areas of Africa.
The compact, flatbed little truck will be able to access challenging terrain, and can be made into a box truck, pick-up, flat-bed or safari-style bus. It’s all about modification.
With no doors or windows and just one seat and a bare frame, there’s little need for spare parts because sourcing parts in Africa is hugely challenging.
If the concept turns into reality then it will be easy for remote areas to set up mini production facilities and for local importers to modify the car to suit the local needs.
6. Century GT – debut model from Toyota luxury arm
The first Century model will be a GT with a three-seater cabin and will resemble, somewhat, the Bentley Continental GT
Why debut a new car when you can debut a new brand too?
Toyota has decided to do two for the price of one, and unveil a new luxury GT coupe from it’s brand new luxury subsidiary, Century.
The Century will sit alongside the Lexus, Gazoo Racing, Daihatsu and Toyota brands, as the ‘pinnacle of the Toyota Group portfolio’. It’ll be the Rolls-Royce of the Toyota Group essentially – low volume, and ultra-luxe.
Since 1967 there have only been two Century models and these came with Toyota badges.
It’s first model is a GT coupe, similar to the Bentley Continental GT. There’s little confirmed about it but it has a three-seat cabin, sliding doors and a focus on hand-built interiors.
7. Subaru E-STI and B-STI – two performance concepts
The E-STI battery electric concept is ‘spearheading Subaru’s new generation’. It combines ‘outstanding aerodynamics and practicality’ with a heritage-inspired design
The Performance-B STI, has an internal combustion engine and prioritises advanced performance and power with practicality
Subaru’s STI brand – the performance leg of the Japanese car maker – has revealed two new concept cars in Tokyo.
The first concept, the Performance-B STI, has an internal combustion engine and prioritises advanced performance and power with practicality.
It has a horizontally-opposed engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive.
The E-STI battery electric concept is ‘spearheading Subaru’s new generation’. It combines ‘outstanding aerodynamics and practicality’ with a heritage-inspired design.
The interior brings together practicality and comfort with a driver-focused set up.
8. Mazda Vision X-Coupe – the car that could save the combustion engine
Radical rotary: The four-seater, four-door performance hybrid will come with 530bhp, produced by a turbocharged rotary twin-motor engine
The combined range is likely to be around 500 miles with 100 EV-only miles on tap
Inside it’s a bit nostalgic with a physical gear-stick style gear selector, a three-spoke steering wheel and circular dials
Mazda is no stranger to a concept car and it has stayed true to form in Tokyo by unveiling the Vision X Coupe.
The four-seater, four-door performance hybrid will come with 530bhp, produced by a turbocharged rotary twin-motor engine.
That’s what’s been revealed so far in terms of specs, but it’s a big number.
We do know that the combined range is likely to be around 500 miles with 100 EV-only miles on tap.
It will be green, too. Carbon-neutral, in fact, thanks to some very clever tech.
Inside, it’s a bit nostalgic with a physical gear-stick style gear selector, a three-spoke steering wheel and circular dials – a standout amongst the lightyear ahead other interiors being unveiled.
9. Mazda Vision-X Compact – the little car friend
Mazda Vision-X Compact: Slightly smaller than the now replaced Mazda 2, the 3.8m long by 1.5m high hatchback is only a concept for now
The exterior is based on Mazda’s Kodo design language and is designed to be ‘much like a friend’
The interior has a three-spoke steering wheel, a physical drive selector made to look like a manual gearstick and a simple digital driver’s display
We’ve had the Vision-X Coupe, and now we have the Vision-X Compact.
Slightly smaller than the now replaced Mazda 2, the 3.8m long by 1.5m high hatchback is only a concept for now.
But Mazda says it ‘represents its vision for the future of smart mobility’.
The exterior is based on Mazda’s Kodo design language and is designed to be ‘much like a friend’.
The interior on the other hand harks back to driving of yesteryear, with a three-spoke steering wheel, a physical drive selector made to look like a manual gearstick and a simple digital driver’s display.
We don’t know if it would be electric or combustion but Mazda wants to show it can use ’empathetic AI’.
10. Honda Super-N prototype – Renault Twingo rival
Honda’s Super-N, which will replace the Honda e from 2026, showed face in Japan but also at Goodwood this summer
The Super-N is a take on Japanese kei cars, the smallest category of ‘cars’ able to go on Japanese expressways
Honda has previewed one of the smallest electric city cars that could one day be offered in the UK.
The Super-N is a take on Japanese kei cars, the smallest category of ‘cars’ able to go on Japanese expressways. It’ll use the lightest platform of the N Series kei car on sale in Japan.
The electric car is a complete version of the Super EV concept that featured at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Honda’s motto is that it’ll be ‘fun to drive’ and the entry point to Honda’s EVs.
The Super-N will replace the Honda e in 2026.
11. Nissan Skyline – Godzilla’s back
Nissan is bringing back its iconic Skyline performance car but only for the Japanese market at the moment
This is one for the petrolheads – Nissan is making an all-new Skyline.
The once flagship of Nissan performance has had many eras as an iconic nameplate, and now it’s coming back for the 2020s.
But don’t get too excited because at the moment it’s only confirmed for Japan’s own roads.
If it does one day make it to the UK, the all-wheel drive, manual car honours its predecessors but doesn’t play into the current retro trend.
The Skyline will be a four-door fastback and sit between the Nissan Z and GT-R.
