This year’s event will see a slew of interesting production and concept cars and SUVs.
24 Oct 2023 | 3094 Views | By Akbar Merchant, Autocar India
Tokyo Motor Show 2023 or Japan Mobility Show 2023 is right around the corner. This year’s event will see a slew of interesting production and concept cars and SUVs with combustion engines as well as futuristic EV powertrains. We take a close look at what to expect from each brand that ...
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Tokyo Motor Show 2023 or Japan Mobility Show 2023 is right around the corner. This year’s event will see a slew of interesting production and concept cars and SUVs with combustion engines as well as futuristic EV powertrains. We take a close look at what to expect from each brand that is participating at the event.
Suzuki
The all-new Swift will be shown to the general public for the first time at the show. First set of pictures of the car reveal more of an evolutionary design rather than a revolutionary one. Meanwhile, the upgraded interior gets a lot more in common with the newer Maruti models like the Baleno, Fronx and Brezza replete with the free-standing touchscreen infotainment. Expect more details on the new Swift, including its powertrain options and India launch timeline, to be revealed at the show.
Maruti’s upcoming Creta-sized born-EV SUV will be previewed by an updated eVX concept. First shown in India at the Auto Expo earlier this year, the updated eVX concept will be more “close to production” and will also have its interior revealed for the first time.
Additionally, Suzuki will showcase the made-in-India Jimny 5-door at the Japan Mobility Show. The 5-door version will be manufactured in India and exported to Japan in the future. Besides the Jimny, there will be one more concept from Suzuki called the eWX, which essentially previews a compact EV hatchback that will go into sale globally in the future.
Toyota
Toyota will showcase multiple concepts and production models at the show. The two important ones, according to us, will be the FT-Se born-EV sportscar and FT-3e SUV concepts. Both will have common underpinnings and are expected to go into series production in the future. Additionally, Toyota will also bring the latest-gen Vellfire (already on sale in India) at the event, along with other production models. There will also be an interesting Toyota Lunar Rover concept on display at the show.
The brand will unveil a futuristic three-row Land Cruiser Se EV concept. The EV concept ditches the ladder frame platform for a more conventional monocoque and has dimensions comparable to today's full-sized Land Cruiser SUVs sold globally.
Lexus
At Lexus' booth will be a born-EV luxury SUV concept that previews the brand's new design direction. The SUV will go into production by 2026 and be a direct rival to the newer lot of born-EV models from Mercedes-Benz and Audi in the future. An all-new born-EV sedan concept will also be showcased that will be a spiritual successor to the IS. There are talks of the brand showing an EV sportscar concept too, previewing an all-new LF-A supercar.
Honda
Honda will showcase multiple concepts where sustainability will be its central theme. For example, its Sustania-C concept uses materials like Acrylic resin that can be reused and recycled, or the Honda Pocket concept, a small motorcycle with sustainability in focus. The highlight, however, at the Honda stall will most likely be the Speciality Sports concept that will preview a born-EV sportscar in future. The CI-MEV concept, meanwhile, will be aimed at last-mile mobility solutions and will have clever tech like automated driving, among others. It has been designed for areas devoid of public transportation. Honda will also bring the SC e electric scooter concept at the event.
Nissan
Nissan will bring a luxury electric MPV concept, which gets an aero-optimised exterior design consisting of a flat-sided body with sharp lines and deep, chiselled front and rear bumpers. Its front seats swivel 360 degrees to allow the front and rear passengers to face each other when the car is driving autonomously. There are a lot more gimmicky tech bits on the MPV that will be revealed at the show.
Mazda
Mazda Concept teased
Mazda will preview an EV MX-5 Miata at the show via a sleek two-seat sports coupé concept. It gets a hardtop with Lamborghini-style scissor doors and, interestingly, space for both a combustion engine and battery.
Subaru
Subaru will preview a future EV sportscar that will have a go-anywhere attitude. Expect it to be a concept with high-riding stance and AWD setup.