A slew of automakers—including Honda, Mazda, Subaru, and Toyota—showed off sports-car concepts, many of which are electric.
Calling the peak of anything requires hindsight. Which is what has led to the widespread belief that the Japanese auto industry reached its pinnacle in the late 1980s, that era exemplified by the number of sports cars making their debuts in the bi-annual Tokyo auto show. At the 1989 show, the first held at the vast Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, the list of sports car debutants included the original Acura NSX, Mitsubishi GTO, Subaru SVX, second-generation Toyota MR2, and the adorable Suzuki Cappuccino kei-roadster, plus numerous forward-looking concepts. (The Mazda Miata, which made its Japanese debut, had already been shown in Chicago.)
Yet the renamed 2023 Japan Mobility Show has got the record of its 1989 predecessor well and truly beaten. This is one of the most sports-car-heavy auto shows of all time, Japan's manufacturers seemingly vying to present their own visions of a (mostly) electrified performance future. Not everything is going to make it to production, and of those that do, not all will make it to the U.S. But we will never complain about a world with more sports cars.
1
Daihatsu Vision Copen
Previous generations of the Daihatsu Copen have been built to Japan's restrictive kei-car regulations, limiting both size and performance. But the Vision Copen concept is graduating into the (slightly) bigger leagues, with a turbocharged 1.3-liter engine and similar dimensions to the Mazda Miata. Calling it a sports car might be pushing the definition to its limits, but it's certainly got cuteness going for it. Sadly, there is zero chance of a production version making it to the U.S.
2
Honda Prelude Concept
View PhotosHondaHere's one that we didn't see coming—Honda bringing back the Prelude coupe no less than 22 years after the last version of the original car, which went through five generations, was retired. Unusually for the cars at the show, the Prelude concept is "electrified" rather than fully electric, with Honda confirming the prototype's powertrain is a hybrid, but it certainly looks both smart and—to our eyes—entirely production viable. Here's hoping.
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3
Mazda Iconic SP Concept
View PhotosJun Sato|Getty ImagesMazda has been teasing us with rotary-engined concepts for longer than it has been building rotary-engine cars; it is now a decade since the RX-8 went out of production. The Iconic SP proves that the idea is not dead, with this sleek coupe combining a twin-rotor engine to act as a generator with a fully electric driveline. (Effectively an upscaled version of the system offered in the MX-30 R-EV already on sale in some parts of the world.) Although it looks slightly like a Miata, the Iconic SP is considerably bigger—10 inches longer on Mazda's figures. Wouldn't it make more sense to bring it back carrying RX-7 branding?
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4
Nissan Hyper Force Concept
View PhotosElana Scherr|Car and DriverApparent confirmation that the Nissan GT-R will outlive the combustion era, the Hyper Force looks like an R35 GT-R drawn by an angry child. Despite the change of powertrain, the figures look reassuringly Godzilla-like, with Nissan saying the Hyper Force is capable of delivering up to 1341 horsepower and also that—in concept form—it packs a hypothetical solid-state battery.
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5
Subaru Sport Mobility Concept
A link back to the famous 1989 Tokyo show, where the Subaru SVX made its debut, this year's Sport Mobility Concept is another forcefully styled coupe, although one with a ride height that suggests off-road intentions. Subaru says the concept has an electric powertrain and also that it can "control all four wheels at will," suggesting quad motors and the ability to crawl through the wilderness. While the concept only looks slightly more viable than the flying car that Subaru positioned behind it on the Tokyo stand, we certainly hope it gets made.
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6
Toyota FT-Se Concept
View PhotosToyotaAlthough unconfirmed for production, we are fairly certain that the stylish Toyota FT-Se is previewing what will become an electric successor to the lightweight MR2 sports car. The FT-Se's low, sleek lines highlight the packaging advantages of Toyota's forthcoming ultra-compact battery cells, and although we don't have any powertrain details, it certainly looks as if it is both rear-drive and fun. Toyota is also working on a virtual manual gearbox for its performance EVs—could this be where it makes its debut?
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7
Yamaha Tricera
Finally, something completely different—the Yamaha Tricera. The three-wheeler proves that attempts to split the difference between car and motorcycle will continue into the electric age, with Yamaha saying it features a steerable rear wheel—in addition to those at the front—to "sharpen turn-in response." Which sounds both intriguing and terrifying.
Mike Duff
Senior European Correspondent
Our man on the other side of the pond, Mike Duff lives in Britain but reports from across Europe, sometimes beyond. He has previously held staff roles on U.K. titles including CAR, Autocar, and evo, but his own automotive tastes tend toward the Germanic: he owns both a troublesome 987-generation Porsche Cayman S and a Mercedes 190E 2.5-16.
