Tokyo Motor Show

[[Image:Tms2007 01.jpg|thumb|300px|Tokyo Motor Show 2007]] The {{nihongo|'''Tokyo Motor Show'''|東京モーターショー}} is a biennial [[auto show]] held in October-November at the [[Makuhari Messe]], [[Chiba, Chiba|Chiba City]], [[Japan]] for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the [[Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association]] (JAMA), it is a recognized international show by the [[Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles]], and normally sees more [[concept car]]s than actual production car introductions which is the reason why the auto press see the show as one of the motorshow's big five (along with [[North American International Auto Show|Detroit]], [[Geneva Motor Show|Geneva]], [[Frankfurt Motor Show|Frankfurt]] and [[Mondial de l'Automobile|Paris]]). The show, then called '''All Japan Motor Show''' was first held in an outdoor venue called [[Hibiya Park]], the show was considered a success with 547,000 visitors over ten days and 254 exhibitors displaying 267 vehicles, but of the amount of vehicles only 17 of them were passenger cars as the show was dominated by commercial vehicles. In 1958, due to construction of a subway and underground parking lot near Hibiya Park, the show was shifted to the [[Korakuen]] [[keirin|Bicycle Racing]] Track. The show, as the previous year was marred by heavy rain, in 1959 the event moved indoor to its newly opened [[Chuo, Tokyo|Harumi]] Showplace venue which was three times the size of its previous venue. Onward from 1973, as the organisers decided not to host a show for the following year due to the international [[energy crisis]] and the show became a biennial event. The show relocated to its current venue, the [[Makuhari Messe]] in 1989 and due to high public demand for vehicles in everyday use and the fact concept cars dominate the show, the show returned to being an annual event from 2001 to 2005 with a show for passenger cars and motorcycle and another for commercial vehicles for the following year. However from 2007 onwards the event will (once again) return to a biennial schedule which combines both passenger and commercial vehicles, including motorcycles and auto parts. ==1950s== The first Tokyo Motor Show was held in [[Hibiya Park]] from April 20 to April 29, 1954. Of the 267 vehicles on display, only seventeen were passenger cars, which reflected the paucity of personal family transport in Japan at the time. [[Truck]]s, [[bus]]es, and [[motorcycle]]s made up most of the exhibits. Approximately 547,000 visitors attended the show over the ten days, where the most prominent cars were the [[Austin A40]], [[Hillman Minx]] and the newly introduced [[Renault 4CV]], as well as domestic vehicles such as the [[Prince Motor Company|Prince Sedan AISH]], [[Toyota RH|Toyota Toyopet Super RH]]; [[Datsun|Datsun Passenger Delux (Model DB-5)]], [[Ohta Motor|Ohta Sedan and Van]], and three-wheeled vehicles from [[Daihatsu]]. The second Tokyo Motor Show was held over twelve days, beginning on May 7, 1955. Almost 785,000 visitors attended, among them [[Akihito|HIH Prince Akihito]]. The highlights of the passenger cars on display were the new [[Datsun|Datsun 110]], [[Toyota Crown|Toyopet Crown RS]] and [[Toyota RR|Toyopet Master RR]]. Passenger cars began to assume the greatest prominence at the third Tokyo Motor Show which opened on April 20, 1956, thanks in great part due to an initiative spearheaded by the [[Ministry of International Trade and Industry]] called the "people's car plan". Although its stated target of a four seat car capable of 100 kilometres per hour and available for [[Japanese yen|¥]]150,000 was unrealistic — despite being twice the national average income at the time, it was still only one fifth of what a typical vehicle cost — it was given credit as the spur for domestic [[automaker]]s to strive to lower their prices. Although only 527,000 people visited the fourth show between May 9 and May 19, 1957, significant vehicles made their debut; the first of the long running [[Toyota Corona]] and [[Prince Skyline]] were introduced, as well as a [[prototype]] of the [[Datsun Sports]]. The 1959 show opened on October 24. Notable premiers included Mitsubishi's first own passenger car, the [[Mitsubishi 500]]. ==1989== *[[Jiotto Caspita]] *[[Autozam AZ-1|Mazda AZ-550 Sports]] (Type A, B and C) *[[Honda NSX]] *[[Nissan S-Cargo]] *[[Mitsubishi HSR|Mitsubishi HSR-II]] *[[Suzuki Cappuccino]] ==2001== The 2001 show saw the following introductions: *Daihatsu Muse *Daihatsu Copen *Daihatsu FF Ultra *Honda Bulldog concept *Honda Unibox concept *Isuzu Zen concept *Mazda RX-8 *Mazda Secret Hideout concept *Mercedes F400 Carving concept *Mini Cooper S *Mitsubishi CZ2 *Mitsubishi CZ3 *Mitsubishi Spaceliner concept *Mitsubishi SUP concept *Nissan GT-R Concept *Nissan mm *[[Nissan 350Z|Nissan Fairlady Z Z33]] *Nissan Ideo concept *Nissan Kino concept *Nissan Nails concept *[[Toyota FXS]] concept *[[Toyota Pod]] concept *Volkswagen W12 *Will VC ==2005== The 2005 show saw the following introductions: *[[Audi Shooting Brake]] *[[Bugatti Veyron]] *[[Chrysler Akino]] *[[Daihatsu Costa]] *[[Daihatsu UFE-III]] *[[Ferrari GG50]] *[[Honda FCX]] *Honda Sports4 *[[Honda WOW]] *[[Hyundai]] Neos-3 *[[Lexus]] [[Lexus LF#LF-Sh|LF-Sh]] *[[Mercedes-Benz]] F600 *[[BMW MINI|Mini]] Concept Tokyo *[[Mitsubishi Delica|Mitsubishi Concept D:5]] *[[Mitsubishi i]] *[[Nissan]] Amenio *[[Nissan Foria]] *Nissan Note Adidas *Nissan Pivo *[[Nissan Skyline GT-R|Nissan GT-R]] Proto *[[Subaru]] B5-TPH *[[Suzuki]] Ionis *Suzuki LC *Suzuki PX *[[Toyota Estima]] *[[Toyota Fine-X]] *[[Toyota FSC]] *[[Toyota i-swing]] *[[Volkswagen EcoRacer]] ==2007== The 2007 show saw the following introductions: * [[Honda CR-Z]] concept * [[Honda Inspire]] * [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution#Evolution X|Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X]] * [[Nissan GT-R#Production|Nissan GT-R]] * [[Nissan X-Trail]] * [[Subaru Impreza WRX STI#GR chassis (2009-)|Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GR chassis)]] ===Alternative propulsion=== Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Dominate the Tokyo Motor Show Concepts for new [[Hybrid electric vehicle|hybrids]], [[plug-in hybrid]]s, [[electric vehicle]]s from Japan's leading automakers are now on display at the Tokyo Motor Show. As one example, [[Toyota Motor Corporation]] introduced its [[Toyota 1/X|1/X]] (pronounced "one-Xth") concept vehicle, a [[Toyota Prius|Prius]]-like sedan that tips the scales at a third of the weight of the Prius and obtains double the Prius' fuel economy. The vehicle cuts its weight by using carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in its frame and boosts its fuel economy with a small [[plug-in hybrid]] powertrain that can be fueled with either gasoline or [[E85]], a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Toyota's other plug-in hybrid concept, the [[Toyota Hi-CT|Hi-CT]], is a small, boxy, two-door vehicle aimed at young car buyers. In addition, Toyota's luxury brand, [[Lexus]], introduced its next-generation hybrid sport utility vehicle, the [[Lexus LF-Xh|LF-Xh]], an all-wheel-drive vehicle powered by a V6 engine teamed up with a high-output electric motor. [[General Motors]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Chrysler]] and [[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai]] did not attend the show. Among the other automakers, [[Honda Motor Company]], Ltd., unveiled the [[Honda CR-Z|CR-Z]], a "next-generation lightweight sports car" that features Honda's hybrid electric drivetrain, and the [[Honda PUYO|PUYO]], another small, boxy vehicle, powered by a fuel cell. Honda will also unveil the one-wheeled scooter transport, the [[Honda U3-X]]. [[Mitsubishi Motors Corporation]] introduced a Beetle-like electric vehicle with in-wheel electric motors, called the [[i MiEV Sport]], which even has a solar panel on its roof. And [[Nissan]] unveiled the [[Nissan Pivo| Pivo 2]], a small [[electric vehicle]] with a [[lithium-ion]] [[battery pack]] and wheel motors. But Japanese automakers weren't the only ones unveiling clean car concepts in Tokyo. [[Audi]] arrived with its "[[Audi Metroproject Quattro|Metroproject Quattro]]," a [[plug-in hybrid]] with a direct-injection, turbocharged, {{convert|150|hp}} gasoline engine mounted up front and a 30-kilowatt motor on its rear axle. The concept vehicle employs a lithium-ion battery pack that allows it to run on electric power only. ==2009== [[File:Nissan Leaf 003.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Nissan Leaf]] exhibited at the 2009 Show.]] [[File:Lexus LFA 002.JPG |thumb|right|200px|[[Lexus LF-A]] exhibited at the 2009 Show.]] The following were introduced at the 2009 show: * [[Honda CR-Z]] pre-production concept * [[Honda EV-N]] concept * [[Honda Skydeck]] concept * [[Honda VFR1200F]] motorcycle * 2010 [[Honda Stepwgn|Honda Step WGN]] * [[Lexus LF-A]] * [[Mitsubishi i]] [[MiEV]] Cargo * 2011 [[Nissan Fuga]] * [[Nissan Land Glider]] concept * [[Nissan Leaf]] * 2010 [[Volkswagen Polo GTI]] * [[Nissan Roox]] * [[Subaru Exiga]] 2.0T STI * [[Subaru Hybrid Tourer]] concept * [[Subaru Impreza WRX STI]] Carbon * [[Suzuki Swift]] [[Plug-in hybrid|Plug-in Hybrid]] concept * [[Toyota FT-86 Concept]] * [[Toyota FT-EV II]] concept ==External links== {{commonscat|Tokyo Motor Show}} *[http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/en/index.html Official Tokyo Motor Show website] *[http://paultan.org/archives/2007/11/14/2007-tokyo-motor-show-girls/ Girls of the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show] *[http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=503 2007 Tokyo Motorcycle Show Coverage] at [CycleWorld.com] {{coord missing|Chiba Prefecture}} {{auto shows}} {{Automotive industry in Japan}}