Streets ahead: the most forward-thinking vehicles from the Tokyo 2015 Motorshow

Top Ten Tokyo 2015 Motorshow concepts, as curated by Wallpaper
Top Ten Tokyo 2015 Motorshow concepts, as curated by Wallpaper*... No. 10 – Mercedes Vision Tokyo: Nice to see the return of non-Japanese carmakers launching all-new cars at Tokyo. It’s a tough place to compete conceptually...
(Image credit: Mercedes)

You can’t beat the Tokyo Motorshow for concept cars. Every two years the best Japanese car (and motorbike) manufacturers, plus a sprinkling of European and US brands, come up with new and thoughtful ideas for going faster (and slower, but more interestingly). Many of the designs are informed by a focus on small and well-packaged cars with eco powertrains suited to the city, and that look as good static as when moving. They are also underpinned by technologies often closer to production than the futuristic concepts that house them might indicate.

The 44th edition was one of the best of Tokyo Motorshows for years, perhaps reflecting a more optimistic economic outlook and better organisation and timing – moving to an earlier date in the calendar, rather than November – when it often overlapped directly with the LA Auto Show.

Concept highlights included a Honda stand-up commuter vehicle resembling a stormtrooper helmet, a Nissan boxcar with a virtually-virtual interior and a Toyota fuel cell vehicle that doubles up as a portable energy generator. Production cars were also unveiled at the show – Mini’s new convertible and a few BMW and Porsche go-faster variants – but Tokyo’s emphasis is firmly on the conceptual, thus our emphasis here.

See above for the Top Ten Tokyo 2015 Motorshow concepts, as curated by Wallpaper*... 

Mercedes concept car

... but Mercedes fitted right in with this smooth-surfaced Vision Tokyo – a 2030-style take on the MPV, perhaps

(Image credit: Mercedes)

The car follows nicely in the stylistic tyre tracks of its F 015 autonomous driving concept shown at the January 2015 Consumer Electronics Show

The car follows nicely in the stylistic tyre tracks of its F 015 autonomous driving concept shown at the January 2015 Consumer Electronics Show

(Image credit: Mercedes)

This front-hatched, single-door, two-seater city car with retro button-quilted seating was a genuine Tokyo Motorshow surprise

No. 9 – Style-D Piana: Cute as can be, this front-hatched, single-door, two-seater city car with retro button-quilted seating was a genuine Tokyo Motorshow surprise

(Image credit: Designer Yashuhiro Yamashita)

Toyota designer Yashuhiro Yamashita in March 2015, but his sub-2.5-metre long Piana electric vehicle concept seemed extremely well made and conceived, with a lithium-ion battery good for a 75-mile range and a 45mph top speed, plenty enough for its intended inner city locale

The Style-D company was only set up by ex-Toyota designer Yashuhiro Yamashita in March 2015, but his sub-2.5-metre long Piana electric vehicle concept seemed extremely well made and conceived, with a lithium-ion battery good for a 75-mile range and a 45mph top speed, plenty enough for its intended inner city locale

(Image credit: Designer Yashuhiro Yamashita)

A image of leather seat

Although there could be some modern crash regulation issues to resolve before production around that short front end, and it clearly references the mid-50s Isetta (and its similar side-hinged front door), the Piana is nonetheless a fascinating start for an intriguing new firm – and one with surely the coolest catchphrase of the whole show: ’Design your dreams for spread smile and excitements all over the world.’ We’re down for that

(Image credit: Designer Yashuhiro Yamashita)

Honda concept car

No. 8 – Honda Wander Stand: You can usually rely on Honda to come up with unique ideas at the Tokyo Motorshow and this Wander Stand concept certainly fit the bill

(Image credit: Honda)

This covered four-wheeler ‘two-seater or -stander’ allows navigation of narrow streets in any direction...

Aesthetically channelling a stormtrooper helmet and a 1980s ski-boot, this covered four-wheeler ‘two-seater or -stander’ allows navigation of narrow streets in any direction...

(Image credit: Honda)

Honda’s Omni-Traction Drive System, while keeping an elevated view of the road

... diagonally as well as forwards, backwards and sideways through Honda’s Omni-Traction Drive System, while keeping an elevated view of the road

(Image credit: Honda)

Nissan concept car

No. 7 – Nissan Teatro for Dayz: Get past the daft name and this Nissan vehicle was one of the most conceptual of the show

(Image credit: Nissan)

The kei car regulation-inspired narrow and boxy exterior is typically Japanese

The kei car regulation-inspired narrow and boxy exterior is typically Japanese (Nissan already has a production kei car called Dayz) but the interior represents a radical shift in approach

(Image credit: Nissan)

Nissan dashboard

Dispensing with anything more than the basic seat, dashboard and steering wheel forms, its designers then envisioned those surfaces covered in smart materials that could enable increasingly connected 20-something youths to stay in touch with their friends, play video games and endlessly customise their mobile interior – from virtual button-back leather to knitted wool effect. Groovy!

(Image credit: Nissan)

Suzuki concept car

No. 6 – Suzuki Air Triser: While VW procrastinates over producing a properly-new camper van fit for the 21st century, former partner Suzuki is still coming up with cooler and stealthier versions of its own

(Image credit: Suzuki)

The Air Triser is the latest and arguably greatest, with an awesome diagonal two-tone exterior and multi-function interior accessed via two huge sliding doors on one side.

The Air Triser is the latest and arguably greatest, with an awesome diagonal two-tone exterior and multi-function interior accessed via two huge sliding doors on one side. Seating can transform from three-rows up to a lounge and sleeping area down

(Image credit: Suzuki)

Suzuki concept car

The unusually-situated ceiling and side wall-mounted screens add an original dimension too, able to display sat-nav maps, and connect to and display passengers’ smart phone content. Maybe Suzuki needs to be bold and get on and make it (before VW regains the confidence to do so)

(Image credit: Suzuki)

Toyota concept car

No. 5 – Toyota FCV Plus: Toyota design is a bit schizophrenic at the moment, making cars as ugly as the new Prius and Mirai and then as cool and forward-thinking as this FCV Plus concept

(Image credit: Toyota)

The FCV bit stands for ’Fuel Cell Vehicle’ and the the ’Plus’ part indicates that it is not merely a means of transport but is also intended to generate electricity from its own on-board hydrogen fuel tank

The FCV bit stands for ’Fuel Cell Vehicle’ and the the ’Plus’ part indicates that it is not merely a means of transport but is also intended to generate electricity from its own on-board hydrogen fuel tank (and elsewhere) to, in effect, become a mobile power source for homes, workplaces and further afield

(Image credit: Toyota)

The FVC Plus has a great futuristic interior

The FVC Plus has a great futuristic interior, too

(Image credit: Toyota)

Mazda RX-Vision concept car

No. 4 – Mazda RX-Vision: Design-wise, the Mazda RX-Vision was one of the most conventional concepts unveiled at Tokyo – but still truly elegant with it. The long-nosed, cabin-rearward, two-seater sportscar hits all the right notes from a proportion and styling point of view, with well-resolved surfaces and exquisitely subtle lighting details front and back. We just can’t help feeling that shape-wise, the car might suit a Mercedes or even an Aston Martin badge more

(Image credit: Mazda)

Mazda tail light

Either way, it’s a beautiful car, and tipped to herald the return of a bigger RX-badged production sportscar, with another iteration of its famed rotary engine inside – positioned in Mazda’s range above the current MX-5 roadster

(Image credit: Mazda)

Lexus LF-FC concept car

No. 3 – Lexus LF-FC: Lexus design has gone bold in a big, but good, way in recent years – and the new 5.3-metre long, four-seater LF-FC concept is no exception

(Image credit: Lexus)

Lexus luxury detailing and eco-focused fuel cell powertrain are all widely expected to translate pretty closely into the look and feel of the next-generation of its flagship LS luxury saloon

Its sweepingly curvaeous lines, luxury detailing and eco-focused fuel cell powertrain are all widely expected to translate pretty closely into the look and feel of the next-generation of its flagship LS luxury saloon. If so, it should once again make the largest Lexus limo a proper contender against rivals like the Mercedes S-Class and Jaguar XJ. Promising

(Image credit: Lexus)

Daihatsu Nori Ori concept car

No. 2 – Daihatsu Nori Ori: Aiming to aid mobility for all ages and abilities, the Daihatsu Nori Ori concept roughly translates as ’get in, get out’

(Image credit: Daihatsu)

It’s a multi-purpose vehicle with two extremely wide entry and exit points

It’s a multi-purpose vehicle with two extremely wide entry and exit points, and a retractable ramp for easy wheelchair, pushchair and bicycle access

(Image credit: Daihatsu)

Concept designer Koichi Mizuta put it into context simply

Concept designer Koichi Mizuta put it into context simply: ’Japanese society is ageing and we want to help take care of them’

(Image credit: Daihatsu)

Yamaha Sports Ride Concept

No. 1 – Yamaha Sports Ride Concept: The motorbike (and musical instrument) brand surprised almost everyone at the 2013 Tokyo show by unveiling its Smart-a-like two-seater city car MOTIV concept

(Image credit: Yamaha)

Yamaha was at it again, but this time with a two-seater sportscar based on the same lightweight, high strength, flexible platform and iStream manufacturing process designed by UK-based, ex-McLaren F1 supercar designer Gordon Murray

For the 2015 show Yamaha was at it again, but this time with a two-seater sportscar based on the same lightweight, high strength, flexible platform and iStream manufacturing process designed by UK-based, ex-McLaren F1 supercar designer Gordon Murray. With its luxurious thick-leather clad interior and a promised driving experience closer to a motorcycle than a car, showgoers were keen to know more about its production chances. ‘Wait and see’ seems to be the official line (which is better than ‘Forget it’)


(Image credit: Yamaha)

Yamaha tail light

Meanwhile, to keep existing customers happy, Yamaha also showed some great-looking concept bikes including the PED2 and PES2 and an incredible spherical scaffolding structure to mount its latest drum kit within. Diverse

(Image credit: Yamaha)

INFORMATION
For more information, visit Tokyo Motorshow’s website

Guy Bird is a London-based writer, editor and consultant specialising in cars and car design, but also covers aviation, architecture, street art, sneakers and music. His journalistic experience spans more than 25 years in the UK and global industry. See more at www.guybird.com