This amazing bodywork on this Nissan GTR from Kuhl-racing uses 3D paint – it won the best in show gold award (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Under the hood of the Prius Pro Street from Wiz Custom Builder (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
A very sweet car that is delicious to look at! Dubbed project 90801, it's the work of the Toyota Technical College in Tokyo (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Tes-Cross: Toyota/Gazoo Racing produced this very interesting SUV pick-up sports concept based on the called the Toyota Vitz (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
D1 drifting cars were a common sight on the show floor – just look at the size of that rear wing (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Outside the show halls, the public was able to see, hear and taste the sport of D1 drifting (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Based on the old generation Daihatsu Copen, this design seems to pay homage to the flat nosed Porsche of the 1980s (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
A Daihatsu Copen from Ducks-garden that harks back to the old Porsche Speedster 356 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Lotus used the show to launch its GT car for the Japanese racing series (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
It might look like a Lamborghini, but it's actually a customized Mazda RX-7 from kind-red (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This rather shiny Mercedes SL600 dressed by Auto accessory company D.A.D. (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
More Mercedes bling - this time in gold (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Made by Gordon, this is the result of marriage between a Honda Gullwing and parts of a Mercedes-Benz (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Called the GL1800, Gordon`s new model for 2015 is a very luxurious sidecar outfit (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Belladonna Maschiaccio is based on the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Belladonna Maschiaccio is based on the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Sometimes a mat silver sedan with lowered suspension can look really mean. This example is by a company called aless-group.com (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This rally spec version of Toyota's Mirai FCV was used as course car on the final round of the 2014 Japanese Rally Championship (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The 2014 Monster Sport E-RUNNER Pikes Peak Special was driven by Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima at Pikes Peak in 2014 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Toyota super 86 was driven by ‘Monster’ Tajima at Pikes Peak in 2013 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This Nissan LEAF has been transformed into a mobile speaker (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This massive sound system makes use of the LEAF`s battery (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Produced by Obayashi Factory, this Super Leaf won the top award for best Eco car at the show (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Hino Motors displayed some concept designs alongside its less glamorous working trucks (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
One of several Honda concept models based on its new N-Box city car (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This City car design from Nihon Automobile College takes some obvious inspiration from Rolls Royce (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This amazing bodywork on this Nissan GTR from Kuhl-racing uses 3D paint applied to engraved panels – it won the best in show gold award (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Lexus displayed this white GT3 concept (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Subaru used the show to showcase its strong rallying heritage (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Need a landing pad for your RC helicopter? Just use an oversized flatbed pick-up (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Suzuki Hustler was the most prominent customized vehicle at the show – here Fuji and Style Auto try to emphasize the off-road side of the Hustler by raising the ride height, fitting large wheels ... and painting it pink (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
A Honda N-ONE (not pronounced none) city car with special touches from light company COPLUS (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The winner of an on-line owners magazine competition, this Subaru K-Truck was dressed as a Rally Car (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Small K-Trucks are very popular in Japan – this is one of the more outlandish examples on show (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Nissan Nismo GTR GT3 racing car (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Suzuki used the Auto salon to show its concept for a Turbo RS version of its new ALTO city car (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
No it's not made of stone – this 2001 Toyota bB from n-s-factory is called the rust Samurai (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
A refracting Lamborghini from SPF (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Suzuki showed custom ideas for its Hustler City car SUV including a micro camper (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Suzuki Hustler is versatile car with a split personality, as amply demonstrated around the show and on Suzuki`s own stand (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Mini Van is the ideal family wagon in Japan – though not all of them look like this (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Daihatsu might well be the star of future shows having made it easier for people to customize the Copen small sports car (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This amazing bodywork on this Nissan GTR from Kuhl-racing uses 3D paint – it won the best in show gold award (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
View gallery - 42 images
Tokyo Auto Salon – the off-the-wall sibling of the far more staid bi-annual Tokyo Motor Show – is part showcase for the Japanese custom car industry and part theatrical show. Beginning back in 1983 as the "Tokyo Exciting Car Show," it has grown in popularity with the public and industry alike over the past three decades, now attracting some 300,000 visitors. Here's our look at some of the colorful highlights from the 2015 event.
This year's show saw home grown creations on display from Daihatsu, Honda, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota, each showing that there's a fun side to their businesses.
One of several Honda concept models based on its new N-Box city car (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
A common theme often emerges at Auto Salon with many custom parts manufacturers honing in on a particular model to dress up. For 2015, it seemed to be the turn of the small Suzuki Hustler SUV – on every other stand there was a modified or costumed and customized Hustler on display, even from Suzuki itself.
The Suzuki Hustler is versatile car with a split personality, as amply demonstrated around the show and on Suzuki`s own stand (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Suzuki Hustler was the most prominent customized vehicle at the show – here Fuji and Style Auto try to emphasize the off-road side of the Hustler by raising the ride height, fitting large wheels ... and painting it pink (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Also noteworthy was Daihatsu's collection of design themes for its recently launched 2nd generation Copen. The car has external panels that can be easily changed, making it relatively easy process for owners to design and make their own body panels.
Daihatsu might well be the star of future shows having made it easier for people to customize the Copen small sports car (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Head on through to the gallery for more of the extraordinary (and plain weird) vehicle son display at Tokyo Auto Salon 2015.