Automotive

The cool, cute, clever and clinically crazy concept cars of the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show

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The concept cars of the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show range from gorgeous to outlandish
An odd twist on urban transport, Honda's RoboCas is a robot, auto-follow cargo trailer, urban transporter and vending stand all in one
Suzuki describes the XBEE Street Adventure as a crossover wagon styled for urban streets
Suzuki's Carry Open-Air Market Concept is a mobile market built into a mini-truck
Suzuki Carry Open-Air Market Concept 
Mazda reveals the gorgeous Kai Concept
Nissan puts its NV van platform to use as the  e-NV200 refrigerated truck and an NV350 ambulance
Audi brings its Elaine concept from Frankfurt to Tokyo
The Elaine is an update to the e-tron Sportback SUV concept with a focus on automated driving
Audi Elaine on show at the Tokyo Motor Show
Audi originally showed the Q8 Sport concept in Geneva
Mazda didn't just bring one voluptuous concept car to Tokyo, it brought two - this one is the Vision Coupe
Mazda says the Vision Coupe wears a more mature version of its Kodo design language meant to embody a "one motion" exterior form
Mazda's Vision Coupe is a long, stretched coupe with serious presence
Mazda Vision Coupe
Every bit as stunning as the Vision Coupe, Mazda's Kai Concept shows a super-silky compact hatchback of the future
Mazda Vision Coupe
Mazda Vision Coupe
Mazda Vision Coupe
The Kai Concept features the innovative, new Skyactiv-X engine
Mazda Kai Concept
The BMW Concept Z4 Roadster always looks good in the metal
We look forward to the day when the Concept Z4 cedes the the show floor to the production Z4
Mercedes-Benz brings the new EQA concept to Tokyo 
Another BMW production car preview: the Concept 8 Series
BMW Concept 8 Series
Mercedes-AMG brings F1 tech to the street with the One supercar
Mercedes gave the world a first look at the One at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show
Daihatsu's DN Pro Cargo exhibition vehicle is an electric commercial vehicle that looks like it could underpin a variety of work, accessible transport and recreational vehicles. It has a flat floor and open interior designed to easily move around in
Daihatsu DN Trec
Daihatsu DN Trec small, active crossover exhibition vehicle
The wacky Toyota Auto Body Wonder-Capsule Concept
Zagato puts its design skills to use on the virtual IsoRivolta Vision Gran Turismo, a car designed for theGran Turismo Sport PlayStation game
The Zagato IsoRivolta Vision GT has a 997-hp Callaway Corvette V8 powertrain
BMW concepts on show at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show
A rugged but compact off-road adventure SUV
Nissan's IMx concept looks at the company's electric future
Isuzu's FD-SI concept explores the  light delivery truck (or capsule) of the future
Isuzu Design Concept FD-SI (Future Delivery Swarm Intelligence)
Yamaha brings artificial intelligence to its motorcycles with the Motoroid experimental proof-of-concept
Yamaha's "half-sized mobility" births the MWC-4 leaning multi-wheel vehicle
Yamaha powers the MWC-4 with electric motors supported by a range-extending gas engine
Yamaha's Cross Hub Concept is a compact pickup truck that carries recreational gear in back and four occupants up front
Yamaha plays with a pint-sized electric pickup truck
Suzuki has its own ideas on a compact, electric off-road fun vehicle, the e-Survivor
Honda NeuV
Honda quickly follows up its Urban EV Concept from Frankfurt (peeking out rear right) with the Sports EV Concept
Honda has some retro fun with the Sports EV and Urban EV concepts
Honda Neo Sports Cafe Concept
Suzuki shows a more outdoorsy version of the XBEE with the Outdoor Adventure
Suzuki XBEE Outdoor Adventure
The Suzuki Spacia Concept is a tall mini-wagon with rear sliding doors and a roomy cabin
Suzuki Spacia Concept
Honda's Riding Assist-e is an experimental, self-balancing electric motorcycle that could help to shorten the learning curve for beginners
The self balancing tech in the Honda Riding Assist-e works at low speeds to help make balancing the bike more intuitive
Honda shows the NeuV concept in Tokyo
The Honda Sports EV combines smooth, retro sports car looks, an electric powertrain and artificial intelligence
The Honda Urban EV makes the trip from Frankfurt, joined by the world premiere of the Sports EV Concept
We really like Honda's retro-futuristic vision of electric vehicles
Lexus makes its spindle grille that much bigger with the LS+ Concept 
The LS+ Concept previews Lexus' autonomous driving tech
Lexus hopes to introduce the "Highway Teammate" and "Urban Teammate" autonomous systems to market around 2020
Lexus LS+ Concept
VW shows the I.D. Buzz once again
Volkswagen announced two months ago that the I.D. Buzz will give way to a production van
Volkswagen I.D. Buzz
Mitsubishi revives the recently retired Evolution nameplate for the e-Evolution, a sporty, all-electric SUV concept
The hexagonal trunk face is inspired by the Mitsubishi Shogun 4x4's spare tire holder
Mitsubishi powers all four e-Evolution wheels with a three-motor powertrain designed for improved handling and traction
Nissan gives the IMx concept some impressive specs, with a 429-hp electric powertrain that can run for about 373 miles per charge
No electric powertrain here, Subaru explores the future styling of a sports sedan with boxer engine and symmetrical AWD
Subaru's Viziv Performance Concept has a sharply drawn face with large hexagonal grille, "hawk eye" headlights and a serious carbon fiber bumper design down low
The Viziv Performance is inspired by Subaru sedans like the Impreza, Legacy and WRX
Some observers believe the Viziv Performance Concept previews the next WRX, but we're not too sure the production car will look that much like the concept
Nissan's IMx also explores a fully autonomous driving design with retractable steering wheel 
Inside the Mazda Vision Coupe
Inside the Mazda Vision Coupe
The Mazda Vision Coupe keeps things simple and ride-focused at the driver's seat
Mazda Vision Coupe
Mazda Vision Coupe
Mazda sure does know how to turn heads with concept cars
Mazda has a stylish production line-up, but its concept cars always seem to crank the heat up a few degrees
Inside the Mazda Kai Concept
Mazda Kai Concept
Mazda Kai Concept
Toyota's GR HV Sports concept is an attractive, little RWD sports car with targa top
The Toyota GR HV combines "the thrill of a sports car with the environmental friendliness of an eco-car" using a design inspired by Toyota Gazoo Racing's TS050 Hybrid racing car
Toyota shows the Fine-Comfort Ride fuel cell minivan concept
The Fine-Comfort Ride concept has a lounge-like rear bench and four swiveling armchairs inside, along with serious digital display space
Toyota Crown Concept
Toyota Crown is the Japanese-market luxury arm of Toyota, and this concept explores the future of drive and connected tech
Toyota is not shying away from weird, out-of-the-box concepts this year. This Tj Cruiser finds a niche between the van and the SUV ... and it looks like a pretty practical, versatile ride
The Tj (Toolbox + joy) Cruiser has the large tires and 4WD of an SUV and the big, boxy body and sliding rear doors of a van. It's super-roomy, versatile interior includes seats that fold down to a flat load floor - on the passenger side, from lift-gate to dashboard. Oddly, it only seats four people, so much more a cargo hauler than a people hauler
Toyota prepares to show the Concept-i
Toyota's Concept-i Ride is a two-seat EV designed around wheelchair users
Toyota shows off Concept-i vehicles in Tokyo
First revealed at CES 2017, the Toyota Concept-i has futuristic artificial intelligence features
Toyota Crown Concept
A peek inside the Fine-Comfort Ride concept's unique cabin with swiveling armchair seating
The Toyota Auto Body Wonder-Capsule Concept looks a little like a fairy tale carriage of the future
The concept cars of the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show range from gorgeous to outlandish
Suzuki builds on its history of small, rugged 4x4s with the e-Survivor concept
Daihatsu shows its new DN Compagno exhibition vehicle, a two-door aimed at senior citizens
Daihatsu says the DN Compagno is powered by a 1.0-liter turbo engine or option of 1.2-liter hybrid powertrain
The Daihatsu DN Multisix is a six-seat compact minivan
The Daihatsu DN Compagno concept is inspired by the original 1963 Compagno
Daihatsu DN Multisix
View gallery - 108 images

The 2017 Tokyo Motor Show kicked off this week and immediately flooded the scene with a raft of new concept cars. All types of passenger and commercial concept vehicles are on display, ranging from SUV utility vans, to futuristic cargo delivery pods, to AI-driven motorcycles, to sleek, sultry sports cars. We haven't discriminated, putting together a full gallery of the concepts we love, the ones we could live without and those we're not even sure how we feel about.

Off/On-road fun and utility

Some of the most striking concepts of this year's Tokyo Show are the rugged but practical 4x4s built to move seamlessly between everyday city commuting, weekend home improvement projects and adventure vacations out in the mountains. We looked at the Yamaha Cross Hub mini-pickup earlier in the week, and there are a few others in this category of rugged, fun, practical utility vehicles.

The Tj (Toolbox + joy) Cruiser has the large tires and 4WD of an SUV and the big, boxy body and sliding rear doors of a van. It's super-roomy, versatile interior includes seats that fold down to a flat load floor - on the passenger side, from lift-gate to dashboard. Oddly, it only seats four people, so much more a cargo hauler than a people hauler

Toyota's Tj Cruiser might just be our favorite in this category. It's styling is polarizing (we dig the big, bold shape but not necessarily that oversized grille), but the sheer utility of combining a rugged SUV and van seems hard to argue. This concept features sliding rear doors and seats that fold flat to create a huge load floor. The passenger side folds into a single floor that extends straight to the dashboard, offering space for items up to around 10 feet (3 m) long - so fill it with lumber or surfboards depending on what kind of weekend it is. The hybrid 4WD powertrain promises fuel-efficient driving for the city and high-traction, off-road-ready capability for wild weekends in the mud and dirt.

Our one complaint is that it only has four seats, when it feels like it should have six+. Still, we'd buy one.

Suzuki builds on its history of small, rugged 4x4s with the e-Survivor concept

On its concept-heavy stand, Suzuki is showing its own little 4x4, one that just screams "off-road fun," even though its name sounds more like something for an escape pod for the zombie apocalypse. The e-Survivor builds on Suzuki's heritage of tiny but tough 4x4s, adding plenty of ground clearance, a Jeep-like grille, an open-air cabin and transparent doors. Suzuki says it has a ladder frame and electric 4WD.

The sportier side

There are plenty of new sports car concepts on show in Tokyo, too, from retro-futuristic electric coupes to rally-inspired speed machines. In fact, even some of the SUVs are kind of sporty.

Mazda says the Vision Coupe wears a more mature version of its Kodo design language meant to embody a "one motion" exterior form

Ordinarily a single concept as gorgeous as the Mazda Kai would be a mic drop moment for an automaker, but Mazda decided it would have two equally brilliant concepts this year. The Kai compacts the next evolution of Kodo design language into small hatchback form, while the Vision Coupe above lets that Kodo language stretch its legs into a long, flowing four-door coupe. We'd say they both look equally stunning, so you could pick your poison based on which body style fits your life. We wouldn't mind seeing the Vision Coupe in the shade of red that adorns the Kai, though.

The Toyota GR HV combines "the thrill of a sports car with the environmental friendliness of an eco-car" using a design inspired by Toyota Gazoo Racing's TS050 Hybrid racing car

Another intriguing sports car on show is the Toyota GR HV Sports concept. This targa-topped two-seater is designed to find a functional blend of sporty, rear-driven performance and fuel-sipping eco friendliness with its Toyota Hybrid System-Racing powertrain. Its design is inspired by the Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid race car, and the driver-focused interior includes a cool ignition switch atop the shift knob that looks like something made to fire a missile.

Hungry for more? Jump into the photo gallery for a further look at those concepts and the many others that fill the Tokyo Motor Show.

View gallery - 108 images
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2 comments
ljaques
Let's see, I'll take a Toyota GR HV and an FCR, a Subaru Viziv, a Mitsu eEvolution, a Honda Urban EV and Neuv (which I vote most likely to be produced), a MercenaryBenz One, and a Suzuki Carry, please. All are quite interesting.
KaiserPingo
Tokyo motorshow turns out to be the most exiting and forward looking motorshow, ahead of the US and Euro shows. Even the Audi's are more exiting. But the wheels looks like shit!!!