REPORT: More foreign automakers skipping Tokyo Motor Show as tally swells to 22

As of Thursday, Porsche and Maserati are the latest two brands to pull out of the biennial Tokyo Motor Show. That brings the tally to 22 foreign brands sitting out the Japanese showcase, leaving Hyundai, Ferrari, and Lotus to duel for import honors. Said a show spokesman, "It is unprecedented to see such a large number of carmakers not coming to the motor show. It's disappointing."

And even though Japan's 14 domestic makers are expected to show in force, the country's four largest truck makers have said they won't be coming. At least one report has said there will be half as many cars this year as there were two years ago. As with the other brands that have decided to pass on this year's show, Porsche and Maserati cited the cost of attendance.
via:autoblog

Mitsubishi to Unveil Plug-In Hybrid Crossover in Tokyo

Mitsubishi Motors will launch a plug-in hybrid crossover at this year's Tokyo auto show in a vehicle that is slightly smaller than an Outlander and which is said to rival Nissan's Qashqai.

The hybrid development is part of Mitsubishi's plan to move its focus from large-engined SUVs to smaller, more efficient powerplants, Gayu Uesugi, head of product development, told headlineauto.
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Tokyo Motor Show: Mazda RE-Amemiya Genki 7

RE-Amemiya is a well-known name in Mazda circuits. The company was founded in 1974 by Isami Amemiya and has since been almost exclusively with the tune of rotary engines involved. The knowledge that we now have five years to build has been applied to this concept, the Genki 7.

Although you would expect that a new concept car is a new (read: RX-8) is nothing less true. The ideal base for a high-performance concept of an RX-7 seems to be. Although the RX-8 certainly more practical in terms of looks and not lagging behind, the RX-7 has always been a sports car. The model was simply positioned higher and more speed made. Perhaps the explanation for the conversion choice.


Unfortunately, there are no specifications known. May notify the site of RE-Amemiya more news about the Genki-7, tucked away somewhere deep behind all strange links. My Japanese is not very flexible at the moment. It is expected that the line of the Genki-7 within a short number of records to his name it.

A nice detail is that Amemiya on most project cars' headlights of other brands assembled. A good example is the video to see. In the video, the lights on a Porsche clearly off, the headlights on the Genki are more difficult to place. Find a picture where these lights on the original model / brand are mounted and receive a bit timeless autoblog-fame!
via autoblog.nl

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Formula for Disaster: Ferrari Hyabusa Trike on display in Tokyo

-There have been countless attempts to translate the Ferrari spirit from four wheels to two, ranging from sport bikes to choppers and everything in between. But this is the first we've seen with three wheels.

That's right, in case your eyes couldn't adjust from the endless see of crimson contours, what you're looking at is a Ferrari trike.Mirroring the "styling" of a Scuderia Ferrari F1 car, this one-off trike was spotted at the banzai Tokyo Auto Salon by the same people who brought us the no-less-bonkers Lamborghini ATV. Based around a 1.3-liter Suzuki Hayabusa engine and frame, this (thankfully) unique example was built by Trike Japan in order to showcase what they can do. We certainly hope the rest of their portfolio is a bit more tasteful than this showpiece, but we won't be holding our breath.
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GM, Ford and Chrysler say sayonara, Tokyo

There were some notable absences at this year's Detroit auto show, including Nissan, Suzuki and Ferrari. Now comes word that all three major U.S. automakers are pulling out of the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.

It's the latest sign that a bad economy and crashing sales are disrupting the industry on an international scale. Word of the three U.S. car companies’ withdrawal from Tokyo prompted speculation that the show might be canceled. But a spokesman for the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. told reporters Wednesday that the show would continue.
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