Pimp your ride in Japan

The Tokyo Auto Salon, recognised as the world’s biggest custom car show, has hosted big-name Japanese marques including Mazda, Honda, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota. Nissan led the way with 14 models. They were headlined by its Super GT Nismo GT-R race car and Nismo X-Trail with an aggressive bodykit, bigger wheels, and the tuning company’s signature red and black design highlights. Joining the X-Trail was a tweaked Serena minivan and small-sized Note hatchback alongside the flagship Nismo GT-R. French fashion designer Lolita Lempicka came up with three special cars for Nissan – a March, Note and Juke – finished in white with contrasting black roofs. Nissan showed off its aero-style package for its Leaf electric car. Toyota exhibited a racing version of its newest baby sports coupe – the S-FR. It was revealed at November’s Tokyo Motor Show, and wears a more aggressive body featuring wider fenders, a big rear spoiler, prominent front splitter, vented hood and carbon-fibre reinforced canards. It also showed the Voxy G’s Concept and Noah G’s Concept, minivans designed to “emphasise driving enjoyment and comfort”. Subaru showcased three STI concepts, including the two-litre turbocharged BRZ, which made its debut at last year’s New York Motor Show. The Levorg STI has a restyled front bumper, STI-designed 18-inch wheels with tuned dampers, a red and black two-tone interior and is finished in the iconic WR Blue Pearl exterior colour. The XV Hybrid STI has been tweaked with “STI sports parts” and features a white exterior scheme with orange highlights, and a beige and orange interior. Honda’s in-house tuning branch had five models with the wildest being the Mugen-tuned S660. An aggressive bodykit, rear spoiler, hardtop and front fender vents complete the transformation of the rear-drive roadster. It also revealed the Mugen Civic Type R concept with a revised hood and rear wing, as well as a tweaked HR-V, with a new bodykit, front grille and special red metallic paint. Mazda displayed its CX-3 Racing Concept, which modifies the small-sized SUV with an aggressive bodykit, stylish wheels and a bigger roof mounted spoiler. The MX-5 Miata RS Racing Concept shares the same exterior colour with red highlights along the inside edge of the bodykit. The Mazda2 Racing Spec got the race-car modification treatment with a stripped-out interior to save weight. Bucket seats with racing harnesses and a roll cage adorn the sparse cabin, while there’s a white body colour, black roof and red mud flaps. Suzuki revealed its Hustler Rough Road Style, a rugged version of its Japanese market SUV with off-road tyres, raised suspension and headlight protection. The Alto Works GP, a more hardcore version of its small-sized Works it revealed at Tokyo Motor Show, also featured. The Works GP sports a carbon-fibre hood, and thicker and stickier rubber at all four corners. The 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon was held from January 15-17.