Down on the Street...in Tokyo: The Chevy MW Is The Opel Agila

As we continue to clean out our CompactFlash cards, we've found another piece of metal from the Tokyo streets. Here's the perfect example of a city car produced by the General that they just don't build or sell over in this here part of the globe. This five-door 'merican Revolution is the Chevy MW, and it's a re-badged Vauxhall Agila which is a re-badged Opel Agila which in turn is a re-badged Suzuki Wagon R. As a Suzuki, the MW was first built in Japan, but now in all forms is built at GM's Gliwice, Poland plant. Speaking of the Opelized version, did we mention the second-generation 2008 Opel Agila was unveiled in Frankfurt earlier this year? Oh wait, we've found some shots of the reveal of that one on our many CF cards as well. The newest model of the Agila will be powered by either one of two gas engines — a three cylinder 1.0-liter 65 HP model and a four cylinder 1.2-liter engine rated at 86 HP — and a diesel 1.3-liter four cylinder engine rated at 75 HP. Will the new 2008 Agila have as many re-branded options as the earlier models? You betcha. The General's already planning for the new Agila to be sold by Suzuki as the Splash. Ah, the sweet smell of platform prostitution and brand whoring. Don't you just love the global automotive industry? More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Photo Without Caption

Tokyo Motor Show: The Fine Ladies of Tokyo

We only go to auto shows like Tokyo for the cars and the rush of journalism. Occasionally our lenses accidentally catch the turntable ladies who are only meant to accentuate the product. It is a surprisingly frequent accident, so we will spare you the extended set. Enjoy the images in the gallery if you can. More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Custom Toyota Corolla Rumion/Scion xB by Kanji

It's a color some call orange flake — a deep tangerine overlaid with metallic sparkles. Others call it Hysterical Blindness Chrome, though when applied to the JDM version of the new Scion xB, it looks rather fetching indeed. Japan's Kanto Auto Works decked out this model with all manner of SEMA-grade orangeness, and a folding roof of its own design. Understated it's not. And no, mom, those are Japanese maple leaves embossed on the side.

Tokyo Motor Show: Nissan Intima Concept

We're about to be in the midst of the neo-classical phase of automobile design, led by Japanese automakers like Mazda, Toyota and, with its new Intima concept, Nissan. That means we'll be seeing a surge of panel surfaces that appear to have been carved by wind over centuries, rather than by short-sleeved guys in horn-rimmed glasses over a working week. Nonetheless, we're most likely looking at what US buyers will get as Infiniti's new S-Class competitor. The concept is powered by a diesel V6, which could hearken a European face-down in the near future. More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Alonso and Hamilton Helmets — BFF!

The smart money's not on Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton spending another season together in the McLaren stable. But though neither won the F1 championship, and Alonso's probably flying the coop, their crazy, controversial and thoroughly enjoyable season was immortalized at the Arai helmet display at the Tokyo show, as their signed helmets sat side by side.

Swoopy Human Powered Taxi Catches Attention, Advertises

Here's a fine idea, take the tried and true bicycle taxi and update it with such luxurious amenities as a roof, brake lights, and... what's this? GPS?! Once you've made those upgrades, give it snazzy bodywork with some nice flat adspace and pump up your profit margin! It almost made us want to be slowly chauffeured through town like a minor island dictator reviewing our subjects, but then we realized the subway is way faster and cheaper and runs with flawless reliability..

Tokyo Motor Show: Daihatsu Open Future Concept 1 Roadster

Although it debuted in Frankfurt, Daihatsu featured its Open Future Concept, or OFC-1, in Tokyo. The mini roadster concept's powered by a turbocharged, 658cc three-cylinder engine the incorporates stop-start technology to increase fuel efficiency, the company says, to 69 mpg. Putting power to the ground is a seven-speed CVT that can be shifted via paddles. The OFC-1 also sports 17-inch wheels and the retractable hardtop was created by a race of unicorns who happen to be really good at mechanical engineering.

Down on the Street... in Tokyo: Kei Cars

We delayed this as long as possible, putting all of you into crushing fits of suspense, finally we give the people what they want - kei cars. These loveable, huggable, sub-sub-compact cars are popular for many reasons. The biggest reason for the niche is that they avoid pesky tax and insurance rates by virtue of their diminutive size. That size also serves an alternate purpose; Tokyo has roads that would make a hardened San Francisco road warrior break into a cold sweat. Roads are steep, they are windy, and they are incredibly narrow at times. Sometimes the only way to carry crates of Ramen, buckets of fish, and platters of raw horse meat (delicious) to their destinations is with the help of a mighty keitruck. To borrow a phrase from Gizmodo's Adam Frucci, "For all your most adorable cargo." More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Awesome JDM Coffee Cans

Imagine our surprise and delight when we realized the official press-room coffee-drink cans here in Tokyo — the same ones that kept us firing on most cylinders — are collectibles. Each one in the series features a JDM classic. We collected 'em all: The 1969 Nissan Fairlady Z432 (Datsun 240Z), 1967 Toyota 2000GT, 1970 Suzuki Jimny, 1969 Mitsubishi Delica Coach-Deluxe, 1970 Subaru R-2SS and 1978 Mazda RX-7. Now if we can only get our hands to stop shaking.

Down on the Street... in Tokyo: Citroen DS21

Following hot on the heels of yesterdays all French PCH and ranking high on the list of things we would never expect to see here in Tokyo, this Citroen DS21 rocked our world while strolling through Ginza today. Extemely mint seems to be the only way old cars are maintained in the land of the rising sun, because this thing didn't even have scuffed leather. It's always nice to see vintage steel prowling the streets and not just taking up the parking spaces and going to waste like in some cases.

Tokyo Motor Show: Mazda Taiki Concept

Mazda's latest in a string of radical concepts that express organic themes, the Taiki is more than just a highly stylized sheetmetal sculpture that'll never see production. It's also the forum for Mazda's next-generation Renesis rotary engine, introduced here in Tokyo. Facing down heightened emissions requirements and competition among engines that don't consume gas like we've been consuming cans of Japanese coffee — like the rotary does — Mazda made some changes to its venerable tri-corner mill. The new pride of Wankel has been lightened, by way of an aluminum side housing, and given direct-injection tech for better burn efficiency. It's also gotten a displacement increase to 1.6 liters for a much-needed torque infusion. More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Toyota i-Real Concept Demo

One of Toyota's cadre of well-dressed reps present in Tokyo show us how the i-Real concept chair works. A promo video had just shown a freaky, albeit fictional, courtship ritual between two, blond Europeans who apparently met on their i-Reals, then gave birth to a several offspring, each of whom they named Herman Miller. Maybe we were projecting. Anyway, watch as Casual-san shows off the i-Real's maneuverability on the Toyota stage, before doing a 17-mph jump off a ramp and over a line of buses. There we go, projecting again. More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Hyundai QarmaQ Crossover Concept, Again

If you'll remember from its original unveil at Geneva, this sporty little crossover coupe is the QarmaQ, Hyundai's concept designed to showcase environmentally progressive technologies, such as the Korean company's "Elastic Front." That's a pedestrian collision solution Hyundai hopes if implemented, can reduce the risk of turning a drive through the Shibuya crosswalk into a re-make of Death Race 2000. Remember, you get bonus points for maiming now, not killing. More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Subaru G4e EV Concept

We hear electricity is going to be huge someday, though we're not sure Subaru got the same memo. The company rolled out its all-electric G4e concept concept car in Tokyo, thought it was outshined handily by the new Impreza STI. The small hatch combines underfloor Li-on batteries with seating for five and a relatively meager 124-mile charge range. Sure, the designers got the spacial engineering right, but we get the feeling Soob's rally-spirit heart just isn't in this one.

OK kids, it's now 4:30 AM here and although it's been fun, the night (or is it day shift — whatever, all one of me) has to retire for a few hours of shuteye. The rest of the team here in Tokyo should be waking up shortly to continue providing you all of your Tokyo Auto Show goodness. It's been a pleasure.

Tokyo Motor Show: Yamaha Sakura Concept Reveal

We're going to be honest here, the press package shots for the Yamaha Sakura didn't really get us in a huff. Something in them felt inauthentic, contrived even. I imagined a rocket designer complaining about doing a design only his grandpa would drive. In person, that's just not the case. This is a very handsome bike. The fit and finish is superb, some of the core elements are extremely innovative, the bike somehow balances delicate design elements and strong presence. Check the reveal gallery for more on this lovely little piece of kit. More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Fuel Cell Powered Suzuki Crosscage Revealed

There you have it folks, proof that if you lock engineers in a room with a bag of LSD, it's possible for amazing things to happen. Somehow the magicians at Suzuki managed to cram an entire fuel cell system into the skeletal frame of the Suzuki Crosscage. It is a bit on the awkward-looking side. But it's the tech rather than the looks that are the main feature here. This strikes a blow for alternative alternative power systems everywhere (ie. kitten dreams) More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Honda EVO6 Spoiler

Let's play a game of 'what's missing from this picture' with the Honda EVO6, revealed live today at the Tokyo Auto Show. It will be hard, because we missed it at first and we were standing in front of the thing. Give up? No shifter. Yeah, it's an auto transmission. That's about enough said about this here bike. Would have been nice if they announced that with the preview shots. It's a damn shame too because it really is a handsome bike. A production model of the EVO6 would fall into an odd category, sort of a heavyweight sport automatic... that nobody would want. As a proof of concept it works quite well though. We can imagine seeing this engine and transmission in a Goldwing in a matter of minutes. Click through the shiny pictures and pay particularly close attention to that fancy exhaust. More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Honda Unveils CB1100R

We already dropped a couple bikes on you, but we missed the first of the lot revealed here at the Tokyo Motor Show (so that's why they call it "Motor" rather than "Auto," eh?). Here are the first real life shots of the Honda CB1100R we first showed you on Monday and which was the first bike seeing the sheet ripped off of today. This baby is total hotness. It's pure red, white, and blue glory without the 30 lbs of plastic covering up all the pretty parts. Jump into the gallery to check the up close and personal shots, don't spoil the keyboard with all the drool. More »

Tokyo Motor Show: Sleek Suzuki Biplane Revealed

Wow. Just wow. Even if the execution of biplane inspiration is questionable, this thing is flipping gorgeous. I'm quite certain a twenty minute ride would have you begging for the sweet release of death, but you would look really cool during those twenty minutes. Just think of all the broken necks you'd cause in the unsuspecting streets. It's pretty, in ways that we couldn't have comprehended in the More »

Tokyo Motor Show: New Nissan GT-R, Now In Bra-less Video

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Tokyo Motor Show: Super Rad Volvo Duett

If you were on a roadside picnic in Sweden in the mid-1950s, you and your basket lunch of herring in reindeer sauce may have been transported in one of these. It's the Volvo Duett, a wagon also known as the P445. The perfectly restored model, complete with wood-slat cargo area, took center stage at Volvo's Tokyo show display, reminding us that quirk once existed in material form, not just in the minds of advertising executives.

Tokyo Motor Show: Suzuki Concept Kizashi 2

Suzuki came through with one of the best concepts of the show, the Kizashi 2. It's a new version of the Kizashi concept the company showed in Frankfurt. Under the hood is the suze's highest-displacement engine ever, a 3.6-liter V6. Among the concept cars here, this should win the Should Have a 472 ci Cadillac V8 Award. As one of our Tokyo compatriots said, it's the good counterpart to the evil Maybach Exelero.

Tokyo Motor Show: Subaru WRX Impreza STI

The good news is, the Subaru WRX STI looks way better than its lesser siblings in the 2008 Impreza lineup. That's mainly a function of the angular muscularity of the fender flares. The bad news is, those flamboyantly plasticular taillights likely won't look good on a darker colored car. The model again will provide homologation cover for the company's WRC rally car, though a model wearing the telltale midnight blue pearl was nowhere in attendence. More »