One other 12 months of Tokyo Auto Salon means one other spherical of scouring the depths of the Makuhari Messe automotive parks – the unofficial TAS automotive meet.
TAS reigns supreme as the top occasion of Japanese automotive tradition, drawing over 200,000 guests to the Chiba conference centre yearly. With that sort of foot site visitors, it’s no shock that the automotive parks cover some actual gems. So, let’s check out what I discovered throughout my Friday go to to Tokyo Auto Salon 2025.
Proper close to the doorway, I used to be greeted by this – guerrilla advertising and marketing at its best. And it labored. Somebody has taken it upon themselves to ‘repair’ the G87 M2, addressing the overly adventurous entrance grille design with a extra conventional BMW look. If I needed to guess who’s behind this, it might be ADRO, a Korean-based physique package firm making waves within the BMW aftermarket world. That they had a large sales space inside TAS, so dropping one other automotive within the automotive park simply is sensible. I’m to see if I’m appropriate, and in that case, hopefully, a rear bumper redesign is within the works too.
A bit additional alongside, Dino and I parked our automobiles, sandwiching this FL5 Honda Civic Kind R.
One additional spot alongside, one other blue FL5 sat subsequent to what you possibly can think about its European rival, an Audi RS 3 in the same shade.
Very like the present, there was no scarcity of stance within the automotive parks, with every part from vans to GT-Rs sitting on the pavement.
It’s additionally price noting that stance right here in Japan doesn’t simply imply a set of wheels and luggage. House owners at all times go the additional mile to construct a whole automotive. Try the huge Brembo brakes on this Lexus, for instance.
It was laborious to overlook this Mitsuoka Orochi, taking over two parking spots. The Orochi is a type of quirky early-2000s Japanese creations which can be usually ignored. Powered by a 3.3L Toyota V6, you possibly can name it an alternate tackle the Honda NSX system.
Subsequent to it, occupying only one area, was a pristine Nissan Sil80 (Silvia-faced 180SX), sitting on SSR mesh wheels and sporting a traditional B-Wave wing – an genuine nod to ’90s Japanese avenue drift tradition.
Mazda RX-7s appeared to dominate the automotive park, with FCs and FDs just about in every single place you seemed. Listed here are only a few of those I noticed.
There have been loads of Porsche scattered across the place too, together with this lovely blue 993.
AE86s got here in all shapes and varieties. It was nice to see an FK’s Manufacturing facility Trueno hatch out within the wild. FK is well-known for its distinctive builds and liveries, and this one isn’t any exception.
Nissan’s presence within the automotive parks was nearly stronger than at its sales space contained in the Makuhari Messe. GT-Rs and Silvias from each technology crammed the areas, with no scarcity of selection.
Entrance and centre – and sure one of many first automobiles to reach at TAS – was this lovely Datsun 510 1600 SSS on Hayashi Racing wheels.
There have been just a few Honda NSXs that retained their manufacturing unit aesthetic – for essentially the most half.
RE Amemiya made its presence felt each contained in the present and outdoors within the automotive parks with this Mazda RX-8.
It was good to see a superbly completed 180SX Kind-X sitting fairly on RAYS Gram Lights wheels.
Staying on the Nissan theme, this C10 Skyline GT-X was attracting loads of consideration as crowds ushered by.
Then, there was this JZ-powered Toyota duo. Seeing a Toyota Chaser and a Supra facet by facet highlighted simply how related their sizes and proportions are – the ‘four-door Supra’ nickname appears fairly spot on.
Many readers will recognise John’s Toyota Corona GT. After a 12 months of drifting, he’s has handled his AT141 to some new bodywork and paint, and it’s actually wanting the half.
Becoming a member of John was an NA2 Honda NSX-R – a uncommon sight out within the wild. That’s no shock given their exorbitant value tags as of late.
One attendee was so keen to start out tinkering with the elements he’d picked up contained in the present that he couldn’t even wait till he obtained dwelling to start becoming them!
Right here’s a polarising combo for you: a track-focused FD Mazda RX-7 paired with a Fabulous-built Honda StepWagon. I’ve seen this van earlier than, and it’s as wild as they arrive with scissor doorways and an enormous sound system.
Liberty Stroll made its mark on the automotive parks, too. A full-kitted Lamborghini Aventador, together with Huracán and a Lexus LC, all sporting Liberty Stroll branding, turned heads and stopped site visitors.
I wasn’t the one one admiring the treasures of the automotive parks. Any seasoned TAS attendee is aware of that the present really begins earlier than you even enter the gates.
Very like every other Japanese automotive occasion, the automotive parks provide a real perception into Japanese automotive tradition. Whereas TAS showcases the glitz and glamour of Japanese automotive life, you’ll be able to’t have one with out the opposite. For that motive, in the event you ever attend Tokyo Auto Salon, I extremely advocate dedicating not less than half your day to cruising across the varied automotive parks. You by no means know what you’ll discover.
Alec Pender
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