With plenty of glamour and glitter, the biennial Tokyo Motor Show is underway, featuring nearly 700 vehicles, including motorcycles, and 38 cars developed by Japanese automakers having their world premiere. This year, most of the buzz is on a whole new line of futuristic and hybrid vehicles that boast state-of-the-art technology and challenge existing notions about driving.

The whole exhibit is huge, divided into three main halls and two smaller ones. Upon entering the site, visitors first filter through the North Hall that features motorbikes and car parts. True biker buffs will want to check out the latest Suzuki super-bike, with its three-dimensionally mapped cams, which was launched at the show. Casual browsers will appreciate the beauty of the '70s retro Ducatis also launched at Makuhari.



Toyota's PM concept car features a movable cabin


Oddball hour
The Carrozzeria hall lies between the North Hall and the main complex and houses most of the oddballs of the show, from colorful TVRs to customized Porsches and Mercedes to so-called kit cars such as the half car/half bike 3-wheeled Grinnall Scorpion. From here, visitors can zigzag to either the Center or the West Hall. The latter is home to Lamborghini, Ferrari (replete with Enzo, if only in North American specs) and new Maserati flagship-the huge Quattroporte that was unveiled at the show. Next door on the Fiat stand, don't miss the beautiful 8c Competizione concept car that hints at how the Italian manufacturer will develop the Alfa Romeo brand in the new millennium. From the Italian corner, photographers in search of a different type of beauty should head past the custom parts stalls to the tire makers' area, where the most scantily-clad companions pose.

Nearby, Suzuki displays four concept cars: the S2, which should be heading for production soon; the S-Ride, a tandem two-seater attempting to blend the pleasure of a motorcycle with the practicality of a car; a futuristic 4x4 called Landbreeze; and the Mobile Terrace, which, as the name suggests, is a powered slab to which a number of different bodies may be attached. Fellow GM group member Subaru is close by, proudly displaying its misguided attempt at establishing a corporate identity by making all its upcoming cars uniformly ugly.




Mitsubishi's aggressively styled Tarmac Spyder


In the Center Hall, Nissan also has a bevy of concept vehicles, but conspicuously lacks a GT-R, much to the chagrin of the press and fans. However, the bizarre Jikoo two-seater is interesting, if only because it manages to be futuristic and retro at the same time. Mazda also managed the same trick with a teaser of what the next Roadster may look like-very similar to the original MX-5/Miata, but made of composite materials for an even better power-to-weight ratio. Honda is reinforcing its racing heritage with racecars and sports models at the fore, and the latest concept of the NSX's future at the rear. But the real surprise of the main hall comes from South Korea. The daring style and attractive lines of the latest Kias and Hyundais are only upstaged by the models (also imported from Korea) posing next to them. If cars such as the Kia KCV-3 and Hyundai Neos-II make it to these shores in production form, domestic manufacturers may have a fight on their hands.



Honda's newest take on the NSX


Heading east
In the East Hall, the BMW 6-series has arrived, and is worth climbing inside to remember what really comfortable seats feel like. Mitsubishi has an expansive and impressive display, the highlights of which must be the aggressively styled Tarmac Spyder sporty drop-top, the SE-RO concept minivan that appears to have dropped in from an old Flash Gordon show and the futuristic "ai" subcompact hatchback concept, which will go on sale within a matter of months. Confusingly, Daihatsu also has a concept car christened Ai, this one a boxy but cute 2+2 K-car aimed squarely at young mothers. It will be interesting to see which company gets to keep the name.

Daihatsu has one of the most interesting stands. The naked style D-Bone buggy is refreshingly different, the XL-C is strangely large for a K-car, while maintaining the exact same dimensions as all its competitors, and the incredible UFE-II hybrid car has achieved an incredibly slippery air resistance coefficient of 0.19, a world best which helped the car to another world record-60km/L (over 160mpg) fuel efficiency on mixed roads.




Daihatsu's Ai concept car aimed at young mothers


Conversely, big brother Toyota's stand is quite disappointing. The Fine-N and PM concept cars are incredible, but so far off current technology as to be ridiculous. The PM is a single-seat electric vehicle with a pod-like cabin and seat shape designed to fit the driver "almost like a glove," according to Toyota. Although its original color is silver, the PM can also emit colored lights to make it look pink, green or blue. The cabin is independent from the suspension system, enabling the vehicle to vary its posture according to speed. Other than that, the rest of the exhibits from Toyota can be found in your local dealership.

Back in fantasy land, as you browse the exhibits, if that nagging little voice telling you that you're unlikely to own any of the super cars displayed anytime soon gets too loud, slip upstairs for a sneak preview of Gran Turismo 4 where you not only get to see incredible cars, but drive them, too.