Cool Cars of Tokyo Motor Show 09

This year's Tokyo Motor Show feels less glitzy with the absence of major car-makers from Europe & America. The current economic recession adds further salt to the wound. However, the Japanese still do have something up their sleeves. They do not need the rest of the world to show them what they can do. Afterall, this is the land of Doraemon!

Among the stars of the Tokyo Motor Show 09 are the Toyota FT86, Honda CR-Z & Lexus LFA.

Toyota FT86 - front view

The Toyota FT86 is touted as the successor to the famous AE86 Trueno. The AE86, which is nicknamed 'Hachiroku', is regarded as the best handling rear-driven car among its legion of fans.

Toyota FT86 - rear view

It is made even more famous by the manga Initial D. The AE86 was introduced way back in 1983 and until now (26 years later) it is still one of the favourite drift cars.

Toyota FT86 - interior

The FT86 sure has huge boots to fill. But based on the way the FT86 looks, Toyota sure has a winner in its hands.

Toyota FT86

Here's hoping that the FT86 drives as well as it looks and that it lives up to the expectations as the heir to the legendary AE86.


Not one to be left out, Honda launched their new CR-Z sports car at the Tokyo Motor Show. We wrote an article about the concept a few months back and now the concept is becoming a reality. Honda has confirmed its production and it should be in showrooms in Japan as early as February 2010 and by June 2010 for the rest of the world.

Honda CR-Z - front view

The CR-Z is the successor to the Honda CR-X del Sol which was a targa convertible 2-seater coupe. Production of the CR-X was stopped in 1997 and now with the CR-Z, the CR series has been revived.

Honda CR-Z - rear view

CR-Z is the acronym for "Compact Renaissance Zero" and it will be a hybrid sports car. It is tipped to be endowed with a 1.5L iVTEC engine in combination with Honda IMA hybrid system and power is estimated at a modest 130-150bhp.

Honda CR-Z - interior

The Honda CR-Z will come with a manual or automatic transmission and the battery will be nickel metal hydride units.

Honda CR-Z

Perhaps the most glamorous and most anticipated launch in the Tokyo Motor Show 09 was the Lexus LFA. The LFA concept has been around since 2003 and now after 6 years of waiting, the Lexus LFA is finally a reality.

Lexus LFA

However, don't expect to see too many on the road as it is priced at Euro 361000! For that amount of money, one can get a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 plus a Ferrari F430!

Lexus LFA

The LFA comes with a bespoke 4.8L V10 pumping out 552bhp and 480Nm of torque.

Lexus LFA

The Lexus LFA does 0-100 kph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 323 kph. It's kerb weight is 1480kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 373bhp per tonne.

Lexus says only 500 units of the LFA will be built. With its exorbitant price tag, the Lexus marketing team would need to be really creative. LFA chief engineer, Haruhiko Tanahashi, said that the target buyer is one who is not as extrovert or showy as the traditional supercar customer, and someone who is interested in technology.

Lexus LFA - rear view