A wise speed hunter once told me, “Whoever starts from the last hall of the Tokyo Motor Salon must finish first.”
Of course, thanks to our resident Dino-san. Although he may not have used those exact words, he explained that most Japanese guests at TAS tend to visit the halls in numerical order. So, if you are ready to get to Hall 11 first, you may find it empty.
I say this because – as you will see from the pictures – half of them do not show a single soul, while the other half struggles to show a complete car without limbs and bags in the way. The moral of the story? If Dino gives you a hint, take it.
Since 1983, Japan has blessed the tuning world with the Tokyo Auto Salon. This three-day event takes over the Makuhari Messe Convention Center and each year manages to accommodate more cars, exhibitors and visitors than ever before.
Last year’s show filled 11 halls with nearly 900 cars and 4,300 booths, which sounds impressive until you realize that more than 230,000 people attended. What’s even crazier is that the first day (Friday) is limited to media in the morning and premium ticket holders from 2:00 in the afternoon. When we say TAS is busy, we mean it truly busy.
What will the atmosphere be like in 2025? Most of the time, it’s business as usual, which isn’t a bad thing. There are no groundbreaking changes or new additions this year, but you’re once again guaranteed an eclectic mix of cars from your favorite JDM tuners and more.
You can’t mention the Tokyo Auto Salon without Liberty Walk. Love ’em or hate ’em, this “wide body era” is still very popular and the effort Kato-san and his team put into their TAS offering is unmatched by any other brand.
Additionally, these decks are much more than just redundant cannons now. The latest, the R32 Skyline inspired by the Kaido Racer era that Kato-san grew up in, is a perfect example. It’s unmistakably a Liberty Walk, but who also thought extending the hood of an R32 to completely hide the headlights would work?
It’s not for everyone, but I like that it exists in a world where most people are obsessed with returning every GT-R to stock.
Then there’s the centerpiece of the Liberty Walk at TAS 2025: the LB-Silhouette Works GT Lamborghini Miura. Unlike the Miura that Kato-san debuted in 2018, this is not a replica; It’s a real Lamborghini with a V12 engine worth millions of dollars. Or at least that was before it became Liberty Walk’s newest piece of art.
Do you feel angry though? I don’t know, and I’m not sure if it’s because we’ve come to expect these high-profile, sometimes controversial designs from Liberty Walk, or if there’s something else at play…
Another is digital artist Juncipal, who played a key role in designing the LB-Silhouette Works GT body kit. Compared to previous Liberty Walk kits, this kit flows better with the Miura’s stock lines rather than fighting them. Yes, it has deep wheels, wings galore, and a massive rear spoiler. But it’s also full of details that bring to mind Group 5 race cars like the Zakspeed Capri.
It doesn’t have a “You did what?!” Factor in like Kato-san’s F40 or Countach designs, but elicits a “this is actually cool” response. My only gripe? Aside from Liberty Walk taking nearly an hour to unveil the car, I’d love to see a “street” version without the massive wing and thousands of (sometimes mysterious) sponsor stickers. But if you own a Lamborghini Miura and want to hack it in and install an air suspension, Kato-san and the team will be more than happy to paint it any color you want.
If the LB-Silhouette Works GT Miura has pissed you off, get ready for the next one too. Controversial designs don’t usually come from manufacturers, but the new Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R with an electric motor is certainly a car that stirs the pot.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand why they did it. But it seems a bit late to the party, especially when Toyota has already electrified the AE86 in 2023, with a hydrogen-powered option thrown in for good measure. There are plenty of classic cars converted to EVs, but when motorsport arm Nismo is busy reproducing the original R32 GT-R’s engine components and iconic LM-GT wheels, it sends mixed signals.
However, there is one part of the R32 that should go into production. The “stock” wheels are not stock at all; They have increased in size from 16 inches to 18 inches while maintaining the original design, allowing the installation of an R35 GT-R Brembo brake kit. This alone almost makes up for the electrical trade-off.
While we’re talking about Skyline GT-Rs, feast your eyes on this BNR34 in the HKS platform – a “complete” build that you can spec yourself provided you have over half a million dollars. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen any new GT-R aero that didn’t look downright dirty (or is just an OEM part made of carbon), but the latest HKS kit adds a lot of aggression.
The party piece is a swan-shaped rear spoiler inspired by the 992 Porsche GT3 RS, with working DRS. Will it make a difference? Maybe not on the highway, but given the amount of money GT-R owners spend on their cars, I can’t imagine this being a difficult segment to sell.
What about any topics at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon? One of the most prominent of these cars is the new Toyota LC250 Land Cruiser this year.
It may not be an obvious choice for speed hunters, But this new generation – and the return of the mighty 70 Series – has generated tremendous global interest since its announcement. We’ll bring you a dedicated Land Cruiser highlight post later in the month, but for now, we’ll easily leave you with the coolest 70 Series at TAS.
UN standard white paint? Checks. Recaro trimmed interior? Checks. RAYS Volk Racing TE37XT Polished Wheels? He died. I don’t care how old and basic these things are to drive; With the right upgrades, it’s painfully cool.
Another trend that’s hard to miss at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon is the return of some “OG” Japanese cars. You could say that every TAS sees a good mix of classics, but this time, the focus is on restoring and future-proofing icons like early Celicas, Datsuns and GT-Rs.
Exhaust manufacturer Fujitsubo has focused heavily on new (old) systems for classic cars like the Celica and Sunny, while Trust/GReddy has a GZ10 Soarer that proudly sports traditional livery. Even Endless has a Maserati 228 on offer, which may just be a supply curve.
TOM’S – Toyota’s long-time racing partner – is selling parts directly to customers for the first time. The AE86 shell you see? This is now available to purchase direct from TOM’S as a newly refurbished item, and if you’re wondering which engine it will pair with, TOM’S will sell you a brand new 3S-GE, 4A-G or 2JZ engine.
This type of upgrade will be reserved for those with deep pockets, but the fact that there is demand for this level of upgrade shows how deeply revered these Japanese classics have become.
Speaking of money, Hyundai has teamed up with Keiichi Tsuchiya to unveil the Ionic 5 N DK (Drift King) Edition. Hyundai is one of the most exciting brands out there right now, pushing the boundaries in both technology and design while making electric powertrains truly fun to drive.
The Ionic 5 N is powerful in standard form, and having previously been trialled with drift-only versions, the DK version will become a production model available in both Japan and South Korea. It’s a partnership that’s far from straightforward because Hyundai rarely follows the “normal” trend.
The same can be said about 326 power. In a show full of jacked-up Land Cruisers intent on maximizing overland adventure, 326 Power dropped a new LC 250 to the ground with the deepest cambered wheels as possible. It’s a little weird, but I’m interested in entertainment.
Then there’s the stunning Toyota Sera – a phrase that very few people can claim to have used in the past. But this is the Tokyo Auto Salon, and this particular Sierra has 1,050 horsepower…
It also has four-wheel drive and two engines – a Nissan “SR20VET” engine up front with 500 hp and a K20A turbo engine in the rear with 550 hp. Dubbed “Twin Dragon” It’s from the same company that previously broke the internet with its S14 turbo quad. Never change.
Let’s play “Spot the Difference” game. One of these cars costs about $40,000, while the other costs roughly 10 times that amount — even before you start adding the extras.
We’ll wrap up Day 1 coverage of the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon at the Top Secret stand, which, as always, is full of modified GT-Rs from every generation.
In the past, you’d see them in top-secret gold or white, but Kazuhiko ‘Smoky’ Nagata and his team have shaken things up with the ‘Stealth’ versions, which feature Stealth Gray paint and matte black OZ Racing wheels.
Every design looks great, and feels like a modern take on Top Secret’s classic tuning philosophy. But I’d love to see the Gold set and the TE37 we all grew up obsessed with return, even if it’s just for once.
With 11 halls of buildings to explore, this is just the tip of the iceberg for the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon. Stay tuned for Part 2 to be released in the coming days, but for now, we’ll leave you with more of Friday’s highlights.
Mark Riccione
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twitter: com. markriccioni
mark@speedhunters.com
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