The Tokyo Auto Salon 2018 was recently held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture . While the "Tokyo Motor Show" officially showcases major developments in the automotive industry, the "Auto Salon" attracts many fans with a wide variety of exhibits from automakers, importers, and tuning/custom car brands and stores. The number of visitors over the three days exceeded 300,000. So, let's get started with our coverage of the event.
The HOUYHNHNM editorial staff covered this year's event at its own discretion and prejudice. The first thing that caught our eyes as we entered the venue was the "RANGE ROVER" in vivid yellow.
One of the cars at the booth of "RANGERS," a bespoke store specializing in interior and exterior renewal and customization of British cars. I was struck by the fact that it looked brand-new, with absolutely no signs of its age.
Next is a CHALLENGER, a popular model from Dodge, a representative of the U.S., modified to the specifications of ALPHA INDUSTRIES, a well-known manufacturer of military wear. EDGE CUSTOMS, a Gifu-based custom store, was in charge of the project. In addition to the elaborate exterior paint job, the seatbelt is made of MA-1 material, and the "military" theme is expressed everywhere. Many visitors stopped to admire the visuals, which looked like a full-size miniature car with an adult's sense of fun.
The venue was huge. The venue was divided into the West, Central, East, and North areas, each with its own unique booths.
One of the best parts of the Auto Salon? The race queens are one of the best parts of the Auto Salon. People, people, people of race queens in costumes that match the taste of the cars. No wonder there is a grand prize winner.
Now, back to the car, "TALL CAMPER" is a camping car proposed by "Suzuki". You may wonder, "Is it safe for a mini-size car? You may wonder, but no. With a carrier that can securely carry luggage, and a steering wheel, front cover, and tires that ensure stable drivability even on rough roads, this car is the very embodiment of the Lupin III character. . I'd like to actually go camping in one of these vehicles.
As you can see, the Wrangler Unlimited from Jeep . With just a few modifications, the Wrangler Unlimited has a more masculine look. The stock model is not bad, but there is no doubt that it is a model worth customizing.
Of course, it's not all new cars . Why, I wonder, are we attracted to old cars? In the fashion industry, many people look for old cars and drive them. There are some convincing reasons for this: old designs look fresh, they wanted to drive a car they admired as a child, and it is fun to customize them in their own way. . and so it is with this red "Charade de Tomaso Turbo". It has an indescribable charm.
In contrast, this is the booth of "Gordon Miller," a private brand newly launched by Autobacs, a car accessory specialty store that most car owners have visited at least once. The ruggedly designed wire baskets and sturdy steel metal cases, which can be stacked with the handles inside, will make you want to have several of them. In addition to these, there are many other daily necessities with industrial packaging designs that can be displayed as they are, such as multi-purpose paper towels and bottled tissues that can be used in the kitchen. The lineup, with its attention to functionality as well as design, could be utilized not only in the garage, but also in interior design.
A chopstick rest kind of unit. Aside from the price, who would drive it? I mean, who would drive it? It is a unique feature of the Auto Salon that you can see cars that you normally can't see.
Although we were not able to see it due to time constraints, there were live performances by some of today's most exciting artists!
Take a good look. This is not just a rusty car. It seems that rusting has become a trend in the custom car industry in recent years, and in addition to this car, I saw "beautiful" rusted cars here and there. . Incidentally, while the exterior was treated, the interior looked brand new. It was interesting to see the gap between the two.
PUMA has been designing and developing racing shoes and apparel for top motorsports teams and drivers for about 20 years, and currently provides racing suits, gloves, and shoes to drivers of Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari in Formula 1. Puma currently provides racing suits, gloves, and shoes to drivers of Mercedes, Red Bull, as well as Ferrari in F1. Racing shoes and safety shoes were also sold at the booth.
In one corner of the Volkswagen booth, there was an exhibit on the theme of "the outdoors. The "Wagen Bus," with its retro look that is a dream of campers and surfers, and the "Golf Alltrack," which is not shown in the photo, were displayed in camping style by new and old Volkswagens. Many of the visitors were dressed in outdoor wear, and we were reminded of the ways in which Volkswagen proposes to enjoy cars.
. This is an "Auto Salon" vehicle. Of course, it is not allowed to be driven on public roads. This is a custom car made by a student of the Toyota Technical College for Automobiles operated by TOYOTA. The car was based on a 1999 Celica, with the seats made of kimono fabric, the gear handle made of kendama, and a lot of humor that only students can bring out in their cars.
So, that's my report on the Auto Salon 2018, which I have reported on in a rush. How was it? For the Huinum team, which was participating for the first time, everything was fresh and exciting. The concept of just riding in a car is no longer the same, and just like fashion, there were trends, entertainment, and the cutting edge of technology. The next edition will be in 2019 . It is open to the general public , so why not visit?
Text_Jun Nakada
AUTO SALON 2018
www.tokyoautosalon.jp/2018/
