My curiosity tach was pegged at redline as opening day at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon neared. Is there a tuning scene in Japan or will I be visiting a ghost of what once was? Would I see trick battery packs for electric cars, custom cup holders, and the latest fuel efficiency modifications or would the show reveal the serious power mods, amazing attention to detail, that unabashed Japanese style, and enthralling builds that I remember from days past? I have attended the show nine times but have not haunted the aisles of the Makuhari Messe convention center in nine years so there was tremor in The Force as I entered the first of 11 halls. The Salon is the driving force, a trend factory in import/sport compact car tuning on both sides of the Pacific. Two steps in Hall 11 I knew all was well, familiar names floated on balloon signs above the convention floor and cars many of us can only dream of building filled the foreground. The following photos provide a slice of life look at the spectacle that is the Tokyo Auto Salon 2015. Liberty Walk, fresh off their viral SEMA video of a Jeep Wrangler rear ending its wide body Lamborghini, was out in full force at TAS. The aggressiveness and excellent fitment of the company’s kits are second to none. C-Plus gets an A+ from us for showing that our style plays out across the Pacific. This wicked Honda Fit is the Kylie Tjin Special Edition that debuted at the 2014 SEMA Show. Molded wide body treatment, fully tucked wheels and tires, and the savvy industrial color of the Honda still dropped our jaws. Who says you can’t tune a Honda Fit? This ride sports an aggressive contact patch, the big brakes to slow the roll, and a suspension to keep the g-forces flowing…hopefully it has an engine swap as well. Subaru put its Super GT BR-Z race car on its highest pedestal. Road going versions and its Toyota GT86/FR-S counterpart are among the most popular platforms to tune currently in the Land of the Rising Sun. The VIP trend is still relevant. These enthusiasts take executive, luxury-oriented rides and trick them out with big tires, big drops, and a host of custom interior luxury add-ons. Honda’s tuning arm, Mugen, is always a crowd pleaser at the Salon. This year was no different as this Honda N-One, dubbed N-Box Slash, can attest to. The Kei-segment people mover rolls custom checkered flag wheels, a full body kit, and a trick interior that carries over the checkered flag them. The Muscle American Style sign is a bit of a reach though. The coolest Corvette on planet Earth is in Japan. This wide body C7 was a smash hit, drawing plenty of gawkers into the Forgiato Wheels booth. Top Fuel, a highly respected tuning shop that cuts its teeth leading the Honda tuning scene in Japan in the 1990s, has embraced the emerging MINI market. The car is small and economical which, along with a splash of Euro chic hipness, makes it attractive to Japanese buyers. The Top Fuel MINI sports a long-tube intake and a host carbon fiber dress-up items. Turbo upgrades are in the works. The Nissan Skyline GT-R was the Big Bang that rocked the racing world and skyrocketed the JDM tuning industry in the early ‘90s. The Salon used to be dominated by the R32, R33, and R34 series GT-Rs, today the R35 is king and only a handful of the old timers were to be found in the entire show. Thankfully Art Tech Hanatsuka was on hand with a trio of these bad boys to keep the embers glowing. With R32s becoming legal for U.S. ownership, there could be a revival in the making. Minivans mean more in Japan. The van scene, they’re called RVs in JDM speak, is alive and well. You can make quite a statement with a tricked out van. Many of the mods get their inspiration from the VIP movement. I'd roll this ride with pride… these things are wicked cool. The RC F is out of the bag in Japan and the tuning industry has embraced the two-door storm trooper with enthusiasm. This Wald enhanced RC F has a mesmerizing just-dipped look to it.
