Autoblog UK

The Tokyo Motor Show has always been different from the rest. This applies to the vehicles on parade and to the visitors in equal measure. Basically, the Japanese and the Europeans have divergent tastes. They read manga comics (by preference to Donald Duck), are mad about electronic gadgetry and drive cars that we would consider shoe boxes on wheels.

This became clear from the concept cars exhibited by the national automotive industry, which effectively turned it into a design Disneyland. There was hardly a serious idea on display with any future prospect of realisation. The Toyota FT-86 will certainly grace the landscape as the next generation Celica. But virtually all the other show models have no chance at all of ever making it onto the road.

Last week in Hamburg, the well-known New York street artist Craig 'KR' Costello gave a Mini a paint job in his so-called 'Krink' style. This involves applying the paint in such a way that it runs down the surface, looking as if it has been laid on too thickly. In the case of the Mini seen below, the silver streaks appears to trickle down the bodywork plus the rear and side windows. KR Costello made a name for himself in the 90s with his distinctive signature style. Ultimately, this led to the Krink brand name and line of products. You can find examples of his work in all the major metropolises of the world, in vestibules, on walls or in underground railway stations.

Mitsubishi plan to fill a gap in their current portfolio with a new compact SUV. The vehicle will have name by the time of its European debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Visually, the newcomer will have a lot in common with the Concept CX first exhibited in 2007. The first drawings show a sporty sloping roof line and a gaping shark's jaw grille. The front view is very much in keeping with the new brand visage now familiar from the mid-range Mitsubishi Lancer.

The new generation of Nissan's Micra is set to conquer the planet and is therefore required to have a uniform appearance for all markets. Thailand has been chosen for the Micra's initial launch in March 2010. After that, it will be rolled out in 150 further countries. It will be interesting to see whether the Micra looks as sporty in real-life traffic as it does on the drawing board.

At the IAA in Frankfurt, Honda were prominent by their absence. Now, at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese carmaker seems determined to compensate in full. They have the biggest stand of all the exhibitors and have filled it up with an array of design studies that are brimful of new ideas, albeit eccentric in part. One of the design highlights of the show is bound to be the Honda Skydeck Concept. This futuristic, airily named family van is clearly a long way removed from being a production-ready vehicle, yet it arouses more than just passing interest. With its windscreen blending into a glass roof, driver and passengers have an impression of unconstrained freedom. The seating too has been designed with leisure in mind. The front doors open upwards and the rear doors slide backwards. In other words, they're doors, Jim, but not as we know them. There is no B-pillar to impede ingress. And if you prefer to sit in the third row, you can push the second bench under the front seat. Under the bonnet, a hybrid PLUS engine provides an eco-friendly drive.

At the Tokyo Motor Show, local carmaker Mitsubishi will be presenting an SUV prototype with a revolutionary hybrid engine/motor that they claim is capable of beating the psychological 2 litres per 100km threshold. The PX-MiEV concept is powered by a newly developed plug-in hybrid system capable of delivering over 140 miles to the gallon. The vehicle combines the best of modern drive technology with superb road dynamics. The latter are provided by the new Mitsubishi S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) four-wheel drive system plus E-AYC (Electric-Powered Active Yaw Control) drive function which ensures the variable distribution of drive torque between left and right-hand side of the vehicle.

At the Tokyo Motor Show (24th October - 4th November), Nissan will be showing off an unusual prototype that combines elements of a mini with those of a motorbike. According to Nissan, the model on display is just a design study. Having said that, though, future small cars from the manufacturer may be heading in this general direction. The dimensions and technology of the tandem could be the answer to some of the problems in congested urban environments. By seating the single passenger directly behind the driver, the designers have ensured that the Land Glider has a very narrow body. Special technology is used to enable the Land Glider to tilt at an angle of up to 17 degrees on corners. The roof is reminiscent of the cockpit on an aeroplane. The vehicle is powered by an electric motor located next to the rear axle and fed from lithium ion batteries.

After drive-in restaurants and a whole host of other drive-in services, the world is now to get its very first drive-in car museum. But here's the big surprise: this ultra-modern tribute to the motor car is not being built in the historical and spiritual home of the drive-in, America, but in China. Star architect Francesco Gatti will take personal charge of the construction work and ensure that the dream becomes reality. Gatti heads up his own eponymous design studio 3GATTI back in his native Italy. The first computer-generated images can be admired in the photo gallery below.

Swiss luxury tuners Mansory took the opportunity of the Frankfurt Motor Show to unveil their 'Chopster' which is based on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Now Mansory have set their sights on the Panamera. The Porsche family car gets a complete redesign with new bonnet and boot. The whole vehicle is handcrafted from carbon fibre and polyurethane. So far, only computer sketches are available – albeit very appealing ones. The new upgraded Panamera should be ready to make its debut in around three months' time. Although Mansory have published the first images, we still await a price list.

Mazda will not only be bringing along some new engines plus a recently developed automatic gearbox to this year's Tokyo Motor Show (24th October - 4th November) but will also be showcasing their Kiyora compact concept. The new diesel engine from Mazda goes by the name of SKY-D and features (amongst other things) high-pressure piezo injectors and a two-stage turbocharger. Fuel efficiency has been boosted by 20 percent compared with Mazda's current 2.2-litre diesel engine. And at the same time, Tokyo will be seeing the Kiyora make its world debut. This metro-style concept has been designed for a felicitous combination of eco virtues with driving dynamics within the compact car segment. The technically advanced drivetrain components from the SKY concept together with lightweight construction materials reduce fuel consumption by the 1.3L engine to an amazing 91mpg (3.1 litres per 100km).