Tokyo Mobility Show Signals Japan's Push to Counter Chinese carmakers

Tokyo automakers used the Japan Mobility Show, which opened on Oct. 29, to showcase new models and technologies intended to shore up Japanese industry strengths as competition from Chinese carmakers intensifies. Major reveals ranged from Toyota’s retro-styled Land Cruiser FJ and Subaru’s twin STI performance concepts to Mazda’s Vision XCoupe and compact city-car concept, while Honda highlighted its next-generation 0 Series electric family and mobility innovations.

Mazda presented two concepts that blend design and sustainability. The Vision XCoupe is a high-riding four-door coupe concept powered by a 503 horsepower plug-in hybrid system that pairs electric drive with a two-rotor turbocharged rotary engine. Mazda says the package targets a total range near 500 miles with roughly 100 miles of battery-only driving and incorporates technologies the company says could reduce net CO2 through a combination of carbon-neutral fuel derived from microalgae and onboard carbon capture. Mazda president and CEO Masahiro Moro said the company envisions a future where longer driving distances can be aligned with lower CO2 emissions thanks to those technologies. The Vision XCompact draws on the...