Toyota Tokyo Motor Show Cars

The 2019 Toyota e-Racer is a futuristic, open-cockpit sports car concept inspired by the world of racing. Unveiled at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, the 2019 e-Racer stands out through three features. It has a sleek and aerodynamic design, the passenger seat is placed behind the driver’s, and it features augmented reality and a special pair of digital glasses. It was developed in cooperation with Gazoo Racing and it’s not scheduled to go into production.

Back in 2017, Toyota brought a quirky concept vehicle called the “Concept-i” at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Now, an evolution of that same concept will debut at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. It goes by the “LQ Concept,” and, among other nifty tricks, the LQ Concept is largely defined by a personal assistant called ‘Yui’, which, according to Toyota, is meant to “learn from the driver and deliver a personalized mobility experience.”

In other words, the LQ Concept wants to be your friend, an unnerving thought given where these things could end up. Perceived concerns aside, the LQ Concept is a good example of Toyota’s eye towards a future where a connection between the driver and the car is of paramount importance. We’re going to learn more about the LQ Concept in Tokyo, but, for now, chalk this one up to another concept whose purpose remains years ahead of its time.

Despite the partnership between Toyota, Mazda, and Denso to develop structural technologies for electric cars, Toyota showed up at the Tokyo Auto Show with news that its new solid-state battery technology is a “game changer,” but that it would not share the new technology with its partner Mazda. Apparently, the two brands will still share a platform that can support either current Lithium-Ion batteries on the new solid-state units that Toyota has developed in-house and will keep in-house.

This news comes just a few months after the initial deal between Toyota and Mazda was announced that included an investment from both automakers to build a $1.6 billion plant in the U.S. to develop “electric vehicle technology.” A month later, Denso was added into the mix, and a new contract was signed. The new plant will reportedly be built in the south and employ 4,000 people that will have a hand in producing 300,000 vehicles annually. Essentially, the companies will be sharing factory space and pulling certain parts – now, apparently, EV platforms – that they can all use in their vehicles, something that should help both companies shed a little bit of production costs.

Of course, we haven’t heard a word from Mazda as to whether or not it was expecting to get Toyota’s battery tech as well, but there certainly could be some drama flying around if it was an expectation of the deal. On the other hand, the move should help keep the companies competitive and hopefully Mazda has something up its sleeve as well. At this point, both companies really need to step up their EV game as stricter emissions laws are forcing automakers to shift into delivering more and more EVs in the coming years and some countries are outright banning the ICE altogether. There’s no word as to when Mazda will put its first EV on the road, but Toyota plans to launch its first EVs (probably SUVs or Crossovers) in the first few years of the next decade. Exciting stuff to say the least.

Introduced in 1994, the Avalon helped Toyota become a notable force in the full-size segment in the United States. At the same time, the Lexus LS achieved a similar status in the luxury market. However, the Avalon isn’t Toyota’s largest vehicle. While the Japanese-spec Crown is slightly shorter than the Avalon (by some three inches), the second-generation Century trumps even the latest Lexus LS in terms of length at a whopping 207 inches. Or at least it did until it was discontinued in October 2016. But only one year has passed, and Toyota is getting ready to launch the third-generation model at the 2017 Toyota Motor Show.

Longer and wider, the new Century has been redesigned from the ground up. But, interestingly enough, it retained the traditional boxy design of its predecessor, which makes it a classy, old-school limo that reminds of the 1990s. In a good way! Toyota also replaced the old 5.0-liter V-12 with a V-8 and added an electric motor for enhanced fuel economy. As usual, it’s equipped with Toyota’s most luxurious features and technology, but updated to modern standard compared to the 20-year-old second-gen model. Unfortunately, the Century remains a Japan-only model, so don’t get your hopes up seeing it on North American roads. Let’s have a closer look at what we’re missing.

Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota Century.

Toyota is the largest automaker in the world, even outpacing Volkswagen this year with over 7 million units sold across a plethora of markets. But, despite the huge volume of automobiles Toyota pumps out annually, picking a true-blue sports car from its lineup is a little limited. Very limited, actually, with just a single performance model on offer in the form of the Toyota GT86. Don’t get us wrong – we’re big fans of the little two-door coupe, and we’re quite happy that it exists. That said, we think Toyota has the means to offer us at least a few more options, don’t you? Now, it looks like we might get just that, as Toyota appears to be gearing up for the release of the next-generation Supra. While details on that are rooted in rumor, Toyota could be offering a glimpse at things to come with this new concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. Dubbed the GR HV Sports Concept, it’s a compact two-door with eccentric styling, a hybrid powertrain, and an odd H-pattern automatic gearbox.

Intrigued? So are we. Toyota frames it as “a new way to enjoy cars by integrating the thrill of a sports car with the environmental friendliness of an eco-car.” We see it as a chance for Toyota to instill the brand with a little more adrenaline. Read on for the details.

Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota GR HV Sports Concept.

Toyota has debuted a concept vehicle designed to not only showcase innovation but to also create an entirely new vehicle class. It’s called the Toyota Tj Cruiser, and it’s basically the cross between a minivan and crossover SUV. Toyota says the overall theme is one of work meets play, which led to the Tj Cruiser name. It literally stands for Toolbox Joy. Wait, what? Yeah, Toolbox for its functionality and van-like hauling capability and Joy for the “joy of visiting various places by car.” Wow. Of course, the Cruiser name is borrowed from retro-redo of the iconic FJ series, the FJ Cruiser. As fans of the Jeep Wrangler, it just makes us think about the 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ. What’s worse, the Tj Cruiser’s design makes us think Toyota took a Honda Element, Chevrolet Astro, the Volkswagen Thing, and some weird early-2000s Chrysler concept all squished together like different colors of Play-doh.

Needless to say, the Tj Cruiser’s visuals leave much to be desired.

Once past the questionable styling, the Tj Cruiser’s thesis actually works – a no-holds-barred functional vehicle with available AWD for unpaved roads, room for objects 10 feet long with the seats folded, and four people with the seats in place. There are even aluminum rails with movable tie-down cleats on the ceiling and walls, much like those in a pickup’s cargo bed. Toyota Says the Tj Cruiser rides on the next-generation global architecture and uses a stronger-style suspension system with all-terrain tires. Power is hybrid, of course, paring a 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder with an electric motor and a battery pack. Front-wheel drive is planned as standard, while AWD will be optional. Toyota has mentioned no firm plans for production, but the Tj Cruiser will be on display at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show October 25 through November 5.

Continue reading for more information.

The Toyota Crown isn’t a popular model here in the U.S., and there’s good reason for that. It’s not sold here, though, in its place, we have the Toyota Avalon. It’s a different story in Japan and some parts of Asia where the Crown has become a staple in those markets. Believe it or not, the “Crown” nameplate is actually the longest-running of its kind to be affixed to Toyota, a distinction that stretches all the way back to 1955, spanning a staggering 14 generations, the last of which was introduced in 2012. Fast forward five years, and here we are. Toyota’s all set to launch the 15th-generation Crown by showcasing a near-production prototype of the luxury sedan at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.

There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding what Toyota’s plans for the next-gen Crown was, especially now when a new platform is available to be used. Hardly a shock then to see that the next-gen Crown will, in fact, utilize Toyota’s TNGA platform, which was first used in 2015 by the Toyota Prius. The new platform is going to be one of the biggest changes in the next-gen Crown, but it won’t be the only one. Looking at the photos released by Toyota reveal a few important changes to the physical makeup of the luxury sedan, including a more dynamic stylistic design that remains unique across Toyota’s wide range of model lineups. Look at it from multiple angles and its hard not to notice some European influence in the sedan’s design. It’s a testament to the status of the model, also bolstered by the fact that the Crown is also one of a few Toyota models to actually carry its own badge. We may not be familiar with the badge itself, but rest assured, the Toyota Crown is arguably one of Toyota’s most important models - it doesn’t survive 15 generations for no good reason.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Toyota Crown Concept

Just as news is coming out that nine major automakers are skipping the Frankfurt Motor Show, there appears to be growing rumblings that the Tokyo Motor Show will play to not one, not two, but three sports car debuts. It’s already been rumored that the return of the Toyota Supra will take place in Tokyo, but according to Autobild, the Supra will also be joined by the Mazda RX-9 and the Nissan 390Z.

Obviously, this is pretty big news seeing three separate automakers launch three separate performance cars. They may be different in presentation, but the fact that all three automakers – major ones at that – are going to present sports cars that could turn into rivals of the others is making the Tokyo Motor Show a must-see event. To be clear, though, neither Mazda nor Nissan have confirmed their plans for their local auto show. Likewise, we’ve heard very little about the RX-9 at this point and even less about the Nissan 390Z. If these two cars do show up in Tokyo, it’s going to catch a lot of people off-guard. Even Toyota hasn’t confirmed its plans for Tokyo, even though all signs point to its next sports car making its world debut at the event. It might be best to taper off the excitement for the time being, or at least until we know something more concrete. That said, it is tempting to get a little excited about the possibility of three Japanese sports cars all showing up and debuting in the same event. And they said those days were gone.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Back in May 2015, Toyota filed a trademark for the S-FR moniker, giving rise to a number of scenarios as to what might the Japanese make of it. Some said the name will be used for the next-generation Supra, while others argued that it could be some kind of replacement for the Scion FR-S. Another rumor said that Toyota simply wants to prevent other automakers from using a badge similar to the FR-S. As it turns out, Toyota filed the trademark for a new concept car that will be unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show later this year.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the S-FR concept is a compact sports car that Toyota describes as an entry-level model that emphasizes responsiveness, and "aims to make a whole new generation fall in love with driving." Though the brand released very few details about the car, the S-FR is about as long as the final-generation MR2, although its design is somewhat similar to the GT 86, but with more modern styling cues.

Making it that much more interesting is that it uses a front engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, as well as a lightweight construction. Though Toyota didn’t say whether the concept previews a production model, the S-FR would make a great fun-to-drive, affordable sports car. Stay tuned for more details from Tokyo.

Updated 10/12/2015: British magazine AutoCar reports that S-FT concept is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers a total of 128 horsepower and 109 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and returns up to 55 mpg. These numbers should make it a worthy competitor for cars like Mazda MX-5.

Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota S-FR Concept.

Simplicity has become an all-too-often ignored quality in cars recently. Part of this is because of safety and emissions regulations, but a consumer desire more and fancier electronic gadgetry is to blame for a lot of it as well. Even with the hoods of most modern cars open, the engines are still covered in big plastic shrouds, as if to tell you “you don’t need to concern yourself with any of this.” Well, Toyota’s latest concept, called the Kikai, has gone completely in the opposite direction. This is a car where as much of the mechanical workings are not only not hidden, but are actually on display.

There are some other cars that are sort of similar to this, such as the Ariel Atom. But while the Atom is a sports car, and the simplicity is for the purposes of saving weight and going faster, the Kikai is showing off its innards just because machines are cool, and Toyota thinks we should appreciate that about them. The mechanical workings of the concept are not only exposed, but are also chromed and generally made with a great attention to detail. It might not be all that practical for picking up the kids from school, but it is oddly beautiful.

Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota Kikai.

Toyota has unveiled a handful of new concept vehicles at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. One such concept is the FCV Plus, the Japanese automaker’s latest take on sustainable urban transportation for the cities of tomorrow. This hydrogen-powered vehicle is all sorts of weird, but that’s to be expected for cars that debut at the biennial Tokyo auto event.

It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the FCV Plus’ design, because it really is something else. But move past the car’s bizarre style, and focus on its function, because that’s where you’ll find its real purpose.

Toyota got the hydrogen-powered ball rolling with the curiously designed Toyota Mirai. It may not be Toyota’s best-looking ride, but it is expected to redefine the industry as one of the world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to be sold commercially.

Now, the FCV Plus takes Toyota’s focus on hydrogen-powered vehicles to a whole new level. The concept has its own hydrogen tank, but it can also generate electricity from hydrogen stored outside the ride. This feature allows the FCV Plus to function as a source of power that can be used by the local community.

Don’t let the Jetsons-esque looks fool you – the Toyota FCV Plus has a far bigger purpose beyond being eye candy. It’s meant to showcase the possibilities of a future where cars are powered by hydrogen.

Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota FCV Plus.

Gazoo Racing from Japan is working on a couple of special cars for the 2014 Tokyo motor show. As you may already know, Gazoo Racing has been an active presence in the motorsport scene, as it has also raced in the Nurburgring endurance races among others.

Apart from the other concepts the team has produced over the years, Gazoo Racing will bring a very special, custom Toyota GT86 to the Tokyo auto salon.

The custom Toyota GT86 by Gazoo Racing will be revealed on January 10, 2014. We tried to snoop around for some more information about the upcoming sports car, but sadly, the company hasn’t provided any more details about it.

The Gazoo Racing concept will feature a large rear wing shown here in the teaser image. It could also get a full body kit and minor aerodynamic tweaks. Lightweight racing wheels with larger rotors for improved braking and handling performance.

We are waiting for Gazoo Racing to formally announce the 2014 Toyota GT86 concept, and until then, we could only speculate as to what upgrades could end up on the new car. We will be updating this story as and when the official information is out.

Click past the jump to read more about the Toyota GT86

Anytime you have a car, even if its a concept, that promises a maximum range of 310 miles, you immediately have to give it the attention it deserves.

At the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota has a concept that promises as such, although how much of it will translate to the production model is still a matter of discussion.

The concept is called the FCV Concept, a conceptual successor to the FCV-R Concept we saw two years ago in Tokyo. The new FCV Concept is a lot closer to production than its predecessor with Toyota expected to release the vehicle in the next few years.

As far as the concept goes, the styling is a dramatic improvement from the FCV-R Concept. It still doesn’t look good as we’d like, but the large vent on the front, the stylish headlights configuration, and the unique grille setup makes for a front end that actually looks pretty interesting.

In terms of its dimensions, the FCV Concept is surprisingly robust, measuring 191.7 inches long, 71.25 inches wide, and 60.4 inches high with a wheelbase of 109.44 inches. All that allows enough space for the interior to comfortably sit four adults, which is a good thing for a car that promotes itself as a long-distance people mover.

Ok, so here’s where the FCV Concept gets interesting. It’s far from powerful, as it’s powertrain features a pair of 70 MPa high-pressure fuel stacks, which have a power output density of 3 kW/L and a minimum output of just 100 kW, which is about 134 horsepower based on conversions. All that does, though, is give the concept a whole lot real estate to cover, thanks to its maximum range of 310 miles.

Ultimately, the fate of the FCV Concept will be determined by how much it lives up to its range claims. It if it can come remotely close to approaching it, then Toyota has a winner on its hands. If it doesn’t, then it’s back to the drawing board.

Click past the jump to read about the Toyota FCV Concept’s predecessor, the FCV-R Concept

The Tokyo Motor Show has been full of excitement and interesting new designs, but one bit of bad news has surfaced: Subaru’s brand chief Yasuyuki Yoshinaga dismissed the idea of a convertible Subaru BRZ.

[Automotive News] has reported that Yoshinaga wasn’t too fond of Toyota’s drop-top concept displayed at Tokyo, saying his engineers believe the chassis would require a complete redesign in order to safely create a convertible BRZ.

Unfortunately, the lack of Yoshinaga’s blessing spells doom for Toyota’s attempts at building the car even without Subaru. Yoshinaga is also president of Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company that owns Subaru and manufacturer of both the BRZ and FR-S. “We make the car, so if we don’t make it, it can’t happen,” says Yoshinaga.

With that sort of nail in the coffin, it seems unlikely a convertible FR-S or BRZ will ever appear – at least in the car’s current generation. Perhaps when the car’s second generation rolls out, Fuji Heavy Industries will have accounted for the heavy interest in the roadster. Yoshinaga himself knows the market is ripe for the car, "I understand well that Toyota is receiving strong requests from the American market for the car," he said. "But the biggest challenge is meeting our internal safety standards. There are big technical difficulties."

Perhaps a bigger issue of concern is the apparent inter-company quarreling happening over the convertible idea. Toyota, the company responsible for the overall design of the BRZ/FR-S cars, seems adamant about the idea and has toted several convertible FR-S concepts around to other car show around the world, while the President of the manufacturing company and brand chief of Subaru, responsible for the powertrain and underpinnings of the cars, is dead set against it. Such an open and publicly played out situation cannot be good for future product development.

Lets just keep our fingers crossed that Toyota’s desire for a chopped-top FR-S doesn’t put the entire FT-86 project on the chopping block.

Click past the jump for more info on the FR-S and BRZ coupes

Toyota seems to be on course to give us a different take on its new vehicles, or at least those that we’re accustomed to seeing from the Japanese automaker. Instead of the usual list of models, Toyota is using the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show to present a handful of concept models that fall under the Aqua name.

After introducing the Air Roadster Concept, Toyota is following that up with the Aqua C Crossover Concept — a compact hybrid vehicle that the company is presenting as a potential future crossover. Maybe there’s a future for this crossover, possibly even in Japan, or maybe there isn’t, but the vehicle, like the other two it rolls with, looks pretty bubbly and could be a nice for the younger markets.

As far as the concept itself goes, Toyota gave it a nice design touch, complete with an identifiable front grille, skid plates, aggressive wheel arches, and roof rails. Who knew; this concept has a lot of functionality to it, too.

Toyota has made no announcement on what lies ahead for the Aqua C Crossover Concept, but the good news is that we should find out soon enough when the Tokyo Motor Show opens its doors in a few days.

Click past the jump to read about the 2014 Toyota RAV4, Toyota’s current crossover.

It’s not quite the Toyota GT 86, but it still has the dimensions of a cute little sports car, possibly even a precursor to a future rival for the Mazda MX-5.

Or maybe not.

Either way, Toyota’s Aqua C Air Roadster Concept looks the part of a fun car to drive, even if the reported performance numbers aren’t exactly what you’d call impressive.

As part of the Japanese automaker’s fleet that will be heading to the Tokyo Motor Show, the Aqua C Air Roadster Concept is a hybrid roadster that could very well be a preview of what a future hybrid roadster from Toyota may look like.

Seeing as the concept has been slotted as a B-segment vehicle, the Aqua C Air Roadster Concept only measures 3,990 mm (157 inches) long, 1,690 mm (66.5 inches) wide and 1,440 mm (56.7 inches) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,550 mm (100.4 inches). Doesn’t exactly inspire size and strength, does it?

Nevertheless, the roadster concept is also powered by a sophisticated powertrain that includes a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and an electric motor. Taken together, the engine can produce up to 100 horsepower, while netting a fuel efficiency rating of 83.2 mpg.

Click past the jump to read about a Honda concept that could be a rival of the Aqua C Air Roadster Concept

When it comes to the possible Toyota Supra successor, we have heard all kinds of rumors, including the possibility that it may be all-electric. Now, MotorTrend magazine has some different rumors for us: they suggest that the new Supra will be in fact a hybrid sports coupe.

The new Supra may be the result of the new cooperation between Toyota and BMW, and will be built on the Toyota GT86 platform which could also be used for the BMW Z4 successor. While the GT86 uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the new Supra could use a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine with an output of about 400 horsepower, while a 3.5-liter V-6 hybrid powertrain is still a possibility.

On the exterior, the new Toyota Supra will be inspired by the FT-HS hybrid concept car unveiled at the 2007 Detroit auto show.

The new Supra is expected to be unveiled late in 2017, and a first concept version may be announced this year at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon is just around the corner, so it’s no surprise that first details on the models to be displayed at the famous Japanese show have started to surface online. For example, Abflug has prepared a tuning kit for the new Toyota GT86 sports car, which it has dubbed the "Spiral 86."

Of course this is not the first time you have seen an upgrade package for the GT86, but we have to admit this one is one of the coolest. It includes both exterior and interior updates, but also the addition of 58 extra horsepower under the hood.

Exterior upgrades include a new front bumper, new side skirts, new rear bumper and a new rear upper spoiler. The car sits on a set of exclusive Abflug Prism III 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama tires sized 235/35/ZR19 up front and 255/30ZR19 at the rear. The exterior mods are subtle yet noticeable and they really set off the GT86’s appearance without being too overbearing.

Under the hood the 2.0-liter engine receives a HKS supercharger, a PentRoof FA20 tuning program and a water-bypass kit. As a result, the engine now delivers 258 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 240 pound-feet of torque at 6,600 rpm. The tuner also installed a new HKS Hipermax IV GT suspension system with a new set of shock absorbers, new springs and Dixel brakes to round out the package.

It’s been more than a year since Toyota unveiled the concept version of the FT-86 Coupe at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. During that year, we’ve heard so many reports, rumors, and whispers about the car, that we’re beginning to think that this could very well be the second-coming of Toyota’s iconic Celica line.

Now, after months of speculation on our part and hardcore testing on Toyota’s part, the Japanese company has finally unveiled the production FT 86, only it will be called the GT-86 instead. The new name was chosen as a tribute to Toyota’s GT car heritage and the exhilarating drivability of the Corolla Levin AE86. The Toyota GT-86’s official debut will be made at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

The new GT 86 is based on an entirely new platform and features a low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell. It is powered by the same engine as its Subaru sibling - a 2.0 liter, naturally-aspirated petrol engine - but will only deliver 200 HP as opposed to Subaru’s promised 300 HP. That being said, the base BRZ will come with the same 200 HP that the new GT-86 is sporting, bringing these two models closer than originally anticipated. Subaru’s promised 300 HP will be present in the STI version, leading us to believe that a G-Sports variant for the GT-86 will bring forth the same amount of power. This borrowed engine will be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

UPDATE 07/10/2012: Nino Karotta made one of the most epic reviews for the new GT 86. He crosses Europe in a GT86 to put it up against his AE86 on a racetrack. Hit the jump to see the results.

Hit the jump to read more about the new Toyota GT 86.

Friday the 13th isn’t typically considered a good day for those that are a tad superstitious, but the people behind the Tokyo Auto Salon aren’t in the least bit paraskevidekatriaphobic (plague with a fear of Friday the 13th) because that’s when they decided to open their doors. Lucky for us (pun intended), because Toyota has chosen this setting to reveal their TES-ERA EV - a concept car developed by the Toyota Engineering Society that proves that even electric vehicles can be extremely cool.

The work on this project began back in March 2011 with a team of 20 members doing their best to produce a spectacular electric concept. This concept features an innovative design with sweet gullwing doors, a rich Dark Blue Mica exterior paint finish with 18-inch aluminum wheels, and height adjustable double wishbone suspensions. The interior of the concept gets a built-in touch-shift steering wheel, a rear and side view camera monitor system, an instrument panel, door trims with decorative illumination, and 4-point seat belts.

Joining the ranks of the beautiful exterior is the power setup. The TES-ERA is powered by an electric 4JM motor that delivers a total of 164 HP and 247 lb-ft of torque. The motor takes its power from a lithium-ion battery and is mated to a rear-wheel-drive system and the F1 "KERS’ system. With a total weight of 2535 lbs, the TES-ERA EV can hit a top speed of 124 mph.

All we can say is: we want it!

The 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon is just chock full of tuning packages for the Toyota GT 86, or any of its sibling iterations. Next to the GT86 by TRD featured earlier, Toyota has also brought the GT 86 Modellista version to Japan. While both versions mostly focused on adding some flare to the small sports car, they both proved that the GT86 is the perfect car to upgrade, in any way the customer dreams or desires.

The Toyota GT 86 Modellista has received a new front spoiler, a new rear spoiler, and chrome door moldings. Both headlights and rear lights have been modified, with the headlights receiving eye lids to simplify the car’s front and the taillights receiving covers to blend with the rest of the car. The final touch for the exterior is a new set of 18" wheels wrapped in high performance tires and a very cool white exterior paint. There aren’t any details on the interior modifications, but stay with us and we’ll keep you posted!

It’s understandable for us on this side of the world to be getting ready for the 2012 North American International Auto Show, but it’s important to not forget that another major motor show is set to open its doors next week. And it just so happens that it’s the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon.

As the home to some of the biggest automakers in the world, the 2012 TAS is expected to feature some pretty interesting vehicles. For their part, Toyota is doing a pretty darn good job drumming up the interest with a teaser of the TRD-developed Toyota GT-86 sports car.

Just to be clear, TRD, or Toyota Racing Development, is the Japanese automaker’s racing division, and they’ve prepared the first high-performance, racing iteration of the recently unveiled GT-86. Not a lot of information has been revealed about the performance package TRD is putting into the GT-86, but we’d be the first to tell you that the mere thought of the affordable sports car receiving a top-flight performance upgrade is already making us drool in anticipation.

For now, we have to settle for this teaser photo, but here’s to hoping that the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon opens its doors sooner rather than later.

It’s not an understatement to say that the Toyota GT 86 is without question one of the most hotly anticipated models to come out of Toyota in quite some time. So when the car was officially revealed, we didn’t have to wait long to see a racing prototype come to life soon thereafter.

Turns out, Toyota Racing Development has developed not just one, but two prototypes based on the GT86: The N0 and the N1.

Official details behind the two models have yet to be revealed, but the Japanese website Response managed to take a few photos of the two cars as they were being prepared for the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Compared to the 86 N0, the 86 N1 appears to be the more aggressively tuned of the two, as evidenced by the enormous carbon fiber rear wing the race car is sporting. The N1 also comes with the same logos and decals the N0 has, as well as special TRD badges found throughout the vehicle.

As far as engine enhancements are concerned, we’re pretty sure that TRD did something to both models to improve on their performance capabilities. Nothing has been announced yet, but we expect details to be revealed sooner rather than later.