Tag Archives: Japan Mobility Show

Subaru’s booth at this year’s Japan Mobility Show is split cleanly down the middle — half electric future, half turbocharged nostalgia — but all heart. Under the banner “Driving the Subaru Difference,” the brand rolled out a lineup that captures both sides of its personality: the responsible EV innovator and the gravel-slinging, rally-bred thrill-seeker.

Performance-E: The Electric Flagship We’ve Been Waiting For

Leading Subaru’s performance charge is the STI Performance-E Concept, a sleek, all-electric sports wagon that signals where the brand is headed next. Subaru calls it the “flagship of a new generation,” and if looks are anything to go by, the future of the STI badge could be shockingly good.

The design language is sharp and cohesive — a blend of muscular tension and aerodynamic precision. Bold LED lighting cuts across the front fascia, flanking a wide, sculpted intake treatment. The proportions lean towards a long-roof sports wagon, with a low stance and a sloping roofline that tapers into a ducktail spoiler wearing twin vertical fins. Below, a chunky diffuser borrows cues straight from Formula 1, complete with a central rain light.

Gold aero wheel covers, black rims, and red calipers nod to Subaru’s performance heritage, but the clean surfacing and minimalist detailing speak to a new design philosophy — one that’s as much about efficiency as excitement.

Underneath, Subaru’s cutaway renders reveal a floor-mounted battery pack, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and a low-slung suspension geometry that hints at the brand’s engineering priorities. While no specs have been released, Subaru promises “intuitive, exciting driving experiences” and a “driver-friendly layout.” If this car indeed previews a future electric Levorg successor, it could mark the start of an entirely new chapter for STI.

Performance-B: A Boxer Revival with Old-School Fire

Then there’s the Performance-B Concept, Subaru’s nod to the faithful who still want to hear a turbo whistle rather than an inverter whine. This five-door hatch channels the STI spirit of the 2000s, looking every bit like a reincarnated third-gen WRX STI — only angrier and more sculpted.

Wide fenders with integrated vents, a functional hood scoop, a red-accented grille, and a race-ready rear wing all scream purpose. The aggressive bodykit and meaty alloy wheels with high-profile rubber make it clear this isn’t just a design exercise. Subaru confirms there’s a boxer engine under the hood, paired with its trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, though it’s keeping output numbers under wraps — for now.

No exhaust tips peek through the complex rear diffuser, suggesting this concept is more about aero experimentation than final production form. Still, it’s not hard to imagine this car becoming a direct rival to the Toyota GR Corolla — a modern-day hot hatch war that enthusiasts would gladly sign up for.

Adventure Awaits: The Electric Trailseeker and the Wilderness Lineup

Beyond the performance spotlight, Subaru also leaned into its outdoorsy DNA with a trio of Adventure-themed debuts. The Trailseeker, an all-electric crossover that could preview an E-Outback, joined refreshed versions of the Forester Wilderness and Outback Wilderness. Each was shown with bespoke roof gear — from canoes to bike racks — highlighting Subaru’s outdoors-first ethos.

And just for fun, Subaru brought back a crowd favorite: the Family Huckster, a restomod 1983 Subaru GL Wagon turned viral sensation. With its wild aero bits and performance upgrades, it’s a nostalgic wink to the brand’s quirky, rally-tuned past — the perfect counterpoint to all the futuristic sheetmetal around it.

The Takeaway

Subaru’s 2025 Mobility Show lineup feels like a brand in balance. The Performance-E shows it can think in kilowatts without losing character, while the Performance-B proves the boxer spirit still burns bright. In between, the Wilderness models remind everyone that adventure — not just acceleration — remains core to Subaru’s DNA.

If this is a preview of what’s next for the company, the Subaru Difference might soon mean something broader — and bolder — than ever before.

Source: Subaru

NEW CARS

The Century Coupe: Japan’s Crown Jewel Goes Rogue

October 13, 2025 Francis Mitterrand

The 2025 Japan Mobility Show is shaping up to be less of an auto expo and more of a fever dream for people who like their cars slightly unhinged. Lexus is already flirting with absurdity by turning the stately LS into a luxury minivan, but it’s another Toyota offshoot that’s properly stealing the spotlight. Step aside, chauffeurs — the Century has gone rogue.

Yes, that Century — Japan’s most aristocratic set of wheels, the one that’s spent decades wafting prime ministers and emperors around in monastic silence. Traditionally, it’s been Toyota’s ultimate expression of restraint and craftsmanship: a stately sedan powered by a whispering V12, later by a hybrid V8, and most recently, reincarnated as a cushy SUV. Now, however, the brand has decided to throw its silk gloves out the window and build… a coupe.

And what a coupe it is. Think less “Gran Turismo” and more “rolling art installation.” Teaser shots reveal a long, tall shape that’s unmistakably Century yet oddly futuristic — complete with sliding doors, no B-pillars, and what appears to be a central driving position. Yes, Toyota might have gone full McLaren F1 on its most conservative nameplate. The steering “wheel” is rectangular, because of course it is, and the rear glass is gone entirely — a design quirk straight out of the Polestar playbook.

From the front, it looks imperious. The vast grille — still wearing the golden phoenix badge like a royal crest — isn’t fully closed, which hints there may still be a combustion engine somewhere in there. Vents on the bonnet seem to support that theory, suggesting this might not be purely electric after all. The dual-layer LED lighting gives off Genesis vibes, while the stance is unusually upright for a coupe — as if someone tried to crossbreed a grand tourer with a luxury monolith.

Toyota describes it as a “one of one”, so this might be a bespoke commission for someone with a garage full of rarities and a phone number that starts with “+81.” Or it could be a concept car — a design manifesto showing how far the Century brand can stretch. Either way, it’s a strong signal: Toyota wants the world to notice the Century name.

Until recently, the Century was a Japan-only affair, quietly existing in a parallel universe where chauffeurs wore white gloves and V12s purred in perfect harmony. But with the launch of the SUV and now this coupe, the brand’s ambitions are clearly expanding. Toyota has already hinted that the Century family will go global — and if this is the new design direction, Rolls-Royce and Bentley might want to pay attention.

The Century Coupe will make its full debut at the end of the month at the Japan Mobility Show, where it’ll share floor space with a new Corolla concept (because Toyota never forgets its everyman roots). But make no mistake — this is the headline act.

From chauffeur’s car to showstopper, the Century’s transformation might just be the boldest thing Toyota’s done in years. And if this is what “Japanese luxury” looks like in 2025, the rest of the world better start taking notes.

Source: Toyota

News

Nissan’s Electric Future: Big Dreams, Big Minivans, and a Whole Lot of Voltage

October 12, 2025 Francis Mitterrand

There’s something about the Japan Mobility Show that always feels like a peek into tomorrow — not the cold, corporate “AI-run future” kind, but the sort where electric minivans and drift-ready EVs somehow coexist under one dazzling neon roof. And this year, Nissan looks set to steal its own hometown spotlight.

Fresh off a major rethink under its Re:Nissan strategy, the Yokohama-based brand is turning up to the 2025 Japan Mobility Show with a message that’s equal parts conviction and caffeine: innovation, sustainability, and a bit of emotional charge. This is Nissan, rebooted — and ready to prove that mobility doesn’t have to be boring.

Elgrand Revival: The Big Boss Returns

Front and center in Nissan’s stand will be the rebirth of a Japanese icon: the fourth-generation Nissan Elgrand. For nearly three decades, the Elgrand has been the chauffeur-driven symbol of Japanese luxury vans — a kind of high-roofed lounge for families, executives, and the occasional J-pop entourage.

Now, it’s back — sharper, cleaner, and powered solely by Nissan’s third-generation e-POWER system, a tech cocktail blending electric drive with a small onboard petrol generator. The result? EV smoothness without the range anxiety. Expect silkier torque delivery, a hushed cabin, and an interior that whispers “Tokyo penthouse.”

Ariya 2.0: The Polished Performer

Next up, the refreshed Nissan Ariya gets a subtle but important makeover. Think of it as the EV equivalent of a midlife gym transformation — sleeker on the outside, smarter inside, and more planted on Japanese roads thanks to suspension tweaks.

Nissan’s engineers have also baked in Google-powered infotainment, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, and a software interface that no longer looks like it was designed by an appliance company. Expect a quieter, more intuitive, and more “Nissan 3.0” experience all around.

Leaf 3.0 and Global Sparks

Of course, no Nissan showcase would be complete without a nod to the car that started the EV wave long before Tesla’s Roadster was more than a Silicon Valley fever dream. Enter the third-generation Leaf — all new, sharper to drive, and part of Nissan’s growing electrified arsenal that now stretches across continents.

In Europe, the Micra EV will be doing the city shuffle; in China, the sleek N7 sedan plays the role of the elegant electric cruiser. It’s a testament to Nissan’s regional strategy — one size doesn’t fit all, and neither should one EV.

Power, Pixels, and the Pulse of Performance

Just when you think Nissan’s gone full eco-saint, it rolls in its Formula E Season 11 championship-winning car — a sparkling reminder that electrons can be every bit as exciting as explosions. With its crimson livery and razor-edge aerodynamics, the Formula E racer is proof that Nissan’s racing spirit is alive, just quieter and a bit more… charged.

Alongside it, visitors can plug into the Nissan Energy Experience, an interactive zone showing off how your EV could one day power your home, your camping trip, or — in true TopGear spirit — your sound system at 2 a.m. in the middle of nowhere.

Autonomy, With a Japanese Accent

Looking further down the road (figuratively and literally), Nissan’s also showing a prototype autonomous mobility service vehicle, based on the familiar Serena minivan. Launching as a pilot project near Nissan HQ in Yokohama, it’s designed to tackle Japan’s aging population and the growing need for accessible transport. It’s not the flashiest vehicle here — but possibly the most meaningful.

Public Days: Japan Gets the Good Stuff

When the public floodgates open on October 31, Nissan will remix its stand to focus on the home crowd. Expect fan-favorite metal like the 2026 Skyline 400R Limited Edition, a rugged X-Trail Rock Creek, and — of course — the ever-iconic Fairlady Z, still reminding everyone that passion and performance are very much alive in the age of volts.

If there’s a message behind Nissan’s 2025 lineup, it’s this: the brand’s no longer chasing the EV trend — it’s leading it, on its own terms. From luxury minivans to race-winning electric missiles, Nissan’s future looks intelligent, diverse, and decidedly Japanese.

And if this is the shape of mobility to come, we’re not just ready for it — we’re already queuing up for the test drive.

Source: Nissan

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