It’s been nearly two weeks since we dropped our first Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 story, and as you could be conscious, a couple of modifications are underway right here at Speedhunters…
We teased a website ‘refresh’ a few days in the past, and whereas we all know the forthcoming redesign won’t be for everybody, it’s all a part of an even bigger plan. This replace serves a vital goal as we migrate to a correct CMS and implement extra options all year long.
One of many first massive modifications is the return of the Speedhunters retailer, which has been offline for an achingly very long time. This relaunch isn’t with out its (preliminary) limitations although.
We all know there are many you outdoors the US longing for official Speedhunters merch, and we’re working onerous on increasing our delivery protection within the close to future. The identical goes for product availability; this time-limited preliminary drop is only the start, with lots extra to return very quickly.
However let’s get again to what issues proper now – Tokyo Auto Salon. 2025 was one other chaotic 12 months for each the present itself and the higher Tokyo space, which hosted quite a few meets, gatherings, and occasions surrounding TAS.
By now, you’ve in all probability checked out Alec’s protection of the Underground Tokyo meet. And whereas it was a bit extra low-key this 12 months, RWB nonetheless gathered its house owners on the Thursday earlier than Tokyo Auto Salon kicked off. Then, within the days that adopted, Nissan opened the doorways of their Zama Heritage Assortment for a particular viewing.
As for TAS itself, you’ve already seen many of the heavy hitters from 2025, together with the Liberty Stroll Miura and the Kaido Racer-style R32 Skyline. Toby gave us the complete kei automobile insanity therapy, and we even bought a glimpse of a wild Toyota Sera venture – packing each a turbo SR20VET and a turbo K20A, no much less. Alec additionally scoured the Makuhari Messe automobile park, as a result of, let’s face it, anybody heading to Tokyo Auto Salon is as obsessive about automobiles as we’re.
One factor we didn’t cowl in our first occasion report was a automobile that lit up the feedback part: Rocket Bunny’s Lotus Elise. Not like different Kei Miura creations, this construct goes far past a wide-body equipment – although, mockingly, that’s the one factor we haven’t seen but. As an alternative, this Elise includes a customized subframe equipment on each axles, with the rear housing an EJ25 Subaru motor and a transaxle for good measure. Why? Nicely, apart from being fully bonkers, this Rocket Bunny construct might be competing in time assault occasions this 12 months. Don’t fear, we’ll have a full highlight as soon as it’s prepared for motion.
Earlier than we dive right into a remaining TAS 2025 giganto gallery, there was yet another automobile from the feedback we needed to deal with: an all-carbon C10 Nissan Skyline stationed on the Star Aero Components stand.
This isn’t the primary carbon-clad Hakosuka we’ve featured. Forged your thoughts again a couple of years and also you may keep in mind Dino’s story on the Rocky Auto model. However Star Aero’s construct, dubbed the ‘Hakos Carbon,’ is a complete totally different beast. It options dry carbon panels that may be ordered immediately from Star Aero, making it nearly a whole Hakosuka construct with out counting on a single authentic panel.
Given how costly these automobiles have change into – and the way insane costs for inventory panels are actually – choosing dry carbon alternate options may prevent a good quantity, with the bonus of being far lighter.
And if that wasn’t sufficient to gasoline your carbon fibre cravings, get a load of the S15 Silvia subsequent to it. That’s sporting a full Tremendous GT-inspired aero equipment, which, similar to the Hakosuka equipment, can be out there for order immediately from Star Aero Components.
As we transfer towards the tip of the month, we’ll wrap up our Japan Month 2025 theme with a couple of extra spotlights, together with a uncommon HKS Zero-R that’s surfaced out of hiding, and a road-legal Lamborghini Diablo GT2, meticulously ready by Okay-Engineering. However till then, we hope you’ve loved our Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 protection.
Mark Riccioni
Instagram: mark_scenemedia
Twitter: markriccioni
mark@speedhunters.com
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 on Speedhunters
