The best cars of Tokyo Auto Salon 2025

The 7 most fascinating performance cars showcased at Tokyo Auto Salon 2025. 

1. LFA-2 Racing Concept

Credit: @pbhr_R34 on X

Now before you go spread the word of a new LFA, the LFA-2 Racing concept was actually built by a group of students at Nihon Auto Technology School, commonly known as NATS. Those who’ve been a keen reader at the Speedhunter site will know that NATS doesn't play around with custom builds. Every year, they’ll make something absolutely bonkers for Tokyo Auto Salon and 2025 was no different. 

Credit: @pbhr_R34 on X

According to Kuruma News, the LFA-2 is based on a 2012 Toyota GT86, which is instantly identifiable from the original instrument cluster in the interior. The exterior is a completely original design, with inspiration from Lexus’s Electrified Sports concept from 2021. 

Students were playing with the idea of an LFA participating in the GT500 or Super GT racing series in Japan, which explains the iconic green-accented Castrol livery. The engine also received a power bump from 200hp to 266hp and a torque boost from 205Nm to 318.8Nm, making this one mean machine.

2. Toyota “M-Concept” GR Yaris 

What if you shoved a fire-breathing engine into a GR Yaris rear cabin and went racing with it? Well, then you’d get the “M-Concept” from the engineers at Toyota Gazoo Racing. In addition to a mid-engine hot hatch, which is already crazy, the concept also uses the new 2-litre turbo engine that Toyota announced last November, except this time it’s named the G20E.

The Japanese automaker says that it's using this concept as a blueprint for their Super Taikyu race car, but we all know that they’re using it as an engine test mule for the soon-to-be MR2/Celica. From our current knowledge, the G20E supposedly makes around 600PS for race use, which paired with the concept car’s GR-Four system makes for an intimidating entry for a race car. 

3. “The HKS Nissan Skyline BNR34 GT-R Dimension:Z”

Nissan Skyline GT-Rs are no strangers to tuners as you’d see them around many booths in every edition of Tokyo Auto Salon, but this HKS-tuned R34 Skyline isn't as tame as it seems. For those who’re new to tuning culture, HKS is one of the big tuning houses from Japan and it has built a legendary reputation over the years for their high-quality parts and insane custom builds.

Credit: Gazoo.com

Getting back to the R34 GT-R, it may seem like a normal, modified white R34. However, HKS has actually infiltrated almost every single part of this R34 Skyline, fitting on all their available parts for the car. Everything from internals to the exterior, this is a wet dream for any R34 Skyline fanatic. It even has a DRS system, for god's sake!

Since the car is a showcase of what a full HKS GT-R would look like, the car is aptly named “The HKS Nissan Skyline BNR34 GT-R Dimension:Z”, which is a mouthful but extremely cool. The tuning company has also announced that it manufactures and sells complete Dimension:Zs, meaning that you too can get one if you have half a million USD of disposable income.

4. Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Keiichi Tsuchiya Edition

Alongside Japanese automakers, Hyundai also joined Tokyo Auto Salon for the second time now, and showed off its new IONIQ 5 N Keiichi Tsuchiya Edition. If you’re unfamiliar with that name, Keiichi Tsuchiya, also known as the Drift King, is a legendary racing driver who single-handedly made drifting a popular sport around the globe. He’s had many victories and is now an international celebrity from his appearance on shows like Hot Version and Best Motoring. 

This is exactly why this IONIQ 5 N feels especially cool, with DK’s signature green accented on the brake callipers, side skirts and front lip. It also gets a huge wing on the hatch along with the words “DK Edition” painted on the side of the car.Nothing has been changed in terms of power though, with it remaining at 650PS of power and 770Nm of torque, it’s unknown if DK will change the suspension setup for better drift initiation and holds though. 

Hyundai is really shaking up the game for fun-to-drive EVs, though it's sad that the IONIQ 5 N DK edition will only be sold in the Japan and South Korean markets, but it’s not like I can afford one anyway.

5. Honda Prelude Prototype

Credit: Auto sport
Attendees at Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 got to see yet another paint job for the Prelude, this time in a glossy black. The Prelude has been a hot topic for car enthusiasts for quite awhile now, dating back two years ago at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. That Prelude was white, then we had a bright red one in December last year, and now a black one been has  unveiled. 

Credit: Auto sport

However, instead of just showcasing another paint job, Honda has added some special aero parts for this car, including a spoiler at the rear. This is accompanied by the striking blue Brembo brake callipers which have Prelude branding. This is perhaps a Modulo package that can be optioned, but I’d like to think it’s a Type R preview. Although it’s confirmed to be a hybrid and paired with a CVT, it’s still one of the coolest coupes that’s nearing production.

6. Mazda MX-5 Spirit Racing Roadster 12R

The humble MX-5 received a new racing suit from Mazda with the Spirit Racing Roadster 12R as a limited-edition run for the model, of which only 200 units will be produced.

The beating heart of the Roadster is still the 2-litre naturally-aspirated inline four-cylinder, but Mazda has given it a motorsport makeover with a stronger crankshaft, reworked exhaust manifold, better cylinder heads and tougher pistons. Compared to the original, these enhancements bump the power numbers up to 199PS from the previous 183PS. The beloved roadster also gets new aerodynamic bits and forged Rays wheels.

The limited-edition 12R is only sold in Japan, so good luck trying to get your hands on one. That aside, Mazda says that it is not giving up on internal combustion engines, and this 12R MX-5 is a testament to that. 

7. Takuro-san’s “The Twin Engine” Toyota Sera 

Credit: SpeedHunters

Some of you might remember the quad-turbo 2JZ Nissan Silvia a few years back. Well, this twin-engine Toyota Sera is built by the same person. The Toyota Sera isn’t a familiar name, but Takuro-san’s name is probably the same too. Takuro-san is quite the personality, with one of his quotes being “I’ve seen jet-powered cars overseas, so I wanted to try driving one too,” when Noriyaro asked why he built his insane custom Silvia. 

Credit: SpeedHunters

With a mindset like that, it’s no wonder this Toyota Sera is just equally as bonkers as the Silvia, with two engines that’s set at the front (SR20DET) and rear (turbocharged B18), making a jet-like 1050HP. Takuro-san dubs this project as "The Twin Engine", which sounds literal, but also incredibly intimidating. Also, both engines have separate Motec ECUs, because why not? 

Adding to this already insane build, the exterior is mostly stripped, with only the door panels and roof intact. The exposed internals look extremely cool, with every part showing some insane engineering to make the build functional. Did I also mention it is all-wheel drive? This thing might actually lift off from the ground if you mash the pedal too hard.