The Sweeter Side of the Tokyo Auto Salon 2011

Almost every show has them and the Tokyo Auto Salon is no exception. We're talking of course about the booth professionals. We'll be bringing you more spicy pictures from the floors of the Tokyo tuning show later on, but for now, here's a taste of some the lovely ladies that smiled at Phil our camera.

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Lotus Exige Scura

This is the limited edition Lotus Exige Scura, also known as the “Stealth Edition” in Japan , that will soon go on sale in the UK . Shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Scura is a modified Exige S, with 260bhp squeezed from its supercharged engine due to a revised ECU.

The Exige S in standard form has 220bhp while the performance pack offers 240bhp. Listed as standard on the track day special are the following: launch control, Ohlins 2-way adjustable dampers, and variable slip traction control. You may be wondering about the “Stealth” name. Special matt “Phantom Black” paint gives the Stealth its name. The weight is reduced by 10kg because carbonfiber was used on some components including sports seats, centre consol, oil cooler inlet valves and front splitter. High gloss “Phantom Black” triple stripes run the length of the car. The Scura will reach 60mph in 4sec, 100mph in 9.9sec and a top speed of 152mph. If buyers order books immediately after this week’s Tokyo motor show, the car will be priced £45,000 in the UK .

Classic Japanese Cars at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show

Together with their new production cars and concept studies, some domestic automakers also brought along with them a handful of Japanese classics to display at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show floors. First up is the 1980 Mazda Familia hatchback which was essentially the Mazda3's forefather. Toyota had a 1981 Toyota Soarer Coupe and the GT HYBD, a gas-turbine hybrid concept version of its first production sports car, the Sports 800 that went on sale in 1965.

Mazda displayed the 1970 500cc rotary-powered RX-500 Concept while Mitsubishi exhibited Japan's first series production automobile, the 1917 A Model which was based on the Fiat Tipo 3. Finally, Honda showed off a first generation (1976-1981) Honda Accord CVCC three-door hatchback.

Photos shot by our Tokyo Motor Show reporter, Phil Alex

Tokyo '09: Daihatsu Shows its More Feminine Side with Mira Cocoa

As if Toyota's affiliate Daihatsu wasn't enough unpopular with male consumers, the company that is known for the most part for its small kei- and city- cars introduced the Mira Cocoa at the 2009 Tokyo Show. The delightfully tiny hatch targets female buyers with its near cartoonish appearance inside and out. It is powered by a 0.6-liter three-cylinder engine that makes 58 horsepower and is available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations with price in Japan starting from 1 million yen or about $10,900 USD.

Photo credits go to our Tokyo Motor Show reporter, Phil Alex