Suzuki's new EV-Sport

If you didn't get a chance to go to this year's Tokyo Motor Show, or you went but couldn't see anything because of the crowds, Jack G. Beasley fills you in on what you missed.

The outstanding Aston Martin DB7

Motor shows are like heaven on earth for car fans and bike freaks. This year's Tokyo Motor Show was no exception. If you didn't make it, you missed so much I don't know where to begin. It's too hard to pick just one highlight, so I won't even try; there were just so many great looking and practical cars, interesting innovations and technical developments, as well as some just for fun.

Over the years I have often wondered why the really well-designed cars were always so expensive, and the low budget cars always looked like dogs. It seemed to me that car makers were incapable of producing a really sharp looking car that was in the price range of the masses.

Benz's stunning SLR Roadster Vision

Well, those days are over. The next century will be filled with well priced, great looking cars. A good example is the Toyota Celica, a head-turning, good gas mileage, great performing and low cost vehicle. (See my Celica test in next week's issue.) Another, and one of my favorites at this year's show, is the Will Vi. Yet to be produced (they're stupid if they don't), the car is a part of the Will brand alongside many other products: Will beer, Will refrigerators, Will computers-all kinds of Will things. The Will car is stylish, small, fun to look at and it should be fun to drive. There is a new Will center in Aoyama near Omotesando Crossing, or see their Japanese website.

Another highly impressive small car at the show was the new Suzuki EV-sport, the fruit of Suzuki's technological exchanges with General Motors. It features a versatile electric motor with a performance ranging from instantaneous torque to economical running. Its under-floor battery lowers the center of gravity for a hard-to-beat cornering performance. It's sure to become a winner in the small car category.

The fun new Will Vi

Moving on to the more expensive fun on two wheels, Benz is always worth an eyeball. Try the new SLR Roadster Vision: Supercharged 5.5 liter, 557hp V8 engine, 320kmh top speed, 100kmh in 4.2 seconds and carbon-fiber and aluminum bodywork, providing optimum passenger protection and ensuring a weight advantage of around 40% over conventional sports cars. And the looks - well, I'd give my right arm to have one of these in my parking space.

The next of my all time want-to-haves (this time on four wheels) is the Jaguar XK8. Superb styling, supreme comfort, outstanding looks - you have to see it to understand its beauty. Then there's a car that dates back to 1913: The all-famous, wanted by everyone, affordable to almost no one, Aston Martin. Aston Martin sold its first car in Japan in 1966, a DB6, for just JY720,000. These days the price would be more like JY16 million. Last year, only 30 cars sold in Japan because of the slow economy, but during the bubble it was 80 a year. A vintage model Aston Martin DB7, with a maximum speed in excess of 180mph (290kmh), powered by a totally new, hi-tech 420hp, 6.0 liter V12 engine, was seen for the first time in Japan at the motor show. Actually, I lied-I do have a favorite. The Aston Martin was, for me, the most outstanding car at the show. In fact it's my all time car of cars. I just wish I had an extra JY16 million lying around.

The lesson from this year's Motor Show: It looks like the consumer is in a win-win position for the next century as cars become less expensive, more versatile, easier on the environment... and more fun.