2003 Tokyo Motor Show - Rides From The Wild Side

Has the Tokyo Motor Show has lost its edge? We don't know whether to blame the sagging Japanese economy or the rise of globally feasible platforms, but on the surface, the 2003 edition was seemingly a little light on the funk.

The biennial show has always proven to be the exotic erotic ball for the automotive designer set. In years past, it was the place to go to see gas electric/diesel-powered one-wheel-drive mood ring mobiles or vehicles that fold into briefcases at the touch of a button. We might have seen the latter on The Jetsons, but regardless, the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show was a little less zany than usual.

While the design trends exhibited at Tokyo may be leaning toward the conservative, Japan continues to push the technological envelope with alternative power sources. Hybrid, electric, and fuel-cell powered rides were all the rage at Tokyo. Of course, if you wanted zany, there were still standouts like Mitsubishi's SE-RO, Nissan's Jikoo, Toyota's PM, and Suzuki's Mobile Terrace. Follow along as we take a look at the tasty treats that tempted us in Tokyo.