Skip advert
Advertisement

Tokyo show: VW, Audi and BMW

European manufacturers brought some interesting cars to the 2011 Tokyo motor show

Despite the rarity of imported cars on its roads, Japan is still a sufficiently lucrative market for European manufacturers to ensure they turn up at the Tokyo motor show, but when they tend to bring production cars rather than concepts.

This year was pretty much par for the course. Although lots of the European players had booked stands, it was a bit of a struggle to find anything unfamiliar on them.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Credit to Volkswagen for bringing two new cars, one production and one very near to it. We’ve already given you the details on the Passat Alltrak – basically a poor man’s Audi Allroad – with raised ride height and some rugged body cladding. More surprising was the Cross Coupe, a smart-looking compact SUV that’s clearly near to reality – the show car had what appeared to be production metal stampings.

Audi brought the five-door A1 Sportback, together with a toe-curling video presentation of it playing football with some kids. Just be glad that your several thousand miles away. And BMW showed the new 5 ActiveHybrid, which is set to take America (and possibly Japan) by storm. 

All the 2011 Tokyo motor show news is here

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Audi has already sold part of its F1 team
Audi F1
News

Audi has already sold part of its F1 team

A Qatari sovereign wealth fund is set to take a c30 per cent stake in Audi’s Formula 1 team, which will line up on the grid in 2026
29 Nov 2024
Audi Q6 e-tron 2024 review – a calling card for future Audi EVs
Audi Q6 e-tron – front
Reviews

Audi Q6 e-tron 2024 review – a calling card for future Audi EVs

Audi’s new Q6 e-tron debuts the firm’s PPE architecture, which will go on to underpin its future EVs. Is it a worthy alternative to the Porsche Macan?…
20 Sep 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

If F1 had no rules: the car with five outright hillclimb records – car pictures of the week
Gould GR59
Features

If F1 had no rules: the car with five outright hillclimb records – car pictures of the week

In issue 336 of evo Magazine, we had an audience with the Gould GR59, a dominant hillclimb car with five records to its name. These are our favourite …
23 Aug 2025
Aston Martin Vantage (2006) Fast Fleet test – living with a £30k V8 Aston
evo Fast Fleet Aston Martin Vantage
Long term tests

Aston Martin Vantage (2006) Fast Fleet test – living with a £30k V8 Aston

How much does an early V8 Vantage really cost to run? We’re starting to find out
21 Aug 2025
The origins of the Jaguar F-type with the men that made it happen
F Type podcast
Features

The origins of the Jaguar F-type with the men that made it happen

The Jaguar F-type was a sports car 40 years in the making. We reunite the team that made it a reality, which includes our very own co-founder and edit…
22 Aug 2025