Electric vehicles dominate 2023 Japan Mobility Show

Typically focused on the domestic market, 2023's instalment felt like a tipping point as Japanese carmakers flexed their next-gen electric car muscles and previewed new models.

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The EV revolution is gaining strength in Australia, which means greater diversity and choice for buyers

This year's car news heavy instalment featured everything from exciting reinvigorations of iconic sports car names to mass-market EVs and motorised wheelchairs – there was even an electric LandCruiser.

Here, we've collected all the most important reveals at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show.

The Toyota stand was dominated by EV concepts with the FT-Se GR sports car and FT-3e SUV front and centre.

Along with the quirky Kayoibako (which means shipping container in Japanese), they share Toyota’s new generation slimline battery (set for production in 2025) and all-new modular platform.

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The FT-Se isn't an MR2, Celica, or Supra continuation but an electric sports car all of its own

The clean-sheet coupe (with no ties to prior nameplates, according to lead designer Hideaki Iida) celebrates cabin space and vision. The FT-3e uses the same battery technology and platform and looks to be a next-gen replacement for the existing BZ4x medium SUV.

An electric LandCruiser SE and EPU ute were tucked around the corner and proved controversial among the Australian contingent. They inspired comments about the unsuitability of EVs for the “silent majority” of Australians from the local sales boss Sean Hanley.

Another utility vehicle, the IMV0 also featured – this near-production modular ladder-frame vehicle targets emerging markets.

Besides EVs, Toyota had a diverse powertrain strategy on show with plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell crown models, a hand-steer Prado, and a hybrid Century SUV.

The gently updated BZ4x – with improved battery conditioning and new ‘BEV’ badges – was located outside in the dynamic testing section.

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A blend of ND MX-5 details and FD RX-7 proportions, the Voila Red coupe weighs 1450kg, measures 4180mm long and is powered by a 270kW twin-rotor rotary range-extender powertrain.

Alongside it were all kinds of MX-5s, including a shrunken one for kids, an