The stars of the Subaru stand at the Tokyo Motor Show are unquestionably the Impreza 5-Door concept and the VIZIV Future concept. However, the automaker has also introduced a powerful, limited-edition version of the WRX STI dubbed S207.

Tuned by STI, the S207 is powered by an evolution of the stock model’s turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four engine that has been tweaked to deliver 323 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 317 lb-ft. of torque from 3,200 to 4,800 rpm. A six-speed manual transmission spins all four wheels via Subaru’s time-tested all-wheel drive system. Performance specifications haven’t been announced yet.

Not content with merely adding more ponies under the hood, STI has fitted the S207 with a quick-ratio steering rack, an adjustable suspension system and upgraded brakes on both axles. The sedan rides on 19-inch BBS alloy wheels wrapped by specially-designed Dunlop tires.

Available in blue, black or white, the S207 stands out from the regular WRX STI thanks to add-ons like a large splitter up front, a model-specific rear bumper, and a sprinkling of S207 emblems. The cabin gets Recaro bucket seats for the front passengers and a revised instrument cluster.

The Subaru WRX STI S207 will go on sale across Japan on December 1st. Only 400 units will be available, and each one will carry a base price of ¥5,550,000, a sum that converts to nearly $46,000. At the time of writing it doesn’t sound like Subaru’s latest limited-edition model will be offered on our shores.

NBR Challenge Package

Subaru will fit up to 200 examples of the S207 with the NBR Challenge Package, which celebrates the company’s victory in the SP3T class of the 2015 Nurburgring 24-Hour race. Cars equipped with the NBR package get a large carbon fiber rear wing on the trunk lid (pictured), and up to 100 of them can be ordered in sunrise yellow (pictured).

Toyota has hinted that a Yaris-based hot hatch is just a couple of years away from landing in showrooms.

Speaking to Australian website Motoring on the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show, a Toyota executive revealed the hot hatch will be aimed squarely at the Volkswagen Polo GTI that’s sold in Europe and at the Ford Fiesta ST. Its launch will coincide with Toyota’s long-awaited return to WRC racing.

The Yaris will be equipped with a four-cylinder engine fitted with a big turbo that will spin the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. More precise technical details haven’t been revealed yet, but the Yaris will need to boast at least 200 horsepower in order to keep up with the ST and the GTI, which are rated at 197 and 189 ponies, respectively.

A re-tuned suspension system and bigger brakes on all four corners will also be part of the package. Of course, the mechanical modifications will be complemented by a full body kit inspired by the WRC-spec Yaris (pictured), large alloy wheels and a sportier cockpit with a bucket seats and a model-specific instrument cluster.

Look for Toyota’s Yaris on steroids to debut at a major auto show in either late 2016 or early 2017. It will go on sale in Japan and in Europe shortly after its debut, but it’s too early to tell if the pocket rocket has been earmarked for the United States market.

Yamaha has revealed its Sports Ride coupe concept, on display amongst a bevy of motorcycles at the company’s Tokyo Motor Show booth.

The diminutive sports car aims to deliver a driving experience comparable to a motorcycle, but in a four-wheel package aimed at a “mature audience.” Engineers focused on keeping weight down, while designers took inspiration from Yamaha’s two-wheeled lineup.

Narrow bands of LED headlights mimic the flagship YZF-R1 sport bike, converging on an angular point that drops downward between carbon-fiber front splitters and pronounced air intakes. The tail end follows the same format, placing the dual-pipe muffler high between the taillights rather than conforming to a traditional car layout.

The motorcycle theme is not constrained to the exterior, with instruments and controls arranged in a forward-focused symmetrical configuration. Taking the idea to the extreme, a divider runs between the driver’s feet and a bulge rises from the seat to evoke a bike’s fuel tank.

Designed with help from Gordon Murray — better known for Formula One racers and the McLaren F1 — the rear-wheel-drive coupe is underpinned by a lightweight space-frame chassis with composite panels bonded to the tubes. The same ‘iStream’ production approach was first detailed in 2012 and later appeared in the form of a two-seat city car.

Yamaha has not yet divulged technical details for the Sports Ride, though it is likely motivated by a screaming adaptation of a motorcycle engine. Weighing in at just 1,653 pounds, the coupe is a few hundred pounds lighter than Volkswagen’s Ducati-powered XL Sport.

The Japanese company has not yet confirmed plans to develop the Sports Ride into a production machine.

Live images by Ben Hsu.

Lexus has unveiled a new flagship sedan concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. Called the LF-FC, the concept is likely a preview of Lexus’ next-generation LS sedan.

The most extreme example yet of Lexus’ “L-finesse” design language, the LF-FC features an aggressive front end that includes an exaggerated spindle grille and “floating” L-shaped daytime running lights. In profile the LF-FC takes the form of a four-door coupe thanks to a long hood and short decklid. 21-inch wheels with carbon fiber rims keep the concept visually planted to the ground.

The rear of the LF-LC is decidedly radical for the typically reserved Lexus brand, with oversized L-shaped taillights dominating the landscape. The LF-FC’s rear bumper also stands out thanks to pronounced sculpting.

The interior of the LF-FC features a wrap around cockpit with dual bucket seats in the rear. For a visual wow factor, the LF-FC uses front seats that appear to be floating in place.

Taking a page from the BMW 7-Series‘ playbook, the LF-FC concept uses gesture controls for the car’s audio and ventilation systems. Taking things a step further, the LF-FC uses a hologram to designate where the system can recognize hand gestures.

“Lexus wants to surprise and evoke emotion with its distinctive design and forward-thinking technology. For us, it is more than just a car, and we should exceed conventional imagination. The LF-FC expresses our progressive luxury and high-tech vision of a not so distant future,” said Tokuo Fukuichi, Lexus International President.

That not so distant future might also include a hydrogen fuel cell, which is used to motivate the LF-FC. In the concept’s application, a fuel cell is used to power the vehicle’s rear wheels while two in-wheel motors provide power at the front, giving the LF-FC all-wheel drive. Lexus engineers also designed the LF-FC with near perfect 50/50 weight distribution by placing the fuel cell stack in the rear and the power control unit at the front. Hydrogen fuel tanks are located in the middle of the concept in a T configuration.

Look for many of the LF-FC’s design cues to make the leap to production in the next LS, due out sometime in 2016 or 2017.

Live images by Ben Hsu.

Nissan is showing a new version of its 2020 Vision Gran Turismo at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The concept, based on a fantasy race car conceived for the Gran Turismo video game, was co-developed by Nissan and Polyphony Digital, the creators of the Playstation racing simulator.

Though the car originally debuted at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed, it will receive minor re-tweaks for its Tokyo reveal. Gone is the dark silver paint, traded in for a vivid red hue Nissan calls Fire Knight. The grille has been revamped as well, now bolder and with the V’s arms extending into the bodywork. This so-called V-motion grille has been propagated throughout Nissan’s production car lineup from the Murano to the Maxima.

Supposedly, the 2020 Vision Gran Turismo is a hint at what the next generation Nissan GT-R will look like. Realistically, the body work will probably be not quite so extreme. Rumor has it that it will be powered by a twin-turbo V6 mated to a hybrid system — the same setup as their Le Mans car — that can generate 1,250 horsepower.

Live images by Ben Hsu.