Japan Mobility Show Went Full Fever Dream: Rotary Mazdas, Six-Wheel Lexuses, and a Corolla Reset

I’ve just stepped off the show floor with the buzzing ears and shoe mileage to prove it. Tokyo (fine, the Japan Mobility Show) is back to being gloriously weird and wildly ambitious. Think six wheels where four used to be, rotary engines used not for scream-but for charge, and an icon called Corolla that suddenly wants to be everything at once. Let’s unpack the big hitters and what they actually mean for your driveway two or three winters from now.

Mazda’s Rotary Comeback, Twice: Vision X-Coupe and Vision X-Compact

Mazda has never been shy about doing things differently. This week it doubled down, revealing a pair of concepts that made me stop mid-aisle, coffee in hand, grin spreading.

Vision X-Coupe: 503 bhp, rotary-assisted plug-in hybrid

Yes, rotary. But not how you remember it. The Vision X-Coupe pairs a rotary unit as a generator with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain for a combined 503 bhp, according to early briefings. On paper, it reads like a Japanese take on the CLS silhouette—low roof, long hood, four doors—and Mazda coyly calls it a “coupe.” Sure. When I leaned into the cabin mock-up, the seating position felt properly hunkered, and the beltline sits high—exactly the kind of environment that begs for a road like Hakone Turnpike at dawn.

• Power: 503 bhp (combined, concept target)
• Powertrain: Rotary generator + plug-in hybrid system
• Vibe: Romantic grand tourer with a technologist’s heart

It’s also a quiet counterpoint to the week’s PHEV controversy—a study doing the rounds claimed plug-in hybrids pollute nearly as much as petrol/diesel when not charged. Mazda’s answer, in spirit, is to make the PHEV compelling enough that you’ll want to plug in. The proof will be in real-world charging habits, but the intent is clear.

Vision X-Compact: Tiny footprint, big brain

The Vision X-Compact brings the same design bravery to a city-friendly hatch. Tight surfacing, just-so stance, and proportionally huge wheels—I could see this playing well from Melbourne to Manchester. Mazda’s talking sustainable materials and intelligent packaging. Picture your daily run—school drop-off, grocery hop, then a dash across town—and this is the one that looks easiest to live with.

• Powertrain: Electrified (details TBA)
• Mission: Urban daily with grown-up design

Toyota: Corolla Goes Multiverse, and Century Goes Upmarket

Corolla Concept: EV and ICE in one playbook

The new Corolla concept rips up the “appliance car” script. Sharp, almost architectural lines, and a platform intended to support both EV and hybrid/ICE. It sounds like Toyota wants the brand’s best-seller to be a Swiss Army knife: the right tool for every market’s energy mix. If it drives anything like the last-gen Corolla hybrid—light on its feet, stubbornly efficient—it’ll be a reassuring daily with a wilder wardrobe.

• Powertrains: EV and hybrid/ICE envisioned
• Design: Low-slung, pronounced shoulders, concept-car stance
• Takeaway: Global flexibility baked in

Century Coupe: A velvet sledgehammer

Toyota also launched Century as a standalone luxury brand and led with a swoopy coupe aimed squarely at Bentley/Rolls clientele. It’s opulence with Japanese restraint: a grand tourer that whispers its status. I watched a few industry types run hands over the trim—murmurs of “coachbuilt” and “quiet luxury” followed. If you’ve ever daydreamed a Kyoto-to-Karuizawa weekend in absolute calm, this is the mental picture.

IMV Origin: A tiny work truck you partly assemble

Because Toyota can’t resist a curveball, the IMV Origin is a compact, modular truck that arrives partly unassembled for easy customization. Fleet managers and small businesses will love the simplicity. Enthusiasts will see an overland starter kit.

Lexus: The LS Breaks Bad (In a Good Way)

Six-wheel LS Van and an LS “SUV Coupe”

Lexus took its flagship LS nameplate and remixed it into two concepts: a six-wheeled MPV-meets-van and a coupe-ish SUV. It’s bonkers. It’s brilliant. The six-wheeler wears its stance like a designer sneaker—chunky, aspirational, unexpectedly tasteful. The SUV “coupe” reads like a concept-car power move rather than a production promise, but that’s half the fun.

Lexus Sport Concept interior: driver-first futurism

Separately, Lexus showed a driver-focused cabin that dials back visual noise. Thin screens, snug seat bolsters, steering that sits where your hands naturally land. When I tried a similar Lexus buck earlier this year, the haptic pads were the only head-scratcher; if they’ve refined the feedback here, they’re onto something.

Honda: From Pint-Size Theater to a Real-World EV SUV

Super-One: Tiny EV, fake shifts, real smiles

Honda’s Super-One is a small EV with simulated gear changes and engine sounds. It’s the automotive equivalent of latte art—doesn’t affect the caffeine hit, but makes you smile. The clever bit is engagement: new EV drivers often miss the rhythm of shifting. This lets you have your quiet commute and a bit of theater. It’s headed for export markets (UK and beyond are on the cards), and that matters; city centers are crying out for compact, characterful EVs.

Affordable electric SUV: slated around 2027

Honda also previewed a value-focused electric SUV, with hints it could reach Australia. If they nail packaging—rear legroom, simple infotainment, competitive range—it could be the dependable family EV that doesn’t require a luxury badge or a second mortgage.

Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and the Quirky Corner

Subaru Performance-E and Performance-B STI concepts

Subaru brought two STI-flavored electrified concepts. One of them looks suspiciously production-ready. If the brand can inject its trademark steering feel and snow-road grip into an EV, I’m in. Imagine that symmetry control brain, now with instant torque on a mountain pass. Yes please.

Mitsubishi Elevance: Three-row PHEV—Pajero teaser?

Mitsubishi’s Elevance is a three-row PHEV SUV that reads like a Pajero revival note slipped under the door. If it inherits the brand’s off-road chops and uses electric torque smartly in 4x4 modes, it’ll be tailor-made for ski weekends and school runs alike. Caveat: the PHEV emissions debate won’t go away; charge it nightly and it makes sense, ignore the cable and you’re just lugging batteries.

Nissan Elgrand returns after 15 years

Nissan finally pulled wraps off a new Elgrand. In Japan, that name is shorthand for luxe van life. After a decade and a half, expect a big leap in refinement and safety tech. If they keep the sliding-door swagger and add modern EV or hybrid options down the line, it could be the family hauler dark horse.

Daihatsu K-Open: Affordable RWD sports car hint

A tiny, rear-drive roadster concept that looks like it wants to live on B-roads. If even a fraction of this spirit survives to production, the affordable-fun segment wins.

Smart #5 and Vauxhall Frontera (and Frontera Electric)

Europe’s mass-market EV drum keeps pounding. Smart’s #5 keeps the stylish-urban brief alive, while Vauxhall’s Frontera and Frontera Electric play the value crossover card. If you’re cross-shopping school-run heroes in the UK, these will be on your list.

What It All Means: The Big Pivot(s)

Automakers are hedging cleverly. EV where it fits, hybrid where charging is sketchy, and PHEV where customers need towing or long-haul flexibility. That contentious study claiming PHEVs can be as dirty as ICE when uncharged is a useful reminder: your right foot and charging cable decide the outcome. The week’s most honest idea? Make electrification desirable enough that you want to use it properly. Mazda’s rotary PHEV charisma, Toyota’s flexible Corolla blueprint, and Honda’s “fun first” Super-One all point that direction.

Show Standouts: Quick Compare

Fast Takes and Real-World Notes

• If you do 20–30 urban miles a day and can charge at home, the next wave of PHEVs could slash your fuel bill—just plug them in religiously.
• For long commutes or apartment living, a straightforward hybrid (hello, future Corolla) might be the stress-free sweet spot.
• Luxury buyers: Century Coupe looks like “quiet luxury” personified. The valet won’t need a badge to know what it is.
• Weekend warriors: If Mitsubishi’s Elevance gets a capable 4x4 mode with electric torque fill, it’ll make towing and trails feel effortless.
• City slickers: Honda’s Super-One shows that small EVs don’t have to be dull. Fake shifts, real charm.

Conclusion

Japan showed us the future isn’t a straight line—it’s a braided path of EV, hybrid, and PHEV, wrapped in design that dares you to care. Mazda gave us the heart, Toyota the range of possibilities, Lexus the audacity, Honda the playfulness, Subaru the promise of grip, and Mitsubishi a family-size reality check. If this is where 2027 is heading, I’m packing my charging cable and my sense of humor.

FAQ

Is Mazda really bringing back the rotary engine?

Yes, but as a generator in a plug-in hybrid system on the Vision X-Coupe concept. The rotary provides smooth, compact range-extending power rather than acting as the primary drive engine.

What’s the deal with the six-wheel Lexus LS concept?

It’s a design-led take that reimagines the LS flagship as a luxury MPV/van with six wheels. It’s not production-confirmed; think of it as Lexus exploring packaging and presence.

Will the new Toyota Corolla be electric?

The Corolla concept is designed to support both EV and hybrid/ICE variants, giving Toyota flexibility depending on market needs and charging infrastructure.

Is the Toyota Century now its own brand?

Yes. Toyota is spinning Century into a dedicated luxury brand and previewed an ultra-luxury coupe aimed at the Bentley/Rolls set.

When will Honda’s affordable EV SUV arrive?

Honda is targeting around 2027 for its affordable electric SUV, with indications it could reach markets like Australia.