Toyota City, Japan —Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is displaying a total of 15 vehicles, including five concept vehicles from “GAZOO Racing tuned by MN” (GRMN) and “G Sports”1 (G’s), plus production vehicles, at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2012 with NAPAC2. The Tokyo Auto Salon, the world’s largest customized car exhibition, is being held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City from through January 153.

TMC views the Tokyo Auto Salon as a place where peoples’ dreams about automobiles convene, and as such has actively exhibited there. Building on last year’s show, TMC hopes to spark an even wider range of people’s interest in the joy of owning, driving and discussing automobiles developed through GAZOO Racing4 activities.

The main concept vehicle on display is the “GRMN iQ Supercharger” prototype, a second-generation GRMN supercharged ultra compact scheduled for a limited 100-unit launch5 this summer. Based on the “iQ 130G MT?”6, the GRMN iQ Supercharger features enhanced driving performance and seeks a feeling of integration between vehicle and driver. Also on display from the GRMN series are the “GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II” and the “GRMN Vitz Turbo Concept”, as well as the G’s series’ “Mark X G Sports Concept II” and “Vellfire G Sports Concept” sports-conversion models.

Part of TMC’s exhibition space is an area devoted to custom versions of the compact, rear-wheel-drive sports car “86″ (”hachi-roku”), a vehicle extremely popular at the Tokyo Motor Show 2011. On display are two custom models and also the “GAZOO Racing Toyota FT-86″ that competed in the 2011 Nürburgring endurance race. (TMC plans to compete again this year with an 86 from GAZOO Racing.) The display will also feature aerodynamic parts, wheels and other accessories to give consumers a clear idea of the 86’s expansive customization possibilities.

To further expand its GAZOO activities, TMC established a full-time GAZOO department this January to create more opportunities for people to easily experience the joy of automobiles. The department will continue to actively conduct various grass-roots motorsports events such as the GAZOO Racing “Waku Doki” circuit events8 and the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival (TGRF)9.

Source: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/12/01/0113.html