What's the news?
The 43rd Tokyo Motor Show kicks off next month and considering it is Honda's home show you would imagine it would be the perfect place to debut the production model of the long awaited NSX. Unfortunately no one in Honda got that particular memo as a refreshed version of the concept will be rolled out at the Tokyo Big Sight on November 20.
That does not mean the Honda stand is likely to be a damp squib however, as the Japanese manufacturer will display the S660 Concept, a spiritual successor to its original sports cars from the 1960s like the S600 and S800 and of course the 1990's Beat. Looking not too dissimilar to the EV-ster concept that was shown in 2011 the S660 eschews its predecessor's electric gubbins for a good old fashioned engine. No official word on it yet but the S660 name would suggest a 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder unit (much like the one fitted to the latest Caterham) from Honda's Kei-car range.
While the S660 remains a concept for the moment the Urban SUV Concept that was shown in Detroit earlier this year has moved up to production with the showroom-ready car to debut in Tokyo. The Jazz-based compact crossover will do battle with the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008 when it arrives. The sub-CR-V crossover is expected in Irish showrooms at the very end of 2014, in time for the '151' registration plate. It is expected to feature the Jazz's 1.4-litre petrol engine and the Honda Civic's new 1.6-litre diesel.
Anything else?
Tokyo will also serve as the venue for the premiere of the N-WGN, an estate version of the Japanese market N-Box kei-car. An all-new Accord Plug-in Hybrid will also take its bow alongside a Jazz equipped with Honda's latest Earth Dream Technology and a whole host of two wheel conveyances called 'bikes'.