Two years ago, in the midst of the worldwide financial crash, the 2009 Tokyo motor show felt like a tiny regional event as Western manufacturers abandoned ship. Not this year.
The 2011 Tokyo motor show was different, with Audi (A1 Sportback), BMW (ActiveHybrid 5) and VW (Cross Coupe concept and Passat Alltrack) all unveiling new metal. But much more important was what was on offer from the domestic brands. The Japanese delivered in spades at Tokyo 2011, and two themes stood out: a spate of clever commuter vehicles and a rash of affordable sports cars designed to mix performance with purity.
