Japan Mobility Show 2025: Mazda Vision X-Coupe Goes Rotary-Hybrid, Lexus Adds Extra Axles, Corolla Reboots

I’m back from the Japan Mobility Show with sore feet, a phone full of grainy stand photos, and a grin I couldn’t shake on the train home. The place had that old Tokyo Motor Show magic again—wild ideas, serious engineering, and just enough mischief to make you wonder what might actually reach your driveway. The headliner? The Mazda Vision X-Coupe, which drags Mazda’s rotary back from folklore and plugs it straight into a modern hybrid narrative. Six-wheel Lexuses, a Corolla that can be anything, and a pint-sized Honda with fake gear shifts didn’t hurt either.

Mazda’s Rotary Revival: Two Concepts, One Clear Direction

Mazda Vision X-Coupe: Rotary-Assisted Plug-In With 503 bhp

Yes, that word again—rotary. Not as the primary engine this time, but as a generator feeding a plug-in hybrid system. Mazda says the Mazda Vision X-Coupe targets 503 bhp in concept trim, and the silhouette is classic long-hood short-deck grand tourer, only with four doors and a sultry roofline. I slipped into the seat buck—well, half a buck—and the driving position felt properly sunken, like a jacket tailored one notch tighter than you’d normally dare. You’ll want a road with cambers and consequence. Hakone at sunrise came to mind instantly.

• Power: 503 bhp (concept target)
• Powertrain: Rotary generator + plug-in hybrid drive
• Character: Four-door GT with a techy pulse

There’s timing in this, too. A new study did the rounds this week suggesting PHEVs can be as dirty as ICE cars if you never charge them. Mazda’s retort, bluntly, is to make you want to charge it. If the rotary works like the MX-30 R-EV—quiet, compact, unobtrusive—the X-Coupe could be the rare plug-in that feels special when you’re in EV mode, not just when the petrol engine wakes up.

Mazda Vision X-Compact: Small Footprint, Big Brain

The companion piece is the Vision X-Compact—neat surfacing, purposeful stance, wheels that look a size too big but somehow sit just right. If the Coupe is for Sunday mornings, this one’s for Tuesday afternoons when you’re late for the school run and still need to swing past the shops. Mazda’s mum on the nuts and bolts, but the packaging looked smart, and the materials talk was all sustainability and tactility. I poked a few panels; it felt more grown-up hatch than cutesy city car.

• Powertrain: Electrified (details TBA)
• Mission: Easy urban living with proper design credibility

Why the Mazda Vision X-Coupe Matters

Beyond the headlines, the Mazda Vision X-Coupe hints at a sweet spot between emotional design and pragmatic electrification. Want long-haul flexibility but daily EV miles? That’s plug-in hybrid territory. Rivals? Think Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid or Mercedes-AMG’s wild E Performance four-doors. The Mazda pitch is lighter on bombast, heavier on feel—steering, seating position, the kind of brake pedal tuning that turns a commute into your favorite part of the day. If they nail that, they’ll have an enthusiast-friendly PHEV without the guilt trip.

Toyota: Corolla Goes Multiverse, Century Goes Upmarket

Corolla Concept: EV and ICE On One Smart Platform

Meet the Corolla that doesn’t want to be just one thing. The concept wears crisp, architectural lines and is engineered to host both EV and hybrid/ICE power. It’s Toyota for all seasons—whatever your grid looks like, there’s a Corolla for it. If it inherits even half of the last-gen Corolla Hybrid’s frugal charm, this will be a daily driver you buy with your head and end up defending with your heart.

• Powertrains: EV and hybrid/ICE envisioned
• Design: Low-slung, squared shoulders, confident stance
• Takeaway: One platform, many futures

Century Coupe: A Velvet Sledgehammer

Toyota spun Century into its own luxury brand and led with a coupe that whispers wealth. Standing by the car, I watched silence do the heavy lifting—tight tolerances, subtle surfacing, materials you want to touch but also don’t want to smudge. Imagine a Kyoto-to-Karuizawa weekend with nothing but road noise below a whisper and a cabin that feels like a private lounge. That’s the vibe.

IMV Origin: DIY-Friendly Work Truck

The IMV Origin is a compact, modular pickup that ships partly unassembled so you can configure it to your trade or taste. Fleet operators will love the simplicity; weekend tinkerers will see a blank canvas for overlanding and odd jobs.

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

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

Lexus went full fever dream with two LS-based concepts: a six-wheeled van with designer-sneaker swagger and a coupe-ified SUV that screams “show car.” Silly? Sort of. But also a fascinating packaging exercise. The six-wheeler looks absurdly planted—imagine the straight-line stability with a wheelbase like a bullet train carriage.

Lexus Sport Concept Interior: Driver-First Futurism

Elsewhere, Lexus displayed a driver-centric cabin with less visual noise and more intention. Slim screens, tactile surfaces, seats that hold you without pinching. I tried something similar earlier this year and only stumbled on the haptics—if they’ve refined that feedback loop, they’re onto something properly intuitive.

Honda: From Latte-Art Theater to Quietly Sensible EVs

Super-One: Tiny EV, Fake Shifts, Real Smiles

Honda’s Super-One is a small EV that lets you “shift” and play engine sounds if you fancy a bit of theater on the commute. Sounds gimmicky. Works a treat. The rhythm matters—especially for first-time EV drivers who miss the mechanical back-and-forth. And yes, it’s aimed at export markets like the UK, where compact EVs are metro gold.

Affordable Electric SUV: Everyday EV, Not a Second Mortgage

Honda also teased a value-focused electric SUV slated around 2027, with a wink at markets like Australia. Get the basics right—rear legroom, an infotainment system that behaves, a range north of “anxious”—and you’ve got the family EV you recommend to friends without caveats.

Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and the Quirky Corner

Subaru Performance-E and Performance-B STI Concepts

Subaru brought two electrified STI-flavored concepts, and one looked suspiciously ready to roll. If the brand can bottle its trademark steering feel and snow-road confidence in an EV, sign me up. Give me instant torque with that symmetrical grip and I’ll find you a mountain pass by sundown.

Mitsubishi Elevance: Three-Row PHEV With Pajero Energy

Elevance reads like a Pajero revival letter—three-row, plug-in, and likely capable off-road if they use electric torque cleverly in 4x4 modes. Perfect for ski runs and Saturday big shops. Just remember the PHEV mantra: plug it in or it’s dead weight.

Nissan Elgrand Returns After 15 Years

Elgrand is Japan’s byword for luxe van life, and after a decade and a half, it’s back. Expect a big leap in safety, refinement, and maybe electrified options down the road. Keep the sliding-door swagger, add serene ride comfort, and it’ll quietly own family road trips.

Daihatsu K-Open: Affordable RWD Sports Car Tease

Back-to-basics roadster energy, tiny footprint, rear-drive promise. If even a slice of this hits dealers, weekends get better and B-roads get busier.

Smart #5 and Vauxhall Frontera (Plus Frontera Electric)

Europe’s mainstream EV drumbeat continues: Smart stays chic and urban, Vauxhall goes value crossover with petrol and electric twins. UK school-run royalty in the making, most likely.

Mazda Vision X-Coupe vs The World

Where does the Mazda Vision X-Coupe sit in the fast four-door cosmos? Here’s a quick sanity check against familiar names.

On numbers alone, the Mazda slots neatly between the sensible Germans and the berserker AMG. The difference will be feel: weight management, throttle hush in EV mode, and that rotary’s smooth hum when the battery needs a hand.

What It All Means

The industry’s done pretending there’s one road to the future. We’re getting braids: EV for the well-charged, hybrid where grids are patchy, and PHEV where range anxiety and towing still matter. That controversial study on PHEVs? It’s a fair warning: ignore the cable, get ICE-like results. Use the cable, and the equation changes fast. The most honest ideas this week made electric desirable in its own right. The Mazda Vision X-Coupe gave it soul. Toyota gave it options. Honda gave it a smile. Lexus, well, gave it an extra axle.

Show Standouts: Quick Compare

Fast Takes and Real-World Notes

• Do 20–30 urban miles a day and can charge at home? A PHEV makes sense—just plug it in like you brush your teeth.
• Live in an apartment or do marathon commutes? A straightforward hybrid (hello, future Corolla) will be less stressful.
• Luxury shoppers: the Century Coupe radiates “quiet luxury.” The valet will clock it before you’ve found parking mode.
• Weekend warriors: if Mitsubishi dials in smart 4x4 logic, Elevance could be the tow-and-trail sweet spot.
• City slickers: Honda’s Super-One proves small EVs don’t have to feel like appliances. Theater helps.

Conclusion

Walking out, I kept thinking how few of these ideas felt cynical. The Mazda Vision X-Coupe shows there’s room for romance in a plug and a cable. Toyota’s Corolla plan meets the world where it is, Lexus dares you to think differently, Honda keeps it human. The future won’t arrive in a single shape or on a single plug. And honestly, that’s more interesting. Pack your charging cable—and a sense of curiosity.

FAQ

Is Mazda really bringing back the rotary engine on the Mazda Vision X-Coupe?

Yes—though not as the main drive unit. In the Mazda Vision X-Coupe concept, the rotary acts as a compact, smooth generator that feeds the plug-in hybrid system.

How is the Mazda Vision X-Coupe different from other plug-in hybrids?

It prioritizes driver feel and design theater while using a rotary generator for range. Think grand tourer vibes with EV miles for daily life.

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

It’s a design exploration that reimagines the LS as a luxe MPV with six wheels. No production promise—just packaging and presence turned up to 11.

Will the new Toyota Corolla be fully electric?

The Corolla concept supports both EV and hybrid/ICE variants, giving Toyota flexibility by market. The idea is one platform, multiple solutions.

When will Honda’s affordable electric SUV arrive?

Honda is aiming around 2027, with indications it could reach markets like Australia. Expect family-friendly packaging and sensible range targets.