The Best and Biggest from the 2019 Tokyo Show

The Tokyo motor show takes place every other year under the roof of the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center. The theme for the 46th biennial Tokyo show was "Open Future." The show commenced with a handful of concepts, from a Toyota that resembled a Roomba from space to a Nissan with design cues from a smartphone. If you like to get weird, the 2019 Tokyo motor show will not leave you disappointed. A few of the real debuts and launches this year existed only as concepts two years ago at the 2017 Tokyo motor show. And some of the cars featured in this list are sure to make it to production as early as next year.

This weird van looks as if it drove through That '70s Auto Show before it arrived in Tokyo. This is Suzuki's commercial van turned baby station. Sure, the Honda Odyssey has a vacuum, but the Suzuki Every Go Anywhere Baby Room is equipped with dual diaper-changing beds, wipes dispensers, bamboo flooring, and curtains. Suzuki says the van is meant to offer a safe and private place for babies and breast-feeding mothers at outdoor events.

The second-generation Subaru Levorg isn't coming stateside. Dry your tears. The good news, however, is the wagon offers big clues about what we might see for the future Impreza, Legacy, and Outback models we do get. The design offers more angular twists and edges than previous models while still upping the bulge for fenders and quarter-panels. Long live dual exhaust tips. Long live the hood scoop.

BMW revealed a new 462-hp 3-series during the Tokyo motor show. We're told it's capable of a 3.8-second 60-mph run, and if you never lift, it reaches a top speed of 188 mph. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six under the hood bolts to a ZF eight-speed automatic. The Alpina B3 has all-wheel drive courtesy of BMW's xDrive system. On the inside, the B3 has hand-stitched Lavalina leather, metal emblems in its floor mats, and Alpina doorsills. The only sad part to this story is that the B3 goes on sale next year for European customers and won't come to the U.S.

The Mi-Tech concept joins the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, and Ford Bronco off-roaders that can say, Look, Ma, no doors. Going doorless isn't the only trick this Mi-Tech vehicle can pull off. Mitsubishi says the concept is powered by a plug-in electric powertrain with a four-motor electric all-wheel-drive system. It also has a gas-turbine engine, which can run on diesel, kerosene, or alcohol, that's used to recharge the batteries. The Mi-Tech is here to protect the very environment it's made to explore.

Suzuki's two-door concept can transform from coupe to wagon with just the press of a switch. It's a funky idea that tries to meet the needs of buyers who want their cars to do more while looking good doing it. The retro design features fender cameras in place of vintage Japanese car mirrors, and a front fascia that can also change appearances when needed. The Waku Spo also features Suzuki's initial step toward plug-in-hybrid technology.

Imagine a world where electric cars don't use plugs or wires to charge their empty batteries. Lexus says that world exists in the future. Although it doesn't offer a single all-electric option, Lexus does offer hybrids and teases wireless charging with its LF-30 concept. Its body lines appear sharp enough to slice bread, and the vehicle has a windshield that doesn't end until it reaches the rear seats. Passengers can use gesture controls to manage infotainment and other functions without ever pressing a button. We expect the tech behind its four-motor electric powertrain to influence future models.

The Suzuki Hustler concept is the off-road version of the crossover SUV. Although its overall size and shape are pure Suzuki, you can't deny that the Hustler's dark hardtop, fender arches, and taller stance are inspired from the new Suzuki Jimny. The interior carries the torch of simplicity with three large pods that spread evenly across the dashboard. The pod behind the steering wheel holds a giant speedometer with a smaller digital screen for other vehicle info. The center pod is a respectively large touchscreen. And the third pod is an expanded cargo area above the glovebox. It's cute.

If you're reading this from your smartphone while stuck in traffic, this is just the concept car to swipe right on. This copper box is a fully electric concept with cameras for mirrors and doors without handles. On the inside, the IMk is unlike any Nissan available today, as there is not a single physical button on its entire dashboard. Like a phone, the glass displays require the warm embrace of human touch.

It should be no surprise that Mazda's first fully electric model debuted in Tokyo. The surprising part doesn't happen until you start opening its doors. Like Mazda's past sports car, the RX-8, the MX-30 has small rear-hinged doors for the second row that open suicide-style. It could be considered an extended-cab coupe at this point. Mazda didn't have much to say about its electric powertrain, other than it's equipped with a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. No speculation on range or recharging times yet. European buyers can preorder it now while U.S. buyers will have to wait until late next year.

The Suzuki Hanare is for the family that loves everything about being in a van together but hates having to leave the living room to do it. The Hanare has no driver's seat. An enormous screen in the center of the van controls everything. The concept is based on a fully autonomous future, where having a front or rear to cars won't actually matter anymore. Suzuki asks, Why not both?

The reveal of the fourth-generation Honda Fit comes with both joy and concern. In the U.S., the current Honda Fit recently took a 17 percent dip in sales through September, being outsold by its HR-V crossover counterpart. We're happy with the way the new Fit looks, both inside and out. Honda has sharpened its already handsome subcompact hatchback looks without trading fashion for its functional spacious interior. Honda says a new hybrid powertrain is in the works for the global market, but company reps are still keeping their lips sealed about the car's future in the U.S. market.

Nissan hopes to double down on its success with its electric Nissan Leaf with its all-electric SUV Ariya concept. We expect the real Ariya to arrive in the U.S. soon, as Nissan has already filed for a trademark for "Ariya." This is still a concept, but parts of it seem ready for production. We think it might arrive as soon as next year for the U.S., likely starting around $40,000, a price higher than both the Leaf and the Chevrolet Bolt.