These cars from Tokyo Motor Show look so wrong yet so right

The Tokyo Motor Show has been home to notable car releases ever since its first expo in the 1950s. The first-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R saw daylight in the biennial auto show in 1968, while the very first Toyota Celica was born in succeeding TMS installment in 1970. The Mazda RX-8, the last breed of the Wankel rotary engine, was introduced in 2001 TMS.

In short, the Tokyo Motor Show is a significant expo for automotive enthusiasts around the world, if not the most.

It isn’t always glitz and glamour in TMS, though. The auto show has also been a birthplace for some oddballs and this year, there are cars that irked some – including us – and it’s easy to see why. Among those cars are the Honda Jazz (or Fit in Japan and other countries) and the Mitsubishi Super Height K-Wagon Concept. These two vehicles aroused the interests of people, for better or for worse, but admittedly, there is something in these cars that I like – eventually.

Call it a guilty pleasure or just an odd taste for cars, but I do have a soft heart for quirky-looking machines. I understand that you might not agree with me, and really, I’m not here to convince you otherwise. I’m here to share why the designs of these oddballs have a bright future in front of them.

Let’s discuss.

People have been up and arms about the Jazz’s new design, even days before its official Jazz/Fit reveal at TMS. They were quick to draw their gun, firing at every angle they didn’t see fit in this all-new hatchback. Strong opinions flew, likening the revamped hatchback to a lot of things other than cars.

I, too, was admittedly confused the first time I laid my eyes on the 2020 Jazz – until I saw the Ness variant you’ll see on the photos below.

Beyond the wordplay you’re probably thinking of right now, the yellow-green accents on the Honda Fit Ness blend so well with the car’s soft lines. Maybe it’s because of the retro design cues. Maybe it’s the unique rims. Or maybe it’s because of the endless possibilities that the two-tone styling employs.

In any case, I honestly adore the Ness' overall styling now, despite the oversized corner windows. If only Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. would bring this particular variant over locally, it would surely sell to those who consider this car fit for their lifestyle – Honda’s very core idea in releasing five Jazz trim levels.

Plus, the Honda Jazz/Fit now comes with hybrid variants, too, which matches its rather subdued styling. The Japanese company hasn't disclosed anything about its powertrain setup, though, but considering how efficient and frugal hybrids are, I have high hopes about the future of the Jazz.

With that said, I can’t help but wonder what the next Honda City will look like.

As you might suspect with its name, the Mitsubishi Super Height K-Wagon Concept is a tall Kei car concept. Yes, I hear you, it’s just a concept, but Mitsubishi said that it’s a preview of a production-spec car, albeit, exclusively for Japan.

Now, the K-Wagon concept isn’t bad-looking at all, really. The design execution is okay, especially that the company tried to integrate the huge dynamic shield corporate signature onto a small vehicle. The contrasting roof color adds character to this small utility vehicle.

However, our problem lies in its proportions. The short nose, narrow body, and tall profile makes it look rather comic than normal. It looks something straight out of an adventure-themed Japanese anime series.

But after staring at it for a good two hours, it grew on me. I also realized that its beauty lies in its intended purpose. With that, Mitsubishi hits the nail on the head with the K-Wagon. It’s practical, I reckon, plus I really think it looks cute or as Japanese puts it, it’s so kawaii. If ever Mitsubishi decides to make its production version a global model, I won’t hesitate to check it out and probably buy one.

My point is, you need to give these cars a chance. You might hate them now because they’re unconventionally designed but trust us, they will eventually grow on you, just as it did on us.

And remember, good things comply with the norm but geniuses are born when you least expect them.