Review: Tokyo Auto Salon Singapore 2013 (12th-14th April 2013)

Last weekend (12th-14th April 2013) was the Tokyo Auto Salon Singapore 2013. Many automotive folks around the region were very excited at the prospect that the Tokyo Auto Salon is coming to Singapore. Being in Singapore and not in Japan would mean better accessibility as it is nearer and cheaper than to travel to Japan especially for those in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Why does it bears the name Tokyo Auto Salon while it's not happening in Japan? The organizers, MediaCorp and Muse Group aims to bring the select best of Tokyo Auto Salon to Singapore and capture the essence of the actual show in a smaller scale; this is the very first time in its illustrious 30 years history of the Tokyo Auto Salon! On top of that, the group, AKB48 will be performing at the show - at no extra charge!

To me that was properly communicated by the organizers. It is also announced that 20 cars from the Tokyo Auto Salon will be making a presence while the rest would not be. As such I am quite bewildered as I've been hearing a lot of bad comments and/or reviews from visitors to the show. 

 
It ranges from:-

1) Just a handful of cars were from Tokyo Auto Salon
2) Poor selection of cars
3) Most cars were from Singapore and Malaysia
4) A waste of time
5) A waste of money
6) The group, AKB48 was on the B list of acts from Japan

I would have to disagree whole heartedly with those comments. I took a flight down to Singapore from Malaysia in the wee hours of the morning to catch the show and to fly out of Singapore back home in the evening. Was it worth the effort? I would say definitly yes.

If one were to understand what would be at the show, one would not be disappointed. If you were expecting a full fledged Tokyo Auto Salon, then by golly, you'll go home feeling shortchanged.

Actually, there were 19 cars and not 20 as announced. While not all of the 19 selected Tokyo Auto Salon cars were the top of the show back home in Japan, most of them were not bad in my opinion. The cars that made it were as below:-

1) Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology SIAT500 (Nissan March Cabriolet)
2) Top Secret Super 86 (Toyota GT-86)
3) Amuse S2000 GT1 (Honda S2000)
4) Scuderia Ciociaro Corse Giappone 500 Maxi (Fiat 500)
5) Spoon Sports NSX-R GT Racing (Honda NSX)
6) Zesty Racing FD3S (Mazda RX-7)
7) Varis GT-R (Nissan GT-R)
8) Mugen RR Advanced Concept (Honda Civic Type-R)
9) Abflug Aloof 01-R Ver. 2 (Nissan GT-R)
10) RE Amemiya NA Super-7 (Mazda RX-7)
11) Veilside 4509 GTR (Toyota Supra)
12) Damd LFT-86 (Toyota GT-86)
13) Tommy Kaira LS-F Premium Sports (Lexus LS460)
14) Top Fuel S2000 Type RR (Honda S2000)
15) Kazuki-kun Open Aristo (Toyota Aristo)
16) Car Sense Patrol-kun Moe-Moe Version (Toyota Crown)
17) Job Design Jdred Lexus (Lexus LS460L)
18) RK Design Laguna Niguel ZR1 (Chevrolet Corvette ZR1)
19) KRX RX-7 Hirameki (Mazda RX-7)

 
I spent 7 hours at the show basically just looking at the cars; chatting with like minded automotive enthusiasts, local Singapore booth owners and also the Japanese chaps that were around representing their respective vehicle on display. 

In those hours there, I also witness how crazed Singaporean youths are towards AKB48. They literally went crazy at the sight of AKB48. - shouting, chanting, singing and dancing to their tunes.

I've to admit I've not heard of AKB48 till of late but damn those fans surely and definitely are super thrilled that AKB48 are here. I would only imagine that they think the entrance fee of just SGD 25 (About USD 20) is really value for money!

 
Besides the vehicles from Tokyo Auto Salon, they were also a few supercars from Italy and Germany and loads of modified JDM rides from Singapore and Malaysia. There were a notable few that were done very well.  

In my opinion, Tokyo Auto Salon Singapore 2013 is a great start and a good first step in bringing Tokyo Auto Salon out of Japan. I can only hope and wish that the organizers see fit to do this again in the future.  

For more pictures from the show, go to this photo album in JDM Auto Link Facebook page. There are 171 worth of pictures in there. Enjoy!

A week in Singapore .....

Pic 1: Errr...this pic is just to get your attention. Yes, it's in Singapore. :)

I was in Singapore the whole of last week. The last time I was there was back in 2008 when I took my niece and nephew for a short tour of the island. So yeah, it has been a while since I step foot on uniquely Singapore. :)

This time round it was not so much of a leisure trip but rather for some meetings and of course the opportunity to meet up with some friends. I've got to meet Roy who owns an ER34 with the exact same bodykit as mine. It's unreal I tell ya! My ER34's Singapore twin. :P

Pic 2: Roy's IMPUL 534S kitted ER34. Love those BBS wheels

Thanks bro for spending a whole day with me going to workshops and hanging out at your place. Really appreciate the hospitality. I'll return the favour when you do come to KL ya.

Well the only "tourist" attraction (besides Orchard Road) that I managed to drop by is Resorts World Sentosa and Universal Studios. Nope, I didn't gamble but I did go in to the casino check out the place. Pretty packed I must say; gamblers from all over the world, well mostly from the Asian region. Asians are natural born gamblers??? :)

Pic 3: Yours to win in Resorts World Sentosa

I didn't venture into Universal Studios as well. Going to a theme park alone is just so weird. LOL. Perhaps next time. I wonder how would the experience be like with the hot and humid weather of Singapore. Sure ain't gonna be like going to the Los Angeles version. I miss LA!

Pic 4: This is as close as I get to visiting Universal Studios Singapore

Anyway, Singapore is cluttered with "supercars". I see Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi R8, R35 GT-R, etc... everywhere. And more often than not, the drivers are pretty young in age. Damn..... :O

I did ask a taxi driver and also the hotel bell boy, "How come these young chaps can own Italian/German supercars?". Funnily enough, both of them commented the same thing. They say that these guys earn a lot of cash (bankers perhaps) and therefore dumps all of their income on a flashy car. They might have little/no savings. I dunno how true tho .....

Anyway, here's some pictures that I managed to snap. :)

Pic 5: R35 GT-R or Audi R8? Tough choice?


Pic 6: Immaculate Mazda RX3. Belongs to a Jap. :)


Pic 7: FC3S


Pic 8: Widebody Scooby with FMIC


Pic 9: Garage R



Pic 10: Did I hear HKS?


Pic 11: More goodies


Pic 12: Modded VR38DETT


Pic 13: Impressive paint job. It's like chrome red!


Pic 14: Lovely view from my hotel room


Pic 15: That street is part of the Singapore Formula 1 GP circuit


Pic 16: This VW Scirocco spots a nice Oettinger bodykit with Oettinger 19" wheels!


Pic 17: Red devils? Prancing horse versus Jap "supercar"


Pic 18: Neat looking Lotus Elise MKII


Pic 19: Parting shot with Roy's ER34

Some shots of Singapore

Pic 1: Night shot of Singapore skyscrapers

Well, this post is not really related to the ER34 but I was in Singapore for a meeting and took the opportunity to visit some places and snap some shots. Not many pictures as I was only there for a day.

It's crazy to drive in Singapore. Everywhere in the city you go, there goes SGD$2.00 for ERP (Electronic Toll Pricing) and every carpark is freaking expensive. But one thing is really good are that all the carparks, basement carparks included, are very very lowered car friendly.

I also got to see how the lighting system are erected for the world's first night Formula 1 race in Singapore thats taking place from the 26th - 28th September 2008. Driving along some of the roads that would be part of the street racing circuit is interesting indeed. Can't wait to watch the race on TV. :P

Here goes some pictures........

Pic 2: Night shot of Singapore skyscrapers

Pic 3: Ministry of Sound!!!

Pic 4: Damn creative Mini advertising. Cheap too I presume...

Pic 5: Clarke Quay along the Singapore River

Pic 6: Clarke Quay: Check out the old shophouses along the river