A Tiny Toyota and Nissan Duo That Will Have You Thinking Smaller.

The Tokyo Auto Salon never fails to bring to light the latest and greatest from the Japanese tuning world and, much like SEMA in the U.S., every year a particular model serves as the main attraction for the event. For 2022, the Nissan Z and GR 86/BRZ seem to serve that purpose but as with every year, there are plenty of gems sprinkled throughout the TAS halls and these 2 bite-sized creations deserve some of that spotlight.

See All 32 Photos32

Saijdai Automotive College's Yaris Jr.

First up is this Toyota iQ built by students from Saijidai Automotive College. Yes, the same model that the U.S. knew as the Scion iQ. This 4-seater, well, more like a 3-seater with an additional seat suitable for a small child, has been heavily modified both in appearance and power production.

The original 67hp engine under the hood was pulled and, in its place, a fuel cell was added. The rear seats have been removed with a new firewall constructed to surround the motorcycle engine that now takes up the rear of the car, powered its rear wheels.

See All 32 Photos32

Sourced from a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R, the 1,441cc mill produces over 200hp with an 11,000rpm redline, and only has to push about 1,000lbs. of iQ around. The Kawasaki's radiator is fitted into the bay and the engine is mounted with a custom fabricated mount system that looks rock solid.

Just above the individual throttle bodies are a pair of motorcycle mufflers that send spent gases out through both rear side windows. The mufflers appear to be ceramic coated and the piping covered with DEI heat wrap for thermal management, though the Y-pipe's close proximity to the throttles and how fresh air is directed to them and the cooling system is a question that crossed our minds.

See All 32 Photos32

The exterior should give you some GR Yaris vibes since the students applied the front and rear bumpers, headlights, and taillights to their creation and came up with their own side skirts and fenders to make it all work together. Rolling stock has been updated with Work's new Emotion RS11 wheels that really help tie the whole look together.

Inside the deceivingly spacious cabin, a pair of fixed-back Bride bucket seats were added and laced with Sparco harnesses. A Kawasaki gauge cluster and LCD sit inside of what looks to be a 3D printed bezel to replace the original instrumentation and the dash-top navigation screen was replaced by a carbon fiber plate that houses the power and ignition. Just below, a wrench is mounted in place and controls the 6-speed manual sequential.

See All 32 Photos32

Motorcycle engines swapped into tiny cars have been done many times before, but this version is one of the most complete and well executed examples we've come across. The idea of more than doubling the iQ's horsepower, removing substantial weight, and revving out to 11,000rpm sounds like a dream come true.

Racing Factory Yamamoto's Figaro GT 2000

Racing Factory Yamamoto, an S2000 and NSX specialist, is probably the last shop you'd expect to build a limited-edition Nissan convertible. That's what makes this cross-platform even more interesting.

See All 32 Photos32

If you're not familiar, the quirky 60s-era charm of the Nissan Figaro was an overnight sensation for the automaker. Only poduced in 1991, the 2+2, front-engine, front-wheel drive, limited-edition model was only planned for 8,000 models. With overwhelming demand, Nissan built an additional 12,000 models and sold them through a lottery system.

This model had been sitting in the back of the Racing Factory Yamamoto garage for years and Yamamoto-san had no idea what to do with it. Spending all his time developing parts for Honda's flagships took priority. After growing tired of seeing it collect dust, he decided to do something way outside the box, and began fabricating a frame that would sit under the car's shell and incorporate all of the S2000's attributes.

See All 32 Photos32

That's right, under the Figaro body which was widened considerably by way of custom fenders and side skirts and sinks closer to the tarmac under high speeds thanks to a carbon fiber splitter and rear wing, you'll find what essentially equates to an S2000 foundation and he look is the polar opposite of the Figaro's original innocent identity.

Fitted with custom arms and a cantilever style suspension up front, the Figaro sits much closer to the ground. Filling the flared fender wells are 15-in. Work wheels with 245/40 tires with braking handled by NSX calipers and rotors.

Pull the hood forward and you'll see the front portion of Honda's F-series at play with the majority of the engine stuffed under the cowl, windshield, and even part of the dash. The power plant's position offers a more favorable weight distribution but as you might imagine, requires dropping the engine to perform maintenance or replace parts.

See All 32 Photos32

Plop down inside of the single bucket seat and it's all business with an S2000 gauge cluster and steering column with plastics front and center, and an organized switch panel cascading down the center of the custom dash. Where the passenger once sat, now serves as a hub of sorts for the factory S2000 fuse box, electronic power steering control box, relays, and GReddy E-management Ultimate ECU. Much of the limited interior space is occupied by the custom tunnel that covers the rear portion of the engine and the S2K transmission, and the entire cockpit is laced with a custom fabricated roll cage.

The idea is a wild one and the attention to detail is next level. Even the Figaro's native hits of chrome trim along its body are figured into the equation with Yamamoto adding polished pieces to the side skirts to maintain the flow. And it's more than just a show piece, with the goal to turn laps in this cross-platform creation after the big show. In fact, on the way home from Tokyo Auto Salon, the car went straight to Fuji Speedway to begin shakedown testing which was shared on Facebook Monday.

See All 32 Photos32

See All 32 Photos32