On Saturday,October 24,the biennial Tokyo Motor Show kicks off for a 12-day run at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City. As we previewed here just last week (http://urbanracer.com/articles/anmviewer.asp?a=4021&z=2),there are only a handful of truly inspiring cars that should generate interest from the tuner set amid a larger collection of vehicles that features more alt-fuel offerings than anything else.

Not surprising,given the show's theme: "Fun Driving for Us,Eco Driving for Earth." As Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was heard to say,"The race to zero-emission has begun."

In fact,this year's show will probably be remembered more for who didn't show up rather than what did. More than 20 automakers,all from outside of Japan,chose to no-show - many for the first time in decades - as they cut costs in the economic downturn and focus on growing markets like China. OEMs such as Hyundai,Volvo,Porsche,VW,BMW and the Detroit Big Three pinched pennies by staying home this October.

We covered most of the salient J fare in our previous sneak peek,and in our spotlight of Lexus' LFA (http://urbanracer.com/articles/anmviewer.asp?a=4033&z=2),but a few cars from one maker in particular piqued our interest during TMS' Press Preview.

One of the only non-Japanese OEMs taking part,British sports car maker Group Lotus turned up with an Elise R,a 189bhp version of its 1.8-liter 2ZZ-GE-motivated,mid-engine RWD roadster,and the looker of the display,the Exige Stealth (known as the Scura in some Euro markets). We were hooked right from the evil-looking matt-black finish,but then we dug a little deeper and became even more smitten.

The Stealth features a 260hp,supercharged version of the 2ZZ four-banger and drops 20-plus pounds from the Exige's curb weight for an even meaner power-to-weight ratio. The coupe comes standard with launch control,traction control and two-way adjustable Ohlins dampers,but only 35 will be built worldwide and none of them appear headed to the US anytime soon.

Lotus offshoot Caterham Cars also had some sweet machinery in Chiba,chiefly the world premieres of the CSR 175 and the Roadsport. The CSR iteration of the OEM's Seven is the new entry into Caterham's most heavily modified line and comes with a 175hp 2.3-liter Ford Duratec plant,still an awesome combo with the roadster's impossibly light sub-1,300lb. curb weight.

The Roadsport meanwhile is slightly more street built,armed with a two-liter Duratec pushing 175 ponies and fitted with weather equipment and a heater as standard. Other features making the sports car better for daily driving include a five-speed gearbox with longer ratios and 14-inch alloy wheels.

For more on this year's Tokyo Motor Show,head on over to www.tokyo-motorshow.com/eng/,or just click through our gallery of photos from the event.