Small, affordable, and sportiness with heritage: the concept behind the CR-Z is unarguable and here moves one step closer to production. First shown in Tokyo two years ago, this year's model is much better resolved and largely what we'll see on the streets in Spring, aside from the front-clip, there for continuity rather than production.

The overall look of the car is set by the high, almost shooting-brake-style centerline that has to clear four occupants and front structure borrowed from the Fit. Despite this the CR-Z has a strong coupe feel aided by black A-posts and accentuated by an undercut body-side feature. The pitch of the C-line at first seems too high in pictures, but in reality allows a satisfying swell of the haunches that white does little to relay. More effective is how well it connects the front overhang to the C-pillar as one approaches the car, adding dynamism that is missing from dead-on profile.

At the rear the distinctive black T graphic of 2007 has been replaced with two pyramidal lamps, bridged by a half-set body-color panel supporting the H-mark. As with other Honda show cars, lighting is crude, but the overall expression is modest and appealing, adding a welcome feeling of stability. Of note also is how Honda has eschewed a visible exhaust pipe to communicate low emissions.

Inside the interior feels closer to the European five-door Civic, the layered design featuring vents wrapping the dials and spreading themselves in front of the passenger. It also features a manual gearbox and though a busy design, it is futuristic and should offer good value to the customer. But outside Honda is caught between satisfying those with memories of the old CR-X and new buyers that do without. In light of the Toyota FT-86 and Hyundai Veloster, to us the CR-Z could have been more ambitious.

This was one of the surprises of the show, an electric three-seater based on a golf-cart and styled as a conch by third year students at Tokyo Communication and Arts University (TCA). Under the guidance of Mazda-RX-8 designer Shigeo Hirata, students Daito Tokumori (exterior) and Kim Joon Sun (interior) took the concept from digital to the full-size mock-up on display.

The theme itself is interesting, as conch shells move from place to place according to environment. It also creates a unique body-shape that peaks rearwards at 1860mm tall. The front is particularly fresh, as a lightning-like zig-zag tears down the A-pillar into distorted arches: clearly this area is unresolved, but there is great appeal in seeing something this unique and with such a strong feeling of spontaneity.

Continue walking around the front, and the body-color draws attention for literally blurring the line between it and the dark-graphic, in this case imitating carbon-fiber. Perhaps unwittingly, this keys directly with recent leatherwear from Prada. Surprising then that we should see it here first rather than from established luxury brands.

Intelligently for a city car, there is only one door on the curb-side, which slides back to reveal the 1+2 layout. Sitting inside and the benefit of the high roof becomes apparent for ease of access and feeling of space, place space for feature mounting. A subtle detail lies in the floor also, with a pronounced spiral furthering the shell theme and helping to contain the space.

As car companies continue defining the role of electric cars, not all have pushed the opportunity to create a design that truly distinguishes them from their sooty brethren. It may not be resolved, but the P70t Conch is one of the freshest designs of the show, while the 1+2 seating promises to be widespread in future.

Another boxcar launch at Tokyo - this time a production model - was the skinny, tall and spacious four-seater Nissan Roox.

At 3395mm long but only 1475mm wide it's considerably shorter and narrower than its Cube big brother (3890mm long, 1695mm wide) but is 85mm taller, thus creating a very high-sided vehicle. This visual perspective is partly offset by a high and chunky front bumper and lower air intake section sitting below a shallow-smiled three-slit grille with wide-set front headlamps graphically integrated into the same upward curve.

The aforementioned proportions create a massive interior space that can be accessed via five doors - two conventional doors at the front, sliding side rear ones and a huge roof-hinged back door. Sliding rear seats allow for limousine-class legroom (with limo-beating head room) and if the rear needs to be converted to become a surrogate van, the rear seats can also fold completely flat to create a truly vast and usefully non-encroached cubic luggage space.

According to Nissan design boss Shiro Nakamura, despite the Roox's load-lugging potential its compact exterior proportions and tiny 0.66-liter engine still allow it to squeeze into the ‘kei' car class in Japan and thus qualify for useful tax and insurance breaks. The Roox is Nissan's version of the Suzuki Palette and goes on sale in Japan in December 2009.