To mark the 50th anniversary of the first Tokyo Motor Show, Maserati have presented the Pininfarina-built Birdcage 75th concept supercar on their stand, alongside the two new Quattroporte versions which are making their Japanese debut at the show.

The 39th edition of the Tokyo Motor Show celebrates just over half a century (the event wasn't held in 2004, the exact hlf century year) since the first event at Hiniya Park in 1954. Due to its huge popularity the motor show this year has been extended to 17 days to avoid overcrowding, and this fact now makes it the longest running motor show in the world.

This year an expected 1.5 million visitors are expected, well over the record 1.4 million who attended the 37th show. Visitors began streaming into the huge, modern venue on Saturday when it opened its doors to the public for the first time. There are two hundred and thirty nine companies from thirteen countries taking part and the stands are situated in an exhibition area which measures some 40,000 square metres. There are many new vehicles being presented for the first time in Japan as global carmakers warm to the strategic importance of Asia's leading motor show. From Italy these include Giorgetto Giugiaro's Ferrari GG50 concept sportscar, and the Fiat Panda Alessi which is making its official debut. The main theme of this year’s Tokyo Motor Show is technology and the design of future automobiles, and to this end there are a vary array of futuristic vehicles using alternative fuel cell propulsion. There is also a hall dedicated to the Japanese car industry which has shot to global prominence and penetration in the last half century.
 

Maserati are exhibiting the two news versions of the Quattroporte which made their world debut at the Frankfurt IAA last month. Fronting the display is the high performance Sport GT (in Grigio Touring) and the fascinating Executive GT (in Blu Nettuno).  These two joined by the aggressive GranSport coupé. CEO Karl-Heinz Kalbfell introduced the two new Quattroporte models during a press conference, and he emphasised the importance of the Japanese market to the Modena brand, pointing out the sales success that the Quattroporte has already achieved on the local market, which has always had a strong appetite for prestigious executive sedans.

Maserati also had a special treat for the visitors over the last weekend (22 and 23 October) as the MC12 supercar and the Pininfarina designed Birdcage 75th prototype were alternated on the stand. The Birdcage 75th - built to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Pininfarina and which debuted  at the Geneva Salon in March - blends elevated style with the very latest in technology.