U.S., European models are hot at 2009 Tokyo Special Import Show

There are times when we have to wonder whether there really is a global economic crisis; the Tokyo Special Import Show is one of those times. The show in mid-June was all about bling--lots of it--with just enough performance pizzazz to liven things up.

It's ironic that while U.S. brands aren't too evident in Japanese showrooms or on Japanese highways, those models heavily influenced this tuner show. We found everything from a Hummer H2 riding on 30-inch rims all the way to a spotless Shelby Cobra.

Reimports--cars sold outside Japan and brought back to the country by tuners--are as popular as ever, with the new Infiniti FX and the Toyota FJ Cruiser taking center stage. Power upgrades of every kind were on display, from simple exhaust systems to forced-induction mods to complete engine conversions.

This wide variety of car enthusiasm tells us that, economy be damned, Japan remains one car-crazy nation.

By DINO DALLE CARBONARE