Picture gallery: Tokyo Motor Show

Visitors played a special version of Sony's GranTurismo

The Tokyo Motor Show, which kicks off on 27 October, is a chance for the troubled car industry to strut its stuff - launching a raft of flashy new models in order to tempt the jaded palate of the driving public.

This year, with storm clouds gathering around the market, manufacturers are trying harder than ever.

BBC News Online presents a gallery of the weird and wonderful offerings at this year's Tokyo bash.

The weirdest concept car was the Toyota/Sony Pod, which expresses its driver's feelings by means of an LED on the front

A close runner-up in peculiarity at the show was Honda's see-through Unibox model

Honda's other new concept car, a hefty off-roader, is mysteriously known as Model X

DaimlerChrysler was one of the few big-name European firms at the show, unveiling its new F400 Carving concept car

Nissan's quirkily-named mm aims to become the next generation of the firm's hugely successful Micra compact car

Isuzu has picked up a little American style from parent General Motors in its new concept pickup truck

Aiming firmly at the city commuter market, Suzuki unveiled the tiny electric-powered Covie

The Nissan Z Car, equipped with a 3.5-litre engine, aims to be the firm's new flagship model