The Tomei Expressway opened in March this year and the demand for high-speed driving was growing rapidly in Japan. Significant progress was seen in the performance of Japanese vehicles. The 16th Tokyo Motor Show was highlighted by an array of sports cars and vehicles for motor sports. At the same time, many show models were displayed in the futuristic "dream cars" and commuter model categories, which were developed under the key concepts of high-speed and safety. Notably, the president of the motor show Prince Takamatsu showed particular interest in such future cars displayed on the stages as Toyota's EX-I, II and III. Meanwhile, carmakers emphasized displays of technological developments at the show in response to recall problems reported in June this year. They also aggressively promoted countermeasures for some serious social issues: traffic safety and the prevention of air-pollution.