The Japanese automaker Honda has just revealed three new vehicles at the Tokyo Motor Show. The EV-N, SKYDECK and CR-Z Concept made their world debuts at the 41st annual auto show. The EV-N is an electric concept model that is powered by a lithium ion battery pack, creating a a fun and easygoing relationship between person and car ushering in a new era of people friendly future mobility. The Skydeck is a six seater hybrid vehicle that transcends generational and lifestyle boundaries to offer multipurpose transport suitable for motorists of all ages. The last of Honda’s new offerings is powered by a compact, lightweight and efficient Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system, the CR-Z Concept 2009 features a broad, low-slung stance with a short wheelbase creating an attractive 21st century vehicle that is both stylish and fuel efficient.
The Japanese automaker Toyota has just unveiled the FT-86 Concept and the FT-EVII at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. The FT-86, with 86 being pronounced as hachi roku, is a compact rear-wheel-drive sports car inspired by the Corolla based AE86 sports coupe from the 1980s, and carries a very strong resemblance to the FT-HS Concept that was revealed back in 2007 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The FT-86 is a compact, rear wheel drive sports concept powered by a 2.0 Liter horizontally opposed, naturally aspirated four cylinder gasoline burning engine supplied by Subaru. In its non boosted form, the flat four make a maximum output of 150 HP.
While the FT-EV II is a compact electric vehicle designed for short distances and is placed under the iQ in Toyota’s line-up. It measures 2730 mm in length, 1680 mm in width and 1490 mm height. The vehicle has no steering wheel or foot pedals-symbols of vehicle performance. In addition, it has not been designed simply as a means of transport, but instead based on the premise of collaboration with communications functions, a concept that differs from earlier vehicles. The car is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that has an autonomy of 56 miles and can hit a top speed around 62 MPH.
Lexus released the LF-A super car as its world premiere at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. The LF-A pursues the ultimate in "joy of driving" with its by a 4.8 liter V10 that delivers a maximum output of 560 HP at 9,000 RPM and a peak torque of 354 lb-ft at 6,800 RPM, with 90% of the total torque being available between the 3,700 RPM mark and the super car’s 9,000 RPM red line. As a result of such a road torque curve, the LF-A can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.7 seconds and won’t stop until it reaches a top speed of 202 MPH.
At the same time Lexus unveiled the compact LF-Ch hybrid, making its Japanese debut. The Lexus LF-Ch combines stylish design cues with full hybrid technology in a practical 5 door compact package that should perfectly fulfill the needs of even the most demanding premium compact customers. The LF-Ch will feature a bolder Lexus grille that sits atop a deep, bulging front bumper complete with a trio of intakes giving it a perfect balance of both precision and power. The sharply sculpted, aerodynamic front fenders flow into the front bumper to create a wide set of arches and a deep set of brake cooling ducts that give the LF-Ch a powerful and purposeful stance combining superb dynamic performance with very low emissions.
The luxury tuners Alpina have just unveiled the BMW ALPINA B7 BiTurbo Limousine at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. The high end BMW specialists Alpina are responsible for taking care of the lack of an M inspired version of BMW’s larger limousine. Based on the BMW7 Series, the Alpina B7 Biturbo combines exclusiveness, athleticism and comfort in perfect harmony to create a high performance luxury limousine. Committed to developing the best performing vehicles in the luxury market, BMW with ALPINA has created a special high performance version of BMW’s 7 Series luxury, the biturbo’s engine output has been raised to 507 HP thanks to the turbochargers. The suspension is electronically adjustable, ready for any situation and because it is an Alpina the vehicle rests on the signature 20 spoke 21 inch Alpina Classic wheel.
The Japanese automaker Nissan has just unveiled the updated GT-R at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, this new spec GT-R is basically the same super car that has been undergoing continuous development since it went on sale back in December of 2007 with a few more performance enhancing upgrades. The new GT-R will go on sale in Japan on December 7th starting at 8,610,000 yen for a standard version, while a GT-R SpecV will run consumers closer to 15,750,000 yen.
The exterior of the refreshed GT-R remains mostly the same, a functional change was made by incorporating the more sophisticated SpecV rear diffuser into the back end of the standard GT-R. On the inside Nissan has opted to use a new hard drive based navigation system called CARWINGS and a new USB port so that owners can plug in their digital music storage devices and enjoy the drive even more. The regular GT-R received a revised suspension complete with a stiffer front shock and spring package and harder bushings for the rear end, while the SpecV comes with its own unique rear dampener designed to take the performance of the hard core factory tuned super car to new heights.
The low and mid range response from the VR38DETT is improved on both the Nissan GT-R and SpecV models thanks to a pair of newly adopted hexagonal meshed catalytic converters that reduce backpressure and allow the turbochargers to spool up much quicker. This results in a GT-R that not only handles better than the previous version, but also feels faster off the line thanks to the revised exhaust plumbing. With a razor sharp SpecV model that costs almost twice as much as the standard version, Nissan is now tailoring to a wide variety of super car aficionados.
While a majority of automakers are bailing out of the Tokyo Motor Show, it is nice to see that there will indeed be a few new models to look at when it comes to be show time. One such vehicle will be a special edition sports car from he light weight English race car builders at Lotus. While the boffins from across the pond have already engineered every unnecessary ounce out of the Exige in the hopes of creating a hard core driving experience, this particularly dark model focuses on making the little Lotus as sinister looking as it is lethal. The special edition Tokyo Motor Show Lotus Exige is named the Scura, which is the Italian word for dark, due to its dramatic black bodywork and a GT3 inspired rear end.
Priced at around $75,000 the Exige Scura features a trio of Phantom Black stripes to break up the large panels of matte black paint, however the carbon fiber bits and suede wrapped racing buckets go a bit further towards showing off the Scura’s true purpose of being an all out competition vehicle. Only now instead of laughing at bright orange bodywork, other drivers will stay out of this Lotus’ way. Like all Exige models the Scura is powered by a supercharged four cylinder engine that delivers a maximum output of 257 HP 174 lb-ft of torque, while it can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in only 4 seconds and reach a top speed of 152 MPH.
With the 41st Tokyo Motor Show just around the corner, opening it’s doors on October 24 in Chiba City, many of the concepts and super cars that will headline the show have already been announced; however there are still a few hidden gems that remain to be uncovered. The Supasse V just so happens to be one of them. This compact Japanese sports car has the footprint of a Lotus Elise and the super car styling of a Ferrari Enzo. The pocket rocket weighs in at only 850 kilograms and is powered by a mid mounted turbocharged 2.3 Liter DISIMazdaSpeed3 derived four cylinder that makes a maximum output of 272 HP, giving the Supasse V a power to weight ratio of 6.8 lbs/HP.
The exterior of the Supasse V follows the familiar super car guidelines of abnormally hinged doors, blistered fenders, a curvaceous cowl as well as more vents and air scoops than are necessary on a jet fighter; all finished off by a streamlined oversized rear wing. The manufacturer went for true super car style and from the side you can see that the Supasse’s front half was inspired by the almost bubbly bodywork of the McLaren F1 while the cutaway rear end appears to have come from the more exotic Pagani Zonda; both being excellent super car sources from which to draw inspiration.
Unfortunately prices for the compact super car have yet to be announced as well as whether or not it will go on sale to the general public, either way, the Supasse would make for an excellent and economical sports car option in today’s tough economic market. The lightweight nature would not only make the V agile and fun to drive but it will also reduce emissions and increase the small sports car’s fuel economy at the same time.
With the Tokyo Motor Show just a few days away, manufacturers that are set to participate are working double-time getting their concepts prepped for their debuts at the event.
Subaru is one such brand that is scheduled to partake in the event and one of its meal tickets, the Hybrid Tourer Concept, is the company’s first major foray into the world of hybrid vehicles and, incidentally, the first-ever hybrid to use a boxer four-cylinder engine. If you haven’t been prepped on what this type of engine really is, it’s actually a pair of electric motors housed in a lithium-ion battery pack that allows for regenerative braking, blended electric boost, and a purely electric drive.
Together with Toyota’s FT-86 Concept, the Hybrid Tourer concept is another car that was created out of the joint partnership between Subaru and Toyota to introduce cars that fit under the new hybrid umbrella that’s beginning to take shape as the cars of the future. Though the concept will be introduced in Tokyo in a few days, plans are already under way to have a production version out on the road in the coming years.
With hybrids and electric vehicles becoming more and more popular these days, Subaru is hitching on the Gullwing-ish-designed Hybrid Tourer to bring the company into the world of hybrids. Judging by these new photos that Subaru recently released, the Hybrid Tourer is fast-shaping up to be a hybrid that should give its more established counterparts a run for their money in the coming years.
Check out the new photos to get a closer look at Subaru’s new baby.
Those of us who can’t wait for the Tokyo Motor Show to open its doors in a week’s time, here’s a video that can satiate our appetites for the time being.
Now if you’re the type that can understand Japanese, then you’re in luck; you’ll be able to understand the video from beginning to end. But if you’re like a lot of us that don’t speak nor understand the language, then we can just admire the cars while not paying attention to the voice-over. Don’t worry, it can be done.
Remember the fun little e:S Concept from the kei car maker Daihatsu that we showed you yesterday? Well the Japanese automaker has a few more sprightly little ideas for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, one of which is the compact convertible pickup truck, the Daihatsu Basket Concept. Now the name most likely came from the city car’s open bed and squared off roll bar design that makes the little kei car concept look like what Little Red Riding Hood was carrying to her grandmother’s house.
The Daihatsu Basket Concept is a 4 seater kei car with a wide rear deck based on their Mira model and is powered by a 660 cc engine. The roof is of the removable hardtop variety and covers the front seat passengers while a canvas unit provides a bit of shade to those riding in the back seat. Just like theh front buckets, the rear bench is wrapped in linen and can fold flat to significantly increase the Basket’s storage space. The open nature of the Daihatsu concept is also a benefit for individuals who plan on using their vehicles for work purposes because they won’t have to worry about whether their tools are dirty or not when they toss them in the bed.
