The list of participants at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, which kicks off to the Press tomorrow (October 21), is perhaps indicative of Japan’s waning fortunes.
The country is reeling from a shrinking population and a rapid exodus from the countryside to the cities where owning a car is often considered a hassle due to the expensive car parks and congested roads. In Tokyo itself, car ownership stands at under 0.5 per household – less than half of the national average.
Throw in the on-going global financial crisis and it’s no surprise that some members of the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) had considered scrapping this year’s Tokyo Motor Show altogether. Indeed the 41st edition of the vehicle showcase is as notable for its absentees as it is for the manufacturers that are displaying at the event, with no major foreign car maker to exhibit at the show and its floor space to halve.
Nevertheless, the show retains its importance for home-grown manufacturers and with Japanese Government incentives centring on low-emission cars it’s no surprise to see this year’s event adopt a green theme. Here we look at the green cars to be introduced by the three major Japanese manufacturers at the event:
Honda – Introducing a world first
When the Honda CR-Z (Compact, Renaissance, Zero) Concept (see article) made its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 it was described as the “world’s first hybrid sports car”. Two years on, its questionable as to whether that tag can still apply, but there’s no denying the appeal of the production version of this model.
The Honda CR-Z is intended to be sporty, efficient and inexpensive and will feature the same Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) as the Honda Insight Hybrid. Unlike most hybrid cars it has also been confirmed to have manual transmission as an option.
Keep your eyes peeled too for the Honda EV-N and Honda Skydeck concepts. The EV-N has a retro design not dissimilar to the Trabant and is said to be based on the 1960s N360 hatch. It is a little bit longer than the Smart ForTwo and carries a lithium-ion battery pack. The Honda Skydeck Concept meanwhile, is a six-seat hybrid car that has a higher rear-end and flatter roofline than the CR-Z. This MPV features a centrally mounted battery to give more space inside the cabin and has three rows of seating with a pair of seats in each row.
Nissan – Turning over a new LEAF
The Nissan LEAF (Leading, Environmentally-friendly, Affordable, Family car) (see article) is an electric car announced by Nissan earlier this year that is expected to be marketed across Europe, North America and Japan from autumn 2010 (for footage, see article).
It has been stealing the headlines ever since it was announced thanks to its advanced IT system which is connected to a global data centre and provides support, information and entertainment for drivers. It has a top speed of 87mph and can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in around 30minutes with a quick charger. The Nissan LEAF is expected to be the centrepiece of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s partnership with Better Place as it can be charged using the Better Place charge spots, although it will not contain the battery switch feature.
Also scheduled are a new generation of the Nissan Fuga, to be known as the Infiniti M (see article); and the Nissan Roox, which, despite its small size – it is just 3,395mm long – promises to be the most spacious four-seater in its class. Perhaps the most notable debutant however, is the Nissan Land Glider (see article), a two-seat electric vehicle that leans into corners – for video footage, click here.
Toyota – Going electric
So often the keenest supporter of hybrid cars, Toyota will showcase a pure electric vehicle in Tokyo in the form of the Toyota FT-EV II (see article). It is a modified version of the Toyota iQ and differs from the original FT-EV because it seats four people, has transparent body parts and electrically operated sliding doors. A joystick can be used to control its acceleration, braking and steering, and it has a top speed of 100km/h with a range of 90km.
Another debutant will be the Toyota FT-86 Concept (see article) that is manufactured jointly by Toyota and Subaru. All that is known about the car so far is that it will be a light front engine, rear drive, four or five seat coupe with a new 2.0litre Toyota boxer engine mated to a Subaru six-speed manual transmission.
Toyota’s luxury division Lexus will also get in on the act with the full hybrid LF-CH (see article); while mini-car specialist Daihatsu will bring six concept cars to the event (see article).
We’ll bring you all the news from Tokyo as it breaks – including more details on these exciting concepts – in the news section at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.
Faye Sunderland
