Section: Tokyo Motor Show
Written By: Seyth Miersma
April 17th, 2008 2:00 PM
.
Honda has been toying with us for a while now about the release date for the next version of the NSX. Originally the car was slated to be revealed at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, but the bad rap on the Acura Advanced Sports Car concept put the kibosh on that thinking.
New reports are pinning the launch of the new car to the next Tokyo show in 2009, and claiming that the styling of the car has been revised. The new car allegedly sports a new front section with “Chevrolet Corvette undertones,” could go into production by 2010.
Honda’s plans for rear-wheel-drive vehicles don’t end with the new NSX however, the car is said to be the first in a line of new RWD rides that will be pitted against the Lexus, Mercedes, and BMW’s of the world. There are said to be plans for an S2000 type Acura sports car, a RWD sedan, and eventually a luxury offering that will be roughly 7-series size.
(Care to remember the originator of the species? Check out the 1994 Acura NSX below.)
+ Autoblog: Honda NSX to spearhead RWD model lineup
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Peter Nunn
January 24th, 2008 8:00 AM
.
Meet the Suzuki Palette, the latest entry into Japan’s unique 660 cc minicar sector, a brand new mini-minivan that goes on sale in Tokyo today.
If the Palette already seems slightly familiar, it’s because it was previewed at the Tokyo Show as a counter to Daihatsu’s new Tanto (it’s like Camry vs Accord, only in miniature).
Aimed at 30-40 year old people with families, the Palette comes with a long wheelbase, low, floor, tall roofline, lounge-like interior and two big powered rear doors, all contained within the standardized 134-inch size limit for 660 cc minis in Japan. Oh yes, Suzuki also claims you can carry a 26-inch bicycle in the back.
No, the three cylinder Palette’s not coming anywhere near America (or should it?). But if you have an odd $10,635-$15,940 to spare, it can be all yours in Japan.
Written By: Peter Nunn
January 2nd, 2008 10:10 AM
.
It was at Honda’s year-end press conference that the ground rules for the coming hybrid war with Toyota were laid down. Honda’s worst kept secret is that it will roll out its own version of the Prius in 2009, coupled with the hybrid-powered CR-Z sports coupe.
This so-called “Honda Prius” will be previewed this year – maybe at the Paris or L.A. Auto Show – and a source who has seen the car says it looks uncannily like the Prius.
The CR-Z will appear as a toned down version of the 2007 Tokyo show car. But in terms of battery supply, Honda will continue buying from Sanyo Electric and Matsushita Electric Industrial, Honda president Takeo Fukui told reporters.
(Click through to read more about Honda’s hybrid plans or check out the gallery of CR-Z images below.)
continued →
Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 7th, 2007 4:45 PM
.
Believe it or not, the Chicago Auto Show might have debuts other than the omnipresent Dodge Challenger when it opens to the media in early February. Reports are surfacing that Suzuki may have a little surprise up its sleeve as well.
(Click through the jump to read on about Suzuki and the Chicago Auto Show.)
continued →
Written By: Peter Nunn
December 5th, 2007 1:30 PM
.
The 2007 Tokyo Motor Show might have come and gone, but how did it stack up against all the great Tokyo Shows of the past? A series of fascinating books on the history of the show by Japan’s Nigensha Publishing tells you all you need to know.
Late last year, Nigensha (which produces Car Graphic, Japan’s most prestigious car magazine) began the mammoth task of covering the cars and concepts from the past 40 Tokyo Shows, dating all the way back to 1954.
As we’ve mentioned before, instead of producing one giant book, they’ve gone instead for a series of small softback volumes: essentially picture and caption books with both Japanese and English text and utterly compelling if Japanese show cars are your bag.
Volume one covers 1954-1960. Then Volumes, two, three and four cover the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s respectively.
Yes, you can get the books in America, either individually or as a batch. The whole set, with shipping, comes to ¥8460 (some $77). E-mail orders are accepted on intl@nigensha.jp.
Written By: Peter Nunn
December 5th, 2007 10:50 AM
.
Tokyo rocked to the beat of a wild party today when Nissan launched the new GT-R…underground, in the soon-to-be opened Yamate roadway Tunnel.
Yes, welcome to the “Tokyo Underground Night Nissan GT-R X Shutoko Yamate Tunnel,” a wacky, all-guns-blazing launch party for the GT-R, on the eve of the new 480 horsepower superhero going on sale, in Japan, on Thursday, December 6.
Tokyo has a mass of overhead roadways that form the Shutoko expressway, roads which circle the city and in parts also dive underground.
Ah yes, but the Shutoko also happens to be a legendary late night raceway for gearheads with pumped up GT-Rs, Evos and STIs (also featuring on several video games). It is, you could say, Tokyo’s very own answer to Detroit’s Woodwood Avenue.
(Click through to read more about the latest launch party for the Nissan GT-R.)
continued →
Written By: Peter Nunn
November 13th, 2007 12:00 PM
.
The 2007 Tokyo Motor Show has now come to the end of its long 17-day run and organizers said visitors to this 40th show reached 1,425,800, putting it on a par with the Paris Salon in terms of attendance.
Fair enough, except at that level, the gate was actually down 86,300 from the last show in 2005 and a long way off the all-time record of 2,018,500, set back in 1991.
Nonetheless, 14,300 members of the press covered the show, the organizers said, which was a new record and 1000 higher than the previous show.
(Click through to read more about the Tokyo Motor Show.)
continued →
Written By: Phil Floraday
November 13th, 2007 11:30 AM
.
Lexus was supposed to bring out the next version of its LF-A supercar at the Tokyo Motor Show just gone. Sadly, it didn’t happen, and the question is why?
Rumblings from inside Toyota suggest that some key engineers have actually been pulled off the program to deal with other tasks as Toyota’s global drive continues.
(Click through to read more about the problems with the LF-A.)
continued →
Written By: Peter Nunn
November 6th, 2007 3:30 PM
.
Japan’s grapevine is convinced it knows what’s under the hood of Honda’s upcoming CR-Z sports coupe.
As displayed at the Tokyo Show, Honda would only say the CR-Z – which will be both a new CR-X and replacement for the Insight – had a gas/electric hybrid powertrain.
(Click through to read what may lie underhood in the Honda CR-Z.)
continued →
Written By: Peter Nunn
November 5th, 2007 9:43 AM
.
Subaru’s new Impreza WRX STI was unquestionably one of the stars at the Tokyo Motor Show, but rather lost in all the hullabaloo was the fact that Subaru officially launched the new STI in Japan on October 24, the very same day of its world reveal.
So yes, folks, you can already slap yen on the desk of your local friendly Subaru dealer and order a brand new STI.
Subaru is introducing the new STI in Japan with its favored 2.0-liter twin scroll turbocharger and six-speed manual box, for ¥3.654 million. Call that $32,000, or thereabouts. Power? Japan’s WRX STI pumps out 304 horsepower backed up with torque of 311 pound-feet.
(Click through to read more about the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, or click the photos below to launch a high-res gallery.)
continued →
Written By: Phil Floraday
October 31st, 2007 12:12 PM
.
Here’s another unique product that we never saw in Tokyo. Hitachi has a system to scan and recognize a driver by his or her finger vein arrangement. The system uses different fingers for various functions of the car. You could control the navigation system, radio, and ignition by placing different fingers on the scanner.
Hitachi claims this system will allow drivers to control some of the functions of the car without taking their eyes off the road. We’re not entirely sold on the idea just yet. It smacks of technology for technology’s sake and there are already wheel-mounted controls for the radio and climate-control systems which don’t rely on such new technology to operate.
What do you think? Is this technology useful, or too much for in-car use? Have your say in comments.
+ Yahoo: Hitachi develops finger friendly steering wheel
Written By: Seyth Miersma
October 29th, 2007 3:00 PM
.
Though it’s better known for its two-wheeled creations, Yamaha came to the Tokyo Motor Show this year with a four-wheel, vehicle; and a hybrid one at that.
The Yamaha Tesseract is a four-wheeled motorcycle, powered by a combination of a liquid-cooled V-twin, and a small electric motor.
A truly stunning vehicle, the Tesseract can claim a footprint only slightly larger than that of a traditional motorcycle, while offering high levels of stability and maneuverability. Its four wheels work with a “dual-scythe” suspension that enables the bike to lean in corners, and features an arm-lock system that keep the Tesseract standing at rest.
Though Yamaha didn’t site any detailed specifications or performance numbers for the spidery ride, they have said that the Tesseract merited further R&D as a future “premium” vehicle. Consider our fingers crossed.
(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of Yamaha Tesseract images.)
Next >
Cadillac CTS-V Laps Nurburgring in Sedan Record 7:59:32
Opel Insignia Hatchback Spied Undisguised 
The Rise of Hyundai: From Mitsubishi Borrower to Possible M-B Supplier
First Look At Possible New MG TF
So Long Super Aguri: Financial Woes Cause Formula One Team to Call it A Day
