October 26, 2009
Tokyo Motor Show 2009, the era of "Reinvention" of automobile
| The 41st Tokyo Motor Show opened to the public October 24th to November 4th. Exhibitors demonstrated their green engineering and the attractiveness of their prototype vehicles, such as the state-of-the-art next-generation eco cars. A new prototype of the electric vehicle “FT-EV2” unveiled by Toyota Motor Co. almost breaks down our conventional idea; we don’t find the common steering wheel and the accelerator pedal in the driver’s seat. A driver can operate the car, as he likes by moving the stick lever close at hand back and forth and side to side. The developer said this unique way of driving is much closer to one’s instinct than the traditional way of driving. “Land Glider”, the two-seated electric vehicle exhibited by Nissan Motor Company, has its unique appearance in 110 cm width. According to one of the developers, you can enjoy similar feelings of flying in the sky when the car banks like a motorcycle on a curved roadway. Another feature that attracts one’s attention is its contact-free charging system. However, the vehicle’s battery can only be charge at a special charging system. A weak selling point of this EV is the low mileage per charge, but we have high expectations for the advancement in a more convenient charging system. Mitsubishi Motor Co. introduces a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) that is charged through an electrical power supply at home. Honda Motor Co. shows a concept of a future society where the EV is widely available. Since many overseas automakers canceled their participation in the Tokyo Motor Show, the majority of the exhibitors were Japanese companies this year. Even without foreign automakers many motor journalists still find it meaningful because of the latest environmentally friendly technology, the cutting-edge design and the development of light cars, typical to the Japanese auto industry. As the innovation of a new power source, from a gasoline engine to an electric motor begins, the industry enters a new era of “Reinvention” of the automobile. It is not yet known which one is the favorite for the race of next-generation eco cars. At the Tokyo Motor Show 2009, you will see the latest trend of Japanese automakers going towards the future of motorized society. |
