IN It's not customary in Japan to say no, but there are many other ways to say no. Here they talk confidentially, without looking into each other's eyes, nod in disagreement, bow at a meeting, but do not slap friends on the shoulder. In transport, it is not customary to give up your seat, at the door - to let women through, in a crowded place - to talk on the phone, in a restaurant - to leave a tip. In Japan, translation difficulties constantly await you, including when you get acquainted with the novelties of the Tokyo Motor Show. This parade of eccentric premieres can be viewed simply as an album of colorful inserts, but in fact they encode the DNA of the Japanese automotive market, which is commonly called the Japan Domestic Market - this is the JDM code for the internal structure of the third largest automotive power in the world.
The crew say goodbye to you
As you know, the average life expectancy in Japan is the highest in the world: 84 years. It’s hard not to envy this, but something else is even more impressive: those 14 years for which the average Japanese outlive the average Russian may become the most prosperous period of his life, because the social policy of the state has long been focused on ensuring that the older generation does not needed. Those who are over 65 years old on the Islands now make up more than a quarter of the total population, and they do not sit in rocking chairs at all, but, being provided, lead, as a rule, an active lifestyle. Including driving.
According to 2016 statistics, the 65+ category in Japan accounts for 20% of all drivers - and this is 17 million people - and one could be happy for these respectable citizens, but there is an alarming nuance. The fact is that against the background of declining road deaths (a total of 3904 deaths in 2016), the number of fatal accidents involving older drivers has been growing in Japan for many years. Today they account for 13% of all fatal accidents, but simply taking and limiting the access of pensioners to the roads to the Japanese does not allow at least innate reverence. Therefore, since 2015, there has been a system of additional tests for those who renew their driver's license after 70 years, and in addition, the government encourages voluntary refusal to drive. Those who, of their own free will, decide not to drive anymore and return the rights, in different regions Japan offers a free pass for public transport, coupons for taxis and grocery deliveries, or even discounts at funeral homes. But there is a much more tactful way around this problem.
The next time you stumble upon an endless description of automatic braking systems, marking tracking, driver condition monitoring, obstacle avoidance and insurance against accidental pressing of the accelerator in some new Japanese car, you should know that all this was not invented at all in order to create the most boring cars in the world. It's just that the engineers here know exactly who will drive these cars. And even more so, they understand that when in a few decades almost half of the population of Japan will be over the age of sixty, there should be as many cars as possible on the roads that can drive independently.
It was these novelties that were most often encountered in Tokyo 2017.
The folding steering wheel seems to be the hallmark of Nissan's self-driving vehicles. As well as the “sofa” layout of the cabin and the “theatrical” instrument panel with a full-width panoramic screen. The concept car with this interior is the first of a coming population of electric cars to the rescue.
You can even say that the IMx is a Nissan Model X. After all, the concept crossover is based on a new electric vehicle platform, which differs from the current one in that it uses an independent rear suspension, all-wheel drive with a separate rear electric motor (on the concept, two engines develop a total of 435 HP) and the modular principle. Production models larger and smaller than the Leaf will appear on this platform.
In the first two years, we will see just a crossover, but before that, the Renault-Nissan alliance will have to decide what to do with the similar plans of the Mitsubishi division, because this company showed in Tokyo a crossover that almost exactly repeats the IMx, but was created on its own basis. Electric traction, a coupe-shaped silhouette, all-wheel drive, but there is no autopilot, and not two, but three electric motors - this is. And if it had a different name, there would be no headache: the future serial crossover would be transferred to the Nissan platform in the name of unification. But the catch is that this electric car is the heir to the Evo dynasty, and the second motor on its rear axle needed in order to control the thrust vector, like the S-AYC active differential on real Eviks. Nissan doesn't have that technology, and Mitsubishi's hopes are apparently fueled by that. In any case, while representatives of the Renault-Nissan “fraction” are cautiously talking about exploring the horizons of synergy with a new partner, Mitsubishi itself has already launched, which promises nine new products in the next three years. It is not clear who exactly the new electric Evo is intended for: nostalgic pensioners or screeners who only met this name in video games?
Toyota's autonomous program is worded more precisely, its future conceived for those who are "fun to drive" - it's just the ability to move in space, plus safety and ease of control. The Concept-i four-seater monocab is equipped with artificial intelligence and an interactive interface to not only move independently on the roads, but also communicate with passengers, monitor their well-being and act as an assistant in communication with the outside world. And the two-seater Toyota Concept-i Ride is a transport capsule that is easy to use even for a person in a wheelchair. And finally, Concept-i Walk as a hoverboard for driving in pedestrian areas. In 2020, Toyota promises to begin road testing of these vehicles.
Toyota Concept-i Ride (left) and Toyota Concept-i
Lexus will also be transferred to autonomous driving, although this has been going on for a long time, and four years ago prototypes of GS sedans with autopilots drove around Tokyo. True, during this time, both Mercedes and BMW managed to launch cars with initial autonomy functions, and Lexus just now showed, which portends the facelift of the flagship sedan and the appearance in 2020 of the Highway Teammate serial complex, capable of fully taking control of the car when driving on the motorway .
The Japanese would not be themselves if they only thought about self-driving cars. Unmanned motorcycles, motoroids and motobots - this is what the automotive world will soon have to meet. A motorcycle that rides itself and does not fall is a lofty goal, but it’s not only about safety, but that everyone can transfer to two wheels with it, regardless of age, physical fitness and driving skills. Isn't it great?
In Tokyo, Honda and Yamaha showed their latest developments. The experimental Honda Riding Assist-e is an electric motorcycle that keeps its balance by constantly shaking the steering wheel both on the go and in the parking lot, with a person in the saddle or on its own. And he can move independently at low speed and follow the owner. The Yamaha Motoroid concept bike can do the same, but balances not by steering the front wheel, but by tilting the rear, along with part of the frame, suspension and transmission. In addition, Motoroid can recognize gestures and voice commands of the owner. By the way, Yamaha is already using a humanoid motobot to test its technology, which is programmed using Valentino Rossi's ride telemetry and is able to drive along the test track without fear and fatigue.
Young people everywhere are dearer to us
A rapidly aging population is also skewed in the distribution of wealth. According to Japanese tradition, salary in any company depends more on age and length of service than on position and skills, and the pension system is designed in such a way that during the rest of the retirement period, the Japanese in total receive several times more income from the state than his deductions for the entire career. As a result, it turns out that the current able-bodied generation pays for the well-being of their parents, but due to the low birth rate, they will not be able to count on the same pension. And that's why the "young" - and here they are people under the age of 40 - began to save a long time ago. Including cars.
Studies show that 50% of Japanese under the age of 30 have no intention of buying their own car - primarily for economic reasons - and 30% are not even interested in cars. The result is obvious, or rather, it is clearly visible in the premiere program of the most important Japanese car dealership.
If Nissan showed daring IDx concepts with “mechanics”, a turbo engine and rear-wheel drive based on the iconic Datsun 510 sedans to interest young people, now these projects are frozen, and top managers argue that an electric car can be quite driver-friendly. Toyota in Tokyo almost ready rear-wheel drive mini-coupe S-FR in defiance of the Mazda MX-5, but in serial model it hasn't changed yet. The debut of the revived Supra sports car has also been postponed: now it will obviously be shown in the winter in Detroit. BMW didn't bring the X2 to Japan, and Porsche didn't bring the new 911 Carrera T to Japan. All these cars don't have enough audience in Tokyo. But here are the Toyota Century and Toyota Crown sedans.
This is the Japanese Tuple project. The imperial garage will receive the flagship version, while the base sedans will go on sale in limited editions. But at the same time, Toyota captivates with a democratic appearance and a rather modest interior - passenger number one will live a completely earthly life. Plastic, leather, some wood and wool upholstered chairs. Old-fashioned buttons, simple appliances, CD changer, TV, curtains - comfort and no megalomania. The Century is now larger than Mercedes S-class and BMW seventh series in extended versions, although its wheelbase shorter than the "Germans": 3090 mm - but still 65 mm more than before. It's a pity the V12 engine has been retired: instead, a hybrid installation from the previous generation Lexus LS 600h sedan with a 5.0 V8 engine. The start of production is scheduled for the summer of 2018. As before, Century will be assembled in small quantities and only for the Japanese market. Pricing has yet to be announced, but the previous generation sedan cost around $100,000.
A is the local Toyota anti-Camry. In the summer of 2018, the fifteenth generation of this model will appear in Japan, but now the car has been spotted in Tokyo. Because of the extra side windows, the Crown has become a bit like a liftback and a bit like, but in fact there is much more in common with the new sedan. It is based on the same version of the TNGA platform with a classic layout, designed for hybrid units and a ten-speed (!) “automatic”. In the range of engines, a turbo four 2.0, aspirated V6 3.5, as well as a hybrid installation from a coupe are expected. The wheelbase has grown by 7 cm, it has become more spacious at the back, although handling is also promised to be more interesting than before: the chassis was supposedly tuned at the Nurburgring.
The coupe looked like an island of design courage against the backdrop of Toyota, although its appearance is a nostalgic remake of the Civic and City models from forty years ago, but in the light of the current corporate aesthetics, this is almost the pinnacle of style. Alas, Honda promises that the first thing on the new electric platform will be a serial city minicar, but the Sports EV is still a big question mark.
Subaru Viziv Performance Concept
Pleasant exceptions to general rule- Mazda and Subaru. in a year or two it will turn into serial sedan Subaru WRX, and he, fortunately, does not promise to be either an electric car or a crossover. Well, Mazda does not seem to pay attention to the surrounding reality at all. Burning design - clearly for the young and hot, new two-liter engines with mechanical supercharging - for those who are worse than the gallows electric cars. - this is Mazda 3 of the next generation, they even promise not to change the appearance much. The Skyactiv-X 2.0 engine runs on Mazda's innovative SPCCI cycle with a compression ratio of 15:1 and compression ignition via a pilot charge around the spark plug electrodes. And the “treshka” should be a little more spacious, quieter and softer, but also retain bright handling. It will become serial in 2019.
The future of the sedan is more vague: judging by its appearance and size, it could turn into a production car under the name, say, Mazda 9, but the Japanese do not make any promises about this, although they do not deny that the minimalist aesthetics will become the new hallmark of all cars Mazda.
Both the village and the city
Japan is still the third largest car market in the world, with 4.2 million new cars sold in 2016 and another 5.6 million used cars. But it is curious that the picture of the country's motorization is directly opposite to that to which we are accustomed. The most populous cities - Osaka, Yokohama, Kyoto and Kobe - have the lowest density of private cars, with less than one per family and Tokyo with less than one per two families. Whereas in remote provinces, each family has an average of 1.7 cars. The reasons are clear: where there are crowds, traffic jams and many metro stations, a personal car is not needed. And vice versa. Therefore, among the premieres of the showroom, novelties for the metropolis and for the periphery clearly stood out.
It will definitely be the most popular and mass model, because the number of taxis in Tokyo alone is about 50 thousand. So far, archaic, but very soulful Toyota Comfort sedans with liquefied propane-butane engines are still working there, but this spring they were discontinued, and JPN Taxi station wagons with a huge interior and a hybrid power plant from the new Prius are being replaced, although the 1.5 engine is all also converted to gas.
And another Toyota for city service is the business shuttle. This could be the future Minivan Alphard, which in the current generation is most often used as a VIP crew or transfer. The only difference is that the Fine-Comfort Ride is a hydrogen car that can move autonomously.
Toyota Fine-Comfort Ride
But other cars are needed in the provinces, so next to the business shuttle at the Toyota stand is an unusual crossover. He also has sliding rear doors, but the clearance is like a serious SUV, and the dimensions are like a golf crossover. Toyota is looking for new formats in the utility vehicle segment, and the Tj Cruiser may well appear on the Japanese market, because it is based on the TNGA serial platform and a power unit based on the same Prius, but with a two-liter engine.
Toyota TJ Cruiser
And Suzuki is exploring how much in the future the Japanese will need a real “rogue” like the Jimny all-terrain vehicle. The concept car shows how it could adapt to the new world of electric vehicles and self-driving cars. Military design, frame and dimensions are from the past, and even portal bridges have been added to them. But the drive is electric with four motor-wheels, monitors are all around in the cabin, and, of course, there is an autonomous driving mode, albeit only for asphalt.
Suzuki e-Survivor
Roughly the same genre is being probed by Yamaha: the desire of the motorcycle company to enter the automotive market gradually transforms into the idea of offering cars for suburban life. For example, this is a compact four-seater pickup truck with a central driver's seat, because only with such an arrangement a motorcycle is placed in a small body.
Yamaha Cross Hub
Kei acceleration
Over 28% of Japan's new car market is tiny kei cars up to 3.4m long with engines up to 660cc. But two years ago, the government raised taxes on the purchase of such cars, and the demand for them sank sharply. Now the situation has improved, but some manufacturers are thinking about moving to the senior classes.
But if Suzuki has a wealth of experience in building “big” cars and its new crossover smaller than the three-door Mini based on the Hustler kei car looks organic among brothers and competitors, then Daihatsu’s initiative to launch is a little surprising right away. But only if you do not know that this company is a "daughter" of Toyota. It was the parent concern that shared the platform for the crossover, sedan and compact van - all of them will use the DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) architecture, which is a “lightweight” version of TNGA.
The four-meter crossover DN Trec promises to become the heir to the small Terios SUV, but it will receive units from cars - 1.0 turbo engines or a hybrid installation. The outrageous sedan DN Compagno was created on the same basis, and its design was inspired by the model of the same name of the 60s, however, the body length of 4.2 m is arranged according to the modern fashion for four-door coupes. And the single-volume DN Multisix is addressed to the countries of Southeast Asia, but so far it is far from serial implementation.
In Japan, the Tokyo International Motor Show opened its doors to journalists. This motor show takes place every two years and the current exhibition has already become the 45th in a row. Among the participants, as expected, car companies of Japanese origin prevail, but there are also foreigners for whom this market is among the priorities.
Among them are representatives of the "German trio" Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, French Citroen, DS, Peugeot and Porsche, smart, Volkswagen and Volvo. A ticket to the exhibition on the day of the premiere cost 3.5 thousand yen, which corresponds to about 1.8 thousand rubles, and on ordinary days - about 700 rubles for our money.
Despite the Japanese love for cars and new technologies, preparations for the show were spoiled by a recent scandal when it was revealed that local car companies used aluminum products from Kobe Steel in their products, which, as it turned out, falsified data on their strength and other crucial characteristics. .
Kobe Steel is the largest supplier in Japan, whose customers include brands such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru and others. After such events, the Ministry of Transport of Japan asked all auto companies to check the quality of parts. Representatives of Kobe Steel immediately stated that there was no negative impact on the products of customers, however, Toyota called the incident a serious problem and promised to conduct its own check. However, look at the cabin, there is something.
Lexus: LS+ concept with autopilot capability
Lexus said that it is working on technologies based on the concept of integrated security and automated control.
The brand plans to start using automated control technologies in the first half of 2020. A harbinger of these events was the LS+ concept car, showing the image of the flagship LS sedan in the future. The vehicle is equipped with self-driving technology that enables automated driving from the entrance to designated roads to the exit.
On highways dedicated only to the movement of motor vehicles, thanks to the appropriate recognition, evaluation and management algorithms that the on-board systems operate in accordance with the current traffic conditions, these technologies already allow automatic integration into the flow, lane changes and side roads. They can also keep the vehicle moving in its lane and control the distance between vehicles.
Nissan: IMx electric crossover and Leaf NISMO
Nissan has unveiled two all-electric concept cars. The first is the zero-emission IMx electric crossover. This four-seater concept car with an unusual design can work completely autonomously and travel more than 600 km on a single charge.
It is built on a brand new Nissan electric vehicle platform with two electric motors with a total power of 320 kWh and a torque of 700 Nm. The platform made it possible to make the floor in the cabin absolutely flat and increase the dynamics of the car. An innovation is steel and a new battery that can be used as an analogue of a mini-power plant. They promise that in the series the car will go in two years.
Electric crossover Nissan IMx
NissanThe second novelty was the conceptual Leaf NISMO, the flagship of the line nissan electric vehicles. Created on the basis of the new generation Leaf, which, by the way, should soon appear in Russia, the new car has a more sporty exterior. Racing technologies have been used to improve aerodynamic performance. The creators of the concept managed to reduce the lifting force acting on the electric car without worsening the aerodynamic drag coefficient.
Mitsubishi: e-Evolution: talk and connect to the drone
Concept model from Mitsubishi called e-Evolution. This SUV class car with a coupe-type body will appear in serial form in Japan next year. One of the features of the model is the ability to give some commands by voice. The novelty is equipped with an on-board AI Personal Assistant system, which incorporates the latest technologies based on artificial intelligence, including voice recognition and natural language perception technologies. Thanks to them, it accurately recognizes the speech of passengers, and gives natural-sounding recommendations even among all the road noise. With its help, it will be possible to control equipment such as climate control, windshield wipers, headlights and so on.
In addition, the system provides information about the state of the vehicle, including warnings about malfunctions if they occur. There are also quite unusual functions. For example, the system supports the ability to connect to various devices and content: it can link up with a drone to gauge traffic flow or give passengers a bird's eye view of the area the vehicle is moving through.
Mazda: KAI Concept: European and quiet
Mazda has rolled out a compact concept hatchback KAI, which is equipped with a new gasoline engine SKYACTIV-X. The model shows the development of the KODO brand design.
While the world is moving towards the development of electric cars, drones and having fun, creating more and more expressive images of cars in design, the situation in Russia is different. The locomotives of sales are locally assembled budget models, and sales of electric cars have practically stopped. Automakers can show new items closer to Russia at the Moscow International Motor Show in 2018, but its future is still being discussed.
Japan Association automotive manufacturers Inc. (JAMA) announces the 45th Tokyo Motor Show open to the press! Within two press days, as the organizers of the exhibition promise, we will get acquainted with the premieres of the Honda brand, the forerunner of the next Subaru WRX, two Mazda concepts and the new Skyactiv-X gasoline engine ... Our premieres - both for the domestic and global markets , and therefore for Russia too, - they are preparing Suzuki, and other brands.
The solemn opening ceremony of the motor show will take place on Friday, October 27, in the presence and participation of Her Imperial Highness Princess Yohko. But we will learn all the most important much earlier - today. Don't miss the fun!
You will find all information from Tokyo in our.
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Maxim Kadakov
26.10 12:50 Electric envy
What time - such sports cars. The president Honda Tahakiro Hachigo is confident that it is electric traction that will return his company to the glory of a manufacturer of perky, moody cars. I don’t think that a sports car, in principle, can be (and should it?) be silent, but the appearance of the two-door Honda Sports EV is catchy and peppy.
Unusual for Honda, the nostalgic look is the development of design ideas embedded in the Honda Urban EV hatchback, which was shown at the September Motor Show in Frankfurt. And if it clearly gravitates toward European cars (for example, the rear roof pillar is like the Peugeot 205), then the coupe-like Sports EV reminded me of the Datsun concept cars two years ago. But that's not the point. The main thing is that the two-door turned out to be a truly catchy, bright car. The sports car needs it.
And you also need an appropriate chassis and power-to-weight ratio. This is more difficult. The Japanese did not disclose the details, but there is a suspicion that the filling is not fundamentally different from the “inside” of the January Honda NeuV concept car, which was also brought to Tokyo: it has a modest battery with a capacity of only 20 kWh (a power reserve of about 240 km) and a traction electric motor with a power of only 75 kW. The fundamental difference is that the coupe is rear-wheel drive!
How does it ride? Unknown. The car does not even have a full-fledged interior: the windows are tightly tinted, the doors are forbidden to open. Rumor has it that Honda can put a similar car on the conveyor - in two years. Whether with an electric motor, or with a gasoline engine. If this happens, I will sincerely envy them - although calling the Sports EV a replacement for the deceased Honda S2000 roadster is not even close.
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Maxim Kadakov
26.10 11:43 Daihatsu tradition and modernity
Daihatsu, which is owned by Toyota, specializes in the so-called - up to 3200 mm long and with engines up to 660 "cubes". Their buyers have tax benefits. In Tokyo, keikars get lost in a sea of larger cars, and there are a lot of them in the regions.
New products in this segment do not appear as often as we would like. Development compact machine costs a little less (or not at all) than golf-class cars, and the profitability is significantly lower. That is why badge engineering is popular in this segment of the Japanese market - when companies jointly produce cars that differ only in nuances and, of course, emblems.
So at the motor show, among the five new Daihatsu cars, there was not a single serial car - they were all concept cars! And the fiery red four-door Daihatsu DN Compagno occupied the central place in the exposition.
Even among the Japanese, there are few connoisseurs who will remember that half a century ago, a nice-looking compact Daihatsu Compagno machine was produced. More precisely, a whole family of cars: two- and four-door sedans, three-door station wagons, coupes and convertibles. So, the Daihatsu DN Compagno concept car is an attempt to play on nostalgic feelings.
This “four-door coupe” catches, first of all, with a profile: a sloping roof passes into the fins of the rear lights. For those who doubt the continuity of the image, a half-century-old Compagno was put up next to it - but, alas, not a coupe, but a two-door sedan. Whether there is anything in common between them in appearance, everyone will decide for himself. But it is immediately clear that the concept car is significantly larger: its length is 4200 mm. And the filling is the most modern: the DN index hints at the fact that the components and assemblies of the new DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) platform, which is a derivative of the Toyota TNGA platform, are at the heart of it. On it, in particular, the new Prius and the C-HR crossover were created. And the interior is notable for the combination of traditional round main instruments and a V-shaped center console that follows the shape of the lower spoke of the steering wheel.
The support group includes either a crossover or a compact van DN Multisix (six seats, separate seats in the first two rows and a sofa in the back) and a very remarkable DN Trec crossover, which is tipped to be the successor to the rather outdated Terios SUV. Do not look at swing doors without a central post: this tinsel will be shaken off before being placed on the conveyor. But the rigid rear axle, it seems, will go down in history - now forever: the modern DNGA platform does not imply such solutions.
And two more prototypes are “cubes” traditional for Japan. The principle is simple: if you want to make the most spacious car in the dimensions of a keikar, build a “refrigerator on wheels” - high, with vertical sidewalls and a rear wall of the body. Here is a "cube" Daihatsu DN U-Space is addressed to young mothers who take their children to nursery and school every day and wander around supermarkets. Four seats (in the parking lot, the front seats can be turned to face the rear), a flat floor, sliding doors without a central pillar, a huge display in front of the driver, and the same 660 cc gasoline engine.
And Daihatsu DN Pro Cargo, as you might guess, is a utility truck. As a reminder of the utilitarian nature of such cars, a three-wheeled Daihatsu Midget MP5 of the 1957 model was placed side by side. But the Midgets were equipped with single-cylinder two-stroke engines, and the Pro Cargo was powered by electric traction. The flat floor and drop down rear ramp allow both a heavy cargo cart and a wheelchair to be rolled in. And the exhibition car is in a medical version, which even has an X-ray machine.
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Artur Sarukhanov
25.10 18:09 Mazda Skyactiv-X engines will reduce consumption, but will not increase the cost of cars
Oddly enough, my question regarding the timing of the development of the new Skyactiv-X engine somewhat embarrassed Ichiro Hirose, the chief executive of Mazda. motor corporation responsible for engine development and product planning.
“Now it is difficult to say where the starting point was. We have gone through several stages along the way. Our new compression ignition system in bin zine motors is called SPCCI (Spark Controlled Compression Ignition). For the first time, we seriously thought about its implementation in 2015. But, believe me, this decision was preceded by multiple developments. As can be judged by the name of the system, the spark of a candle in it is not excluded at all - it is dosed by electronics if necessary. For example, when starting the engine (especially cold). All components of the Skyactiv-X engine are new if you try to compare it with current gasoline units. But do not worry about the cost of this unit for end users. After all, despite the uniqueness of its components, an already established chain is used in production. Most importantly, compared to the current Skyactiv-G gasoline engine family, fuel consumption has been reduced, according to our measurements, by 20-30%, depending on operating conditions,” says Hirose-san.
According to him, the introduction of the first Skyactiv-X engines into production models (apparently, we are talking about the new generation Mazda 3, although Mazda representatives do not directly comment on this fact) will take place in 2019.
When developing a new motor, it was possible to reduce investments compared to its predecessor, Skyactiv-G. Less money was spent on the production of prototypes, computer analysis was used more abundantly, which made it possible to minimize the cost of hardware.
It is noteworthy that the development of rotary engines is not abandoned, but continues. That's just a serial future for them in the Japanese company is not yet seen.
Recall that two years ago, here in Tokyo, the Japanese dedicated their own to the 50th anniversary of the Mazda rotary engine and called the issue of introducing rotary engines into future sports cars almost solved. But in two years, local legislation in Europe and other countries regarding the emission of harmful substances has become noticeably tougher. So the implementation plans had to be postponed to a later date.
Mikhail Kuleshov
25.10 16:07 Holiday on our street
It's hard to look at the Volvo booth without crying. Three XC60 crossovers are displayed on a small patch under the escalator - as if this is a point for selling covers from AliExpress. This is the latest model in the line of the Swedish brand, but it debuted in Geneva six months ago and is hardly capable of surprising anyone. But! The first batch of 150 cars arrived at dealers exactly five days ago. The price in Russia is from 2,995,000 rubles. As soon as possible, we will definitely collect comparative test: no less new and on the CLAR platform are ready to fight the new XC60.
Artur Sarukhanov
25.10 14:56 Suzuki: survive at all costs!
But at Suzuki, everything is strictly on the case. And for their own. The point is that local Japanese roads very popular are square practical cars that can be stuck in any hole (yes, parking in Tokyo and its environs is a problem). The Spacia kei car, which has been produced since 2013, is being prepared for a replacement - the concept presented in Tokyo is already almost a product version.
The machine remained true to itself: chopped edges (they decided to chop off the front even more, although the dimensions were saved), a minimum of frills in design (except that the side stampings that appeared look original) and roomy interior with seemingly small forms.
But what will come out of the buggy, even at the stand, no one really knows. So, another bold concept. True, frame and electric.
Another car on the Suzuki booth is a prototype. We are talking about the XBee model, the production of which will be launched in a month in Makinohara. The four-seater kid flaunts curious solutions for every day, such as a convertible trunk.
Mikhail Kuleshov
25.10 14:06 Better than the new two?
It was not easy to pass by the Porsche exposition even despite the absence of world novelties. The magnificent Porsche 356 Speedster attracted so much attention that the new Cayenne and Panamera 4 E-Hybrid choked with envy. Against their background, the 911 GT 3 and 911 GT 3 CUP seem to have gone unnoticed.
Mikhail Kuleshov
25.10 13:30 Fast wheelbarrow
It debuted a month ago in Frankfurt and a month later reached Japan. Megane RS is built on the CMF-CD platform, which it shares with the current Koleos. It is easy to distinguish a charged hatch from civilian versions by the characteristic diffuser in the rear bumper, gills in the front fenders and three-section LED running lights, reminiscent of the finish flag.
Under the hood of the "ereski" is a 1.8-liter turbo engine with a return of 280 hp. and 390 Nm. Transmission - 6-speed manual or preselective EDC with two wet clutches. It is a pity that Megane RS will not reach Russia. As well as his younger brother Twingo GT. At least enjoy it!
Artur Sarukhanov
25.10 13:00 Subaru VIZIV Performance Concept: how long to wait for a production car?!
You feel déjà vu at the Subaru booth. Wait a minute, did we see it at previous exhibitions? And repeatedly! But the Japanese are adamant: you know, they rivet them one by one. Here comes another one. This time - a vision of the future sedan. The dimensions of our stand attendant are 4630x1950x1430 mm with a wheelbase of 2730 mm. The Japanese do not say whose continuation is in front of us - the look is applicable to all sedans of the future, without exception: both Legacy and Impreza.
Visually, the concept was based on the new Dynamic x Solid philosophy, which is proposed for future generations of sports sedans. Decided to play on a swift appearance. The sedan came out powerful (and therefore heavy) and striving forward, as if hinting at limitless driver's possibilities (the Impreza's victories in the WRC are obligatory). At the front, a three-dimensional grille, surrounded by faceted optics, hides a boxer engine, and athletic sidewalls - a branded symmetrical all-wheel drive.
By 2020, production models will see a new generation of radar-assisted EyeSight driver assistance systems, as well as advanced navigation with fine-tuned GPS, all of which will reduce Subaru's accidents, the manufacturer says.
Mikhail Kuleshov
25.10 12:12 Parquet and technology
Volkswagen did without world premieres, but pleased the Japanese. In the Land of the Rising Sun, the nostalgic Volkswagen I.D. buzz. Almost a five-meter show car is equipped with two electric motors with a total output of 374 forces. At the same time, its interior remains as toy and “plush” as possible, without hinting at any driving talents at all.
Like the Mitsubishi e-Evolution, it is equipped with cameras instead of side mirrors and is endowed with “artificial intelligence”. It is quite possible that a derivative of this cute bus will one day go into series. We wait?
The stand of the German brand also adorns the Arteon fastback and the sixth generation Polo hatchback. We are already at the first. On the second - we'll train soon!
Maxim Kadakov
25.10 11:50 Toyota Century: the third generation in half a century
To the Japanese, the huge Toyota Century sedan is what the Rolls-Royce Phantom is to the British. It's more than a car. This is a symbol - success, prosperity, position in society. The Prime Minister drives a Century. There are four Century in the imperial garage, but made by special order: long-wheelbase, high-roofed Century Royal limousines, in which the driver's compartment is separated from the passenger compartment by a partition.
The history of the Century goes back to 1955 with the introduction of the Toyopet Crown sedan. In those years, political leaders and big businessmen used exclusively American large sedans. 1964 saw the introduction of the Crown Eight, Japan's first full-size sedan, a forerunner of the Century. And the Century itself was published in 1967 and was produced without significant changes for 30 years. The second generation machine appeared to the world in 1997. Therefore, the Century, which played its debut at the current Tokyo Salon, is a third-generation car.
Of course, the Century is slightly smaller than the Rolls-Royce: its length is 5335 mm, the wheelbase is 3090 mm. But he looks just as solid. Lines - traditional, noble. Headlights and rear lights remained almost rectangular, but all lighting equipment is now on diodes. It is easy to get into the back seat even in a kimono. The air suspension softens the ride to the utmost.
All machines are in the same design, with a full range of options. You can choose only upholstery - fabric or leather. I’m not looking for comrades for the taste and color, but the plush-woolen interior of the exhibition car is clearly an amateur, and a Japanese one at that. Because it is the fabric interior that is considered more traditional for the Century.
Until recently, Toyota was the only Japanese company producing V 12 passenger cars, but their century has passed. Engineers do not even hide that they are sorry for the loss, but they immediately catch on and assure that the V 8 5.0 Hybrid is no worse, and even better. The return is the same, fuel consumption is less. I believe them, they don't lie. And the eyes are sad, sad.
The retiring Century sedan was produced for twenty years at an average rate of about 40 cars per month and gradually updated its electronic stuffing so that the car more or less met the standards of modern automotive life. New Century will also be made for about two decades - they say that this is a tradition and even a philosophy, and there is no need to change the foundations. Nevertheless, the car has the possibility of subsequent adaptation to new electronic systems. Engineers understand that the further, the more often they will have to upgrade the model, but they don’t have an exact plan for such updates now.
A huge number of engineers took part in the development of the new Century - they say, at least a thousand people. But there are very few people at the assembly. This is not even a conveyor, but a post assembly, when the bodies are gradually moved manually on rolling carts. Manual labor - mass. Only painting the body in seven layers with manual grinding and polishing takes about 30 hours! It is noteworthy that with this approach, the warranty for the Century is the same as for the rest of the Toyota.
The new Century will also remain a piece machine. You can collect no more than three to five cars per day. The annual production plan is about 600 vehicles. The first cars will appear next summer. Export is not planned. Prices have not yet been announced, but it is clear that the new Century will be more expensive than the previous one, which was sold for 12.5 million yen (about $100,000).
To direct questions about whether the production of cars in such volumes brings profit or turns into continuous losses, people from Toyota politely and smilingly do not answer. But they make it clear that Century for Toyota is more than just a car. But we do understand this.
Mikhail Kuleshov
25.10 11:13 Mitsubishi e-Evolution: Evolution
One of the most anticipated world premieres of Tokyo 2017 belongs to Mitsubishi. The Japanese for the first time showed live the e-Evolution concept, which in the next five to six years should be reborn into a production car and become the new flagship of the brand.
The current e-Evolution concept is a fairly large five-door crossover. The rear side doors are "half" and open against the move, as on the previous generation Mazda RX-8 or MINI Clubman. Inside there are four full-fledged places for people of any height and complexion. The third one behind is superfluous: the salon from nose to tail "flashes" the massive central tunnel.
The finishing materials of the concept are good: a lot of leather and Alcantara, nice plastic. However, this magnificence, most likely, will not survive to a production car. But "artificial intelligence" is promised to us. The crossover Evik will be able to track the traffic situation with the help of sensors and stereo cameras, and even “train” its driver through voice prompts.
The crossover is driven by three electric motors - one of them "settled" under the hood. Two more - those that control the thrust vector - on the rear axle. By the way, retrograde champions of internal combustion engines should hardly be depressed: there is no doubt that the freshly baked Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance will teach the new electric EVO to drive properly. Each of the three manufacturers has long practiced in the production of electric vehicles.
Maxim Kadakov
25.10 10:34 If only you knew which Sora!
The development of society can be judged by public transport. We even have quite major cities the “grooves” of the Mesozoic era are actively exploited, and the Japanese look so far that it becomes embarrassing for our denseness. Here is a recent example - the Toyota Sora hydrogen bus.
It's not even about the hydrogen filling, which does not fundamentally differ from the one it has - adjusted for dimensions, of course. For example, a bus has a larger supply of hydrogen: ten high-pressure tanks with a total volume of 600 liters. Fuel cells work on the same principle (electricity and water are obtained by decomposition of hydrogen), but the power of the plant is 9 kW, and if all the hydrogen is “burned out”, the plant will generate 235 kW. h electricity! It is no coincidence that the Japanese say that such hydrogen electric buses can be used as substations to power households in the event of power failures.
But, I repeat, this is not the point. And the fact that, thanks to the control electronics, the electric bus brakes at the bus stop with jewelry accuracy: the longitudinal error (underrun-crossing) does not exceed 10 cm, and the transverse error - 3–6 cm! This means that the electric bus parks almost very close to the curb of the stop - and it will not be difficult to roll a baby or wheelchair into it. Where can I get such stops, whose curbs are perfectly even, so as not to disfigure the electric bus about them? Like anywhere in Japan!
Sora with a length of 10.5 meters can accommodate 79 people, including the driver (22 seats). Toyota plans to begin production of the Sora next year and make up to a hundred cars in time for the Olympics at a cost of about 100 million yen each (about $900,000). Even Japanese transport companies cannot afford such expenses, so government subsidies are indispensable. And, of course, we need gas stations, which so far are not so many - there are about a hundred of them in all of Japan, and the construction of each costs two million dollars. Expensive, but the Japanese can afford it.
Maxim Kadakov
10/25 9:55 a.m. Back to front
No, no, this is not a truck tractor and not a truck for transporting goods in the port. Are you looking at the car from the wrong side?
When designers are given free rein, strange cars like this Wonder-Capsule Concept come out. A rounded “potato nose”, a completely flat windshield (aerodynamics? What are you talking about!) and a small two-seat capsule saloon with a flat seat, a steering wheel and a complete absence of instruments, since all indications, including a map navigation system are projected onto the windshield.
They muddied this machine together with the Japanese brand of designer clothes Anrealage, and it is addressed, as you might guess, to young people. More precisely, those who see the future in carsharing. I threw my backpack behind the seat (there is no trunk), adjusted the pedals and the steering wheel for myself - and forward, through the tourist sites of the city. The length of the machine is only 2.5 meters. Width - and does 1.3 meters! You can hit almost anywhere. Of course - the electric drive.
It remains to add that the Capsule was designed by Toyota Auto Body, which produces various special equipment (for example, for the disabled), as well as Land Cruisers of the 70 and 200 series. And it is obvious that this design fantasy will not move further than the exhibition podium. But the interior trim with a luminescent coating may well find application on mass-produced cars - again for young people.
Artur Sarukhanov
25.10 9:12 Mazda: "three", "six", aces
There are three world premieres at the Mazda booth at once: two concepts that represent a new vision of the Kodo design philosophy (it has already breathed life into such current generations of the MX-5 roadster and CX-5 and CX-9 crossovers) and a new line of petrol engines of the Skyactiv-X family . In addition, for local market and the Chinese market, Mazda rolled out a new seven-seat crossover CX-8.
The first concept - Mazda Vision Coupe - a prototype of the future "six". It was presented personally by the chief designer of the brand, Ikuo Maeda, at a private party yesterday. The four-door impresses with its aerodynamic forms, brought to perfection during two years of work on the concept. Separately, the sidewalls were finished, playing with the refraction of the light falling on them. Solutions like missing door handles(doors open automatically by pressing a button) and video cameras instead of exterior rear-view mirrors are unlikely to survive to serial production. It's a pity, because all this gives a special charm to the car.
The second concept is . According to it, it is already possible to predict the appearance of the new generation of Mazda 3. Moreover, this concept has the same streamlined shapes (of course, the Kodo philosophy is right there again!), And the same stylistic decisions. For example, vertical stoplight stripes at the top rear window and foglights - in the bumper. Kai is built on the new Skyactiv Vehicle Architecture platform. Little is known about it yet, except that it allows you to concentrate everything important in the car around the driver and passengers.
Masamichi Kogai, President and CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation, during a press conference, recalled his company's recently adopted Zoom-zoom 2030 strategy. In the coming years, bet will be made on "green" technologies, which will give birth to hybrids and electric cars under the Mazda brand.
However, traditional internal combustion engines have not been forgotten, but only transformed. Under the hood of the Kai concept is a representative of the new Skyactiv-X gasoline engine line. Due to the high degree of compression in its cylinders, it became possible to ignite the mixture due to compression, as well as reduce consumption, as in diesel units. I'll be back with news on this unit after talking to Mazda's technicians here at the booth.
Finally, there was a place at the stand of the Japanese and serial premiere. This is a seven-seater crossover CX-8, outwardly very similar to the new Mazda CX-5. Its dimensions are 4900/1840/1730 mm (for comparison, for the "nine" they are 5096/1936/1728 mm). Here at the motor show, it is presented in a six-seater version with a second captain's row of seats. The car will go on sale in the Japanese market in December. The price has also been announced - 4,066,200 yen (exactly half in rubles) for an exhibition car with a 2.2-liter turbodiesel.
Maxim Kadakov
25.10 8:45 New Japanese taxi: they changed everything!
Still, the Japanese are an incomprehensible people for us. At least take a taxi. For many years, taxis in Tokyo, and in other cities and towns, have been large Toyota Comfort sedans, which have been produced since 1995 (Toyota holds about 90% of the Japanese taxi market). In fact, this is an old Toyota Crown sedan with an increased wheelbase, a simplified interior (to make it cheaper) and a stunted two-liter gasoline engine, although there are also LPG versions running on liquefied gas. The driver is in indispensable white gloves. With the help of a remote lever drive, he swings open the left rear door (the one that faces the sidewalk), and the view opens spacious salon with lace white seat covers. Milota!
In the trunk with a margin fit two huge suitcases and there is even room for a couple of bags. And one more suitcase can be taken into the cabin if there are few passengers.
The life of the driver is arranged simply, in a working way. On the center console - a map of the navigation system, a taximeter and a cash register - they are clearly visible to the passengers sitting behind. And the climate control unit is lonely located on the right, between the steering column and the driver's door.
The one and a half liter engine is powered by liquefied propane-butane: the tank is located between back seat and trunk. The transmission is interesting with an electromechanical variator, as on. The declared fuel consumption is about 5.2 l / 100 km.
The debut of the new taxi is timed to the upcoming Olympic Games - 2020, which will be held in Japan. By that time, Toyota plans to produce many of these cars - so that the guests of the Olympics will remember them. The price is 3,277,800 yen (about $30,000).
No doubt: comfortable, roomy car. It's entirely possible that one day Toyota's JPN Taxi will become as iconic as London's black cabs. But I will desperately miss the simple and so cute Toyota Comfort sedans, which I first drove back in 1995, when they were just put into production. Goodbye era...
Kirill Mileshkin
25.10 8:37 New head of the Datsun brand - about the third model in Russia
As part of the motor show, I met the new head of the Datsun brand, Jose Roman. The top manager did not make sensational statements, but he revealed some plans for the future. The young brand is changing its strategy somewhat. Initially, the idea was to offer cars for each major market on its own platform, completely locally developed or localized. Now the company is going to make more use of global carts. This means that there are chances that the model line will undergo a major revision in a few years.
There is another prerequisite for this. The young brand is still gaining experience, gaining credibility and clientele. This means that work on mistakes and course corrections is inevitable. The novel does not harbor false illusions: it will take two or three generations of models to develop, that is, about twenty years. In the meantime, it is worth rejoicing at the successes that we have. Although, of course, the Japanese do not stop working to increase sales of the existing range.
Russia, according to Roman, is not the most difficult market for Datsun. There has been a trend towards recovery, but there is no specifics about the third model - the crossover. The brand does not refuse it, but does not want to force events with the launch of the sale. It can only be assumed with a high degree of probability that it will turn out to be, and not an SUV. The new top manager called the scale of the dealer network the main problem for our development. In a country with vast distances, it takes a lot of representatives to gain popularity. But to interest them in a crisis is not so easy. And Datsun, we recall, debuted with us exactly at the beginning of the collapse in sales.
Summing up, we can say that Datsun is still in search of the right strategy, including in Russia. This means that we are in for major changes.
Kirill Mileshkin
25.10 8:23 Nissan IMx - electric future
Look how prettier electric Nissans are! The new Leaf is quite good, and the IMx concept is just great. It is the carrier of a new modular platform for electric vehicles. By 2022, 70% of the electric cars of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance will be based on it, and much more than a dozen are planned. There are no details about it yet, only general words about excellent handling, a decent power reserve, design flexibility and an outstanding level of safety.
The IMx itself is armed with two electric motors and can cover more than 600 km between charging stations. It's even a little best indicator than have become generally accepted in the last couple of years 500 km. How true are all the promises of automakers, it will not be possible to check until the end of 2018: not a single “truck driver” has yet gone into the series.
Nissan IMx, as usual, drives without human intervention. By switching to autopilot, the car hides the steering wheel under dashboard, and invites the entire crew to have fun. You can control a variety of functions with gestures, voice, touching the touchscreens, or even changing the direction of your gaze. The car can even offer a projection of tourist and any other information on the entire area of the windshield: IMx will tell you about what you are now seeing outside the window.
And the electric crossover can become part of a stationary power system. How do you like this scenario? IMx drops you off at the airport terminal and drives off to the parking lot and connects to the charging terminal. Those few days that you spend on a business trip or vacation, he will be “socially responsible”: he will give the electricity stored at a reduced rate at night to the network during the day. For such work, the owner can receive a bonus with real money or at least the right to park for free.
Kirill Mileshkin
25.10 8:02 Nissan Leaf: progress on all fronts
Nissan's main premiere is, of course, the second generation of the Leaf electric car. The first since 2010 has sold over 280,000 copies, becoming one of the most popular electric cars in the world. Progress in seven years is obvious: the battery capacity has grown from 24 kW. h up to 40 kW. h, power reserve - from 200 to almost 400 km. And this despite the fact that the Leaf remained a relatively affordable car. Thanks to government subsidies in some countries, it costs less than Qashqai!
Along with the regular version, a performance of Nismo was shown in Tokyo. At the moment, this is a concept, but a “charged” electric car will be launched into the series with a guarantee. When and with a battery of what capacity, the question is still open. But the base Leaf is not bad either: it takes 7.9 seconds to accelerate to a hundred.
Nissanovtsy do not hide that they would like to see the Leaf and on Russian market. The predecessor was also brought to us for testing, but things did not go beyond the tests. There are more than enough serious obstacles in the way of an electric car: the canceled grace period with zero customs duties on electric cars, the mandatory ERA-GLONASS system, which seriously increases the price of an unpopular model, the rudimentary state of infrastructure, the complete lack of incentives to buy an electric car (except paid parking, on which you can’t recoup the overpayment for high technologies). So it turns out that we only have to lick our lips on the Leaf.
A colleague from another media, whom we met at the Tokyo Motor Show, complained: “Can you imagine, in our editorial office before a business trip we divided - who to write about, I got concepts. And it turns out that there is practically nothing else here. Serial novelties - the cat cried, some cars of the future! Indeed, at their home motor show, the Japanese traditionally try to look ahead. At least for a year or two, but more often - much further. Thanks to this, we also managed to peep the prospects for the development of the global auto industry
To paraphrase a well-known saying, then about the 45th Tokyo International Motor Show, which ended in November, we can say this: the concept sits on the concept and drives the concept. Whatever the stand, then a real riot of imagination of designers, designers, interior layout designers. No wonder, apparently, the organizers chose a short but very capacious phrase as a slogan for the current motor show: Beyond the motor - “Except for the engine”.
True, this applies only to local, Japanese brands. As in other years of the Tokyo Motor Show, companies from other countries were presented rather symbolically on its squares - sometimes their expositions could consist of only two or three models, moreover, they had already been shown earlier at other exhibitions. Yes, and the number of such firms is small - and in the premium segment, and in the "extras" for their transfer would be enough, perhaps, the fingers of one hand. Which, however, fully reflects the situation on the market: domestic automakers still dominate in the Land of the Rising Sun, while foreign cars are bought mainly by those residents of the island state who want (and can) emphasize their status, income level, or originality - not in vain, because the coolest cars here are still considered to be cars with a left-hand, American-European steering wheel. And preferably something from the "premium". In general, exotic.
Therefore, for us (and for sure for other visitors of the exposition) the stands turned out to be much more interesting. Japanese firms, which came off in Tokyo to the fullest. Here you will find the most bizarre body shapes, and all kinds of drive systems (among which electricity is almost commonplace), and unusual solutions for organizing the internal space of cars, and, finally, sophisticated electronic assistants closer and closer to full autopilot.
In addition, we - foreign journalists - were very curious to look at the developments of those companies that are rather modestly represented in Russia (and sometimes in Europe as a whole), which gives the impression that their model ranges are very limited, and engineers only periodically update several well-known products. Nothing like this!
For example, Suzuki was represented at a home exhibition no less than, say, Toyota and Nissan - we counted six world premieres for this brand alone! Well, what is not a reason for the pride of the “suzukovods” of the entire planet? A scattering of new products was also demonstrated by Daihatsu. The brand, traditionally focused on subcompact cars, once again proved that it's not about the size. His concepts and production models managed to surprise both with their practicality and variety: among them were a cute minivan, an almost brutal SUV, and even a small four-door coupe, with its style referring to the early 1960s.
Of course, other giants of the Japanese auto industry - Mazda, Mitsubishi, Honda, Lexus, Subaru - found something to lure the public with. We present their brightest novelties and ideas on the following pages.
See and ... die
How many times has Mazda literally struck on the spot with the style of its models. Remember what a furor both Mazda 3 and Mazda 6, and more recently the MX-5 roadster, made in their time. And now - another shot right on target: the Vision Coupe design concept, eventually recognized as the most beautiful at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017. Swift, elegant, expressive, refined - what epithets this car has not deserved from journalists! And most importantly, they are all fair. As the representatives of the company explain, this product is a more mature reading of the corporate design philosophy "KODO - Soul of Motion", it demonstrates the vector of development that the brand's stylists have chosen for the exterior of its future cars. However, here we also see the groundwork for promising interiors, based on the traditional Japanese concept of organizing the internal space ma (in Japanese - “space”). In fact, we are talking about the fact that there should be nothing superfluous - only space and movement. It is easy to judge how Mazda's design idea can be implemented in the production version of the car by another concept of the brand - the Kai compact hatchback. It seems that we are almost ready to get on the conveyor Mazda 3 of the new generation.
Yasutaki Tsuchida, chief designer of the Mazda Kai concept car
At this motor show, we exhibited two purely design products at once. First of all, this is the Mazda Vision Coupe concept. It is an evolution of a stylistic line introduced a few years ago and is our take on how things should be in an ideal world. Thus, we demonstrate the direction of design, which we will try on all new cars of the brand.
The first one will appear in 2019. I can’t say which model will get this right, but I will be glad if it becomes a car based on my development - the concept of a compact Mazda hatchback Kai. When I created it, there were no restrictions from either engineers or marketers, although I had to take into account new technology company - SkyActiv-X, also presented at this showroom.
Another problem became the main one - in the pursuit of the ideal, to stop in time in the process of cutting off everything superfluous. The fact is that we are now preaching the minimalism inherent in Japanese aesthetics. In my opinion, the current Mazda models have some extra lines. And so I had to get rid of them, maintaining an aesthetic balance and ensuring the play of light on the planes of the body, in order to fully express the beauty and organic nature of our product. However, he should have definitely stayed. Mazda car, the DNA of which is embedded in the existing models of the brand. This is a typical grille, and generally recognizable front of the car. But from the side, our concepts have changed a lot - just because all unnecessary lines have been removed and the light has played.
Five year assignment
Mitsubishi e-Evolution concept electric crossover gives a glimpse of how design and technology will evolve Japanese brand in the next five years. Representatives of the brand call the novelty a technical prototype. This means that in addition to style, know-how is also being worked out on the show car. It is primarily about the development of the electric drive system. The crossover is equipped with three electric motors, one of which is on the front axle, and the two rear units are connected by an electronically controlled active cross-axle differential (AYC) unit. This scheme provides all-wheel drive capabilities and introduces a traction vectoring system: by varying the torque supply to each of the rear wheels, the electronics improve handling. The engines are powered by battery pack placed in the floor panel. The appearance of the e-Evolution marks the transition to a more flamboyant style. The concept has a floating roof, short overhangs, high ground clearance, large air intakes for brake cooling based on electric calipers, and rearward opening rear doors. As for the current day, the main novelty of Mitsubishi is the compact crossover Eclipse Cross. By the way, we will soon fly to his first test.
Trevor Mann, Chief Operating Officer, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
Will the e-Evolution concept car grow into a production model? Not yet ready to say yes or no. Showing it at the Tokyo Motor Show, we demonstrate the vector of our development, the strategic direction of ideas. And at the same time we monitor the reaction of people who visited this motor show. However, no less interesting is how they accept our serial innovations - in particular, crossover Eclipse cross. This is a global model that will be sold in many markets around the world, including Russia.
To make it clearer for whom it is designed, I will give an example. Imagine a young family with a small budget. For her, the perfect choice is Mitsubishi ASX. But the family grows, children appear. And the transition to Outlander is already logical - in many countries it is also available in a 7-seater version. When the children grow up and leave the family, parents will be able to buy the Eclipse Cross as a more technologically advanced, more modern and more expensive smaller car.
But this is just one of the options. In our opinion, the average age of an Eclipse Cross owner is a little over thirty. And if there are no budget restrictions, then the age audience of the model can be very different. The estimated demand for such a machine is from 150 to 250 thousand units per year, respectively, we can invest a lot in its creation and improvement in the future. As for the next generation of the Outlander crossover, we will build it on the new common platform of the global Renault-Nissan Alliance. It will serve as the basis for the machines of the three brands, and we are working together in this direction.
Simply space!
Talking about the Nissan IMx concept car, you can get confused: there are so many innovations in this car that you don’t know which is more important. So, a completely new platform was created specifically for electric cars, and it is on it that a whole family of similar Nissan cars may soon appear. It is good, firstly, because it allows you to create electric models with a cruising range of at least 600 km. For this, the Japanese seem to have a battery ready large capacity, which will also be able to share electricity - for example, providing energy to your country house. Secondly, the platform made it possible to make the floor in the car absolutely flat, which means that new opportunities for interior layout appear. In addition, the four-seater crossover is equipped with two electric motors front and rear, capable of delivering 435 hp. and 700 Nm of torque. In addition, a production car made from the IMx concept will be able to offer the most advanced autopilot to date - up to the point that when it is turned on, the steering wheel will generally be hidden in the panel and the seats will recline. For those who need reckless driving, Nissan addresses the sporty Leaf electric car Nismo with improved aerodynamics and technologies from racing.
Ivan Espinoza, Vice President of New Product Planning, Nissan Motor Co.
Electric cars are a key trend Nissan for the future. At one time, we became pioneers in this segment at a global level, and the fact that 300,000 Leaf electric vehicles have already been sold speaks for itself. The IMx concept car presented in Tokyo is not just a potential new car, it is our vision of what a self-driving car will become in the near future. It is this show car that is designed to show what the brand's models will look like in just a few years, this applies to both the exterior and interior, and, most importantly, the technical component. Very soon, a finished product will appear on the basis of IMx. Although, of course, with the adjustments made at the end of the exhibition.
Having shown the concept here, we want to evaluate the reaction of market experts and the general public to it, to see which solutions of designers and engineers people like and which do not. From how the visitors of the salon accept these innovations, we will understand what needs to be changed or finalized, in what form the novelty should be launched into production.
At the same time, we develop autopilot systems for various vehicles - trucks, buses, SUVs with pickups using trailers. There are also a number of partnership programs with taxi and car sharing companies. As for the accusations that Nissan is moving away from making models for reckless driving, I will answer: electric cars may well satisfy the needs of real drivers! This is confirmed by another exhibit of our exhibition - Leaf Nismo Concept.
Oh that retro magic
In the Honda Sports EV concept sports coupe, retro styling is complemented by futuristic solutions in design and technology. At the first glance at a good show car, the thought of potential competitors involuntarily arises - Mazda MX-5, Toyota GT 86 and Subaru BRZ. After all, the Sports EV has a similar appearance with a long hood and a cabin shifted back. However, unlike the named sports cars, Honda is positioned as an electric car. It is reported that an electric motor is responsible for the acceleration, which is powered by a battery pack located under the floor and provides the car with a low center of gravity. Autonomous control capabilities have also been announced - an electric car can replace a driver in city traffic jams. One can only guess about the interior: through the tinted windows we could see two bucket seats, a classic steering wheel and a widescreen information display on the front panel. But on-board electronics is able to recognize the mood of the driver and adapt to his driving style, and messages informing pedestrians and other road users are displayed on the external display between the front headlights. True, we still did not understand who and why such an exotic option is needed.
Plus autopilot?
In an effort to compete with the executive sedans of the "big German three", the flagship Lexus model has so far been unable to counter them with its own autopilot. This gap is intended to fill the Lexus LS + concept car, where the plus sign, apparently, just demonstrates an unmanned increase. It is called Highway Teammate and allows the car to perform a whole range of “exercises” on its own. In particular, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, move into the adjacent lane, overtake and rejoin the traffic. All this is done with the help of radars and stereo cameras, and the regular “multimedia” when updating the software will be able to add additional functions and data about the road infrastructure to the autopilot skills. It is assumed that the LS model of the current, fifth, generation will acquire all this in a couple of years - just in time for the planned restyling. Then, apparently, the Japanese limousine will receive other updates presented at the Tokyo Motor Show. First of all, we are talking about improving aerodynamic characteristics, more effective cooling motor and stylish head optics.
Not chasing fashion
While fellow competitors present one more intricate drive on non-traditional energy sources, Subaru designers continue to believe in proprietary symmetrical all-wheel drive and boxer motors. In any case, this is evidenced by the Viziv Performance Concept, which became the show-stopper of this brand in Tokyo. In addition, from its appearance and dimensions, it is easy to assume that this is the prototype of the next generation WRX model. Compared to the current car, the concept has noticeably grown in length and width, received an elongated wheelbase, but has become much more squat, which indicates the desire of engineers to lower the center of gravity. Dynamics and handling should also contribute to the reduced weight of the car, achieved through the active use of carbon in the bumpers, wheel arches, roof and a number of other body elements. Without demonstrating a particular desire for electric cars, Subaru nevertheless keeps up with the times. In particular, the novelty has some elements of the autonomous driving complex. First of all, we are talking about the EyeSight proprietary security system of the new generation, which should appear on the serial versions of the machines of this Japanese brand as early as 2020.
Survive through the outlet!
The Suzuki e-Survivor concept car is an electric four-wheel drive SUV with a frame structure and a self-explanatory name. The letter "e" in it indicates an electric power plant, and survivor in English means "able to survive." The concept is equipped with four electric motors mounted in the wheel hubs. This scheme provides both all-wheel drive potential and high maneuverability. According to the release, the driver can vary the traction on each of the wheels with paddles and buttons on the steering wheel. There is a third-level autonomous control system and an adaptive suspension that adapts to the terrain based on data from video cameras and radars. A design feature was the extended wheel frames, high ground clearance, as well as the absence of a roof, full-fledged wings and external mirrors - the role of the latter is played by video cameras. The side doors are made transparent, and the illumination of the wheels and lighting equipment informs others about the selected driving mode. So, green means autonomous movement, blue means standard mode with a driver behind the wheel. The cabin of the e-Survivor has a pair of bucket seats and several touch screens, information displays and projectors.
Mitsubishi e-Evolution
Mitsubishi returned the legendary name Evolution, but now it is not a sports sedan with an advanced all-wheel drive system and a turbo engine, but an electric crossover. The e-Evolution concept has one electric motor in the front and two more on the rear axle - this allows you to flexibly change the thrust vector. So far, a crossover with a sporty silhouette is far from mass production: there is a steering wheel instead of a steering wheel in the cabin, and there are no handles on the doors. Touch control and virtual instruments are no longer surprising.
IMx electric crossover with style looks new Leaf built on a completely new platform that allows you to install an independent rear suspension and a second engine. The concept has a total output of 435 hp. and 700 Nm, and the charge of a flat battery under the floor is enough for 600 kilometers. When you turn on the advanced autopilot, the steering wheel retracts into the front panel, and the information is displayed on a narrow translucent display that goes on the door. And the crossover can sing, warning pedestrians.
Toyota TJ Cruiser
Another unusual name at the Toyota booth is Tj Cruiser (an abbreviation for toolbox and joy). The boxy SUV really looks like a box. There are plenty of eyelets and tie-down loops throughout the cabin, and the backs of the seatbacks are made from the same hard material as the floor. With a short length of 4300 mm, the Tj Cruiser has a fairly roomy interior. And the hood, roof and fenders are protected from scratches by a special coating.
Suzuki e-Survivor
Suzuki's concept SUV of the future retained the frame structure. And on the large display at the front are old-fashioned round headlights and a radiator grille with characteristic vertical slits. The doors are made transparent, and each wheel of the car has one electric motor. Suzuki e-Survivor hints at a new generation of Jimny SUV, which will also be a frame, although it is unlikely to get such a futuristic appearance.
Yamaha Cross Hub
At the Yamaha Cross Hub pickup, the floor of the saloon and cargo compartment are trimmed with wood in the manner of a yacht deck. The steering wheel is located in the center, and the passengers sit on the sides of the driver and another one in the back. This made it possible to round the back wall of the cab so that a couple of cross-country motorcycles fit in the back of a small pickup truck, although one of them is a child.
The new generation of the Crown sedan is perhaps the most important novelty of the Tokyo Motor Show. The car is shown in concept status, but it is quite ready for serial production. The Crown is based on the new global TNGA platform, but retains the dimensions of its predecessor, although the wheelbase has grown. Windows appeared in the rear pillars for the first time. In addition to the turbo four (235 hp), the sedan will receive a V6 engine from the Lexus LS and a new hybrid power plant similar to the Lexus LC 500h coupe.
Century is the most conservative and luxurious Japanese car. In half a century of production, this is only the third generation of the sedan. He kept a prim appearance, but the headlights are lit by LEDs, and the old-fashioned velor interior is equipped with active system noise reduction. Instead of a V12 engine - a hybrid power plant from the Lexus LS 600h.
Lexus plans to teach its cars to drive autonomously by 2020, but for now, the Tokyo LS+ concept is equipped with the Highway Teammate unmanned system. He knows how to accelerate, brake, overtake and rebuild without the help of a driver. Updates are downloaded to the machine via the Internet. Lexus promises that Highway Teammate will significantly outperform all existing autonomous driving systems.
The Mazda Kai concept demonstrates what the next three-ruble note will look like. It features familiar Kodo styling and the back is reminiscent of the RX Vision rotary concept. Window tailgate with a kink gives the hatchback the features of a sports coupe. The serial car, which is promised to be shown in two years, will receive economical Skyactiv-X engines with compression ignition and a drive supercharger.
Mazda Vision Coupe
Another Mazda novelty is the four-door Vision Coupe. Designer Ikuo Maeda calls his offspring the most elegant Mazda in the history of the company and claims that he was guided by the 1969 Mazda Luce Rotary Coupe. The Vision Coupe is unlikely to become a production car, but its minimalistic design will influence the look of future Mazda models.
Subaru Viziv Performance
Subaru hinted at the upcoming WRX sedan in Tokyo. I wonder what under the name Viziv Japanese manufacturer showed prototypes of crossovers. Subaru is actively using carbon fiber - the body kit and roof panel are made of it. about the interior and technical stuffing there is no information, but it is already clear that the WRX will receive both a boxer engine, a “symmetrical” all-wheel drive, and an EyeSight system.
Targa HV is presented in Tokyo under the sub-brand GR - formed from the motorsport division of Gazoo Racing. The car is based on the GT86 and is equipped with a hybrid power plant. The most unusual detail of the concept is the "mechanics" lever in combination with the button, as on Aston Martin, automatic transmission. With it, you can shift gears manually, and under the hinged cover on the knob is a button to start the motor.
Daihatsu Campagno
Daihatsu, the specialist in compact cars and kei cars, brought a whole bunch of concepts to Tokyo. The most interesting is the Campagno four-door coupe, whose retro look brings to mind the cars of the same name from the 1960s. Salon, on the contrary, the most modern. Under the hood is either a liter turbo engine or a hybrid power plant.
Honda seamlessly connects retro and electric. After showing off the 1980s-inspired Urban EV electric hatchback in Frankfurt, she brought a sports coupe based on the same chassis to Tokyo. The Mazda MX-5-sized concept has the long hood of a classic sports car. Perhaps he will go into the series, but only after he goes into production of Urban EV.
The design of the Yamaha MWC-4 quadricycle was influenced not only by motorcycles, but also by the musical instruments for which Japanese company. This is a kind of response to the Renault Twizy and Toyota i-TRIL. The MWC-4 has a motorcycle steering wheel and it also rolls like a motorcycle, that is, inside the turn. There are two electric motors on the rear axle, and the energy for them is generated by a gasoline unit that is not connected to the wheels.
Mitsubishi Emirai 4
Mitsubishi Electric showed off its concept car of the future. It’s not so easy to recognize the car in the outlines of Emirai 4, but the most interesting thing is inside it. It was created to showcase advanced developments Japanese concern for the automotive industry. For example, a projection display with augmented reality elements. Or a multimedia touchscreen with a control puck that can be moved across its entire surface.
Toyoda Flesby II
Tokyo's most unusual premiere is the Flesby II rubber car. This pedestrian-friendly mode of transport was developed by auto parts manufacturer Toyoda Gosei. Panels made of special “electrorubber” are able to change shape under the influence of electrical impulses. The material conducts light and this made it possible to hide LEDs under the panels, which display various patterns and symbols on the body.
