Getting a glimpse of future cars
"Concept cars," are often the highlights of autoshows, giving potential buyers an idea of what the future holds with sleek, sexy, sometimes bizarre cars encapsulating the latest in technology.
An army of 33 "concept cars" premiered at the 37th Tokyo Motor Show held at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba prefecture, about one- hours drive from Tokyo. The show ended on Wednesday.
Japanese carmakers dominated the debuts, leaving only a handful of cars manufactured by non-Japanese carmakers.
Toyota, with six "concept cars" under Toyota and Lexus brands, showcased its radical PM (Personal Mobility) concept car.
PM, a one-seat, adjustable vehicle, offers a new mode of travel. Moreover, it is also equipped with a visual- communications system.
The 1.4-meter-wide car allows its driver to tailor its dimensions to maximize comfort and safety. Both the car's length and height can be adjusted.
On high-speed mode, for example, the driver's seat (indeed the whole car) will be tilted back, with the wheelbase fully extended and cabin rakes also back -- dropping PM to its lowest position for improved stability.
While driving in city mode, the PM is elevated to improve visibility. At the same time the vehicles's body is shortened for easy maneuverability in an urban setting.
The cabin is upright at the entry/exit mode, with the car at minimum length. The rear wheels turn to the opposite direction and rotate on-the-spot so that a narrow parking space is an easy fit, with 1.2-meters of turning radius.
Toyota also displayed the Crown Concept and Lexus LF-S sedans, continuing its efforts in the up-market segment.
Another Japanese carmaker, Daihatsu, promoted four "concept cars", all powered by a 660 cc engine -- emphasizing its focus on small-sized and mini-sized cars.
One of the concept cars, the D-Bone, is an open-top sports four-wheel drive vehicle with strong links to the dune buggy.
The D-Bone is sure to be a wild drive, with the exhilarating freedom of a sports car. Its style is rugged, with an exposed chassis and a design playfully accentuating the circular elements of the vehicle.
Other Daihatsu's, included a XL-C mini sedan and Tanto mini wagon. But Daihatsu's greatest achievement may have been the UFE II, a four-seat hybridized mini-vehicle, with an engine plus two motor system -- which Daihatsu claims has the world's highest fuel-economy rate at 60 kilometers per liter.
Honda premiered four "concept cars": the eight-seat ASM minivan, HSC sports coupe, IMAS hybrid lightweight sports car and the advanced, clean fuel-cell minivan Kiwami.
Meanwhile, DaimlerChrysler showcased the three-seat Jeep Treo concept car strangely reminiscent to the writer of the helicak(2-3 person public transport mode) which once criss- crossed Jakarta's streets.
The design is far from what is generally expected in a Jeep, although the seven-bar grill at the front end is nothing new.
Jeep Treo is powered by a zero-emission fuel cell engine along with an electric drive powertrain, giving the vehicle full-time four-wheel drive capability.
"Jeep Treo has a form and a presence that challenge the brand's traditional dimensions, but in the end, it can still be viewed as being an authentic Jeep," DaimlerChrysler's Senior Vice President of Design, Trevor Creed said.
DaimlerChrysler also presented the Mercedes F500 Mind research car, with a high-performance combination of V8 diesel engine and an electric motor.
But, while "concept cars" give us a thirst for techno-based and personalized designs, we will have to wait until these exciting vehicles make it to the streets. -- Novan Iman Santosa