Published: October 24, 2019, 12:50 AM
Updated: October 30, 2019, 4:26 PM
Tokyo Weird and Wonderful
Japan’s premier auto show is always a bit off the wall, and this year is no exception. If you’re looking for a new Honda Fit or Toyota RAV-4, they have those here, but there’s so much more. Most of the crazy concepts on display will never make production, but that’s all part of the fun of it.
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Living room on wheels
The Suzuki Hinare doesn’t bother with a steering wheel. It doesn’t need one, because it drives itself. Automakers are now suggesting a date of 2040 for such vehicles with “Level 5” autonomy to become a reality. The windows are high up in the vehicle for privacy. Who needs to look at traffic when there’s a giant TV to watch instead?
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You want a coupe?
Suzuki’s Waku Sports concept has a retro look, though it uses cameras on the fenders instead of mirrors, and it drives with a PHEV powertrain. Its main appeal is that it gives you the choice of driving either a coupe or a wagon. The back end raises at the touch of a button.
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Or you want a wagon?
And hey presto! Just like that, the Waku Sports is a wagon with a closed-off back end. How you configure it depends on your mood for the day.
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Pint-sized
Nobody does “small” as well as the Japanese, and the e-Apple is about as small as a car comes. It’s a single seater electric car, good for a top speed of 55 km/h and a range of around 100 km/h. It’s possible the name will change, though – the Chinese company that makes it, Jiayuan, says it’s still applying for the trademark.
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Getting around
Of course, there’s always something smaller, and Yamaha’s President, Yoshihiro Hadaka, rode onto the stage to show off one of his company’s less powerful bikes.
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Leaning through the curves
Yamaha’s MW Vision is a self-balancing three-wheeler that’s designed to be both comfortable and practical. According to Yamaha, “it was developed with the aim of bringing to people new Kando from the exhilaration of leaning as one with the machine through corners with greater comfort and peace of mind.”
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Hero for the day
If you want to really lean around a corner, Suzuki set up a pair of racebikes just for a photo op. Good thing these two are bolted to the ground.
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Halloween Special
The prize for smallest vehicle of them all must go to Toyota’s electric broom. Put on a pair of rollerblades and hold the broom’s powered wheel to the ground and you get the push you need. Don’t forget the helmet and knee pads. These things could be dangerous in a Canadian city!
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No cars!
There are no cars on Toyota’s main stage, which is devoted to future mobility. More space for a futuristic dance display.
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Making an entrance
Toyota’s President Akio Toyoda rode the bus to work on press day, arriving on stage in the company’s e-Palette driverless electric bus. There are supposed to be plenty of e-Palettes on the Tokyo roads next year to shuttle around the Olympic athletes.
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Creature comforts
The athletes might be more comfortable in Toyota’s Business Liner concept, which can be configured however you order it. Look closely and you can see that there’s still a driver’s seat in there, though it’s on the opposite side from North American vehicles.
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Over the top
A little more conventional, though still completely unconventional, is the Lexus LF-30 Electrified Concept, which has four electric motors, gullwing doors, and even a drone for carrying your luggage to your door. Is there any far-out idea they haven’t thought of yet?
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Spin like a top
Well, yes – the Mitsubishi Mi-Tech concept is a dune-buggyesque car that’s powered by an electric motor for each wheel. This means it can turn those wheels separately from each other, which means it can spin on its own axis. Just what you need at the mall.
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Taking control
Ultimately, the Tokyo Motor Show is still about the pleasure of driving, though some people need help with that on the city’s streets. The latest version of Jtekt’s Future Concept Vehicle has a display that shows how the FCV2 can navigate the city with a mind of its own.
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Play time
It’s a playful show this year, as the industry turns itself over to electric cars and Tokyo prepares for the 2020 Olympics. The Tomica stand is especially well stocked.
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Ready for the Olympics
The Tokyo Motor Show takes place every two years, and with every show, we marvel at just how far automotive technology has come. Who knows what we’ll see at the show in 2021!
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