Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association 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 a new gasoline engine Skyactiv-X ... Suzuki and other brands are preparing their premieres - both for the domestic and for the world market, and therefore for Russia too.
The opening ceremony of the motor show will take place on Friday, October 27th, in the presence and with the participation of Her Imperial Highness Princess Yohko. But we will learn all the most important things much earlier - today. Don't miss the fun!
All information from Tokyo can be found in our.
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Maxim Kadakov
26.10 12:50 Electric envy
What time - such sports cars. The president of Honda, Tahakiro Hachigo, is confident that it is electric traction that will return his company to the glory of a manufacturer of perky, tuned cars. I don't think that a sports car, in principle, can be (and should?) Be silent, but the exterior of the two-door Honda Sports EV is catchy and cheerful.
The nostalgic look, unusual for Honda, is a development of the design ideas embodied in the Honda Urban EV hatchback, which was shown at the September Frankfurt Motor Show. And if it clearly gravitates towards European cars (for example, the rear roof pillar - like the Peugeot 205), then the coupe 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 really catchy, bright car. This is what a sports car needs.
And you also need an appropriate chassis and power-to-weight ratio. This is more difficult. The Japanese did not disclose details, but there is a suspicion that the filling does not fundamentally differ from the "insides" of the January concept car Honda NeuV, which was also brought to Tokyo: it has a modest battery with a capacity of only 20 kW * h (cruising range of about 240 km) and a traction electric motor with a capacity only 75 kW. The fundamental difference is that the coupe is rear-wheel drive!
How's it going? 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. Either with an electric motor, or with a gasoline engine. If this happens, I will sincerely envy them - although to call Sports EV a replacement for the deceased honda roadster S2000 is not even close.
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Maxim Kadakov
26.10 11:43 Daihatsu Tradition and Modernity
Daihatsu company which belongs to toyota, specializes in the so-called - up to 3200 mm long and with motors up to 660 "cubes". Their buyers enjoy tax breaks. In Tokyo, keycars are lost in the sea of \u200b\u200blarger machines, and in the regions there are a lot of them.
New items in this segment do not appear as often as we would like. The development of a compact car is slightly cheaper (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 one - all concept cars! And the fiery red four-door Daihatsu DN Compagno took the central place in the exposition.
Even among the Japanese, there are few connoisseurs who will remember that half a century ago, a cute-looking compact Daihatsu Compagno machine was produced. More precisely, a whole family of cars: two- and four-door sedans, three-door station wagon, coupe and convertible. So, the Daihatsu DN Compagno concept car is an attempt to play on nostalgic feelings.
This "four-door coupé" catches, first of all, with its profile: the sloping roof goes 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 decides for himself. But you can immediately see that the concept car is much larger: its length is 4200 mm. And the filling is the most modern: the DN index hints that the nodes and assemblies of the new DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) platform, which is a derivative of Toyota's TNGA platform, are at the heart of it. It, in particular, created the new Prius and the C-HR crossover. And the interior features a blend of traditional circular head units and a V-shaped center console that follows the shape of the lower steering wheel spoke.
In the support group - either a crossover, or a compact MPV DN Multisix (six seats, separate seats of the first two rows and a sofa in the back) and a very remarkable crossover DN Trec, which is tipped to be the heirs of the rather outdated Terios SUV. Do not look at swing doors without a center post: this tinsel will shake off before putting 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 keycar, build a "refrigerator on wheels" - high, with vertical sidewalls and a rear wall of the body. Such a "cube" of Daihatsu DN U-Space is addressed to young mothers who take their children to nurseries and schools and run through supermarkets every day. Four places (in the parking lot, the front seats can be turned "facing" the rear), a flat floor, sliding doors without a central pillar, a huge display in front of the driver and - all the same 660-cc gasoline engine.
And Daihatsu DN Pro Cargo, as you might guess, is a utility vehicle. As a reminder of the utilitarian essence of such cars, the 1957 Daihatsu Midget MP5 three-wheeled model was put side by side. But the Midgets were equipped with single-cylinder two-stroke engines, while the Pro Cargo was powered by electric. The flat floor and drop-down rear ramp allow both a heavy cargo cart and a wheelchair to be rolled in. And the exhibition machine is in a medical version, which even has an X-ray machine.
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Arthur Sarukhanov
25.10 18:09 Mazda Skyactiv-X motors will reduce consumption, but will not raise the cost of cars
Oddly enough, my question about the timing of the development of the new Skyactiv-X engine somewhat confused Ichiro Hirose, chief executive of Mazda Motor Corporation in charge of engine development and product planning.
“Now it is difficult to say where the starting point was. We went through several stages along the way. Our new bin compression ignition systemzine 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, a spark of a candle is not excluded in it at all - it is metered out by electronics if necessary. For example, when starting the engine (especially when it is cold). All components of the Skyactiv-X engine are new when trying to compare it with current gasoline units. But don't worry about the end-user cost of this unit. Indeed, despite the uniqueness of its components, an already established chain is used in production. Most importantly, fuel consumption compared to the current gasoline engine family of the Skyactiv-G line has decreased, 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 a new generation Mazda 3, although representatives of Mazda do not comment directly on this fact) will take place in 2019.
During the development of the new motor, investments were reduced compared to its predecessor, the Skyactiv-G. Less money was spent on the production of prototypes, more abundant use of computer analysis, which minimized the cost of "hardware".
It is noteworthy that the development of rotary engines has not been abandoned, but continues. But the Japanese company does not yet see a serial future for them.
We will remind, two years ago here, in Tokyo, the Japanese dedicated the 50th anniversary rotary engine Mazda called its own and almost resolved the issue of implementation rotary motors into future sports cars. But over the past two years, local legislation in Europe and other countries regarding the emission of harmful substances has noticeably tightened. So the implementation plans had to be postponed until a later date.
Mikhail Kuleshov
25.10 16:07 Party on our street
It's hard to look at the Volvo stand without tears. Three XC60 crossovers are on display in a small patch under the escalator - as if it were an AliExpress selling point for covers. This is the freshest model in the line of the Swedish brand, but it debuted in Geneva six months ago and is hardly capable of surprising anyone. But then! The first batch of 150 cars arrived at the dealerships exactly five days ago. Price in Russia - from 2,995,000 rubles. As soon as possible, we will definitely collect a comparative test: no less new ones on the CLAR platform are ready to fight the new XC60.
Arthur Sarukhanov
25.10 14:56 Suzuki: to survive at any cost!
But Suzuki has everything strictly to the point. And for their own. The fact is that on local Japanese roads, square, practical little cars are very popular, which you can stick into any hole (yes, there is trouble with parking in Tokyo and its environs). The Spacia keikar, which has been produced since 2013, is being prepared to replace - the concept presented in Tokyo has almost a product version.
The machine remained true to itself: the chopped edges (they decided to chop off the front end even more, although the dimensions were preserved), a minimum of frills in design (except that the side stampings that appeared look original) and roomy salon 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 set up in a month in Makinohara. The quadruple toddler flaunts interesting solutions for every day, such as a convertible trunk.
Mikhail Kuleshov
25.10 14:06 Better two new ones?
It was not easy to walk past the Porsche display, even though there were no global innovations. The magnificent Porsche 356 Speedster has attracted so much attention that new Cayenne and the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid gagged 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 KOLEOSnitsa
She made her debut a month ago in Frankfurt and reached Japan a month later. Megane RS is built on the CMF-CD platform, which it shares with the current Koleos. Distinguish a charged hatch from civil versions easy on the characteristic diffuser in rear bumper, gills in the front fenders and a three-piece LED navigation lightsresembling the finish flag.
Under the hood of the "Ereski" 1.8-liter turbo engine with 280 hp. and 390 Nm. Transmission - 6-speed manual or EDC preselection with two wet clutches. It is a pity that Megane RS will not reach Russia. Like its younger brother Twingo GT. At least admire it!
Arthur Sarukhanov
10.25 13:00 Subaru VIZIV Performance Concept: how long can we wait for a production car ?!
At the Subaru stand you experience déjà vu. Wait, have we seen it at previous exhibitions? And repeatedly! But the Japanese are adamant: they rivet them one by one. So the next one arrived. This time - a vision of the future sedan. The dimensions of our stand assistant 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 the Legacy and the Impreza.
Visually, the concept took as a basis the new philosophy of Dynamic x Solid, which is proposed for future generations of sports sedans. They decided to play on a fast-paced appearance. The sedan came out powerful (and therefore heavy) and directed forward, as if hinting at the limitless driver's capabilities (the Impreza's victories in the WRC are obligatory). At the front, a three-dimensional radiator grille flanked by faceted optics hides a boxer engine behind it, and the athletic sidewalls conceal the signature symmetrical four-wheel drive.
By 2020, production models will have a new generation of EyeSight radar-assisted driver assistance and advanced navigation with finely tuned GPS, all of which will help reduce accidents involving Subaru vehicles, the manufacturer said.
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, for the first time showed the nostalgic "bus" Volkswagen I.D. Buzz. The nearly 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, not at all hinting at any riding talents.
Like the Mitsubishi e-Evolution, it is equipped with cameras instead of side mirrors and is endowed with "artificial intelligence". It is possible that a derivative of this cute bus will one day go into production. We wait?
The stand of the German brand also adorns the Arteon fastback and the sixth generation Polo hatchback. On the first we are already. On the second - we'll train soon!
Maxim Kadakov
25.10 11:50 Toyota Century: the third generation in half a century
For the Japanese huge sedan Toyota Century is what Rolls-Royce Phantom is to the British. It is more than a car. This is a symbol of success, prosperity, position in society. The Prime Minister drives the Century. In the imperial garage there are four Century, but custom-made: long-wheelbase, high-roofed Century Royal limousines, in which the driver's compartment is separated from the passenger by a partition.
The history of the Century goes back to 1955, when the Toyopet Crown sedan was introduced. In those years, political leaders and big businessmen used exclusively American large sedans. In 1964, the Crown Eight appeared, the first full-size Japanese sedan, the harbinger of the Century. And the Century itself was released in 1967 and was produced without significant changes for 30 years. The second generation car appeared to the world in 1997. Therefore, 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 it looks just as solid. The lines are traditional, noble. The headlights and taillights remained almost rectangular, but all the lighting technology is now on diodes. The back seat is easy to get into, even in a kimono. The air suspension softens the ride extremely.
All machines are of the same design, with a full range of options. You can choose only upholstery - fabric or leather. I'm not looking for the taste and color of my comrades, but the plush-woolen interior of the exhibition car is clearly not an amateur, and a Japanese one. Because exactly cloth salon 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. The engineers do not even hide that they are sorry for the loss, but they immediately catch themselves and assure that hybrid engine The V 8 5.0 Hybrid is just as good and even better. The recoil is the same, the 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 filling so that the car more or less met the standards of modern automotive life... The new Century will also be doing 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 do not 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 at the assembly there are very few people. It is not even a conveyor, but a post assembly, when the bodies are gradually moved manually on rolling carts. There is a lot of manual labor. It takes about 30 hours to paint the body in seven layers with hand sanding and polishing! It is noteworthy that with this approach, the warranty on the Century is the same as on the rest of the Toyota.
The new Century will also remain a piece car. You can assemble no more than three to five cars per day. The annual production plan is about 600 vehicles. The first cars will appear next summer. No export is 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 thousand dollars).
To direct questions about whether the production of cars in such volumes brings profit or turns into continuous losses, people from Toyota do not politely and smilingly answer. But they make it clear that Toyota's Century is more than just a car. But we understand this anyway.
Mikhail Kuleshov
25.10 11:13 Mitsubishi e-Evolution: Evolution
One of the most anticipated world premieres of Tokyo-2017 is on the account of Mitsubishi. For the first time, the Japanese showed live the e-Evolution concept, which in the next five to six years should be reborn into a production car and become the brand's new flagship.
The current e-Evolution concept is a fairly large five-door crossover. The rear side doors are "half" and open against the direction of travel, as in the Mazda RX-8 or MINI Clubman of the previous generation. Inside there are four full-fledged seats for people of any height and build. The third one from behind is superfluous: the salon from nose to tail is "stitched" by the massive central tunnel.
The finishing materials of the concept are good: a lot of leather and Alcantara, nice plastic. However, this splendor will most likely not live up to a production car. But "artificial intelligence" is promised to us. Crossover "Evik" will be able to track the traffic situation using sensors and stereo cameras and even "train" its driver by 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, the retrograde proponents of the internal combustion engine should hardly get depressed: there is no doubt that the freshly baked Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance will teach the new electric EVO to drive as it should. Each of the three manufacturers has a long history of making electric vehicles.
Maxim Kadakov
10.25 10:34 am If only you knew from which Sora!
The development of society can be judged by public transport. In our country, even in fairly large cities, the "grooves" of the Mesozoic era are actively exploited, and the Japanese look so far that it becomes awkward for our denseness. Here's a fresh example - the Toyota Sora hydrogen bus.
It's not even about the hydrogen filling, which does not fundamentally differ from what it has - adjusted for dimensions, of course. For example, a bus has more hydrogen: ten tanks high pressure with a total volume of 600 liters. Fuel cells work according to the same principle (by decomposing hydrogen, electricity and water are obtained), but the power of the installation is 9 kW, and if all the hydrogen is “burned out”, the installation will generate 235 kW. h electricity! It is no coincidence that the Japanese say that such hydrogen electric buses can be used as substations for powering households in the event of energy accidents.
But, I repeat, this is not the point. And the fact is that, thanks to the control electronics, the electric bus brakes with pinpoint accuracy at the bus stop: the longitudinal error (under-travel-crossing) does not exceed 10 cm, and the transverse error is 3–6 cm! This means that the electric bus is parked almost tightly to the curb of the stop - and it will not be difficult to roll a baby or wheelchair into it. Where can I find such stops, whose curbs are perfectly flat, so as not to disfigure the electric bus about them? Like where - in Japan!
Sora is 10.5 meters long and can accommodate 79 people, including the driver (seats - 22). Toyota plans to start production of the Sora next year and make up to a hundred cars by the Olympics at a price of about 100 million yen each (about 900 thousand dollars). Even Japanese transport companies such expenses are not affordable, therefore, subsidies from the state cannot be avoided. And, of course, we need filling stations, of which there are still not so many - there are about a hundred of them in the whole of Japan, and the construction of each one costs two million dollars. Expensive, but the Japanese can afford it.
Maxim Kadakov
25.10 9:55 Back to front
No, no, this is not a truck tractor or a truck for transporting goods in the port. You generally look at the car from the wrong side!
When designers are unleashed, weird cars like this Wonder-Capsule Concept are created. A rounded "potato nose", a completely flat windshield (aerodynamics? What are you talking about!) And a small two-seater capsule salon with a flat seat, steering wheel and a complete absence of instruments, since all readings, including the map navigation systembeing projected onto the windshield.
This machine was muddied up together with the Japanese designer clothing brand Anrealage, and it is addressed, as you might guess, to young people. More precisely - to those who see the future in car sharing. I threw my backpack behind the seat (there is no trunk), adjusted the pedals and the steering wheel for myself - and forward, along the tourist sites of the city. The machine is only 2.5 meters long. Width - and at all 1.3 meters! You can stick to it almost everywhere. Of course - an electric drive.
It remains to add that the Capsule was designed by the Toyota Auto Body division, 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 beyond the exhibition podium. But the interior trim with luminescent coating may well find application on serial cars - again for young people.
Arthur Sarukhanov
25.10 9:12 Mazda: "three", "six", aces
There are three world premieres at the Mazda stand at once: two concepts that represent a new vision of the design philosophy of Kodo (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 gasoline engines of the Skyactiv-X family ... In addition, Mazda has rolled out a new seven-seater CX-8 crossover for the local and Chinese markets.
The first concept - Mazda Vision Coupe - is the prototype of the future "six". He was personally presented at a private party yesterday by the chief designer of the brand Ikuo Maeda. The four-door strikes with its aerodynamic forms, brought to perfection in two years of work on the concept. Separately, the sidewalls were sharpened, playing with the refraction of the light falling on them. Solutions such as missing door handles (doors open automatically with the push of a button) and video cameras instead of exterior mirrors are unlikely to survive production. It's a pity, because all this gives a special charm to the car.
The second concept is. It can already predict the appearance of the new generation of Mazda 3. Moreover, this concept has the same streamlined forms (of course - the philosophy of Kodo is right there again!), And the same stylistic solutions. For example, vertical brake light stripes at the top of the rear window and foglights in the bumper. Kai is built on the new Skyactiv Vehicle Architecture platform. Little is known about it, 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, recalled his company's recently adopted Zoom-zoom 2030 strategy during a press conference. The focus in the coming years will be on green technologies to give birth to Mazda-branded hybrids and electric cars.
However, traditional internal combustion engines have not been forgotten, but only transformed. Under the hood of the Kai concept is the representative of the new Skyactiv-X petrol engine line. Thanks to the high compression ratio in its cylinders, it became possible to ignite the mixture by compression, as well as to reduce consumption, like in diesel units. I'll be back with news about this unit after talking with Mazda technicians here at the booth.
Finally, there was a place at the Japanese stand and the serial premiere. This is a seven-seater CX-8 crossover that looks very similar to the new Mazda CX-5. Its dimensions are 4900/1840/1730 mm (for comparison, in the "nine" they are 5096/1936/1728 mm). Here at the auto show, it is presented in a six-seater version with a second row of captain's 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
10.25 8:45 am New Japanese taxi: they changed everything!
Still, the Japanese are a people we do not understand. Take a taxi. For many years, large Toyota Comfort sedans, which have been produced since 1995 (Toyota holds about 90% of the Japanese taxi market), have served as taxis in Tokyo, as well as in other cities and towns. 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 LPG versions on liquefied gas. The driver is wearing the obligatory white gloves. With the help of a remote control lever, it opens the left rear door (the one that faces the curb), revealing a spacious interior with lacy white seat covers. Cute!
The trunk has enough room for two huge suitcases and even has room for a couple of bags. And one more suitcase can be taken into the cabin if there are few passengers.
The driver's life is arranged simply, in a working way. On the center console there is 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 1.5-liter engine is powered by liquefied propane-butane: the tank is located between the rear seat and the trunk. The transmission is interesting with an electromechanical variator, like on. The declared fuel consumption is about 5.2 l / 100 km.
The debut of the new taxi is timed to coincide with 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. Price - 3,277,800 yen (about 30 thousand dollars).
There is no doubt: a comfortable, roomy car. It's possible that one day Toyota JPN Taxis will become as iconic as London's black cabs. But I will desperately miss the simple and so cute toyota sedans Comfort, which I first rode back in 1995, when they were just put into production. Goodbye era ...
Kirill Mileshkin
10.25 8:37 am The 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 any sensational statements, but revealed some plans for the future. The young brand is changing its strategy somewhat. The original idea was to offer cars for each major market on its own platform, entirely local development or localized. Now the company is going to make more use of global carts. This means that there is a chance that the lineup will undergo a major revision in a few years.
There is one more prerequisite for this. The young brand is still gaining experience, gaining authority and clientele. This means that work on mistakes and course corrections are 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 the sales of the existing range.
Russia, according to Roman, is a market with not the most difficult situation for Datsun. There has been a tendency towards improvement, but there is no specifics about the third model - a crossover. The brand does not refuse it, but does not want to force events with the launch of the sale. We can only assume with a high degree of probability that it will turn out to be, and not an SUV. The new top manager named the scale of the dealer network as the main problem for our development. In a country with great distances, it takes many representatives to gain popularity. But it is not so easy to interest them in crisis conditions. And Datsun, we recall, debuted with us right 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 waiting for major changes.
Kirill Mileshkin
10.25 8:23 am Nissan IMx - the electric future
See how prettier the electric Nissan! The new Leaf is pretty good, and the IMx concept is great. He is the bearer of a new modular platform for electric vehicles. By 2022, 70% of electric cars of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance will be based on it, and it is planned to have more than a dozen of them. There are no details about it yet, just general words about excellent handling, a decent range, 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. This is even a slightly better indicator than the 500 km that have become generally accepted in the last couple of years. How true all the promises of the automakers are will not be verified until the end of 2018: not a single truck driver has gone into the series yet.
Nissan IMx, as usual, drives without human intervention. Switching to autopilot, the car hides the steering wheel under dashboard, and invites the whole crew to have fun. You can control the variety of functions with gestures, voice, touching the touchscreen or even changing the direction of your gaze. The car can even offer a projection of tourist and any other information over the entire area windscreen: IMx will tell you what you see outside the window.
And the electric crossover can also become part of a stationary power system. How do you like this scenario? The IMx drops you off at the airport terminal and drives to the parking lot and connects to the charging terminal. The 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 grid during the day. For such work, the owner can receive a bonus in 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 one since 2010 has sold more than 280 thousand copies, becoming one of the most massive electric cars in the world. The 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 subsidies from the authorities in some countries, it costs less than Kashkai!
Together with the regular version, the performance of Nismo was shown in Tokyo. At the moment, this is a concept, but the "charged" electric car will be launched in a series guaranteed. When and with what capacity battery, the question is still open. But the base Leaf is not bad either: it takes 7.9 seconds to accelerate to 100 km / h.
Nissan officials do not hide that they would like to see Leaf in the Russian market. The predecessor was also brought to us for trial, but it didn't go beyond tests. There are more than enough serious obstacles to the electric car: the canceled grace period with zero customs duties for electric cars, the obligatory ERA-GLONASS system, which seriously increases the price of an unpopular model, the rudimentary state of the infrastructure, a complete lack of incentives to buy an electric car (except paid parking, on which overpayment for high technologies cannot be repulsed). So it turns out that we can only lick our lips on Leaf.
In Japan, the international Tokyo Motor Show opened its doors to journalists. This motor show is held every two years and this exhibition has become the 45th in a row. The number of participants, as expected, is dominated by automobile companies of Japanese origin, but there are also foreigners for whom this market is among the priorities.
Among them are representatives of the "German troika" Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, French Citroen, DS, Peugeot and, as well as 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 of cars and new technologies, preparations for the show were spoiled by a recent scandal when it was revealed that local auto companies were using aluminum products from Kobe Steel in their products, which, as it turned out, falsified data on their strength and other critical characteristics. ...
Kobe Steel - largest supplier in Japan, whose clients 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, nevertheless, Toyota called the incident a serious problem and promised to conduct an audit. However, there is something to look at the salon.
Lexus: LS + concept with self-driving capabilities
Lexus revealed 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. The forerunner of these developments was the LS + concept car, which showcases the future LS flagship sedan. The vehicle is equipped with self-driving technology, which makes it possible to drive with automated control from the entrance to designated roads to the exit.
On highways intended only for the movement of motor vehicles, thanks to the appropriate recognition, assessment and control algorithms, according to which the on-board systems operate in accordance with the current traffic conditions, these technologies already allow automatic integration into the flow, change lanes and side roads. They can also keep the car moving in their lane and control the distance between vehicles.
Nissan: IMx and Leaf NISMO electric crossover
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 completely new Nissan electric vehicle platform with two electric motors with a total output of 320 kWh and a torque of 700 Nm. The platform made it possible to make the floor in the cabin completely flat and increase the dynamics of the car. An innovation is steel and a new storage battery, which can be used as an analogue of a mini-power station. They promise that the car will go into production in two years.
Electric crossover Nissan IMx
NissanThe second novelty was the conceptual Leaf NISMO, the flagship of the line electric cars nissan... Created on the basis of the new generation Leaf, which, by the way, should soon appear in Russia, the new model has a more sporty exterior. To improve aerodynamic performance, technologies used in racing have been used. The creators of the concept managed to reduce the lift acting on the electric vehicle without worsening the drag coefficient.
Mitsubishi: e-Evolution: talk and connect to the drone
Concept model from Mitsubishi called e-Evolution. This coupé SUV will go into production 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 onboard system AI Personal Assistant, which includes newest 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 in the midst of all road noise. With its help, it will be possible to control equipment such as climate control, wipers, headlights, and so on.
In addition, the system provides information about the condition of the car, including warning about faults, if any. There are also some very unusual functions. For example, the system supports the ability to connect to a variety of devices and content: it can communicate with a drone to gauge liveliness. traffic flow or show passengers the area where the car is moving from a bird's eye view.
Mazda: KAI Concept: European and quiet
Mazda has rolled out the KAI compact concept hatchback, which is powered by the new SKYACTIV-X petrol engine. The model shows the development of KODO's corporate design.
While the world is moving towards the development of the direction of electric cars, drones and having fun, creating more and more expressive images of cars in design, in Russia the situation is different. Low-cost models of local assembly remain the locomotives of sales, and sales of electric cars have practically stopped. New items closer to Russia, automakers can show at the 2018 Moscow International Motor Show, but its future is still being discussed.
If the Frankfurt Motor Show, which took place from September 14 to 24, was undoubtedly an exhibition of the achievements of the German automobile industry, then the Tokyo Motor Show, which began on October 25, 2017, is an occasion to see what Japanese automakers are capable of.
A huge number of concept cars and production cars were presented in Tokyo, which will appear on the roads in the very near future and in 10-20 years.
Toyota
Toyota is the largest Japanese carmaker and, most recently, the largest car manufacturer in the world.
And, of course, this company had the most representative stand at the exhibition. Which car was the most interesting on it, God knows. Several new products claimed this title at once.
Toyota GR HV Sports
This is how the Japanese see their company's sports cars for the very near future. The car has a hybrid power plant and a targa body. The company does not disclose details on it.
It is not known whether the GR HV Sports series will go in the same form or not, there are rumors that this will look like the new Toyota Supra, which is being developed in cooperation with the BMW concern.
Toyota Concept-i series
In the photo on the left is the Concept-i Ride, on the right is the Concept-i, in the middle is the hoverboard Toyota Concept-i Walk.
This family includes 2 cars and one hoverboard:
- Toyota Concept-i Ride;
- Toyota Concept-i;
- Toyota Concept-i Walk.
The main "feature" of the concepts is not their power plant, where there is nothing outstanding, but artificial intelligence, which allows cars to move absolutely without human intervention. In addition to the autopilot itself, the car software allows you to communicate with passengers and make the trip comfortable.
In terms of technology, the Concept-i Ride is an all-electric small city car with a range of 150-200 km. Toyota Concept-i is a much larger car.
This is an electric monocab with a power reserve of 300 km.
As for the gyro scooter, the main feature of this vehicle is the automatic increase in the base depending on the speed of movement (the two rear wheels simply move apart). The power reserve is 20 km.
Toyota TJ Cruiser
In the spring of 2017, the Tj Cruiser trademark was registered in the USA, and in the fall the first-born of this trademark appeared. Whether a production car will look like this, God knows. But he will definitely take some elements from this concept.
As for the technical filling, the basis of the novelty is a hybrid power plant, consisting of gasoline engine volume of 2 liters and two electric motors. The Japanese did not disclose the total capacity.
Toyota FCR
The main feature of this minivan is its power plant. On this concept car, it is hydrogen. In addition, an interesting feature is the power reserve at one gas station, it is 1000 km. And most importantly, the refueling will be only 3 minutes.
It is with this power plant, according to Toyota's plan, that they will be able to successfully compete with electric vehicles, in which they are still inferior to their main competitors.
Toyota Wonder-Capsule Concept
This concept was presented by the Toyota Auto Body division, which is responsible for the development and production of commercial vehicles. This is a variant of the mini-car loved by all Japanese. The concept is full of all kinds of electronics and other interesting "chips".
Lexus
At the stand of the premium brand of the Japanese corporation, the most interesting was the Lexus LS concept.
Lexus LS concept
Apparently this is what the next generation Lexus LS will look like. The main feature of the concept is the Highway Teammate unmanned system.
As for the technique, it is not disclosed. Apparently the Japanese, simply, have not yet decided how they will equip the next generation sedans.
Daihatsu
And here is another subsidiary brand of the Toyota corporation, unexpectedly powerfully presented at the exhibition. And there is an explanation for this, this year the company celebrated its 110th anniversary.
At the Daihatsu stand, one could see five interesting concept cars at once:
- Daihatsu DN Compagno;
- Daihatsu DN Multisix;
- Daihatsu DN Trec;
- Daihatsu DN ProCargo;
- Daihatsu DN U-Space;
Daihatsu DN Compagno
This small sedan is made in the fashionable retro design style today. This particular car was made for the anniversary of the company and refers to its rich history. Such a car was produced in the 60s of the last century and was very popular.
Despite the fact that this is a concept and a production decision has not yet been made, two power units are already provided for the machine. If it goes into production, it will be equipped with either a liter turbocharged gasoline engine, or the car will have a hybrid power plant consisting of a 1.2 liter gasoline unit and an electric motor.
Daihatsu DN Multisix
A special feature of this mid-size crossover, which is likely to go into production, is the three rows of seats.
True, the number of places in it is not 7, but only 6. The developers do not disclose the nuances of the technical filling. Probably, the final choice has not yet been made.
Daihatsu DN Trec
And this is the concept of a compact SUV, in the production of which the Daihatsu division specializes. Apparently, this is how our popular Daihatsu Terios of the next generation will look like.
The concept has swing doors. And as the power units for it, either a liter gasoline turbo engine or a hybrid power plant based on a 1.2 liter engine has already been selected.
Daihatsu DN ProCargo
This is a concept for a small delivery van, like our heels. The car has only two seats and a spacious, despite its compact size, cargo compartment.
As for the technology, the machine is completely electric.
Daihatsu DN U-Space
And this is a compact family car concept car. In addition to swing doors, the car is also equipped with a modest 0.66 liter engine.
Actually, this is all that Toyota has made the visitors happy with, then we will examine the stands of other companies.
Nissan
At the stand of Toyota's main competitor, in addition to a large number of production cars, visitors could appreciate the Nissan IMx concept car.
The car has more than enough interesting aspects. First of all, this is an autopilot system and a salon made for it with a retractable steering wheel.
The second important "trick" is in the technical stuffing. The car is made on a new electromobile platform on which large electric vehicles of the Nissan concern will be produced in the future.
Cars on this platform will be equipped with two electric motors with a total capacity of 435 hp. and have a cruising range of up to 600 km.
Mitsubishi
In many ways similar and no less interesting car visitors could observe at the Mitsubishi stand. By the way, recently, it also belongs to the Renault-Nissan alliance.
Mitsubishi e-Evolution
Concept made in coupe style high cross-country ability... Like the previous model, the machine is electric, but it has not two, but three electric motors. The company does not disclose more detailed data on the technical stuffing.
As for the internal equipment, then, oddly enough, the car is not unmanned, although elements of artificial intelligence are still present.
Honda
At Honda's booth, one can appreciate the company's vision for compact electric coupes for the near future.
Honda Sports EV
The concept is retro-styled and reminds the company's clients of the glorious cars of the 80s. This is how the famous Civic looked in the 80s.
As for technology, the car is completely electric and may well be launched in production somewhere in the 19-20 years.
Suzuki
At the Suzuki stand, visitors could appreciate what the real compact SUV in the near future.
Suzuki e-Survivor
The Suzuki company has always been famous for inexpensive small jeeps such as the Samurai or Jimmy. And despite the global electric mobility, it is not going to lose its leading position in this market sector.
In terms of technology, the machine is completely electric, equipped with four electric motors, one for each wheel. As envisioned by Suzuki engineers, such a configuration will achieve outstanding off-road performance.
The car has an autopilot for driving on normal roads.
Yamaha
Well, the last car in our review does not belong to the Yamaha car company at all.
Yamaha Cross Hub
At the show, a company aiming to enter a more profitable automotive market unveiled a concept for the pickup of the future.
The main "feature" of the concept is its internal layout, with a control wheel located in the center. As for technology, there is nothing revolutionary here, no electric traction, no unmanned system.
Another important aspect is that Yamaha, having shown the concept, does not declare either the start of its production or that it will produce cars at all. So this is most likely another way for the company to remind of itself. So far, there is no question of any appearance in the camp of automakers.
Actually, these are all the cars that, according to our subjective taste, are the most interesting in Tokyo. There were, of course, many more novelties at the exhibition.
Mitsubishi e-Evolution
Mitsubishi has returned the legendary Evolution name, but now it's 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 flexible thrust vectoring. So far, a crossover with a sporty silhouette is far from mass production: in the cabin there is a steering wheel instead of a steering wheel, and there are no handles on the doors. Touch controls and virtual devices are no longer surprising.
IMx electric crossover with new Leaf styling builds on an all-new platform for rear-mount independent suspension and a second motor. The total output of the concept is 435 hp. and 700 Nm, and the flat battery charge under the floor will last for 600 kilometers. When the advanced autopilot is turned on, the steering wheel is retracted into the front panel, and the information is displayed on a narrow translucent display overlooking the door. And the crossover can also sing to alert pedestrians.
Toyota Tj Cruiser
Another unusual name at the Toyota stand is Tj Cruiser (abbreviations for toolbox and joy - "toolbox" and "joy"). The square SUV really looks like a box. The interior is full of eyelets and loops for fastening, and the backrests of the seat backs are made of the same solid 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 with a special coating.
Suzuki e-Survivor
Suzuki's SUV concept of the future retains the frame structure. And the large display at the front features old-fashioned round headlights and a radiator grille with distinctive vertical slits. The doors are made transparent, and in each wheel of the car there is one electric motor. Suzuki e-Survivor hints at a new generation of Jimny SUV, which will also be frame, although it is unlikely to receive such a futuristic appearance.
Yamaha Cross Hub
The Yamaha Cross Hub pickup has a floor and cargo compartment decorated 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 off the rear wall of the cab so that a pair of motocross motorcycles could fit in the back of a small pickup truck, although one of them is for children.
The new generation of the Crown sedan is perhaps the most important new addition to the Tokyo Motor Show. The car is shown in concept status, but it is quite ready for mass production. The Crown is built 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 Lexus LS and a new hybrid power plant, similar to the Lexus LC 500h coupe.
Century is the most conservative and luxurious japanese car... For half a century, production is only the third generation of the sedan. It retains the prim looks, but the headlights are LED and the old-fashioned velor interior is equipped with active noise cancellation. 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 the driver. Updates are downloaded to the car via the Internet. Lexus promises that the 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 is made in the familiar Kodo styling, and at the back it resembles the rotary concept RX Vision. The rear door window with a kink gives the hatchback a sports coupe look. The production car, which is promised to be shown in two years, will receive economical Skyactiv-X engines with compression ignition and a supercharged drive.
Mazda Vision Coupe
Another new Mazda is the Vision Coupe four-door. Designer Ikuo Maeda calls his creation the most elegant Mazda in the company's history and claims to be guided by the 1969 Mazda Luce Rotary Coupe. The Vision Coupe is unlikely to turn into a production car, but its minimalist design will influence the look of future Mazda models.
Subaru Viziv Performance
Subaru in Tokyo hinted at the upcoming WRX sedan. Interestingly, under the name Viziv, the Japanese manufacturer showed prototype crossovers. Subaru actively uses carbon fiber - a body kit and a roof panel are made of it. There is no information about the interior and technical stuffing, but it is already clear that the WRX will receive a boxer engine, a "symmetrical" four-wheel drive, and an EyeSight system.
The Targa HV is represented in Tokyo under the GR sub-brand - formed from the motorsport division Gazoo Racing. The car is built on the basis of the GT86 and is equipped with a hybrid power plant. The most unusual detail of the concept is the "mechanics" lever combined with a push-button, as on Aston martin, automatic transmission... With it, you can change gears manually, and under the hinged cover on the knob there is a start button for the motor.
Daihatsu campagno
Daihatsu, specialist in compact cars and kei-karam, brought a whole scattering of concepts to Tokyo. Most interesting is the Campagno four-door coupé, whose retro look reminds us of the cars of the same name from the 1960s. The salon, on the contrary, is the most modern. Under the hood is either a liter turbo engine or a hybrid power plant.
Honda blends retro and electricity seamlessly. After showing the 1980s-inspired Urban EV electric hatchback in Frankfurt, she brought a sports coupe to Tokyo on the same base. The concept is the size of a Mazda MX-5 and has a long hood of a classic sports car. Perhaps he will go into series, but only after the Urban EV goes into production.
The design of the Yamaha MWC-4 ATV was influenced not only by motorcycles, but also by the musical instruments for which she is famous japanese company... This is a kind of response to the Renault Twizy and Toyota i-TRIL. The MWC ‐ 4 has a motorcycle handlebar and rolls like a motorcycle, that is, inside the turn. There are two electric motors on the rear axle, and a gasoline unit that is not connected to the wheels generates energy for them.
Mitsubishi Emirai 4
Mitsubishi Electric revealed its concept of the car of the future. It's not so easy to recognize the car in the outline of the Emirai 4, but the most interesting thing is inside it. It was created to demonstrate promising developments Japanese concern for the automotive industry. For example, a head-up display with augmented reality elements. Or a multimedia touchscreen with a control puck that can be moved over its entire surface.
Toyoda flesby ii
The most unusual premiere in Tokyo is the Flesby II rubber car. This pedestrian-friendly form of transport is developed by auto parts manufacturer Toyoda Gosei. Panels made of special "electric rubber" 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.
An excellent automobile exhibition has died down in Japan, they showed a lot of interesting things. But all the best, as usual, is not for everyone - these are magical concept cars, cars where the imagination of designers is expressed, a little crazy and strange at times. But there is no pragmatism and boring life here. Pure imagination only.
Mazda Kai Concept
Not Kia, but Kai! Yes, the name of the new Mazda may seem strange, but such is the will of the Japanese. But the design is a threat for Koreans. Japanese style is felt in that huge radiator grill, the evil squint of small eyes. Will such a formidable style live to mass production when they leave the assembly line? new mazda 3?
Mazda Vision Coupe Concept
A very beautiful concept car with graceful contours and beautiful lines. Mazda doesn't seem to have any plans to mass-produce such a car, but the futuristic design is very good. An elongated silhouette, a short trunk, a long hood - you can admire the outlines for a long time. Directly Ferrari, not a shy Mazda.
Mitsubishi e-Evolution Concept
A very sprightly concept with 3 electric motors and an artificial intelligence system. A very cheerful car, I want to see one on the road instead of the dull and scary modern Outlander.
Daihatsu DN Compagno Concept
Retro is always in fashion, here is Daihatsu, one of the oldest car companies in the world (founded in 1907), showed such a cute car. A 4-door coupe in a distinctive style that takes us back to the 60s. And the color is so correct, my favorite is juicy orange.
Honda Sports EV Concept
And this is my favorite concept, a very beautiful thing. Smooth outlines, bulging headlights, a sullen and even spiteful face. It seems that everything is so simple, but original and emotional. It doesn't even matter what's inside, not a car, but a feast for the eyes. Moreover, Honda, it seems, even plans to release it in 5 years.
Yamaha Cross Hub Concept
There are large American pickups with tons of chrome and a trunk the size of a helicopter parking lot. And there are such small Japanese mini-pickups. Maybe not so fundamental, but smart, bright and with a place to carry a motorcycle. An interesting car for lovers of pokatushki. Just don't get stuck on such a pickup while driving off-road.
Subaru Viziv Performance Concept
Modern Subaru cars are somehow scary and boring, they are not the same rally demons of the 90s with bulging headlights. The design of the new Subaru inspires hope that the company will come to its senses and take care of the exterior of the cars. Although, given that American housewives choose Subaru for transporting children, I doubt the marketing department will approve of any hints of aggressive design.
Suzuki E-Survivor Concept
And here's another exuberant concept: if you want a buggy, get it. No windows (not counting windshield) and doors, naked minimalism and the triumph of dementia and courage. Miniature jeep with frame, minimal overhangs, large wheels and 4 electric motors for each wheel. Maybe the new Jimny will be so cool?
