Tokyo Motor Show 2007 The 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007 will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City Japan for 17 days from October 26th (Friday) through November 11th (Sunday) 2007. The show will be opened to the public from October 27th until its close. The Tokyo Motor Show show takes place every two years, alternating with the commercial vehicle show. As always there will be a huge variety of new designs, predominantly from Japanese manufacturers, ranging from new production cars to some of the most unusual and clever concept cars. At this year's show, upgraded special events that involve audience participation and experiences will be offered to generate excitement about vehicles, such as five types of test ride programs where visitors can actually come in contact with cars. The entertainment aspect will be heightened so that a wide range of visitors including women and youth, as well as families, can enjoy a full day at the show. You can enjoy a picture gallery of the auto highlights by clicking on the Gallery we have set up to the right. Nissan Pivo2
Nissan introduced the first PIVO concept two years ago here in Tokyo, and perhaps what's most surprising is that they decided to build a second one. The PIVO2 looks like it’d be a perfect mascot car for a baseball team, with its spherical passenger compartment sitting on a 4-wheeled platform. The wheels can be turned in any direction and the passenger compartment itself can spin 360 degrees. Each wheel is fitted with an electric motor with power coming from advanced lithium-ion batteries. Not only is PIVO2 friendly to the environment, it also takes care of its driver. A "Robotic Agent" is fitted into the dashboard that recognizes the facial images of the driver, providing not only useful information for vehicle operation, but also "speaks to you to cheer you up or to soothe you accordingly." Don't look for this car driving down public roads any
time soon, but its quite popular here in Japan.
Toyota RiN
Designed to promote harmony 
with nature and evoke a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, the eco-friendly Toyota RiN concept car features heated ergonomic seats, an oxygen level regulator, a spot humidifier, a “mood training” steering control system that monitors the driver’s psychological state, and greenish glass that protects against UV and infrared light while enhancing the natural beauty of the view outside. The exterior design was inspired by Japan’s old-growth Cryptomeria trees known as yakusugi, which are found on Yakushima island, a natural World Heritage Site known for its pristine, ancient forests.
The Toyota Hi-CT, billed as a cool and fun next-generation urban assault vehicle, is built specifically for narrow city streets and features a hybrid engine you charge by plugging into a wall outlet. Batteries are stored under the floor for a more compact, upright design, and interior 100V AC outlets provide passengers a convenient way to power their portable electronic devices. The rear deck is big enough to haul bicycles and surfboards, or it can be outfitted with a detachable luggage trunk.
Mazda Taiki
The hyper-aerodynamic Mazda Taiki is the fourth vehicle in Mazda’s Nagare series of cars based on the concept of “flow.” Inspired by Japanese koinobori (decorative carp-shaped streamers), Taiki’s design is meant to visually express the flow of air (incidentally, taiki means “atmosphere” in Japanese). With outstanding environmental and driving performance, Taiki’s next-generation rotary engine and front-engine rear-drive layout may well figure into Mazda’s future sports cars designed to help achieve a more sustainable society.*Look closely enough and Mazda’s Takai just about bridges the gap between fantasy and reality, and that alone puts it pretty close to the top of our concepts list. The latest in the evolutionary scale of Mazda concepts got started with the Nagare in Los Angeles and follows the theme of “flow” (which is what the Japanese word Nagare means). Takai looks like the kind of car that a superhero comic illustrator might draw in a 25th century cityscape — yet at the same time it looks as though it just might work. It’s all about line rather than technology, although there’s bound to be some of that 
under the swoopy skin, too. It unequivocally gets our vote because any car that takes inspiration from the flow of a celestial maiden’s robes and whose design process included leaving resin-impregnated strips of gauze literally to take on the shape of the wind deserves to be appreciated. Yes, it has an astonishing Cd of only 0.25, and zero aerodynamic lift all round, but in the end it just looks stunning.Honda PUYO
The eco-friendly design of the Honda PUYO fuel-cell vehicle is meant to create a soft, friendly impression and entertain the occupants as well as the people around it. The “seamless soft box” design gives PUYO a spacious interior and the charm of a cute pet that begs to be touched. PUYO’s “gel body” made from soft materials is designed to enhance safety, while embedded headlights and other illumination shine through the soft, translucent skin in the hope of fostering a more tender relationship between human and machine.*Staying with the environmentally friendly theme that flows through this show, the PUYO concept is a small, four-passenger zero-emission electric car powered by Honda's proven f
uel-cell system. The fuel-cell stack fits into the floor, allowing for a roomy interior. But while the fuel-cell technology is quite advanced, that aspect was the most mainstream part of the PUYO. What makes this car unlike anything else we've seen is that it is designed to be a "seamless soft box." And it is soft — the outer surface of the PUYO is made from silicon gel, which is not only more protective of any pedestrians that may get in the PUYO's way, but it is meant to be touched, providing a "warm, friendly impression." The PUYO's skin is also luminescent, so lights can be hidden from sight until turned on. The interior features a similar material, allowing dashboard instruments to stay hidden until needed.Daihatsu Mud Master-C
The Mud Master-C is a small, tough transporter that is compact and lightweight but is designed with body-on-frame construction for durability and cargo capability. Outfitted as a mountain bike support vehicle, Mud Master-C was co-developed with Raita Suzuki, a leading professional cyclist. With large cargo doors on three sides, Mud Master-C offers excellent convenience and versatility for loading cargo or other uses. A hub reduction system driveshaft to the wheels and large off-road tires achieves exceptional ride height and approach angles. The interior features a simple instrument panel with a large LCD multi-display and the seats are water-repellent for rugged use.*Daihatsu worked with mountain bike star Raita Suzuki to design the Mud Master-C, a compact and lightweight transporter ideally suited for MTB support duty. The Mud Master-C features a tough body-on-frame construction, an innovative hub reduction system and 16-inch off-road tires that provide more than 37 cm (14.5 inches) of ground clearance, allowing it to venture deep into mountain bike territory. Three giant gull-wing doors make it a snap to load and unload cargo.
Mitsubishi i-MIEV Sport
This baby electric car concept from Mitsubishi is designed to show that a zero-emission car can look great and have a sporty feel. It has three electric motors, two of which are built into the wheels, and a convenient wireless charging system that uses microwaves. A limited number of (non-sporty) i-MIEV experimental cars are already on the road (even Mitsubishi’s company president uses one) and Mitsubishi thinks the technology may be ready for series production as soon as 2010. The microwaves sound a bit ambitious, but otherwise we think it looks like a credible idea for a city car that’s practical, fun, environmentally friendly, and, perhaps, available in the not-too-distant future.
A pair of in-wheel motors drive the front two wheels of the eco-friendly Mitsubishi i MIEV Sport electric minicar, while another motor drives the rear wheels. The i MIEV Sport has a range of 200 kilometers (120 miles) and is powered by lithium ion batteries, with extra juice provided by auxiliary solar cells mounted on the roof, a generating fan mounted in the front grille, and a regenerative braking system that recovers energy as the car slows down. Further efficiency is achieved with power-saving LEDs and heat-absorbing window glass, and the interior features lots of bioplastic components.
Suzuki X-Head
This cross-utility vehicle from Suzuki is a car to satisfy all of your Tonka toy fantasies. It is functional, fun and dependable, says Suzuki. Its greatest attribute is its ability to transform into many guises. By changing the load bed, X-head can become a camper for two adults, stylish urban mobility in Fashion guise or able to respond to emergencies in extreme environments when in Rescue mode.*The versatile Suzuki X-HEAD crossover utility vehicle is built for off-road adventure and city cruising, and can be outfitted with a variety of load-bed units suitable for different situations. The “Camper” unit can be attached to provide sleeping space for two adults, the “Fashion” unit allows for stylish urban mobility, and the “Rescue” unit is ideal for emergency rescue operations in extreme environments
-Suzuki Sustainable Mobility (PIXY + SSC)
Stretching the definition of “car,” this highly maneuverable one-seater “personal mobility pod” is a vision of sustainable individual mobility for future cities and towns. It can be used by people who don’t drive cars for short, low-speed journeys. But for faster and longer commutes, two PIXYs can “pair” with — that is, drive into — the SSC (Suzuki Sharing Coach). That brings new meaning to the term “car sharing.” Powered by solar power and zero-emission hydrogen, PIXYs can even be used inside buildings and are designed to be “friendly to non-drivers and car users...not only a tool but a partner.”
Toyota i-Real
Chances are good that no one will see this cruising down the road anytime soon, but the i-REAL could shape what a personal mobility vehicle may be one day. This spaceship-like conveyance resembles a segway with a seat and looks like it would fit perfectly in Xbox’s famed Halo series. The i-Real rides on two wheels at the front and one in the rear. A perimeter monitoring system detects when a collision is imminent and warns the driver by noise and vibration. Love it or hate it, the i-REAL provides a glimpse at a possible future for personal transportation.
Suzuki BiPlane
This modern take on a ‘70s drag bike aims to capture the sensation shared by airplanes and bikes. The aerodynamic concept is inspired by the elevating feel riders get when accelerating through a long straightway — like an aircraft taking off. Biplane is powered by a 1,000cc, liquid cooled, 4-stroke DOHC, V-four engine, and it will certainly turn heads.
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