2011 Tokyo Motor Show is Underway

[TRONZ]

Making this thread for people to post up interesting things from the show.

I found this little gem. A Nismo LEAF.... and NOT the RC race car.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/260300/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/tokyo-motor-show-2011/tokyo-show-nissan-leaf-nismo/260300/pictures/tokyo-show-nissan-leaf-nismo.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


And Toyota FT-EV III is officially unveiled.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/11/toyota-ft-ev-iii-concept-previews-scion-iq-electric-car-2011-tokyo-motor-show.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[GeekEV]

Meh. I want the race car. This Nismo LEAF isn't radical enough.

 

[cwerdna]

If you've got a trip to Japan soon and can change plans a bit or if you can afford the ticket, I highly recommend going. See http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6834" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Public days are from Dec 3 to 11. Keep in mind that they're a day ahead of us...

If you don't go this time, it's almost certain that you'll need to wait 2 years for the next show.

 

[Boomer23]

Meh. I want the race car. This Nismo LEAF isn't radical enough.

"Meh" is the word that came to my mind, as well. Nissan, you need to rock my world, not spruce up the draperies.

 

[Andy]

Interesting about the Toyota FT-EV III - finally another major EV that places the charge port(s) in the front like the LEAF. When they were at it they copied the blue color as well!

 

[Boomer23]

Interesting about the Toyota FT-EV III - finally another major EV that places the charge port(s) in the front like the LEAF. When they were at it they copied the blue color as well!

And I see a ChaDeMo receptacle next to the J connector in shot 015.

 

[Herm]

That Toyota EV is really cute, even with all those stupid decals on it.. but we will never see one like that in the US with our safety regulations.

 

[Herm]

"Meh" is the word that came to my mind, as well. Nissan, you need to rock my world, not spruce up the draperies.

It would be an interesting refresh in 2015 when they introduce the next generation of batteries.. but you cant be too radical with a family car like the Leaf.

 

[adric22]

I find the Toyota interesting. Notice how they are using a front charging system, just like the Leaf?

 

[sparky]

A portion of Akio Toyoda's remarks from WSJ.

Electric vehicles were on the lips of nearly every chief executive at the Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday as they touted their future visions of the automotive industry.

Carlos Ghosn of Nissan Motor Co. declared that his company’s Leaf, currently the best-selling electric vehicle, is just the beginning of more promising vehicles to come. ....

....But then there was Akio Toyoda, the head of Toyota Motor Corp. “Personally, I love the smell of gasoline and the sound of the engine,” he declared, “so I hope this kind of vehicle never disappears.”...

...he spoke lovingly of the past when people thought it was fun to drive – so much so that it became a company slogan in the mid-1980’s, he said.

“Today it is said that young people have little interest in cars as there are much more interesting things, and as an automobile maker, I find this quite frustrating,” he said.

Two things stood out in this report:
I laughed because in my driving / owning experience with Toyotas, they're well built and reliable but seemingly where "fun" comes to die. If Toyoda is nostalgic for that ethos his products don't seem to know how to articulate it.
Also, it's illustrative of how a CEO sets the tone for a company, with Ghosn personally steering Renault-Nissan onto a somewhat risky pure EV path and Toyoda so nostalgic for the smell of gasoline that his company barely dares to dip a toe in.

 

[nogajim]

Toyota claims a total driving range of 65 miles with room for four.

Room for four whats???

 

[TRONZ]

I think in some ways Toyota, Honda and even Mazda are romantic about the past. The 80's jump to mind as they produced some pretty great drivers cars, Supra Turbo, NSX, RX7 Turbo, etc. Unfortunately they lost their spirit with their lost decade and now focus more on making practical appliances. Useful, yes. Visionary, no. Hearing a CEO dwelling on past glory is not only sad but a big indicator they have no plan for the future.

In contrast, graduating design students have more vision/inspiration than these high paid execs.

http://www.gizmag.com/autonomo-fully-autonomous-vehicle-designed-for-the-year-2030/20529/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[TRONZ]

Toyota claims a total driving range of 65 miles with room for four.

Room for four whats???

I sat in a Scion IQ (same car) and the whole family just barely fit. In comfort? No. Not sure if the EV conversion will eat into what little space was their. I am 6' and fit fine with the seat back all the way.