There were fast cars, luxury cars and then quirky new concepts. The Tokyo Motor Show opened at the start of this month with some interesting glimpses of the last kind. Energy-saving electric cars with advanced green technology took centre-stage as the Tokyo Motor Show opened, with robots and computers becoming vital elements of these vehicles. Glimpses of the future, or too quirky to lift off the drawing board?
Time will tell…
Photo courtesy: AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO/Toru YAMANAKA
Japan's auto giant Toyota Motor's affiliation, Toyota Boshoku displays a design study model of four-seater wagon "T-Brain" at a press preview.
A model displays a prototype two-seater light weight electric sports car "Teewave AR1", made by Japan's high-tech materials giant Toray. The concept vehicle features a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) body weighing 846kg, can travel 185km on a single charge, and has a maximum speed of 147kph.
Osamu Suzuki, chairman of Japan's Suzuki Motor, inspects the company's concept vehicle called the 'Q-concept' during the Tokyo Motor Show.
Japan's robot venture Kowa-tmsuk unveils its electric personal mobility "Kobot". The ultra compact electric vehicle features extensible and collapsible mechanisms for reduced parking space footprint.
President and CEO of Japan's Honda Motor Takanobu Ito introduces its concept car 'Micro Commuter Concept, which is just 2.5-metre in length and 1.25-metre in width.
A model displays a concept electric vehicle by US auto giant General Motors called the "Chevrolet EV-V" (Electric Network-Vehicle)
Japan's automaker Daihatsu, Toyota's small car affiliation, displays the company's concept zero-emission, fuel-cell vehicle called the "FC-Sho Case"
Models show off the new Beetle of German automaker Volkswagen during the Tokyo Motor Show
Japan's tire giant Bridgeston displays the air free tires "Air Free Concept", which has plastic made spkes inside the tire, instead of compressed airs
