2005 Tokyo Motor Show - Automakers take the brakes off creative design

Chiba 10/15/2005; The Asahi Shimbun reported that the 39th Tokyo Motor Show will spotlight not only the environmental advantages of fuel-cell vehicles, but also the greater freedom the technology allows for car design.

At this year's show, which opens next week in Chiba, automakers will present various concepts for exterior design and body frames as well as hydrogen systems.

While fuel-cell vehicles are not expected to hit the road in large numbers anytime soon, automakers will highlight luxury cars and sports cars among displays of conventional passenger cars closer to market introduction.

Suzuki Motor Corp. will display a fuel-cell minivehicle, the Ionis. Its driving controls, including the steering wheel and brake pedals, can be positioned along the dashboard so that the driver can operate the car from anywhere on the front seat-right, left or center.

Toyota Motor Corp.'s Fine-X fuel-cell vehicle has wheels that can turn almost 90 degrees in both directions for easy maneuvering.

The new technologies are possible because fuel-cell cars have fewer physical restrictions than vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.

While conventional gasoline-fueled vehicles transfer the moves of the steering wheel and pedals to other parts through metal shafts, fuel-cell cars do so by electric signals.

That gives automakers more flexibility in car design, such as the positioning of the steering wheel and motors.

In the FCX Concept vehicle to be introduced by Honda Motor Co., the hydrogen tank, fuel-cell unit and motor are all below the floorboard.

Because of this, the prototype's interior has more space than fuel-cell cars based on existing gasoline models.

Among luxury cars, Toyota will show the Lexus LS for the first time. The top-end model of the luxury Lexus line will debut in Japan in summer 2006.

In August, the company launched domestic sales of Lexus models.

Toyota also plans to show the Lexus LF-A, a prototype sports car equipped with a 10-cylinder engine. The company adopted Formula 1 technologies for the engine.

If the model draws a good reaction, Toyota will consider marketing it, officials said.

Nissan Motor Co. will exhibit the successor model to the Skyline GT-R sports car, scheduled to be put on sale in 2007.

The company will wholly redesign the body but will keep the four round tail lamps, a distinctive feature of the Skyline GT-R.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will display the new Lancer Evolution, which it plans to market in 2007.

The new model will be lighter than the existing model because more aluminum is used in the body.

In the domestic market, fuel-efficient small cars are selling well. But carmakers plan to push luxury vehicles with higher profit margins, targeting customers in their 40s through 50s.

The 39th Tokyo Motor Show, which features passenger cars and motorcycles, will be held at the Makuhari Messe convention center from Oct. 21 to Nov. 6.

A total of 571 models will be on display. The organizer, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, expects 1.5 million visitors, up 80,000 from the previous show featuring passenger cars and motorcycles in 2003.(IHT/Asahi: October 15,2005)