Madness lite: Tokyo goes mainstream

Tokyo Motor Show was once the exhibition where practicality went out the window. Extreme concepts were the rule, rather than the exception. Whether it was an ever-shakier Yen and worries about the world economy or, more likely, mounting environmental concerns in the face of climate change, 2007 was a watershed for what remains one of the world's top five motor shows.

With some rare exceptions -- ironically the most noteworthy from the builder of the world's most 'sensible' cars, Toyota -- pure concept cars were largely absent from last week's show. Suzuki made a strong effort with an SUV that looked half-prime mover, half-Tonka, but largely the wild and whacky was replaced by production-ready specials, or indeed derivatives of existing products which boasted more efficient, more environmental-friendly powertrains.

Honda's CR-Z was a case in point. Though a 'concept' when we published details just a week ago, by the second press day at Tokyo, the attractive two-door sports hybrid had been confirmed for production.

Fear not, however, Mazda's Taiki with its quasi Ghia Batmobile-esque detailing remains a flight of fancy.

Like Frankfurt show last month, 'sustainability' was perhaps the most used word in the automakers' Tokyo presentations. Toyota went as far as sermonising three forms of sustainability -- sustainable mobility, sustainable manufacturing and, paraphrasing, sustainable community consciousness.

Grouped under the "Harmonious Drive -- A new tomorrow for People and the Planet" label, the carmaking giant showed three 'pure' concept vehicles and reprised the Frankfurt show IQ minicar.

Unlike the IQ which is nearing production reality (more below), Toyota's 1/X, RiN and i-Real are 'true' concept vehicles. Rather than point to production vehicles, they are indicators of a mindset: a statement of the company's current development 'hot buttons'.

There's little chance you'll recognize the production vehicles that are eventually derived from the trio. That said, the technology, systems and development they represent will play an important part in Toyota's future, says the man responsible for trio, Tetsuya Kaida, Toyota Development Centre Project General Manager.

According to Kaida, the whacky RiN is a demonstration that Toyota is working towards making cars and driving more attractive to 'non-car' people. RiN is almost an aromatherapy salon on wheels -- it cossets its occupants and does its darndest to soothe the stresses of commuting. After experiencing three days of Tokyo traffic firsthand, it's hard not to see the appeal.

The most 'mainstream' of the concepts, the 1/X, on the other hand,  hints at the aims and direction of development of future mainstream Toyota models -- specifically, that coming generations of vehicles will have to realize magnitudes of improvement in terms of materials usage, weight and powertrain efficiencies.

"This vehicle [1/X] demonstrates a future direction for all types of vehicles," Kaida told the Carsales Network.

"It could be the Corolla or the Camry of the 2020s, or even LandCruiser. 1/X is trying to demonstrate, to show, some future technologies that can be used for so many different vehicles."

In the case of 1/X, the name of the vehicle says it all. Says Kaida-san, the future Toyota must use a fraction of the energy and materials current vehicles consume -- both in terms of production and operation.

According to Kaida-san 1/X's carbon-fibre structure is indicative of using cutting edge material -- not necessarily a pointer at the specific technologies or materials Toyota will use in 2020 or anytime soon.

"We were told to demonstrate something by using materials available now. In the 2020s, there will be, I'm sure, some new and much better material.

"One issue is that carbon-fibre relies on oil. In the future, I would like to see a material made from plants, something natural -- maybe even something like paper.  This is my dream.

According to Kaida-san, by 2020 vehicle may not just be powered by renewable fuels, but also built using renewable materials.  A third or fourth generation Prius could potentially trace its lineage back to the projected 'efficiency' of the 420kg 1/X and be built from a material we associate more with Japanese cuisine that cars.

"I do not tell my fellow engineers, but if I share my dream with you: I would like to create vehicle from seaweed," opines Kaida, suggesting that the fibrous nature of seaweed could potentially see it generate textile, composites and other products.

It would be plentiful too. "Japan is surrounded by the sea." Kaida said.

Toyota's IQ minicar won't use such exotic or revolutionary materials for one reason -- it is already close to production-ready.

Unveiled alongside Volkswagen up! city-car concept at Frankfurt last month, it's planned 100,000 units of  the sub-3.0m three-plus-one will be produced each year in Japan -- perhaps as early as 2009.

"Technically, we are almost ready," said iQ program chief, Hiroki Nakajima at Tokyo, also revealing that the car would use a conventional (ie: not hybrid) drivetrain.

"We are already ready in the sense that we have prepared and completed all the necessary components to achieve our concept of having a car less than 3m long and that carries four people."

Nakajima said his team had focused on the "aerodynamics and improvement to CO2." Significant emphasis has also been placed on safety, he said -- noting the car's dimensions demanded it.

Though it is unlikely the car will come Down Under anytime soon, Nakajima did not rule the prospect out completely.

"At this moment, the plan is to produce the car in Japan. The target is the European and the Japanese domestic market… [But] If the response [in Australia] is very good, of course, I would talk to the sales guys."

Arguably the most extreme concept of the Tokyo show was not a car but looked more like a cross between a bicycle and a commode. Also wearing a Toyota-badge, the three-wheeler, once manned bore an uncanny resemblance to that sworn foe of Doctor Who -- black enameled boss of the Daleks, Sec.

Toyota's i-Real is unreal, but shows the maker is looking every which way at stretching the bounds of personal mobility. With a choice of low (6km/h) and high-speed (30km/h) modes, the electric-powered i-Real is a super-Segway with radar reversing aids and soft pedestrian friendly leading edges.

With a range of around 30km on a single charge, it's Toyota's idea of how humans and transport may interact some time in the distant future.

Alas thanks to controls that are more video game controller than Corolla, as far as we can see, it will only ever be able to be operated by teenagers.