Tokyo Show 2009 Highlights: Daihatsu Deca Deca Concept

The Deca Deca is a minimalist take on the boxy kei small car concept popular throughout Japan. Its simple but flexible interior is characterized by a flat floor, foldable seats, and a hideaway screen. Access to the cabin is via wide-opening doors on the left side and a large swinging tailgate in the rear in addition to the requisite driver's-side front door.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Tokyo Show 2009 Highlights: Daihatsu Basket Concept

Combine an International Scout with a Volkswagen Thing and then drastically shrink the result in the wash to kei car dimensions and you end up with Daihatu’s basket concept. The flexible four-seater starts with a hard t-top above the front seats and a canvas top above the rear. It can then be turned into a number of layouts, including a two-seat trucklet with a partition between the cabin and the bed and an open-air cruiser. In a country where many families have just one car, this kind of flexibility could be valuable, particularly for a younger couple that doesn’t have kids.

Tokyo Show 2009 Highlights: Daihatsu e:S Concept

The two-door e:S is a preview of future Daihatsus, or at least the technology that will be in future models. The diminutive car weighs just 700 kgs (1543 lbs) and rides on a short 85.6-in. wheelbase with power coming from a 58-hp 660 cc gasoline three-cylinder outfitted with a stop-start system that achieves an impressive 70.5 mpg using the Japanese test cycle, 10% better than the current engine.

In the future, this three-cylinder will make way for a 63-hp direct-injected turbo twin that will improve fuel economy by a further 30%. And, if Daihatsu’s plans come to fruition, this engine will be replaced by a precious-metal-free liquid-feed fuel-cell powertrain, which is said to be cheaper and safer than other fuel-cell technologies.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Tokyo Show 2009 Highlights: Toyota FT-EV II Concept

If you thought the Toyota IQ was reaching the lower limit of four-passenger vehicle size, think again. Toyota is taking packaging to another level with the FT-EV II Concept, an electric city car even smaller than the IQ.

How does Toyota do it? It’s a matter of reducing the size of two major components of a vehicle, the drivetrain and the controls. While small engines, and indeed electric motors, are not a new idea, the compact nature of the electric motor allows Toyota to do away with the traditional hood and engine bay to shorten the car’s overall length and offer much greater forward visibility. In fact, visibility is even enhanced with an auxiliary window below the windshield, see-through LED tail lights and video cameras instead of side mirrors. Entry and egress is made easy by power sliding doors.

While the electric drivetrain reduced exterior dimensions, the real trick was freeing up interior space. To do it, Toyota made all of the major controls drive-by-wire. From brakes and accelerator to even the steering, there is no mechanical connection between the driver and the vehicle. Doing so allowed Toyota to free up a good deal of interior space around the driver and incorporated a retro-futuristic joystick-style control rather than a traditional steering wheel. More than that, it eliminated the traditional dashboard all together -- freeing up even more room for passengers.

The FT-EV II is powered by a compact electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack that Toyota says is good for a range of roughly 55 miles and can propel the car to a top speed of about 62 mph. Toyota says making the FT-EV II exceptionally quiet took a good deal of fine-tuning of the motor control technology.

While the FT-EV II is certainly an interesting display of technology, we don’t expect to see it in the U.S. It’s far more likely that if it makes it to production, it will compete in Japan’s fierce Kei Car market for ultra-small cars.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Tokyo Show 2009 Highlights: Suzuki SX-4 FCV Concept

The more advanced of the Swift concepts is the SX4-FCV, a fuel-cell vehicle. Using a GM-built fuel-cell and a 10,000-psi hydrogen tank to generate electricity, the SX4-FCV operates similarly to the Swift Plug-in Hybrid except that the fuel-cell generates electricity rather than a gasoline engine. The SX4-FCV is actually the latest generation of the vehicle and boasts improved handling and performance thanks to its more compact components and lighter weight. The previous-generation vehicle is already testing on Japanese roads and is destined for the open market in the near future according to Suzuki.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Tokyo Show 2009 Highlights: Suzuki Swift Plug-In Hybrid Concept

Making their own foray into the world of electric vehicles, Suzuki is bringing two electrified versions of its Swift compact car to the Tokyo Motor Show, one a plug-in hybrid and the other a fuel-cell vehicle.

The more conventional Swift Plug-in Hybrid is really more of an extended-range electric vehicle and operates much like the Chevrolet Volt. Like the Chevy, an electric motor actually drives the wheels while a small gasoline engine acts only as a generator that produces electricity to either recharge the battery or power the electric motor. The battery can also be recharged by plugging it into a wall socket. Suzuki is targeting the car at in-city commuters who, according to the company’s research, travel less than 15 miles per day on average. By adding the gas-powered generator, though, the Swift Plug-in Hybrid isn’t limited by its battery size.

While Suzuki hasn’t released any information about the Swift Plug-in Hybrid’s range or fuel-economy, it’s expected to be impressive thanks in part to the car’s small size and weight. Suzuki hasn’t announced production plans either, but it’s likely the technology will see production in the future even if this exact car doesn’t.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Tokyo Show 2009 Highlights: 2011 Supasse V

The Supasse V sports car -- designed and built by Japanese backyard builder Suzusho Ltd. -- is set for a Tokyo debut next week.

Tipping the scales at just 1874 lbs thanks to its liberal use of aluminum and fiberglass components, the Supasse V coupe sits on a unique race-car style 'aluminum twin-tube monocoque spaceframe' with a copper tube frame addition at the rear end. The race car like styling is no accident either. Veteran Japanese F1 car designer Kenji Mimura is responsible for the V's great-looking lines.

The Supasse V is powered by a midship-mounted, specially tuned version of the 2.3-liter turbo from the MazdaSpeed3, mated to the Speed3's six-speed gearbox.

Slated to go on sale in Japan in mid-2010, Nagoya-based car parts and used car dealer Suzusho says it will build 100 units over four years with a price tag somewhere in the $50,000-$80,000 range.

Thanks to: Motor Trend