The Hi-CT aims to offer a new "coolness" and new ways to have fun as a departure from conventional vehicles-an edgy, urban vehicle inspired by the thinking and lifestyles of youth.
* Offers a new kind of automotive "cool" and sense of enjoyment.
* Has a new look unconstrained by conventional vehicle size (length 3,330mm x width 1,695mm x height 1,780mm).
* Adopts plug-in hybrid technology, which allows it to charge from an external power source and gives it a greater driving range when running on its battery-powered motor; by placing the battery under the floor, achieves a highly efficient cabin with a higher driver position.
* Comes with an AC100V accessory socket that enables stored electricity-made possible by plug-in hybrid technology-to be used for a variety of applications.
* Features a removable rear trunk and a deck where surfboards, bicycles and other equipment can be loaded.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Toyota Hi-CT Concept (Tokyo Autoshow 2007)
Nissan Round Box (Tokyo Autoshow 2007)
Nissan had unveiled its Round Box concept. The car is a miniature convertible with removable roof. The colorful concept car includes low windows for views of the passing road below.
The Nissan Round Box has offers a steering wheel which looks like a gaming controller. A built-in screen serves as the dashboard with changing data. Both the driver and passengers can have access to the car's data and entertainment system with a program that virtually passes control of the data from person to person.
Nissan Pivo2 (Tokyo Autoshow 2007)
The Pivo2 from Nissan looks like something out of a children's comic book. The electric concept car operates by lithium-ion batteries. But that's only the start of its uniqueness. The Pivo2's wheels and cockpit can each separately rotate 360 degrees. In other words, the owner of a Pivo2 would never use reverse. The driver would just rotate the cockpit to face the next desired driving direction. It also comes with a robot that can read and talk to you.
Mazda Taiki (Tokyo Autoshow 2007)
The Taiki is Mazda's fourth concept car with the theme Nagare, which means "flow." The back wheels tucked under wings give the car better aerodynamics. The car body went through wind-tunnel testing that determined this design created a "tunnel" of air between the front body and rear fender, resulting in more downforce and zero lift on the car, according to Mazda.
Audi Metroproject Quattro (Tokyo Autoshow 2007)
Audi on Oct 24 had delivered the much anticipated A1, aka Audi Metroproject Quattro. The A1 is intended to be a competitor to BMW's Mini Cooper series. It's envisioned as a hybrid-electric car with a 1.4-liter engine. It would be able to do 0 to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds, have a top speed of approximate 201 km/h, and get about 48 mpg. The car could go up to about 96 km on electric power alone.
Volkswagon Space Up! concept (Tokyo Autoshow 2007)
VW's first up! concept made its debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show in September. That one was a two-door city car that put viewers in mind of the Smart Fortwo.
Now the second one- space up! is a four-seater van concept with four doors, although VW says, "in actuality there are even six" because it has a two-part rear door instead of a tailgate. The rear bench seat has two integrated child safety seats and can be removed, as can the front passenger seat.
The space up! is 60.6 inches in length and rides on a 100.8-inch wheelbase. It's 9 inches longer than the up! concept shown at Frankfurt. It is the bigger than the Volkswagen Beetle.
BMW 1 Series tii concept (Tokyo Autoshow 2007)
BMW calls the 1 Series tii is clearly production-bound. The automaker says the concept is intended to be "a young interpretation of classic BMW brand values," while also providing an appropriate base for motorsports applications.
The showcar is fitted with a number of aerodynamic add-ons, including front and rear airdams, side sills, rear diffuser and special Gurney flaps that exert extra downforce on the rear axle. The engine compartment lid, mirror caps and front air-intake inlays are made of carbon-fiber, in part to reduce weight. The body is painted Alpine White and trimmed in blue, with decal strips on the roof and deck lid, plus carbon-fiber accents, providing stark contrast.
Inside, the tii features sport bucket seats with integral headrests and side airbags, as well as a three-spoke sport steering wheel and shift knob covered in Alcantara. The seats, door panels and instrument panel also are trimmed in Alcantara, and the entire cockpit has a triple-tone white/blue/black color scheme — the traditional BMW colors.
The car has a 18 inches low profile tires mounted on well design five-spoke alloy rims.
