Below are the most prominent cars that have been exhibited at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. Of course, local brands take the lead, although the German Audi struck with a concept that anticipates its next compact production model.
Among the new technology present in this concept are the 2,200 cm3 4-cylinder diesel engine and the S-AWC all-wheel drive system. New systems to command security elements also appear.
The exterior design of the body shows no signs of creativity. The lines are harmonious and more elegant than those of a Lancer, although the only family feature with the rest of the brand's products is the front grill. And precisely that grill is the element that subtract elegance from the car.
But beyond the aesthetic criteria, the big problem that the brand would face on the market is competition against its German Audi, BMW and Mercedes peers. These brands are setting the course in that market and it is unlikely that this car will be able to penetrate the European market.
It can be said that the renewal of the Fit has a parallel with the renewal of the Mercedes A-Class. In both cases they tried to reduce the upper rear section to make the car look more slender, also preventing it from being associated with the large size of a van.
The design of the optics and other details associate the Fit 2008 more directly with the rest of the Honda product range. It really is a superior design than the original model, based on its better handling of proportions and surfaces.
In the interior there are few changes and all the features and comfort elements present in the previous Fit are maintained. More use of high-quality plastic panels is noted.
The new Nissan GT-R incorporates cutting-edge technology like few sportsmen of similar value. To begin with, we can highlight the integral traction system with independent axles and dual clutch transmission. The engine of the GT-R will be the VR38, a 3.800 cm3 biturbo V6 delivering a power of 480 hp.
Another pillar of the Nissan is its combined steel, aluminum and carbon fiber construction. The engineers managed to spread the weight well, concentrating much of it in the center of the vehicle. In turn, extensive work was done to improve aerodynamic efficiency.
From the outside there is an aesthetic that adopts characteristic features of Japanese design. It can also be said, without losing the product, that some of its volumes look somewhat rough in their formal transitions, something almost usual in many vehicles of the same nationality. The interior is puzzling, as it looks much more classic and moderate than the rest of the GT-R.
The Subaru G4e concept is an electric vehicle powered by lithium-ion batteries located on the floor. This small car reaches an autonomy of 200 km. From the aesthetic aspect, the design managers explained that its angular lines try to suggest an arrow as a symbolic message: the car points to the future.
It is rare that the upper rear end is so high, penalizing aerodynamics, a rare detail in electric vehicles. Evaluating it well, the overall height of the car is excessive also in the passenger compartment. This increases the feed resistance negatively affecting battery performance.
The interior is as attractive as it is strident and looks much more contemporary in its details than the exterior, which could look 5 years ago. The passenger compartment features a slightly squeaky red and white colour scheme, but it's interesting because it's a concept car. It incorporates a lot of technology and several screens.
The new Audi will be one of the pioneers of the new B-premium segment. Its design rescues the characteristic aesthetic features of the brand successfully merging them with the concept of compact but not ultra-small car.
The design of Jurgen Loffler is distinguished by its low waist line and a cabin that looks quite high. The front is minimalist, devoid of ornamentation and has as its main element a large central grid almost square and disproportionately large compared to the rest of the car.
Technically, Audi surprises by equipping this vehicle with a hybrid propulsion system.
Inside, with sober grey shades of neoprene and other materials combined with polished aluminium details, a comprehensive mobile phone system, MP3 music and satellite navigation is offered. All this is controlled via the Audi MMI system.
Its designer, Takanori Aoki, commented that more than 60 units have been manufactured and sold in Japan. The selected design criteria tries to include the look of the sportsmen of the 1990s, adding rigorous and overloaded work on the details to exaggerate the snake look.
All the elements present in the front sector, lights, grille, air intakes, etc accentuate a design that meets the expectations of the author, while still being caricatured.
© Adrián Blanco 2007 - No full or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
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