Unlike the conservative Detroit auto show, the Tokyo version has a well-earned reputation for producing concept cars that only a sake-infused Japanese man could appreciate. Cars are more whimsical than practical, more awkward than beautiful.
That wasn't the case last week as the future of automotive design and technology rolled out. The Japanese auto industry is showing incredible maturity by creating some of the most fluid, technologically advanced and breathtaking forms ever to fit an automobile. Of course, there was also some fun. Here are the highlights with takes on their viability:
̢ۢ Chrysler Akino
Decorated like an IKEA showroom with bamboo floors, a wraparound couch in the rear, swivel front passenger seat, a lighting sconce, mood lighting, recyclable fabrics and a throw rug, the Chrysler Akino is about homey friendliness.
Access to the surprisingly roomy interior is through a single door on the driver's side or two doors, which open in opposite directions, on the passenger's side. Blue and cream suede are used on interior surfaces.
Created by a 37-year-old Japanese designer at Chrysler's Pacifica Design Studios in Carlsbad, Calif., the car is meant to evoke a sense of serenity and the feeling that your home is always with you. "Akino" means "autumn field."
PRODUCTION POSSIBILITY: Get real!
̢ۢ Honda FCX and W.O.W.
With no question, the FCX is a stunning, cab-forward design that cheats the wind with slippery aerodynamics. Underneath is a fuel cell powertrain, which, through a chemical reaction, turns hydrogen into electricity to power the car. It can also power your house and use waste heat from the fuel cell to heat water for domestic use. On the road, the car only generates steam through its tailpipe for a truly pollution-free sedan.
Honda's W.O.W. (as in Bow Wow) was created for dog lovers. The dashboard glovebox was replaced with a netted pet carrier for your favorite pooch. B-pillars provide a place for tying a leash. Floors, seating and interior materials are all pet-friendly (accident resistant).
I'm thinking a vacuum-powered pooper-scooper would make the W.O.W. about perfect.
PRODUCTION POSSIBILITY (FCX): 2010
PRODUCTION POSSIBLITY (W.O.W.): Expect the dog trinkets to stay out.
̢ۢ Nissan Pivo
Here's your whimsy. Pivo is proposed as a three-seat electric-powered commuter car that, thanks to drive-by-wire technologies, can spin in place and needs no reverse gear. See-through pillars reduce blind spots while drivers control the audio, navigation and climate control systems by pointing at them; infrared cameras mounted in the dash translate thoughts into action.
PRODUCTION POSSIBILITY: Forget you saw this!
̢ۢ Mercedes F600 HYGENIUS
The founders of Mercedes and Benz invented the modern automobile, so it shouldn't be a surprise when they reinvent it. Most of the F600's exterior and interior design is based on the upcoming European B-Class model, which means it is roomy, practical and reaching for the future.
Underneath that body lies a revolution. Like the Honda FCX, the F600 is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and electric motors for emission-free cruising. About 40 percent smaller than previous fuel cell systems, it produces the equivalent of 115 horsepower, or about the same as a 2005 Volkswagen Beetle.
PRODUCTION POSSIBLITY: Basic design - 2007.
Fuel cell - 2010.
