EXCITING and inspiring as always, the Tokyo Motor Show (TMS), did not fail to influence and stimulate the motoring world. The 44th edition of the biannual event kicked off last week at the Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward, where thousands of visitors, including this writer, got first dibs on the latest automotive trends and a glimpse of future mobility. Automakers displayed their latest lineups, cutting-edge environment-friendly cars and concept models that provide ideas of what the vehicles of tomorrow will look like and key technologies that will have an impact on the lives of motorists, such as autonomous driving systems.
Just like in 2013, TMS 2015, which opened on October 28 and runs until November 8, presented a vision of transportation in the year 2020 via a large-scale exhibition called Smart Mobility City. Toyokazu Ishida, TMS director general of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association—the nation’s biggest auto-industry lobbying body and show organizer, said the main attractions at the event are the latest models and newest technologies from the carmakers.
“[For overseas visitors] the Tokyo Motor Show is a must-see event to check out what’s going on with the Japanese auto industry,” Ishida said. There are 76 cars making their world premieres, including 67 from domestic makers. Among the vehicles on display, concepts and latest environment-friendly cars are likely to garner the most attention,” Ishida said during the preview day.
Covering the largest floor area of any single brand at the show was Honda, whose exhibit is comprised of its diverse lineup of products unique to the company. “Driven by ‘The Power of Dreams,’ Honda has always been striving to create new values by converging people’s dreams and our own dreams as creators. We dream to offer people greater opportunities in their daily life and to expand their life’s potential, and, therefore, we constantly take on challenges to realize our dreams. In doing so, we have always cherished the power that our dreams let us embrace. At this motor show, we use our dream-inspiring global brand slogan—The Power of Dreams—as the booth concept, and let red lines, intended as a motif of our corporate color, to run through the stage,” said Takahiro Hachigo, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. president, CEO and representative director.
Honda exhibited an extensive lineup of vehicles, including innovative mobility items, to make daily life easier, as well as racing machines that pursue excellence in driving performance. Most noteworthy among the displays were the all-new Clarity and all-new NSX super sports car. The Clarity is Honda’s innovative fuel-cell vehicle (FCV) developed for a new hydrogen society, which is sustainable and environment-responsible, yet still allows people to experience the joy that comes from complete freedom of movement. In response to the issue of global warming and fossil-fuel depletion, Honda began researching the potential of hydrogen at an early stage based on the concept of “generate,” “use” and “get connected.” Honda has developed a complete solution for a new hydrogen society that comprises hydrogen stations, FCVs, external-power functionality and more. The FCX Clarity, on the other hand, is the world’s first dedicated fuel cell sedan, which combines at the highest level the practicality of a gasoline-powered car and the unique appeal of an FCV, while incorporating Honda’s most advanced technologies.
Moreover, Clarity features a cruising range of more than 700 km and exhilarating driving made possible by the high-output motors. When combined with an external power-feeding inverter, the car can function as a “mobile power plant” that can generate a home for seven days straight in case of an emergency.
“The Clarity features outstanding environmental performance, while also offering the fun of driving and the joy of using it. A highly unique package for this vehicle was realized based on Honda’s longstanding M/M concept—‘man maximum, machine minimum,’ which means to ‘maximize the space for people and minimize the space required for mechanical components.’ We believe that this sedan model could set a new benchmark for FCVs,” said Hachigo.
“By installing a downsized FC powertrain under the hood, we realized a cabin that accommodates five people as comfortably as the cabin of a regular gasoline-powered sedan model, the Clarity will go on sale first in Japan in March 2016 and then in the US and Europe,” Hachigo added.
The other star of the show was the NSX, a midmounted supercar that features the latest, direct-injected twin-turbo VTEC V6 engine mounted on a lightweight frame. Together with a highly efficient, high-output SH-AWD (Super Handling-All-Wheel Drive) hybrid system, the NSX provides both outstanding driving performance and fuel economy. The low and wide body of the NSX boasts of dynamic and elegant styling, while the interior design was developed under the concept of a “Human Support Cockpit,” which offers excellent visibility and driving position.
“The all-new NSX is a new-generation supercar model that realizes a driving experience with unique Honda characteristics and excellent environmental performance at a high level as with F1 machines. In the area of automobiles, Honda took on challenges in F1 racing, the world’s most prestigious automobile racing series, starting this season. At the Japanese Grand Prix held a month ago, we received a lot of cheers and encouragement. Converting such cheers into big power, the Honda team has been and will continue taking bold challenges in its F1 activities,” Hachigo shared.
In addition to the two models, Honda also presented a historic model that takes dynamic performance to the limit—the all-new Civic Type R, which is the result of Honda’s effort to produce the fastest front-wheel-drive production automobile and polish the performance fundamentals of an automobile—moving, turning and braking. Honda claims that this Type R promises unsurpassed brilliance and a driving feel like no other, both on circuit and on the road. Under the hood, a new 2.0 L VTEC turbo engine combines Honda’s original VTEC direct-injection technology with turbocharging to deliver a maximum output of 228 kw and maximum torque of 400 N-m—the highest engine-performance specifications in Civic Type R history.
“I would say that this Civic Type R is the sports model that most expresses what only Honda can do, because it was created by pouring all of Honda’s sports DNA into a popular mass-market model, the Honda Civic. Especially, this all-new model was developed with a goal to create the “best Civic Type R model ever. This vehicle took shape through a number of test-drives on various test courses and racetracks, including Nürburgring in Germany. The all-new Civic Type R has been very well received ever since it went on sale in Europe this past summer. Please experience Honda’s dynamic sports DNA through your five senses,” Hachigo said.
The other vehicles in the Honda booth were the Odyssey Hybrid; Step WGN; the all-new S660 convertible minivehicle sports car; concept vehicles such as the Honda Project 2&4 powered by RC213V; Honda’s Wander Stand; and a lineup of concept motorcycles, including the three-wheeled sport hybrid Neowing, CB1100, Lightweight Super Sports, Super Cub, Grom 50 and PCX.
“Now, I would like to talk a little bit about the vitalization of motorcycle markets. Honda has been committed to the advancement of global motorization and, therefore, we have been working together with government bodies in Japan in various areas, including the promotion of traffic safety; improvement of road manners, the reduction of requirements for obtaining a license for small-sized motorcycles [of up to 125cc]; and installing and upgrading of parking infrastructures.
“At Honda, we think over and over again. We embody our original ideas with our innovative technologies. We do not let go of our ideas and passion without trying something. We pursue things all the way to the end and break through the conventional thinking or past precedents. Such determination runs through all of these Honda mobility products I introduced today.
“Driven by ‘The Power of Dreams,’ Team Honda will work as one and keep taking on challenges to realize mobility products that deliver inspiration and joys to each of our customers around the world. Please keep your expectation high for the future of Honda,” Hachigo said.
Image credits: Tet Andolong