Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
With the easing of work and travel restrictions under the implementation of the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila, we hope and pray that most of you stay safe and healthy by staying alert and wearing the proper personal protection gear (like face masks and face shields) when working in groups or when dealing with another person. We strongly enjoin everyone to help avert a second wave of COVID-19 infections. To keep you entertained, here’s Part 3 of our trip to the 46th Tokyo Motor Show at the Tokyo Big Sight convention hall in Ariake, Tokyo, Japan last October 2019 (before the pandemic).
We took a long escalator up to the 2nd floor of the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center. We miss the days when people can walk around freely within a crowd without the need for masks.
Tantalizing Tire Technology
We first walk around the second floor of the convention hall, wander into the display pavilions of the major tire makers such as Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Falken, Goodyear, and Yokohama, and marvel at the latest tire technology geared towards extended durability, strength, mileage and minimal impact on the environment.
Bridgestone introduced their “Tire & Diversified Products as a Solution (T&DPaaS)”, which entails a unique business platform using digital technologies to link products and services to customers and business operators and deliver social value thru cutting-edge solutions.
On display was Kogakuin University’s solar car equipped with “Ecopia tires with o-logic” that participated in the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC).
These two modern Bridgestone bicycles were equipped with Bridgestone Air-Free concept tires.
Bridgestone debuted their SUSYM hybrid polymer tire material that combines rubber and resin at the molecular level to form their High Strength Rubber (HSR) technology…
… and showcased their prototype tire developed for international space exploration missions in conjunction with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Toyota Motor Corporation.
Bridgestone also debuted the environment-friendly Turanza with “Enliten” technology, the high-performance Potenza S007A, and the “elegant” Regno GR-XII passenger car tires.
Goodyear presented its new tire concepts for future mobility…
… with the Goodyear Oxygene features living moss growing within the sidewall that absorb and circulate moisture and water from the road surface, allow photosynthesis, and release oxygen into the atmosphere.
Designed for future flying cars, the Goodyear Aero concept tire can work on the ground and in the air, and features multi-modal design (tilt-rotor concept), non-pneumatic structure, magnetic propulsion, optical sensing and artificial intelligence.
Goodyear developed a concept tire for the Lexus LF-30 electric vehicle (EV) where the fins of the tires are covered with fine velvet and the tread side generates airflow to cool the EV motor.
Dunlop tires, under the Sumitomo Group, presented their new fuel-efficient Enasave Next III, which uses hydrogenated polymer to improve traction on wet roads and Smart Type technology that slows down the wear and deterioration of the tire’s performance as the tread compound grows older.
There was a replica of the first pneumatic tire that John Boyd Dunlop developed for his son’s bicycle in 1888.
Dunlop showcased their updated GyroBlade air-less non-pneumatic tire that promises more comfort and less maintenance.
Dunlop’s Sensing Core uses the tire itself as a sensor to send various rotation signals to proprietary software for safely assisting the controls of driven and autonomous vehicles in the future.
As part of the Sumitomo Group, Falken tires occupied an area immediately adjacent to sister company, Dunlop tires.
We were hoping to see Continental’s C.A.R.E. (Connected. Autonomous. Reliable. Electrified) technology they showed at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, where built-in sensors send signals to the EV’s software to re-inflate the tires when the tire pressure is low.
The displays of Yokohama tires included a “future technologies corner” and “existing advanced technology experience corner” where the Matrix Body Ply used in the Advan Sport V105 was showcased.
Japanese Super Car Club
To attract participants and viewers for their Tokyo Super Car Day held every November 1st, the Japanese Super Car Club promoted their event at the Tokyo Motor Show with a mouth-watering display of the finest and rarest limited-edition sports cars. Here are some of the cars we were able to photograph without a crowd gathering around it.
Limited edition Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato
Aston Martin DBS coupe
Aston Martin DBS convertible
2020 Aston Martin Vantage
Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Mulsanne Speed
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Lamborghini Aventador and Huracan
Limited edition McLaren Senna
Maserati Gran Turismo Spyder
Ferrari F40
Ferrari F50
Ferrari Dino
1952 MG TD
Tokyo Auto Salon
The other major automotive event in Japan is the Tokyo Auto Salon, an annual auto show held every January, that showcases performance and custom aftermarket parts and technology. The auto show, which is hosted by the Nippon Auto Parts Aftermarket Committee (NAPAC), is usually held at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba City. The annual event was also promoted at the Tokyo Motor Show with show cars from the Tokyo Auto Salon.
This 1958 Chevrolet Impala 2-door hardtop features a detailed fully-engraved body…
.. and IZ Metal Paint treatment from front to back.
This 1977 Porsche 935K3 is an authentic Group 5 race car with the Jagermeister racing livery…
… it was built by Kremer Racing and upgraded to 935K3/80 specs with the rear wing.
This S660 Modulo Neo Classic Racer was built from a 2018 S660 Neo Classic body kit…
… incorporating the Modulo brand of sporty design and improved aerodynamics.
FIA International Drifting Cup Champion Masato Kawabata’s 2020 GR Supra drift car with a 1,000 hp Toyota 3UZ V8 engine…
… with which he will compete in the Drift One Grand Prix (D1GP).
HKS-modified Suzuki Swift race car has carbon-fiber parts to save weight…
… while twin wings deliver tremendous amounts of downforce.
This Toyota Land Cruiser LC100 is a “Renocar” or “renovation car” that underwent extensive restoration…
… including mechanical upgrades that gave it a modern drivetrain, which is more powerful and environment-friendly.
Powerful and aggressive Skoda Fabia RS rally car looks deceptively simple.
Collectible Japanese Sports Cars
We were surprised to find two other Japanese collectible cars displayed in other areas. We can’t help but take a lot of photos of both cars.
We spotted a collectible Japanese sports car in mint pristine condition…
… it was a 1966 Toyota Sport 800 with a removable steel “targa” top, steel wheels with chrome hub caps…
… and it was original and beautiful all around.
The other collectible Japanese car was a Mitsuoka Orochi Final Edition super car used as a demo car by Sphere Light…
… powered by a 3.3-liter Toyota 3MEZ-FE V6 placed mid-ship, this low-slung sports car is painted a rare purple hue called Fuyoru…
… but the original ash interior was customized to suit the owner’s style. It’s one of just five cars in existence.
Join us next time as we go around the rest of the second floor of the Tokyo Big Sight Ariake Convention Center because there are other displays you haven’t seen yet. Then, there’s also the display pavilions of the other car manufacturers in another venue, the Aomi Exhibition Hall, and the Future Expo at the Toyota Aomi mega dealership, as well as the vehicle displays on the 3-kilometer long walkway connecting the two venues.
Join us next time as we walk around the tech companies that help make future electric cars, self-driving cars, and autonomous mass transportation an impending reality. And like what we said before, we endured several days of sore feet and aching legs to bring you the whole coverage of the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. We hope you’re enjoying the tour so far!
