Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
If you’re reading this, we’d like to thank you for coming back and following our photo tour of the 46th Tokyo Motor Show, which was held in October 2019 in the districts of Ariake and Aomi, in Tokyo, Japan. In Part 5 of this Motoring Events series, we walked around the Open Road Exhibition and marveled at the vehicles that were displayed along the walkway. This time (Part 6), we will enter the Aomi Exhibition Hall of the Tokyo Big Sight to see the display pavilions of Toyota, Daihatsu, Subaru, Hino, Isuzu, and UD Trucks. Here we go:
When we got to the Toyota pavilion inside the Aomi exhibition hall, it was darkened before the start of the show on the stage and LED wall…
… with the lights on and the crowd was thick and almost shoulder-to-shoulder, which we now avoid, during this post-pandemic era.
The Toyota e-Racer features a virtual fitting function that creates a racing suit just for the driver, which adds to its “fun to drive” futuristic element…
… visitors are asked to wear specialized digital glasses to get a real-life experience of a racing course of their choice while the seat is customized to fit their body shape.
The Toyota e-4me autonomous single-seat mobility platform allows the passenger to use the time while en route to do what he/she wants and enjoy various services without worrying about other people.
Toyota e-Care allows a futuristic medical exam using a facial version of the game “Rock-Paper-Scissors'” while the passenger talks with a doctor en route to the hospital.
Toyota Micro Palette is a small delivery robot that delivers physical goods to a loved one along with the feelings that go with it, offering emotion-filled distribution in the future.
Equipped with a wireless battery charging system, the Toyota e-Chargeair offers ride-share service, charges other BEVs while on the go, supplies electricity to the city, purifies the air, and provides Wi-Fi.
The PMCV is the futuristic concept of an autonomous battery electric vehicle (BEV) created by the Autobody Division of Toyota…
… where the ingress and egress is wide and comfortable via sliding doors and gull wing upper panels…
… and the interior seating layout can be designed according to the function of the vehicle.
Toyota Autobody also came out with designs for multi purpose vehicle (MPV) interiors including this “Resort Touring” concept…
… and this “Business Liner” concept that looks like the interior of a private jet.
At pavilion of Daihatsu (Toyota’s kei-car company), their theme of “Togethering” or “bring warmth to people’s lives” showed several concept vehicles including the “Waku-Waku”…
… which Daihatsu describes as a “design full of personality, perfect for young drivers setting out on their own way” and as a “close friend that makes fun in the mountains and sea so easy and carefree.”
Daihatsu’s Tsumu Tsumu concept is a next generation kei-truck packed with innovations including a replaceable cargo platform to match the owner’s work style…
… and a design that “supports people who work in local areas by providing easy and enjoyable everyday use”.
Daihatsu’s unique next-generation mobility concept, the Ico Ico, generates vitality and encourages “lighthearted driving, even on narrow roads” where “going out and about is always a pleasure”…
… while the Wai Wai is a minivan that provides unexpected comfort, space and stylish design that can satisfy the needs and wants of even the most demanding parents and women.
The Daihatsu Copen is Toyota’s two-seat kei-car sports convertible…
..while the Daihatsu Terios/Rocky is the modern updated version of the compact SUV we used to know here as the “Feroza”.
The Daihatsu Tanto minivan features an attractive boxy exterior…
… and a very roomy interior with large doors for easy entry and exit.
Some Tanto models even feature seats that extend outside the vehicle for the convenience of people with disabilities.
Subaru, which is another car company now owned by Toyota, showcased their 2020 Levorg prototype…
… and the VIZIV Adrenalin concept vehicle.
Also on display was the BRZ GT500 race car…
… and the Impreza WRX STI EJ20 Final Edition. Say it isn’t so, Subaru!
Toyota’s truck brand, Hino Motor, showed their “FlatFormer” autonomous electric concept truck platform…
… which can be configured to fit any type of cargo-carrying or delivery platform…
… and made it close in concept to a Lego toy truck that kids can play with at the show.
The Hino 500-series Dakar-winning rally truck was one of the more popular selfie backgrounds in the show.
The FL-IR concept truck was the star of the show at the Isuzu pavilion, where the company theme was “Create With You”…
… this modern tractor head was specially designed to project a futuristic distribution network filled with safety features and PREISM, Isuzu’s up-time support service…
… while the latest driving aids and technological breakthroughs will make driving this behemoth relatively easy.
A large scale model display depicts what the FL-IR will look like in future service. Wow!
Current models with minor modifications were also displayed like the Isuzu Giga 10-wheeler truck…
… the Isuzu ELF 6-wheeler light truck…
… while an Isuzu ELF electric vehicle (EV) features a walk-through van body…
… to make loading and unloading much easier.
A photo booth standee of the first Isuzu Elf gave the author a rare opportunity to drive a vintage truck.
UD Truck showcased their Quon Concept 202X 10-wheeler concept truck that they claim will take smart logistics to another level…
… where it will be intricately connected to its surroundings, including other trucks, infrastructure and people, achieving new levels of efficiency, productivity, safety and sustainability…
… and where it will see significant strides in the use of IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence). Front displays encourage road courtesy with messages across the front bow under the windshield.
In the next part of this series, we will continue our trek through the Tokyo Big Sight Aomi Exhibition Hall where we will see future and current electric vehicles from other manufacturers, see how Japanese kids are being inspired at the Kidzania pavilion for future assignments in the automotive industry, and wander in amazement among scores of Tomica scale model cars where Takara Tomy is celebrating 50 years of making Tomica toy cars. See you in a few days!
