Toyota, Lexus showcase ‘fun to drive’ technologies

Sneak peek of Lexus RC300h during Monday’s Lexus welcome party

TOKYO—High-tech, and in small packages. These may be the themes auto manufacturing giant Toyota Motor Corp. is tinkering with in the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show, which opens Wednesday for the press and runs until Dec. 1 in Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward.

Think of an ultracompact vehicle that combines the convenience of a motorcycle with the comfort and stability of a car; or an ultracompact personal transport assistance robot, a next-generation fuel-cell vehicle, a data traffic information service which informs of vehicle position, speed and other statistical data; a next-generation taxi, you get the picture.

Toyota once more pushes the technological envelope as it showcases its version of future mobility and urban transport systems (known as “Ha:mo”). It will also premiere concept vehicles that convey its new slogan, “Fun to drive, again.”

To witness it all, 15 Filipino journalists have been flown in by Toyota.

Lexus show, too

The all-new Lexus RC sports coupé production prototype, and the turbocharged version of the Lexus LF-NX compact crossover SUV concept will also hold their world premiere here. On Monday, the press had a sneak peek of the RC and the LF-NX at the indoor sporting arena Ryogoku Kokugikan (a venue of Japan’s national sport sumo wrestling).

Lexus LF-NX compact crossover during Monday’s media premiere

With a 3.5-liter gasoline or 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain, the Lexus RC sports coupé showcases unique Lexus design elements, with L-shaped rear combination lamps and headlamps inspired by the Lexus LFA and LF-LC sports models. The sports cockpit, with its horizontally accented instrument panel, is crafted with focus on the unity of car and driver, and the seats are manufactured with a new “integrated foaming” process for an exceptional fit.

The Lexus LF-NX is a next-generation luxury compact SUV crossover that made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year. Now, it is outfitted with a newly developed 2-liter turbo engine, which engineers guarantee will have “superior driving and environmental performance.”

Its lower center of gravity, emphasized by the front under spoiler, gives the turbo model a sportier look.

Also to be displayed is the Aqua G Sports, described by its creator as “a fun-to-drive, sports-conversion compact hybrid sports car with powerful, sleek and inspiring styling and excellent fuel efficiency.” It will be launched in the Japanese market late November. The vehicle has been fully tuned by Gazoo racing drivers to offer a wider range of consumers a taste of racing and the joy of driving.

The Toyota i-Road—which will be introduced early 2014 to the Ha:mo urban traffic system currently being tested in Japan—will be shown at the show. It is described as “a personal mobility vehicle that offers a novel riding experience in an ultracompact package that combines the convenience of a motorcycle with the comfort and stability of a car.”

Making its debut

COMS, also to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, is a two-seater vehicle developed by Toyota Auto Body Co. Ltd. which will be part of the Ha:mo project in the middle of December.

The Winglet—an ultracompact personal transport assistance robot that makes innovative use of robot control technologies and a unique parallel link mechanism—is ridden in a standing position, and can be operated simply by shifting body weight.

Toyota’s booth will feature advanced driving support technologies that allow vehicles to communicate with infrastructure, pedestrians and other vehicles. It is called Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems.

To be demonstrated is the vehicle-to-infrastructure cooperative driving simulator, touted as an environment-friendly driving support system that uses road-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian-to-vehicle communications to reduce the likelihood of traffic accidents.

Its intelligent driver support systems aim to eliminate traffic injuries and fatalities. Toyota’s Automated Highway Driving Assist promotes safe and skillful driving by combining Cooperative-Adaptive Cruise Control (C-ACC) and Lane Trace Control (LTC). C-ACC uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication to adapt quickly to the deceleration and acceleration of other vehicles, while LTC uses sensors to detect lane lines and steers to ensure that an optimal driving line is maintained.

Also to have their world premieres are the fuel-cell vehicle Toyota FCV Concept scheduled to be launched in 2015, and the next-generation taxi. The JPN Taxi will have large electrically operated doors and a low, flat floor to enable passengers, particularly children and senior citizens, to board and exit in comfort. It uses a new, economical liquefied petroleum gas hybrid system that boasts of “excellent environmental performance optimized for taxi driving patterns.”

The FT-86 Open Concept, based on the rear-wheel-drive 86 sports car, will be seen as well.

With an electrically operated soft top, the vehicle adds that “open-top thrill” to the joy of driving and sense of oneness with the vehicle offered by the hard-top 86. A new “flash red” body color, used specifically for the Tokyo Motor Show, gives a twist to the iconic sports-car red.