It's been a very long day today. I headed out to the Makuhari Messe exhibition center in Chiba nice an early ready for a day of shooting at the 41st Tokyo Motorshow. It was a very strange show, the quietest one I've ever been to that's for sure, with only the Japanese manufacturers participating for 2009, along with a handful of a few other exhibitors like Lotus, Caterham and Alpina. Despite this however there was plenty of interesting cars to feast my eyes on, and there is no doubt Toyota and Lexus took center stage this year as we finally got to see, after a string of concepts and even a race car (!), the production version of the $400,000 Lexus LF-A…
…not to mention the FT-86, probably the most anticipated Japanese sports car concept of the last few years. We have seen pictures before, but this little car is even better up close. It's very compact, sits nice and low and has very modern and flowing lines…
…not to mention some nice touches like a rear carbon diffuser. It deserves a more in-depth look so stay tuned for a more detailed post highlighting its main features.
Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda made a great speech when presenting the FT-hachiroku, admitting that the lack of sports cars in the last decade from Toyota is kind of their fault, not due to the consumer's lack of interest like is often quoted. But things are about to change and that is great news. He then headed straight to the Lexus stand to present the LF-A to the world, by revving the 4.8L V10 a few times before the curtains dropped around the car.
There is no doubting that Leuxs put a lot of effort into perfecting the LF-A. It kind of had to since the Nissan GT-R hit the scene two years ago, rewriting the rulebook when it comes to performance.
Under the carbon fiber hood sits the individually throttled V10, kicking out 560 HP, allowing the LF-A to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.7 sec.
The interior is simply awesome; there is a sense of occasion about it, tons of carbon fiber detailing and an overall innovative design. I will focus on the LF-A on a later post, as it deserves a lot more space!
Previously seen at Frankfurt, the Lexus LF-ch is a worthy contender for the BMW 1-series and Audi A3, packing a unmistakably Japanese design in an very appealing shape. The profile view and the glasshouse kind of reminds me of the VW Scirocco.
Toyota was pretty much impossible to top this year but Honda was right behind with the CR-Z concept, the spiritual successor to the CR-X. The actual production car will debut at the Detroit show in January and, unlike the concept, will most definitely be a two seater. Honda is certain it will impress with the CR-Z, but I look forward to finding this out by myself to really see if a hybrid car can actually feel like a true sports car.
The little EV-N, a modern day take on the N360 of the 1960's, was one of my favorite cars of the show. I love the tiny proportions and simple design, giving it a very distinct character. Would be cool to see this makes it into production.
"Eco" was the main theme at the Makuhari Messe this year with tons of hybrid vehicles on show from Honda, like the Skydeck minivan above.
Nissan on the other hand has taken advantage of its leading position in the development of electric vehicles, something Carlos Ghosn obviously feels very passionate about.
He arrived on stage driving the cool Land Glider EV, a two-seater vehicle that leans through corners like a bike. It joined the Nissan Leaf on stage, the first mass-produced EV car, on sale from next year.
Joining the Land Glider concept was the Nissan Qazana mini-SUV that was previously shown at the Geneva motor show earlier in the year.
Away from all the concepts the new Nissan 370Z Roadster was getting a lot of attention. Designing the Z34 as a convertible from the get go, unlike the previous Z33, has allowed the designers to really fine tune the lines of the rear end making it very pleasant to look at.
This Fuga Hybrid, on sale from next year, is the first hybrid car Nissan has made, showing that EV is probably not for everybody quite yet.
The badge on the back says it all.
Yet more hybrids and EVs from Mitsubishi with the plug-in PX-MiEV, a preview for the next generation Outlander. Now that development of the Evolution X has ceased I guess this, along with the i, is what MMC are concentrating on.
Subaru has taken a more unique route in this "hybrid race" by combining a 2L turbocharged direct-injection boxer engine and of course its symmetrical AWD with an electrically boosted powertrain. The result is the Hybrid Tourer.
The Mazda Kiyora, first shown at the Paris show, achieves excellent fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions by the use of a more efficient engine and gearbox coupled with a lightweight carbon fiber body. A possible successor to the Mazda2/Demio?
Spotted this interesting looking Suzusho Supasse-V sports car, still not finished but promising to be quite the drivers car with 270 HP on tap from its mid-mounted engine and a curb weight of just 870 kg!
More to come from the Tokyo Motor Show in the next few days. I'm back at Makuhari Messe tomorrow to finish up my coverage but I leave you with a picture of the weird "electric commuter concept" from Yamaha, the EC-fs, a futuristic electric motorcycle that is so easy to ride even your grandmother could jump on it and go for a ride!
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
The LF-A is just awsome, but nissan realy disapointed me. TMS is the biggest show in Japan, and they don't have one good concept there!
LFA SAWEEEEET! CAN T WAIT T O SEE THE LFA VS. GTR VIDEOS
Quote from Pistonheads...
"specs suggest that the road variant is not massively changed. It is powered by the same 4.8-litre V10 developed jointly with Yamaha, and in road trim pushes out 552bhp along with 354 lb ft of torque. Even in more relaxed road form it should be a screamer, with the red line at 9000rpm, and 90 per cent of peak torque available from 3,700rpm. According to Lexus, the V10 is also as small as an average V8, and as light as a V6.
The Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) body helps keep overall kerb weight down to a pretty lean 1480kg - almost exactly the same as the racing version - and equates to a power-to-weight ratio of 373bhp per tonne. The LFA will apparently hit 62mph in 3.7 seconds, on its way to a 202mph top speed.
As with the 'Ring racer, the road-going LF-A's engine is mounted as far back in the front as Lexus's engineers could get it, and the six-speed automated sequential gearbox is mounted at the rear in a transaxle, and the front-to-rear balance ratio of 48:52 is retained.
This should help the road car's handling, which was honed at the Nürburgring and also benefits from the same aluminium monotube dampers used on the racing car.
As you'd expect with a modern supercar, carbon ceramic brakes are standard, along with giant asymmetric tyres and slippery aerodynamics tuned for downforce. The interior is finished with splashings of aluminium, carbon fibre and alcantara in the expected places, and there's a snazzy active LCD display that changes colour when it wants you to change gear.
Just 500 LFAs will be hand-built at Toyota's Motomachi plant, and we don't yet know how many of those will be shipped to the UK. For those that do make it here, Lexus will ask customers for a rather ambitious £336,000. Generously, Lexus says it can remove standard equipment at the customers' request - in the interests of weight saving, of course"...
Vid here... http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=20848
Wow, Toyota is really heading in the right direction again with that LF-A (insane car) and the FT-86 (probably affordable yet awesome). Nothing that spectacular from Nissan, Honda and Mazda though. Not really liking that CR-Z yet, might change, but I don't think so.
LFA Vs GTR? They're not really in the same market are they?
I love the little Yamahas and the Honda EV-N.
"It's very compact, sits nice and low and has very modern and flowing lines..." -- Sorry, for me, the modern lines aren't something I get excited over... I love the 80's style boxy-esque silhouettes, especially for a car that's supposed to be such a throwback. Now, the LF-A..... Considering it isn't based on something older, that pulls it off amazingly well. Sexy car right there. And the EV-N.... I want one of those!!!!!!!! D:
how come I can imagine the Honda EV-N in vending machines @ IKEA worldwide starting in 2010. so damn cool and stylish for a miniature car! good write up on the event, great pics too!
86!!!!! Can't wait. Lots of cool cars for sure!
Is that a first gen miata door handle on the Supasse-V?
should i go ahead and put an order in for a FT-86?
GTR>LFA how much is that LFA??? hahahahah GTR please.
@Cot -- LOL, it looks nearly identical.... I didn't even catch that. (Then again, I don't even look at my door handles much, so...)
feeling the lf-ch, is it rwd? if so than it could really compete with the 135i.
EV-N is like the retro mini cooper, about de 370Z i always going to prefer de z33 look, now z34 looks i dont know like for ladyes jaja..
damn something i want to share with all u, last week i saw a GTR!! in mi city, im from mexicali, Baja, and its so rare to see one celibrity like dat, i almost crash seeing that thing..... that car is a dream for sure..... was so great to see it for first time.
LF-A turned out to be quite an ugly car! The test cars looked much leaner and meaner IMO
I don't know what's up with japanese car designers recently. Take away the 370Z (which isn't the most gorgeous car too) and there is no single japanese car on sale today that looks good in my opinion! I mean come on at least try and copy some good european design. Those cars might be technical masterpieces but none of them got the flair or the magic of an old 240Z, Hakouska or NSX. I've got a feeling we're having the 80's all over again
$400k for a Lexus? You gotta be kidding me. It has the looks of a racer, but what backround does Lexus have to prove that they are good at making supercars? the IS-F is insane for sure, but that speed wont cut it for a car worth that much (obiously). As for the EV-N, Honda is throwing something into a highly competitive playing field. Mini cars. Hopefully it will go into the market (I'd buy it!!). As far as my opinion goes, nissan didnt do anything too interesting this year (so far), and nothing can top last years RX-500 comeback. So, the Lexus has to be driven to be sold for me. It has the looks, the material, the history? I THINK NOT! Remember when lexus tried this a few years back? Can i hear: FAILIURE? The engine? RWD 552 BHP V-10, where did that come from? Toyota's F1 division? Its pretty heavy too. Handling? Autocar's review showed it drifting through most of the corners so i doubt it's good. Is this madness? No. Its Toyota hoping for the best, and jumping into a playing field that they have never been. Consumer avalible Super cars. I think $400k is asking way too much for a car that is beaten (my opinion here) by the $90,000 Nissan GT-R in hadling, and by power in a $114,000 Audi R8. A Caterham could run circles around it for crying out loud!
Dino, siamo sinceri....non penserai mica che in concetto Toyota/ Subaru FT-86 verra' messo in vendita' con il difusore in carbonio!?!?!?! Che cazzo lo menzioni a fare (lo vedo, e lo vedono tutti dalla fotografia che il diffusore e' in carbonio). Ci sono 1 milione di concept cars che hanno materiali esotici......che non verranno mai messi in produzione, e con cio'?
Sono anni che "seguo" I tuoi viaggi (di lavoro)...posti che hai visitato.....grandi fotografie, sei veramente un bravo fotografo.....ma per quanto riguarda i racconti/ storie/ sottotitoli nelle riviste, fanno veramente pena. Non hai niente di RILEVANTE da dire, solo l'ovvio.
Quote: (the interior is simply awesome, there is a sense of occasion about it, tons of carbon fiber detailing)....yada yada yada......lo vedo anch'io che c'e' tanto carbonio, e lo so' anch'io che e' fantastico......e con cio'? E' ovvio !
Sii un po' piu' dettagliato, articolato nelle tue storie/ racconti. Non farmi vedere un volante in carbonio e dirmi che e' in carbonio, e' ovvio. Fornisci della informazioni che non sono facili da ottenere (per noi comuni mortali)....facendo cosi' potresti essere un giornalista come si deve.
@ alex
if you want more journalistic details, you might want to focus on your comprehension as well.
quote: "I will focus on the LF-A on a later post, as it deserves a lot more space"
Wow that kiyora is neat...Anyone remember the Furai prototype car mazda did? that little kiyora looks like a squished and more friendly version of its track going big brother. Anyone agree?
=3
So it took Toyota 4 years to make an ugly Ferrari 599 with a defunct F1 engine. LOLZZZZ.
This will nicely compliment Toyota's current Formula One efforts. More LOLZZZZ
However. hopefully the 86 concept can make it to production quicker than the LFA.
I agree with "SamuraiRJ". Its just not worth $400k. It might seem cool but they priced the vehicle higher then the Porsche 911 GT2 (997), the Mercedes SL65 AMG Black, the new McLaren MP4-12C, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, the new Ferrari 458 Italia, the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, and the older (but still ahead of the curb) Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3. All these vehicles are hands down faster (on the straights and on the bends) then the LF-A and are made by far superior supercar production companies. If you pay more for a Lexus then a faster McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari or Pagani, then you really have failed. If Lexus wants to make a profit and actually sell this LF-A then the price is going to have to be lowered considerably. The vehicle is only worth (at the most) $170k. which would put it in a class all on its own. Well, thats if people don't get smart and buy a cheaper Audi R8 5.2 FSI instead.
Oh and that Suzusho Supasse V is horrible. I looked more into the vehicle and it looks as if a Ferrari Enzo/FXX and a Lotus Elise had given burth and then adopted the love child out to some couple in Japan.
Swerv13: LFA> over-rated pos GTR, fool.
jayzegay100; go pay 400k for a POS LFA when there are MANY better cars for less money...read some more comments.
Anyone that can point me in the direction of the Suzusho Supasse-V sports car, web sites or the like ?
This post made me incrediblely excited
@ Alex
Sei proprio un caga cazzi che non capisce la differenza tra un blog ed un articolo da rivista. Nessuno ti costringe a leggerlo, se non ti va bene pui andare altrove e risparmiarti certe osservazioni da pirla.
@Swerv13
Read incorrect comments? Ok sure.
After all the hype about the LFA I was at least expecting a car that didn't make me throw up in my mouth when I look at it! It looks like somebody put a Tiburon in the oven and it melted a bit. The interior looks nice though.
Ricapitogliamo le mie osservazioni che ho scritto.
1. Ho detto che sono ANNI che seguo quello che Dino scrive a fotografa. (qui su SP, e molte altre riviste, Americane e non).
Quando qualcuno come Got Well mi scrive: "you might focus on your comprehension as well."...impara l'Italiano piuttosto......come ho GIA' ripetuto....sono ANNI che seguo quello che Dino scrive a fotografa.....e niente e' combiato...
Un altro articolo piu' dettagliato sulla Lexus LF-A......sara' (mi immagino)...come gli altri cento-mila articoli che ha scritto per altre riviste......stating the obvious.
Sii PIU' dettagliato Dino.....e non scrivere opinioni ! Ognuno ha un opinione diversa.....concentrati sui fatti.
2. @ Pikachu: Hai mai seguito i lavori (storie, e articoli) di Dino? Se tu gli avessi seguiti, sapresti che Dino non cambia una virgola per quanto riguarda lo stile che usa, la sua personalita', il modo di scrivere, il modo di interpretare le sue idee, sono ESSATTAMENTE uguali blog e articoli su riviste.
Sono d'accordo con te, nessuno mi costringe di leggerle i suoi blog o articoli, ma non giudico MAI "the book by the cover"....come ho gia' detto, Dino fa veramente delle belle fotografie....per il resto......e' penoso. E' penoso sapere che ci sono riviste che lo assumono per scrivere degli articoli cosi'......senza un po' di spirito, senza dettagli....
"Osservazioni da pirla?"......spero che per Dino sia un "wake up call".....e che si renda conto di dare di piu' quando scrive, di essere piu' articolato nelle sue osservazioni. Non offenderti o prendertela per Dino, e' un'adulto e vacinato.....sono sicuro che si sa' difendere da solo.
...Nothing wrong with the 80s/90s, lots of great Japanese cars came from then!.
Let hope it is a return to the 80a then!, with modern play on it
Dino,
Thanks for taking the only shot I like of the FT86 from the front.
The lines are there, but somehow the wide angle makes it look great but from other front views It don't look so good.
Swerv13: "POS LFA"...lol, at least it's probably got a transmission that doesn't break like sugar glass, and brake rotors that crack and warp after a few laps thrashing, like a certain GTR I know of. GTFO.