Japanese Car Design Corner / 日本自動車設計角

Subaru BRZ STi Concept coming in Tokyo

2012-01-26T23:02:00.000+02:00

Subaru will display the BRZ STi Concept at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon. The concept comes with a roof and a bonnet out of carbon fiber, like the Impreza tS, wider tires (215 at the front and 225 at the back - 18" rims) and a few other cosmetic bits and bobs, such a a small rear spoiler etc. In terms of the oily bits, no changes have been made.

Next-gen Mazda MX-5 rendering

2012-01-22T22:12:00.000+02:00

Over the time, renderings of the upcoming Mazda MX-5 (earlier post) have been published and although this particular one is neither coning from Japan, nor is the latest one, I found it quite interesting.

Video: New and old Acura NSX get together in GT5

2012-01-10T23:09:00.000+02:00

Toyota Prius C makes its official debut

2012-01-10T23:06:00.001+02:00

Toyota will make the market's most proven hybrid technology available to subcompact car shoppers with a starting MSRP below $19,000.

The Prius c relies on a 1.5-liter in-line, four-cylinder gasoline engine that utilizes an Atkinson cycle to increase efficiency. This engineproduces 73 horsepower and 82 lb.-ft. of torque, contributing to a total hybrid system output of 99 hp.

The Prius c's hybrid system utilizes a 144-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack that has been located under the rear passenger seat, near the center of the vehicle, and low in the chassis to help improve the center of gravity.

Toyota Ns4 Plug In Hybrid concept

2012-01-10T22:58:00.000+02:00

Not bad at all... but is it likely to make it into production...?! I hope it does... Anyone from Toyota listening???

Acura debuts NSX concept at Detroit!

2012-01-09T22:51:00.000+02:00

The NSX Concept gives an indication of how the next-gen NSX will look like. The concept is equipped with Honda's new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system. Utilizing a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a Bilateral Torque Adjustable Control System, the all-new hybrid all-wheel-drive system can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering.

“This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make NSX the ultimate expression of Acura’s idea to create synergy between man and machine,” said Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

“Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency,” added Ito, who led the development of Acura’s first NSX supercar. “In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.”

Video: Lexus LF-LC concept

2012-01-09T22:44:00.000+02:00

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Lexus LX 570 gets minor facelift

2012-01-09T22:16:00.000+02:00

Lexus' GS design has been a failure in my opinion with the Japanese trying to incorporate as many as "S"s as possible, a trend that appears in the facelifted LX...

Source: Autoblog

Yet another Honda NSX successor rendering

2012-01-06T23:02:00.002+02:00

Honda will introduce an NSX successor, although the initial project was halted for a few months due to the financial crisis. The new NSX won't have the same drivetrain configuration as the one we have seen being tested in the past, so you can expect a hybrid powetrain.

Japanese Best Car magazine has came up with this rendering, which is the latest one floating around the net. Nice...

Lexus' stunning LF-LC concept

2012-01-06T16:34:00.000+02:00

Simply speechless.... please Lexus produce it with just minor mods, please....

Lexus preps stunning LF-LC concept

2011-12-21T22:57:00.002+02:00

Japanese automakers reveal from time to time some really stunning concepts, but by the time they enter production, the final product ends up completely boring and hugely toned down. Please Lexus, produce a version as close as possible to this prototype....

Video: From Toyota FT-86 Concept to GT 86

2011-11-27T21:26:00.000+02:00

Toyota FT-86 officially revealed... welcome the new GT 86!!!

2011-11-27T21:09:00.001+02:00

The wait is finally over!!! After hundreds of rumors and speculations (earlier posts), the production version has been officially revealed prior its official debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. According to Toyota UK's press release, the final spec are:

2.0-liter boxer with D4-S injection (direct and port injected)
197 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft (205 Nm) @6,600 rpm
6-speed manual or automatic transmissions
17-inch wheel/tire package standard
4,240mm (167 in.) long, 1285mm (50.6 in.) high, 2,570mm (101 in.) wide
53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution
475mm (18.7 in.) center of gravity

Sales in UK start in June 2012.

Honda & Daihatsu ready roadster Kei cars!

2011-11-09T21:23:00.001+02:00

As I have reported in the past, not only Daihatsu is working on a Copen successor, but Honda also plans to introduce a Beat successor (earlier post)! Those renderings of the new Beat and Copen come from Japanese Best Car magazine and I would really love to see those in Europe... although there is no chance to see the new Copen in Europe (earlier post).

Official Subaru BRZ teaser image

2011-11-07T16:15:00.001+02:00

Subaru reveals photos of BRZ Concept STi

2011-11-01T16:31:00.001+02:00

Subaru has revealed photos of the BRZ Concept STi ahead of its debut at the LA Auto Show.

Images from Japanese FT-86 brochure leaked!!!

2011-11-01T09:35:00.000+02:00

All-new JDM Honda CR-V officially revealed!

2011-10-31T22:19:00.001+02:00

You already know my opinion about the all-new Honda CR-V. In any case, those are the first official photos of the new JDM CR-V.

Official specs of Toyota FT-86 finally revealed!

2011-10-31T22:14:00.002+02:00

Those are the official specs of the FT-86, leaked of course but coming from some official training material. So, after seeing the actual car and now knowing what we should expect in terms of performance, the target of 200 PS has been achieved and I think the FT-86 should be a really fun-to-drive car!

Leaked brochure images show production version of FT-86!!!

2011-10-27T15:33:00.000+03:00

Brochure images have leaked showing how the production version of Toyota's FT-86 looks!!! The official debut is very close (at the Tokyo Motor Show) and finally the wait is over!

My life on the go...: Apple confirms October 4 event - new iPhone to be ...

2011-09-28T10:38:00.000+03:00

My life on the go...: Apple confirms October 4 event - new iPhone to be ...: Apple has confirmed that an event will take place on October 4... and a new iPhone (s?) will be revealed.

Lexus F Sport official teaser — IS 350

2011-09-26T22:10:00.000+03:00

Toyota FT-86 II Concept - IAA 2011

2011-09-22T22:16:00.001+03:00

Nice but it would look much better in black. It's a bit smaller than what I thought...

Lexus LFA - IAA 2011

2011-09-22T22:12:00.000+03:00

Absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

All-new EUDM Honda Civic - IAA 2011

2011-09-22T22:06:00.000+03:00

So, it took a bit longer, but I finally managed to upload some photos I took. The previous-gen model was way better and I really liked it. The new one is just a big failure in my opinion, with the front having some Seat design elements and the rear being simply ugly. In terms of the interior, the quality has been improved, but it has become very complex in terms of design with a lot of lines etc.