Tokyo Motor Show to showcase eco-cars

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888naff at 09:06 AM JST - 16th October

"I have given up going to this "event" or should it be called a spectacle? The location is in the middle of nowhere. Catering is from vans outside selling festival food. The men smoking fistfuls of Mild Seven and swigging Kirin out of paper cups, then getting their tripods and cameras ready to catch a shot of a scantily clad campaign girl. If they moved it to Tokyo Big Site, it would be a plus"

oh its just and so difficult too... NOT!
Sidwarwick at 09:51 AM JST - 16th October

Visitor car parking is a problem at Big Sight. Because Makuhari Messe is in the middle of nowhere it is surrounded by vacant plots of land that are used as car parks. Also Big Sight is not big enough to host the show.
seesaw at 08:53 PM JST - 16th October

Due to the global economic downturn, only 108 companies including just two foreign automakers—Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH of Germany and Group Lotus plc of Britain—will take part in this year’s 41st Tokyo Motor Show. That compares with 241 companies, including 26 foreign automakers, at the previous auto show in 2007.

This is one of my favourite Shows and what a shame that only 2 foreign auto makers will participate...
lunchmeat at 10:19 PM JST - 16th October

I imagine the velocab will be on hand in one way or another.

‘‘With the hype over reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the combination of ‘eco’ and small can only strengthen rather than weaken,’’ said Yasuaki Iwamoto, an auto analyst at Okasan Securities Co.

"Hype." See Marketing 101.
sfjp330 at 05:08 AM JST - 17th October

There is no comparison to Shanghai Motor Show, which had 918 cars and drew over 600,000 people. All foreign manufacurers are not putting any effort into marketing cars in Japan and moving foward to China. Japan is already a saturated market and economy makes things very difficult and expensive.
888naff at 11:10 PM JST - 17th October

Visitor car parking

take the train!
SebastianFlyte at 12:31 PM JST - 19th October

I am interested to see the latest technology from the worlds leading car manufacturers at the Tokyo Motor Show. The absent foreign players lack CSR and don't have a sincere interest in carbon emissions, so won't really be missed (except for their design sense).
Skeper at 08:46 PM JST - 19th October

I would hazard a guess and say that the European brands will not be represented in the Tokyo Motor Show as the market in Japan is not following a sensible path, rather one dictated by big industry. As a net importer of energy, Japan should be looking to conserve resources and increase efficiency. Producing gasoline is energy intensive and gasoline generally delivers fewer kilometers per liter. In Europe, for example, over 50% of new cars have diesel engines making better use of oil and producing less CO2 into the bargain, but Japan has made the gasoline hybrid their priority. Agreed, the diesel is not the ultimate answer, but for now and daily use it certainly fulfills most of the interim requirements of fuel saving – from “well to wheel” as the industry calls it, and the diesel engine's high torque, combined with hybrid technology, may offer substantially improved mileage over the current hybrid configuration. As for SebastianFlyte's wish, I hope he gets satisfaction although the Germans are not there. It sounds as if he's referring to the US auto industry, not the European as they are acutely aware of the need for fuel efficiency – see above ... And CSR(?) is this the one meant I wonder: http://www.csr.com/home.php If it is, it's located in the UK and many new European cars have the technology already incorporated. You can check this out to see how your vehicle fares: http://www2.daimler.com/sustainability/optiresource/index.html
sfjp330 at 02:47 AM JST - 20th October

Producing gasoline is energy intensive and gasoline generally delivers fewer kilometers per liter. In Europe, for example, over 50% of new cars have diesel engines making better use of oil and producing less CO2 into the bargain, but Japan has made the gasoline hybrid their priority.

Reason for Europeans to have over 50% diesel is substantially less fuel tax compared to gasoline. It's more based on economics than CO2 reasons. It just cost less to operate. In U.S., only 2 percent of the cars sold is diesel. There is no advantage in having diesel in U.S. and also, very inconvienant since there is only few diesel station available locally and interstate.

Toyota has invested extensively in gasoline hybrid and they are looking to recover the initial cost and they are looking at domestic and North American market first with their Prius for profit. You have to remember that combined Japan, China, and India has larger GDP than all of the Europe and most of the major manufacturer is looking elsewhere for future market. European govenment puts strict import regulation on Japanese cars and they are not growing market. Prius actually might be too big and expensive for European market even if they come out with diesel.
Skeper at 05:51 PM JST - 20th October

Of course, a supply infrastructure is necessary for any fuel type to become acceptable. The lack of a supply infrastructure does not make this or that fuel/engine type better – it just shows that the government of an automobile obsessed electorate become afraid when faced with hard decisions and backs off. Industry should only be allowed to make commercial decisions. Governments should make policy decisions. First though, governments have to decide on how they want to steer consumption. As pointed out, Europe does it through lower tax on diesel fuel, hopefully with the knowledge that current and future research will result in diesel engines that are cleaner than gasoline ones to give us a little more time to find a solution superior to both of those fuels. One more thing, Japanese cars are being built in Europe, but because of taxation, diesels. The British automobile industry is now made up of a number of specialist manufacturers, a few (no longer all national) mass producers and Japanese & Chinese factories... The Prius, actually a small car and so size-wise suitable for Europeans, but certainly not suitable for extended highway driving, also has tax advantages in Japan showing the bureaucrats' decision to support Japanese industry. Hopefully the new government is able to come to its own, sensible policy decisions.
dontpanic at 06:07 PM JST - 20th October

sfjp330 you seem to know nothing of the European market. Petrol is taxed at a higher rate (though not as substatially as you intimate) to encourage a reduction in it's use, call it ecotax if you like. Why diesel? because as a fuel it is cheaper and easier to produce than petrol, diesel engines run much more economically, produce much less CO2 and with direct injection or filters produce fewer particulates. Its a win all round.

Toyotas reasons for investing heavily in petrol hybrid cars are as you say simply for profit, in that the market they expect to get the best return in, does not as yet have much retail availability of diesel. You can bet if there were more diesel pumps in the US it would be a different story. Having said that the Prius is a decent seller across Europe, as is the Honda Impact but both are proven to be greater emitters of CO2 than equivelent diesel cars.

The strict import regulations on Japanese cars issues were solved 20 years ago, Japanese manufacturers build their cars in market to maintain competitive pricing and promote local employment. As for growth, can you suggest a market that has not been impacted by the events of the last couple of years?
sfjp330 at 02:46 AM JST - 21st October

Petrol is taxed at a higher rate (though not as substatially as you intimate) to encourage a reduction in it's use, call it ecotax

This is what I said. If you look at the lifetime of the cost for diesel vs gas operating cost, this is SUBSTANTIAL difference. You don't use the car for only one year.

Toyota recently broke off a negotiation from Isuzu for small diesel technology and they will try to maximize profit of Prius only by gasoline powered engines. They will not make diesel Prius.

As for growth, can you suggest a market that has not been impacted by the events of the last couple of years?

If you didn't know = CHINA
dontpanic at 06:19 PM JST - 21st October

"If you look at the lifetime of the cost for diesel vs gas operating cost, this is SUBSTANTIAL difference"

If youre counting pennies over years then I suppose it adds up to a substantial number of pennies. However if you look at the percentage of difference it is small but enough to encourage use of the cheaper to produce, better for the environment fuel.

"If you didn't know = CHINA"

I do know China. Its a massive, low cost, developing country. Barring a food/fuel crisis or major pestilence it would be impossible for its economy to shrink. Please look at China's rate of growth, it slowed dramatically due to reduced export opportunities requiring a refocus on its domestic market. Millions have lost their jobs, I call that a serious impact.
sfjp330 at 03:10 AM JST - 22nd October

dontpanic;

I do know China. Its a massive, low cost, developing country. Barring a food/fuel crisis or major pestilence it would be impossible for its economy to shrink. Please look at China's rate of growth, it slowed dramatically due to reduced export opportunities

Really, you know China? You still make it sound like develping third world country. Facts are China's GDP growth is over 7 percent this year in a bad world economy. All the major U.S. and Asian car manufacturer has increased in sales substantially in China this year. Compared to England, their GDP decreased by 5.7 percent and same with major decrease in Germany. China will pass up Japan soon, and they will be second largest in GDP in the world. I wouldn't call it developing country, they are a major competitor. I see many European countries as sliding into becoming a stagnent countries. Most of the European countries no growth or substantial decrease in GDP and will continue to slide. There are 20,000 Japanese companies in mainland China, and between two countries, they do $250-$300 billion dollars and trade, and this will continue to increase. Australia with Iron ore, U.S., Korea, and many other countries are also major trade partner with China. China will be the major player in the years to come.

You claim diesel is a "win all around". I doubt it. If diesel is so good for passenger cars, Toyota, GM, Ford, Chysler, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Mazda, Subaru, and all other top major non-European manufacturers would jump at the opportunities of your quote "WIN ALL AROUND". This is not going to happen at all. Diesel is dead unless you have a large truck. The future is combination of small internal gas power engine (600cc-1500cc) that will be used primilary as generator/alternator and a major form of power from lighter lithium-ion battery source, similar to GM's Volt concept. They will find the right combination soon.

Point is that diesel for passenger car is outdated, but is a reliable, low performance, low cost, low rpm, high torque engine but lacks finess. This engine is good for pulling. There is no comparision of flexability of gas powered performance engine with diesel. How many diesel pull 6000-8000 rpm range? Same size engine, 0-100km, check the performance. Only BMW 6 cylinder turbo diesel comes close at high cost, but if you compare with the same size 335i with gas Turbo (by the way, this turbo is made by Mitsubishi), there is no comparison between two on all performance specs. Performance on any diesel is disappointing. In U.S. and Japan, nobody wants diesel (maybe 2 percent). Heck, Volkswagon in late 70's had 1500cc diesel Rabbit, with four speed manual transmission, got 48 miles per gallon. This was light 1800 pound car. But, public never accepted and still European manufacturer after 30 years still does not get it that non-European countries do want want passenger diesels. It just does not sell outside Europe.
dontpanic at 08:22 PM JST - 22nd October

"China's GDP growth is over 7 percent this year". Yes, less than half what it was. 7 percent growth for China is likeback treading water, a collapse in anyones book.

I do see China as still a devloping country, only a developing country can experience growth rates the size it does. This goes for India and Brazil too. All countries with huge potential and will no doubt overtake the US in GDP before long.

The Chevy Volt/Opel/Vauxhall Ampera has already shot itself in the foot. Too expensive, poor performance and projected whole of life CO2 emmissions no better than a Jeep Wrangler.

FYI diesel in Japan has been a very popular choice. The larger cities have become a little diesel unfriendly but thats because Japanese diesels cant as yet compete on emmissions. It will change as competition for fuel heats up.

Your point that diesel for passenger cars is outdated is way off the mark. With the right engine/gearbox combination never mind high revs, they can compete well in terms of outright performance with petrol cars and have greatly reduced CO2 emmissions. The European made ones can even go round a corner without falling over. You get them on the race track too (see Audi R10). Dont wouldnt worry that the US public dont accept a diesel passenger car, theyre available in the free world and selling very well.