Found in Tokyo - I

Daihatsu
Imagine a Mazda Miata with a proper one engine/two motor hybrid propulsion and you get the Daihatsu HVS concept. It looks amazingly ready-to-roll and we won't be surprised if it finds a niche of its own with the inimitable/production ready design.

On the contrary, the UFW-III is a tad too futuristic a concept that is built to attain nothing short of 72 kpl using a 600cc three cylinder engine which works with an electric generator and efficient motor fed by a nickel-hydride battery pack.

Then Daihatsu lost the plot somewhat with a bad Mercedes A-Class imitation called the SK-Tourer concept and the Costa semi-open 4X4 concept that could very well have been the next Smart.

The Daihatsu Esse small car concept and the Bego 4X4 shows the direction that the Toyota-led small car firm is taking. We might just get one of these machines in India soon.

Toyota
Toyota tried their best to reinvent the wheel this year at Tokyo and came up with a two/three wheeler concept that carried the rather sad 'i-swing' title. The i-swing carries on the good work done by previous mobility concepts like pod in 2001 but looks far too futuristic for even a sci-fi fanatic.

Dubbed a 'complete life style companion' that you 'wear' and one that is styled less as a car and more as a 'new life form' (Toyota's own words), the i-swing attracted a few amused show goers as it whirred around in an otherwise static motorshow world.

On a more practical level, there was the Fine-X concept with in-wheel motors and four wheel large angle steering system.

The Fine-X is powered by a state of the art fuel cell hybrid system and the cabin design may very well feature in the next gen Aygo. An all new Estima minivan, powered by a hybrid propulsion system, showed the tremendous lead Toyota has amassed when it comes to hybrids.

The Toyota Hybrid System (THS II) can manage 18 kpl economy, which for a minivan is absolutely superb. The system comprises of a 2400 cc petrol engine and two electric motors. The car can be driven in an EV mode too.

The Estima concept also featured a pre-crash safety system and lane-keeping assistance along with radar based cruise control "" three safety features that will be seen on production cars sooner than later.

The FSC (flexible saloon concept) gives a good indicator of the latest people mover from Toyota that will compete with the likes of the Mercedes R-Class.

Expect this car to debut as a Lexus, though. The boxy little bB concept is destined to be the next Sion and features more light and sound devices than any movie theatre.

Toyota has gone ahead and stated that the bB is a portable music player disguised as a car. Well, we leave it to you to take the final call. More production ready is the RAV4 concept, whichhas grown in size and is now powered by a 2400 cc AZ-FE engine mated to a Super CVT-i gear box.

Suzuki
Suzuki couldn't outdo Honda and their dog-friendly concept, but they did generate a chuckle or two with the Mom's personal wagon. Hidden behind that moniker, we saw an extremely space efficient, pillarless cabin and easy to use controls.

Forget the coffee/cream colour scheme "" this might very well be the future small car that we may drive around in. The LC concept was brilliant too as it paid homage to the eccentric post-war small cars from Italy. The two seater comes complete with a 600 cc engine and a chequered cloth upholstery. Not impressed?

You will when we state that it has a rainbow-coloured speedometer! Suzuki's fuel cell statement came in the form of the Ionis concept, though the star of the show was of course the PX concept that borrows from early American caravans for inspiration.

The Swift, which is quite new to us Indians, got its first makeover with the addition of the Sport version, which looks absolutely stunning with the new bumper job and clear lens tail lamps.

Subaru
Subaru has made a name for themselves producing hard-core driving machines and they certainly didn't want to lose the edge with a hybrid car. The B5 TPH concept features a novel clamshell rear end treatment, a large greenhouse and of course a turbo parallel hybrid system.

This is the first time a car maker is attempting to blend a turbocharged petrol engine to an electric motor and it certainly caught the eye of the enthusiasts. The B9 Tribeca, though, has questionable looks and fuel efficiency.

Tribeca is the name of a progressive Manhattan neighbourhood and Subaru hopes it will add a 'dimension' to the SUV category. The best automotive interior this side of starship Enterprise is a definite positive, if we are hunting for one.

Next week "" the exciting Nissan Skyline GT-R proto, Mazda and Mitsubishi show specials and much more in Found in Tokyo II.

Honda
If the Sports 4 Concept does not look like a concept, it's only because today's production Hondas look oh-so-futuristic. And if Honda wants a share of the four door, four seat sports car market you can't blame them right?

The Sports 4 features sharp contours and a curved green-house that apes the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class but looks far more practical. The interior is pure concept car territory though, and showcases an intelligent night vision pop-up display that works with ambient light.

Sheets of aluminium and fine crafted wood makes up the cabin, which is garnished well with leather. Independent bucket seas and personal sky roofs ensure that even passengers are not missing out on the sporty driving experience.

The Sports 4 also features a SH-AWD system that can distribute torque between front and rear wheels with a wide range of 70:30 to 30:70 depending on driver inputs and conditions. Essentially the system does not demand extreme driving skill to go fast "" the car is capable of delivering that in a safe and sure-footed manner.

The WOW concept certainly did its job "" the motoring world is now talking about the car that is designed with your pet dog in mind. WOW stands for 'wonderful-open hearted wagon' (trust the Japanese to come up with names such as that) and is meant for either a four or six seater configuration or a four people plus er... dog arrangement.

What Honda was hiding beneath the two-box with dual side doors and a double tail gate is the next generation super mini meant for congested towns. Yes, the dog has had its day but may have to give way as the concept progresses to an extremely practical and user-friendly city car.

Honda has already put the FCX hydrogen fuel-cell cars on the road and the new FCX concept takes the theme further to a sportier package. The real highlight of the new concepts the V flow fuel cell platform that allows for a lower floor.

Just in case you are wondering weather Honda is serious about fuel cells, they also showcased the HES (hone energy station) that is designed to meet energy needs by supplying electricity and heat in addition to hydrogen fuel for vehicles "" all at home.

The brand new Civic which is slated for its debut in India soon was on display too. The new car wears the now familiar corporate look of Honda cars and features the cab-forward architecture that liberates more interior space.

The new Civic comes equipped with a 3-state i-VTEC engine that displaces 1800 cc and has enough torque and power to become the new benchmark.

Even more important is the Civic Hybrid that features a smaller i-VTEC unit that is matched to Honda's own IMS (integrated motor assist) system. Honda is betting on the Civic Hybrid to do well in the all-important American market.