CHIBA, Japan, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The 40th Tokyo Motor Show opened here Friday, featuring over 70 world premiers and over 100 Japan premiers while emphasizing fun, cuteness and eco-friendliness.
Automakers from Japan, the United States, Britain, Germany and eight other countries and regions displayed some 520 passenger and commercial automobiles, motorcycles at the exhibition with a theme f "Catch the News, Touch the Future."
Toyota Motor Corp. launched eight models of dream cars, representing a wide range of green energy and design options.
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A Nissan PIVO mini car is displayed during the press preview of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture of Japan on Oct. 24, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
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Among them, the roofless i-Real robotic single-seat vehicle can e driven on streets or sidewalks. When it senses people or objects close by, it sounds a warning and vibrates to let the driver know what's around. The 1/X plug-in hybrid car, with a carbon-fiber lightweight body, is dubbed as the future Prius.
Toyota's luxurious Lexus division also promoted its Lexus LF-XhSUV hybrid concept, which is powered by a high-output electric motor supplementing a V-6 gasoline engine.
Along the eco-friendly line, Mazda Motor Corp. put on display the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan, which runs on a rotary engine capable of converting energy from hydrogen combustion into electricity.
Nissan Motor Co.'s PIVO 2 fascinated many visitors during the motor show's media preview on Wednesday and Thursday. The bubble-shaped electric concept has a 360-rotating cabin, eliminating the need to reverse. There is also a little robot bobbles about on the dashboard which talks to the driver.
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A model presents a Toyota i-REAL personal mobility vehicle for its world premiere during the press preview of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture of Japan on Oct. 24, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
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Another fun car from Nissan is NV200, a minivan specially developed for ocean photographers.
Besides, the company also unveiled a all-new flagship GT-R sports car. It is the first time in eight years that Nissan has come up with an all-new GT-R, one of the most famed Japanese sports car since its first version's debut in 1969.
Japan's No. 2 automaker Honda Motor Co. exhibited its box-shaped PUYO compact fuel-cell concept, featuring a soft-touch body covered with silicon material to offer "the feel of an adorable pet."
Honda's CR-Z concept also attracted industrial experts. Fitted with a clean hybrid system, the lightweight sport car boasts sharp edgy lines and is seen as the next CR-X.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. exhibited its electric compact vehicle, the i MiEV Sport, equipped with a supplemental photovoltaic generator on the roof.
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A Porsche 911GT2 is displayed during the press preview of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture of Japan on Oct. 24, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
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Meanwhile, Mazda Motor Corp. put on display the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan, which runs on a rotary engine capable of converting energy from hydrogen combustion into electricity.
Also on show at the Makuhari Messe convention center on the outskirts of Tokyo, BMW AG displayed the Concept 1 Series tii, a two-door sports model, and the M3 Sedan for the first time in the world, while Ford Motor Co. showed off the Escape Adventure concept sport-utility vehicle.
The motor show will open to public from Saturday to Nov. 11 after Friday's special opening day.
The Tokyo Motor Show, along with those held in Detroit, Frankfurt, Paris and Geneva, is one of the industry's five premier international events by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. The first Tokyo Motor Show was staged in 1954. Some 1.51 million visitors went to the previous show in 2005.
Around 240 companies, four governments and one organization participated in the 40th Tokyo Motor Show, the first time since 1997 that the show has featured passenger cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles together.
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A Ferrari 430 Scuderia is displayed during the press preview of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture of Japan on Oct. 24, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
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