New Cars 4

Nissan Fuga

Nissan's second generation Fuga, a car sold as the Infiniti M35/45 in the North American market, made its debut at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. Like many Infiniti-branded products, the rear wheel drive sports sedan's design is, according to the Japanese automaker, ‘a powerful combination of long hood, short overhangs and deeply sculpted fenders'.

The Fuga's large, low-slung grille and headlight design - inspired by traditional Japanese Kabuki eye make-up - combine to establish a strong DRG, while its flowing flanks add dynamism to its three-box silhouette. By moving the front pillar back, lowering the car's height and adding to its width, interior comfort has been enhanced while achieving a low, powerful stance. It measures 4945mm long, 1845mm wide and 1500mm tall, with a 2900mm wheelbase.

The new car's tailor-made cabin builds on its forebear's premium interior. With enhanced trim and details - such as the availability of seats made from semi-aniline leather and smooth textured Sofiless used to cover the armrests and other contact areas - the Fuga's luxurious interior boasts a quality feel, further enhanced by tactile switches.

Read more of our opinions of the new car in our 2009 Tokyo Motor Show Highlights.

Related Article:
Nissan Fuga - Tokyo 2009

19 Oct 09
Kia Cadenza

Kia has revealed the first image of its new Cadenza sedan, the production version of the VG concept car unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show earlier this year.

Positioned above the Magentis in the Korean company's global line-up, the Cadenza is defined by a dynamic character line lending it a sporty, sleek appearance. The prominent front grille, headlamps and taillights are a continuing expression of Kia's design DNA, instigated by Peter Schreyer, while the Cadenza name - derived from an Italian musical term - is said to symbolize the car's design philosophy and premium image.

Though there are no photos of the interior, Kia says it highlights the automaker's innovative design approach and features a futuristic 'floating' dashboard, complemented by a mood lighting strip.

Related Article:
Kia VG concept - Seoul Motor Show 2009

12 Oct 09
New Images: Subaru Hybrid Tourer

Subaru has released additional images of its Hybrid Tourer concept, which the company will reveal at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show next week. The environmentally friendly design study is claimed to be a grand touring car with enhanced performance and safety attributes.

Click on the link below to see our previous news story, and be sure to check out our forthcoming highlight articles on this and all the other concept cars being unveiled at the show.

Photo Gallery: Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept

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New Car: Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept

08 Oct 09
Nissan Land Glider concept (w/ Gallery)

Nissan is aiming to make up for its Frankfurt absence by revealing a radical new concept at the Tokyo motor show. The extremely narrow Land Glider - which measures 3100mm long but only 1100mm wide - seats two people in tandem (much like the Volkswagen L1 unveiled in Frankfurt). Unlike the L1 however, the Land Glider is propelled by two electric motors in the rear powered by lithium-ion batteries.

The concept is said to have been inspired by the agility and freedom found in motorbikes. Its tandem architecture and cocoon-like structure with four-wheel stability is claimed to exude a sense of safety that originates from a tilting cabin, which can lean as much as 17 degrees in corners. "The exterior incorporates a soft, sleek-looking body that appears to be protected by a special armor," explains Takashi Nakajima, Nissan's Project Design Director.

While the Land Glider is a concept car, Nissan asserts it should not be regarded as a mere design study. This leaning machine gives a clear direction to how a future small car from Nissan could look and provides a clue of what the company means by 'a new era of mobility'. We'll bring you more details when we see the Land Glider in the metal in a few weeks' time.

Photo Gallery: Nissan Land Glider concept

06 Oct 09
Toyota FT-EV II concept (w/ Gallery)

Beside the FT-86 sports car, Toyota will also be revealing the FT-EV II (Future Toyota Electric Vehicle II) concept at the Tokyo motor show. An electrically-propelled four-seat commuter vehicle for urban use, the sustainable concept car focuses on the relationship between cars, people and the society of the future.

The FT-EV II's mechanicals are wrapped in a compact body, designed in accordance with Toyota's 'Vibrant Clarity' brand design philosophy. A low front cowl and an additional window below the windshield give extra forward visibility, while the rear lamp clusters are see-through LED units to improve visibility from all angles. Measuring 2730mm long, 1680mm wide and 1490mm high, the concept features electric sliding doors to provide access to the retro-futuristic interior.

Conscious of the increasing dissociative relationship younger people have with the motor car, Toyota designers have opted to create a vehicle that integrates communications, transforming the concept into an information device. As such, both the steering wheel and foot pedals - symbols of vehicle performance - are absent, replaced instead by a joystick linked to drive-by-wire technology and instrumentation that can collect and store information specifically tailored to the individual's preferences.

Photo Gallery: FT-EV II Concept

06 Oct 09
Honda CR-Z concept (w/ Gallery)

The successor to Honda's iconic CR-X is one step closer to its production debut, with the Japanese automaker set to display the latest version of its sporty hybrid concept at the Tokyo motor show. Called the CR-Z Concept 2009, it is the second version of the show car unveiled by the company in as many years.

Honda has been toying with the notion of bringing a hybrid powered sports car to market for a few years now, having displayed the Remix concept in 2006 and following it up with the Small Hybrid Sports concept in 2007. First shown in concept form at the 2007 Tokyo motor show, the CR-Z Concept was closest in form to the CR-X, and this most recent prototype doesn't differ greatly from its precursor. It is still a compact, agile-looking coupe with a forward-lurching DLO, fastback roofline and rear glass panel across the vertical tailgate; the latter design element clearly paying homage to the 20-year old CR-X.

The CR-Z is tipped to employ Honda's IMA technology, with the company gushing that it will be the world's first hybrid sports car and the first ever petrol-electric vehicle to employ a six-speed manual transmission. The production version goes on sale in Japan early in the new year.

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