CDNLive

This year marks the 10th birthday of the Suzuki Lapin, perhaps the cutest in the adorable genre of Kei cars. Its mix of retro and bento box aesthetics and teeny scale are balanced out by design execution that still looks remarkably fresh and – something of a rarity in its class – an appealing cabin.

To mark the occasion a special edition has been created with cappuccino coachwork, navy and cream interior and a unique grille featuring a chrome bunny ear motif.

Happy birthday little rabbit!

By Owen Ready

Yamaha’s Moegi motorcycle: A satisfying blend of old and new

cdnlive — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:14:00 +0000

One of the unique attributes of the Tokyo motor show is the fact that nearly every form of road transport is represented: commercial vehicles sit beside kei cars, motorcycles beside cars.

This Y125 Moegi motorcycle, making its debut on the Yamaha showstand beside some of the motorcycle manufacturer’s mopeds and electric bicycles was one of the coolest vehicles on show.

Simple and elegant, the Moegi’s blend of old and new elements make for a timeless design, and the attention to detail paid in its realization make it one of the standout designs in Tokyo.

Eric Gallina

Photo Gallery: Honda alternative mobility

cdnlive — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:57:51 +0000

Honda E-Canopy

Honda E-Rolling Chair

Honda MotoCampo

CDNTeam

Tokyo’s Smart Mobility City

cdnlive — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:55:43 +0000

Every automaker with an environmentally efficient vehicle was showcasing it at this year’s Smart Mobility City exhibition space, a new initiative occupying two halls adjacent to an outdoor parking area that was used for test drives of production vehicles in the category.

Besides the Kobots (see previous post here) GM was showing the Chevrolet EN-V, Toyota has a static display of the i-Real and there were numerous hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel cell and electric vehicles on show in the two-hall exhibition space.

The exhibition was open to a broad range of industrial sectors, some showcasing new social infrastructure system that supports smart cities and others displaying technology systems and how they relate to the future of automobiles, people and cities.

Eric Gallina

Photo Gallery: Volkswagen at Tokyo

cdnlive — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:54:47 +0000

Volkswagen Cross Coupe concept:

Volkswagen Passat Alltrack:

CDNTeam

Sad fall from grace of Mitsubishi

cdnlive — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:53:45 +0000

The photograph above is of the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV II concept car, but its effects were so soporific we were unable to remain awake long enough for the shutter to snap.

The Mitsubishi stand at this year’s show is a rather sad place to be when you remember what a hotbed of fresh, exciting design the brand was under the vast wing of Daimler and the design direction of Olivier Boulay. The PX and new Mirage supermini offer nothing new, exciting or fun in their respective market segments and show a total lack of direction. Their demonstration of how so much can be forgotten so quickly is the one remarkable thing about them.

Thankfully, solace can be found in the last glimmer of greatness from its halcyon days in a small number of Mitsubishi i cars dotted around the stand.

By Owen Ready

Weirdest thing I’ve ever seen at a motor show (Warning contains a girl and two donkeys)

cdnlive — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:30:11 +0000

By Owen Ready

Photo Gallery: Honda ‘N’ Cars

cdnlive — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:45:53 +0000

Honda N-Box:

Honda N concept 4:

CDNTeam