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Tokyo
Motor Show - October 1999
After the marathon trek that was the Frankfurt Show, the relatively compact Makuhari Messe Tokyo Show was quite refreshing, seeming to conform to the Japanese idiom of making the most effective use of available space. It was full of detail, in the same way that if you were to study closely a head or tail lamp of one of the best Japanese cars, every element in place to balance and harmonise together.
Overall the show can be categorised into 4 distinct elements. The 'Highs', the 'Alsos', the 'Lows' and the 'Weirdos'.
Amongst the 'Highs', it was somewhat strange to witness Ford launching a show car in Tokyo. The 021C penned by the product designer Marc Newson, who it seems is especially well known in Japan as Stefan Starck, was handed the opportunity by Jay Mays to develop a thought provoking concept car, built at Ghia Studios in Italy.
In bright orange and white, with silver 'end caps' the car exhibited a curious symmetry, not unlike a Ford 100E, Nash Metropolitan, Daf 44 or one of the Fiat safety cars of the early '70's.
Although by Newson, the design showed the clear signs of Jay May's new design culture for Ford, as had done on the earlier 'Thunderbird' show car. Very evidently a reappraisal of the look of the 1940's and early '50's, when Ford built solid looking cars, with strong shoulder lines, slab like, simple/purposeful bodysides and a 'plant on' greenhouse.
Yes, Tokyo was the right place to launch it, it would have been lost at Frankfurt or Detroit, it was a simple statement, clean uncluttered interiors, a sign of the next generation Ka, the 'iconic' car.
Continuing the 'Highs', the 'Lexus Coupe' exhibited the grace and balance that is oftenfound lacking in some of their previous sedans. An elegant boulevard car equally at home in Chelsea, Beverley Hills or even Stuttgart, where I am sure more than a few executives will now spend a restless night or two. It's the car that you know you will look good in, even when the papparazi happen to snap you in your 'face pack' just popping out for soya milk.
The high shoulder line rises slowly from below the headlamps, to fall away again to the tail, where it frames the simple tail lamps and a rear spoiler that just 'creases' the boot lid. This all sits above the rear bumper in which 2 round howitzers have been meticulously fashioned into exhaust pipes ......Classy!
Sculpture, proportion and balance was also the making of the Mazda RX-EVOLV, a powerful looking 4 door coupe, a post modern Porsche 928, growing out from bold front wheelarches, with cab rearward styling and a simple hi shoulder low roofline look that is classic coupÈ.
In the vein also of classic coupÈ, congratulations must at last go to the 'VW teams' that have shown the Guigiaro's how to design a Bugatti. The EB 18/4 VEYRON completely outshines the previous Chiron shown at Frankfurt.
The blue and black bodywork, with it's sharp centre spine feature, had, at last a well proportioned front horseshoe grille that nestled proudly into the front panel, instead of the previous 'iron on' applications. The rear was taught and muscular, with the 2 brush silver intakes taking on the feel of athletic shoulder blades.
The 20" wheels, used the horseshoe motif beautifully, with the interior and facia in tan nubuck leather being exquisitely detailed with silver dials, wheelcentre, door furniture and crowned by a modern, post Dan Dare mesh centre panel..... worth every Euro penny.
The Honda Spocket was a superb cross between the old CRX pocket rocket sports car, and the practicality of a MINI pick up. It's bold silver fenders, rockers and rear quarter's frame the rakish bodywork in an almost race car style, and the simple 'Lancia Stratos' cockpit blends down into the 'bed'. Ideal for your muddy mountain bikes, scuba gear, boards etc..... Go get it dude!
But for me the 'Best of Show' was the concept Isuzu Kai. Once again Isuzu, now in its post Simon Cox era, have created a stunning study, that confirms the emergence of a new bold Japanese design style.
Alongside the in house concept ZXX, the British design team led by ex PSA designer Geoff Gardiner and ex Coventry graduates Andrew Foster and Ian Nisbett, created Kai in Birmingham as an emotional Japanese car.
Its symmetry and balance, use of textures, detailing and forms all came together harmoniously in the space available. The side lights had the look of room dividing screens, the grille showed the Japanese detailing that clearly influenced Charles Rennie Macintosh, the seats looked like 'real leather', and the facia a high- tech/Samurai suit of textures and layers. The 30's racing Bentley inspired fluid level gauges for fuel water and oil were a beautiful piece of detailed extravagance.
On a stand of various Wizard's (Frontera) and a open top VX-02 the only concept car Isuzu have ever taken further, it cries out 'build me' - but I doubt that despite its 'cultural awareness', it will never turn a wheel in anger......................quelle tragedie.
The 'Alsos' at Tokyo actually probably reflected the reality of the show cars destined for production. But at least after the cars like the Almera it shows there is clearly hope ahead.
The Subaru Fleet X hinted at the next generation of the Legacy Wagon, maintaining Subaru's commitment to the practical estate car (as well as rally winners). If you ignore the brushed aluminium doors, bonnet and tailgate, underneath is a handsome, strong car, featuring plenty of glass and the quintessential built-in roof rail. Although I don't think that the 'catamaran' front fenders will remain so prominent in production.
In fact fascination for estate cars and practical mini MPV's were very much in evidence. The Toyota NCSV showed a 'post Audi' rakish 2 door estate wagon, very much a spiritual successor to the Volvo 480ES. It featured sharp lines, high waist, low roof and a sporting interior, complete with 'drilled alloy' floor mats, to match the pedals.
The Daihatsu YRV a clean cut sporting MPV, featured an interesting double/broken waistline, big wheels and big triangular rear lamps, a kind of 'Yaris Versio with attitude'.
The 'genre' was completed with the Mitsubishi SUW Active. An interesting 'off road' estate with new 'jeep' style front end styling deep tailgate glass and singled out bold round indicator lenses. Obviously designed to fit around the Subaru Forrester/Scenic RVR territory. The interior featured some interesting details, 'camera shutter' speakers on the door panels and a low facia mounted gear lever. Overall though the interior felt cluttered and over done with the tan, silver, grey and dark blue detailing all coming together just in front of the driver ...........sunglasses an option?
Two micro sports car concepts appeared to carryon from the success of the Beat and Cappuccino. Firstly the Suzuki EV sport was a sharp edged roller skate. Then the rounded and TT inspired Daihatsu Kopen both exhibited a pint size 'fun' attitude. The only problem is that you would need to be less than 5'2" tall not to look like 'Noddy', when out in one of them for a drive.
As for the rest of the 'Alsos'.
Chevrolet showed their small car called YOM-1, a Wagon-R on steroids to prove that the Americans understand the concept of sushi - but still eat it with a fork.
Nissan at last appeared to be turning a corner after the awful Cedrics and Glorias. The XVL showed a Lexus 15200 competitive sedan which featured a taught chiselled waistline, flowing greenhouse profile, bold headlamps and a simple clean understated grille. 'Renaissance' it said boldly on the screens behind the exhibits with the Nissan letters picked out in red. I sincerely hope so !
Then came the Tokyo 'Lows'.
There were not too many efforts that really had the 'aargh' factor, but with such a large stand Toyota inevitably had the most. The HV-M4 previewed the next generation Previa, with string bag seats detailing and computer gadgetry everywhere inside the concept car. It failed to disguise the dullness of the car overall.
Then the Celica Cruising Deck took the sporty new Celica and ruined it by attaching a jet ski on a trailer behind, and opening the rear area out into a pair of dickey-seats, with headrests on the rear hoop spoiler. Just what it would look like with the roof up - well the Morgan Plus 4/4 seater would probably give the best clue....ghastly!
Not content with that, to celebrate Toyota's 100 millionth vehicle, they produced the retro Origin, which supposedly paid homage to the first ever Toyota Crown. Now if you remember in those hazy bygone days the hottest cars in Japan were the Austin A40 Devon and the Hillman Minx, you can only wonder why, withall that is wonderful about Japan, they should bother to trawl up a Minx/Cresta/Zil lookalike to celebrate the achievement.
Other disappointments included the Daihatsu SP4 small jeep (Jimny type) concept which appeared at first to be a simple to manufacture vehicle with symmetrical doors (every production tooling engineers dream) but didn't. As you looked closer, there was a symmetrical lower door profile, indentation front and rear for door handles - but hang on, the B-post is more raked than the A post! Obviously the engineer had his anglometer upside down!
Then there was the clumsy looking ill proportioned folding roof of the Nissan Silvia Varietta, and finally the Honda FCX which was so 'cab-forward' it appeared that the clay model must have hit the wall, before the fibreglass showcar had been taken out of it. Nice interior though, with Stefan Starck aluminium before the much longer legs to the seats.
Of the four categories 'High', 'Alsos' and 'Lows' there is only one left. The 'Weirdos'. As you walk around the streets of Tokyo, now and again you come across the odd 'punk kid', wearing six inch stack shoes, surf dude pants,tanned skin and bleached or dyed hair, you can't miss them. Tokyo designers have obviously realised that thisgeneration will need cars to fit their style aspirations before much longer and so have let their imaginations 'run with the pack'.
Honda in their studio in Ginza, downtown Tokyo, produced the FUYAO which I thought looked like a pair of upright vacuum cleaners put back to back. Then the doors were opened to reveal a door full of huge stereo speakers, and seats that were clearly inspired by bar stools. At first I hated it. ......but then the concept of space and its 'off the wall' attitude, with skate boards in the rear, suddenly started to make sense. These kids would never be seen driving their dad's Almera, and would only go cruising in a Toyota Origin because it was so kitsch and anti-style. This car was an armoured skate board. It was a street experience - a party on wheels...it still looked like a vacuum cleaner though, but at least your dad wouldn't know how to use it, either way.
Another weird Honda was the Neukom which seemed to take its inspiration from the taxi 'Arnie' used to escape the baddies and Sharon Stone in 'Total Recall'. Complete with its press formed wooden seats on rotating dentist chair bases, a central driving position with a similar press formed wooden facia/console and featuring a steering wheel that lifts up for ease of entry and 'salt and pepper pot' pedals. It was in total 5 designer seats in a Box. Just too much of a fish tank on wheels for a family car - with its high roof and deep windows - maybe it could be the next Pope-mobile.
Then finally amongst the 'Weirdos' was Toyota's attempt, along with partners Panasonic, Ashai beer, a cosmetics company and a travel agency to create WILL a new fashion brand. A lifestyle concept all featuring the orange square graphic and named WILL. The WILL Vi was supposedly the car for the product led lifestyle brand - young, different, free spirited et.........It is easy to imagine the flip charts in the marketing department .......a car with corrugated sides, Audi Quattro wheel arches and a Ford Anglia rear window. 'A Citroen Ami 6 for the millenium', right down to its front bench seat, column change and bare metal doors............''where's the Will, is this the way?''
The Will Vi although it may sound so, was not the silliest name on offer at the show. Mitsubishi had the small MPV Dingo and also Dion obvious for the 'wanderer' in you. Nissan had the Wingroad, whatever that means, along with the MPV Bassara to complement Cedric and Gloria's.
Honda's Lagreat and Avancier meant absolutely nothing, and Mazda's Laputa sounded like something you needed antibiotics to cure, especially if you had just riden in their Bongo Friendee beforehand. Toyota's Vitz obviously comes with a gel applicator; (at least in Europe its called the Yaris....far more meaningful!) and their OPA is obviously designed for your German grandad. But best of show had to be the DAIHATSU NAKED a 2CV meets Fiat Panda 'lifestyle' car that begs the question .... ..... ''would you dare be seen in it''.
So what can be learnt from the last Tokyo Show before the next Millenium.
Japanese design is finally throwing off the shackles of American and Euro styling trends and establishing itself as an original force.
The interiors of all the show cars showed fresh use of materials, textures and forms. Even such as the bold and beautiful use of 'tortoiseshell' detailing on the Isuzu ZXX with its luxurious use of leather and suede on its seats and doors, all very tactile with the Bugatti taking luxury/tactile interior still further.
In contrast the simplistic clean almost featureless interiors of Ford 021C, Honda Newkom and the WILL Vi showeddesign in its purest minimalistic form.
'Suicide doors' were everywhere on the Ford 021C, Honda Newkom, Isuzu KAI, Daihatsu .......and even on the retro Toyota Origin. I am sure they were recently made illegal in Europe (the main reason to develop the London Taxi) but obviously Japanese designers still feel this is the easiest for rear passenger access. But why did we call them ''suicide doors'' I can't quite remember!
As you moved away from the main car stands and delved deeper into the show, the suppliers and accessory manufactureres also showed off their originality. There was a wonderful all magnesium car ARACO coms MTV. Open framed with bike wheels, narrow track and single seat; a new possible auto-rickshaw is in there somewhere!
A wonderful baby seat by Combi had a fixed base that allowed you to rotate the seat around to help you unhitch the kids - so simple, so obvious.
Then in a separate hall, there alongside the suppliers were the motorbikes. Here for me the BMW R1200C sidecar combination with aluminium backed seat, brown leather trim and wooden upper deck and boot rack showed that there is hope in Munich after the awful Frankfurt Z9 concept. There were plenty of 'Wow' bikes from Suzuki etc, a funky machined detailed Yamaha MT01 , but the best had to be the Honda - Shadow -Slasher US1 a flame painted, bright orange chopped low rider that's available straight from the factory.... .....ride it home and 'freak out' Denis Hopper out cruising in his Ford Cougar.
In conclusion, the show really exhibited something for all ages and all tastes. Even for the young lads who couldn't yet drive, there were the ever present 'Companion Girls'.
We don't have 'girlies' anymore at European motorshows, but in Japan, the land of the Geisha, and where women only hold just 9% of the professional jobs (USA has 44%). They were everywhere, graciously handing out information packs and posing in front of the cars. I found myself feeling awkward as I gestured and asked 'excuse me, could you just move to the left I want to take a picture of the car' ....I must be getting old!
Steve Harper
After the marathon trek that was the Frankfurt Show, the relatively compact Makuhari Messe Tokyo Show was quite refreshing, seeming to conform to the Japanese idiom of making the most effective use of available space. It was full of detail, in the same way that if you were to study closely a head or tail lamp of one of the best Japanese cars, every element in place to balance and harmonise together.
Overall the show can be categorised into 4 distinct elements. The 'Highs', the 'Alsos', the 'Lows' and the 'Weirdos'.
Amongst the 'Highs', it was somewhat strange to witness Ford launching a show car in Tokyo. The 021C penned by the product designer Marc Newson, who it seems is especially well known in Japan as Stefan Starck, was handed the opportunity by Jay Mays to develop a thought provoking concept car, built at Ghia Studios in Italy.
In bright orange and white, with silver 'end caps' the car exhibited a curious symmetry, not unlike a Ford 100E, Nash Metropolitan, Daf 44 or one of the Fiat safety cars of the early '70's.
Although by Newson, the design showed the clear signs of Jay May's new design culture for Ford, as had done on the earlier 'Thunderbird' show car. Very evidently a reappraisal of the look of the 1940's and early '50's, when Ford built solid looking cars, with strong shoulder lines, slab like, simple/purposeful bodysides and a 'plant on' greenhouse.
Yes, Tokyo was the right place to launch it, it would have been lost at Frankfurt or Detroit, it was a simple statement, clean uncluttered interiors, a sign of the next generation Ka, the 'iconic' car.
Continuing the 'Highs', the 'Lexus Coupe' exhibited the grace and balance that is oftenfound lacking in some of their previous sedans. An elegant boulevard car equally at home in Chelsea, Beverley Hills or even Stuttgart, where I am sure more than a few executives will now spend a restless night or two. It's the car that you know you will look good in, even when the papparazi happen to snap you in your 'face pack' just popping out for soya milk.
The high shoulder line rises slowly from below the headlamps, to fall away again to the tail, where it frames the simple tail lamps and a rear spoiler that just 'creases' the boot lid. This all sits above the rear bumper in which 2 round howitzers have been meticulously fashioned into exhaust pipes ......Classy!
Sculpture, proportion and balance was also the making of the Mazda RX-EVOLV, a powerful looking 4 door coupe, a post modern Porsche 928, growing out from bold front wheelarches, with cab rearward styling and a simple hi shoulder low roofline look that is classic coupÈ.
In the vein also of classic coupÈ, congratulations must at last go to the 'VW teams' that have shown the Guigiaro's how to design a Bugatti. The EB 18/4 VEYRON completely outshines the previous Chiron shown at Frankfurt.
The blue and black bodywork, with it's sharp centre spine feature, had, at last a well proportioned front horseshoe grille that nestled proudly into the front panel, instead of the previous 'iron on' applications. The rear was taught and muscular, with the 2 brush silver intakes taking on the feel of athletic shoulder blades.
The 20" wheels, used the horseshoe motif beautifully, with the interior and facia in tan nubuck leather being exquisitely detailed with silver dials, wheelcentre, door furniture and crowned by a modern, post Dan Dare mesh centre panel..... worth every Euro penny.
The Honda Spocket was a superb cross between the old CRX pocket rocket sports car, and the practicality of a MINI pick up. It's bold silver fenders, rockers and rear quarter's frame the rakish bodywork in an almost race car style, and the simple 'Lancia Stratos' cockpit blends down into the 'bed'. Ideal for your muddy mountain bikes, scuba gear, boards etc..... Go get it dude!
But for me the 'Best of Show' was the concept Isuzu Kai. Once again Isuzu, now in its post Simon Cox era, have created a stunning study, that confirms the emergence of a new bold Japanese design style.
Alongside the in house concept ZXX, the British design team led by ex PSA designer Geoff Gardiner and ex Coventry graduates Andrew Foster and Ian Nisbett, created Kai in Birmingham as an emotional Japanese car.
Its symmetry and balance, use of textures, detailing and forms all came together harmoniously in the space available. The side lights had the look of room dividing screens, the grille showed the Japanese detailing that clearly influenced Charles Rennie Macintosh, the seats looked like 'real leather', and the facia a high- tech/Samurai suit of textures and layers. The 30's racing Bentley inspired fluid level gauges for fuel water and oil were a beautiful piece of detailed extravagance.
On a stand of various Wizard's (Frontera) and a open top VX-02 the only concept car Isuzu have ever taken further, it cries out 'build me' - but I doubt that despite its 'cultural awareness', it will never turn a wheel in anger......................quelle tragedie.
The 'Alsos' at Tokyo actually probably reflected the reality of the show cars destined for production. But at least after the cars like the Almera it shows there is clearly hope ahead.
The Subaru Fleet X hinted at the next generation of the Legacy Wagon, maintaining Subaru's commitment to the practical estate car (as well as rally winners). If you ignore the brushed aluminium doors, bonnet and tailgate, underneath is a handsome, strong car, featuring plenty of glass and the quintessential built-in roof rail. Although I don't think that the 'catamaran' front fenders will remain so prominent in production.
In fact fascination for estate cars and practical mini MPV's were very much in evidence. The Toyota NCSV showed a 'post Audi' rakish 2 door estate wagon, very much a spiritual successor to the Volvo 480ES. It featured sharp lines, high waist, low roof and a sporting interior, complete with 'drilled alloy' floor mats, to match the pedals.
The Daihatsu YRV a clean cut sporting MPV, featured an interesting double/broken waistline, big wheels and big triangular rear lamps, a kind of 'Yaris Versio with attitude'.
The 'genre' was completed with the Mitsubishi SUW Active. An interesting 'off road' estate with new 'jeep' style front end styling deep tailgate glass and singled out bold round indicator lenses. Obviously designed to fit around the Subaru Forrester/Scenic RVR territory. The interior featured some interesting details, 'camera shutter' speakers on the door panels and a low facia mounted gear lever. Overall though the interior felt cluttered and over done with the tan, silver, grey and dark blue detailing all coming together just in front of the driver ...........sunglasses an option?
Two micro sports car concepts appeared to carryon from the success of the Beat and Cappuccino. Firstly the Suzuki EV sport was a sharp edged roller skate. Then the rounded and TT inspired Daihatsu Kopen both exhibited a pint size 'fun' attitude. The only problem is that you would need to be less than 5'2" tall not to look like 'Noddy', when out in one of them for a drive.
As for the rest of the 'Alsos'.
Chevrolet showed their small car called YOM-1, a Wagon-R on steroids to prove that the Americans understand the concept of sushi - but still eat it with a fork.
Nissan at last appeared to be turning a corner after the awful Cedrics and Glorias. The XVL showed a Lexus 15200 competitive sedan which featured a taught chiselled waistline, flowing greenhouse profile, bold headlamps and a simple clean understated grille. 'Renaissance' it said boldly on the screens behind the exhibits with the Nissan letters picked out in red. I sincerely hope so !
Then came the Tokyo 'Lows'.
There were not too many efforts that really had the 'aargh' factor, but with such a large stand Toyota inevitably had the most. The HV-M4 previewed the next generation Previa, with string bag seats detailing and computer gadgetry everywhere inside the concept car. It failed to disguise the dullness of the car overall.
Then the Celica Cruising Deck took the sporty new Celica and ruined it by attaching a jet ski on a trailer behind, and opening the rear area out into a pair of dickey-seats, with headrests on the rear hoop spoiler. Just what it would look like with the roof up - well the Morgan Plus 4/4 seater would probably give the best clue....ghastly!
Not content with that, to celebrate Toyota's 100 millionth vehicle, they produced the retro Origin, which supposedly paid homage to the first ever Toyota Crown. Now if you remember in those hazy bygone days the hottest cars in Japan were the Austin A40 Devon and the Hillman Minx, you can only wonder why, withall that is wonderful about Japan, they should bother to trawl up a Minx/Cresta/Zil lookalike to celebrate the achievement.
Other disappointments included the Daihatsu SP4 small jeep (Jimny type) concept which appeared at first to be a simple to manufacture vehicle with symmetrical doors (every production tooling engineers dream) but didn't. As you looked closer, there was a symmetrical lower door profile, indentation front and rear for door handles - but hang on, the B-post is more raked than the A post! Obviously the engineer had his anglometer upside down!
Then there was the clumsy looking ill proportioned folding roof of the Nissan Silvia Varietta, and finally the Honda FCX which was so 'cab-forward' it appeared that the clay model must have hit the wall, before the fibreglass showcar had been taken out of it. Nice interior though, with Stefan Starck aluminium before the much longer legs to the seats.
Of the four categories 'High', 'Alsos' and 'Lows' there is only one left. The 'Weirdos'. As you walk around the streets of Tokyo, now and again you come across the odd 'punk kid', wearing six inch stack shoes, surf dude pants,tanned skin and bleached or dyed hair, you can't miss them. Tokyo designers have obviously realised that thisgeneration will need cars to fit their style aspirations before much longer and so have let their imaginations 'run with the pack'.
Honda in their studio in Ginza, downtown Tokyo, produced the FUYAO which I thought looked like a pair of upright vacuum cleaners put back to back. Then the doors were opened to reveal a door full of huge stereo speakers, and seats that were clearly inspired by bar stools. At first I hated it. ......but then the concept of space and its 'off the wall' attitude, with skate boards in the rear, suddenly started to make sense. These kids would never be seen driving their dad's Almera, and would only go cruising in a Toyota Origin because it was so kitsch and anti-style. This car was an armoured skate board. It was a street experience - a party on wheels...it still looked like a vacuum cleaner though, but at least your dad wouldn't know how to use it, either way.
Another weird Honda was the Neukom which seemed to take its inspiration from the taxi 'Arnie' used to escape the baddies and Sharon Stone in 'Total Recall'. Complete with its press formed wooden seats on rotating dentist chair bases, a central driving position with a similar press formed wooden facia/console and featuring a steering wheel that lifts up for ease of entry and 'salt and pepper pot' pedals. It was in total 5 designer seats in a Box. Just too much of a fish tank on wheels for a family car - with its high roof and deep windows - maybe it could be the next Pope-mobile.
Then finally amongst the 'Weirdos' was Toyota's attempt, along with partners Panasonic, Ashai beer, a cosmetics company and a travel agency to create WILL a new fashion brand. A lifestyle concept all featuring the orange square graphic and named WILL. The WILL Vi was supposedly the car for the product led lifestyle brand - young, different, free spirited et.........It is easy to imagine the flip charts in the marketing department .......a car with corrugated sides, Audi Quattro wheel arches and a Ford Anglia rear window. 'A Citroen Ami 6 for the millenium', right down to its front bench seat, column change and bare metal doors............''where's the Will, is this the way?''
The Will Vi although it may sound so, was not the silliest name on offer at the show. Mitsubishi had the small MPV Dingo and also Dion obvious for the 'wanderer' in you. Nissan had the Wingroad, whatever that means, along with the MPV Bassara to complement Cedric and Gloria's.
Honda's Lagreat and Avancier meant absolutely nothing, and Mazda's Laputa sounded like something you needed antibiotics to cure, especially if you had just riden in their Bongo Friendee beforehand. Toyota's Vitz obviously comes with a gel applicator; (at least in Europe its called the Yaris....far more meaningful!) and their OPA is obviously designed for your German grandad. But best of show had to be the DAIHATSU NAKED a 2CV meets Fiat Panda 'lifestyle' car that begs the question .... ..... ''would you dare be seen in it''.
So what can be learnt from the last Tokyo Show before the next Millenium.
Japanese design is finally throwing off the shackles of American and Euro styling trends and establishing itself as an original force.
The interiors of all the show cars showed fresh use of materials, textures and forms. Even such as the bold and beautiful use of 'tortoiseshell' detailing on the Isuzu ZXX with its luxurious use of leather and suede on its seats and doors, all very tactile with the Bugatti taking luxury/tactile interior still further.
In contrast the simplistic clean almost featureless interiors of Ford 021C, Honda Newkom and the WILL Vi showeddesign in its purest minimalistic form.
'Suicide doors' were everywhere on the Ford 021C, Honda Newkom, Isuzu KAI, Daihatsu .......and even on the retro Toyota Origin. I am sure they were recently made illegal in Europe (the main reason to develop the London Taxi) but obviously Japanese designers still feel this is the easiest for rear passenger access. But why did we call them ''suicide doors'' I can't quite remember!
As you moved away from the main car stands and delved deeper into the show, the suppliers and accessory manufactureres also showed off their originality. There was a wonderful all magnesium car ARACO coms MTV. Open framed with bike wheels, narrow track and single seat; a new possible auto-rickshaw is in there somewhere!
A wonderful baby seat by Combi had a fixed base that allowed you to rotate the seat around to help you unhitch the kids - so simple, so obvious.
Then in a separate hall, there alongside the suppliers were the motorbikes. Here for me the BMW R1200C sidecar combination with aluminium backed seat, brown leather trim and wooden upper deck and boot rack showed that there is hope in Munich after the awful Frankfurt Z9 concept. There were plenty of 'Wow' bikes from Suzuki etc, a funky machined detailed Yamaha MT01 , but the best had to be the Honda - Shadow -Slasher US1 a flame painted, bright orange chopped low rider that's available straight from the factory.... .....ride it home and 'freak out' Denis Hopper out cruising in his Ford Cougar.
In conclusion, the show really exhibited something for all ages and all tastes. Even for the young lads who couldn't yet drive, there were the ever present 'Companion Girls'.
We don't have 'girlies' anymore at European motorshows, but in Japan, the land of the Geisha, and where women only hold just 9% of the professional jobs (USA has 44%). They were everywhere, graciously handing out information packs and posing in front of the cars. I found myself feeling awkward as I gestured and asked 'excuse me, could you just move to the left I want to take a picture of the car' ....I must be getting old!
Steve Harper
