Japanese have always been lucky to catch the coolest concept cars. A lot of attention is being focused on the some flashy new concept cars, which will be shown to the world for the first time at the upcoming 2007 Tokyo Motor Show (October 26 to November 11). The big three Japanese automakers are slated to unveil a bunch of cool concept cars like the Nissan Pivo 2, a concept car that was introduced at a preview event recently. Here are some of the spectacular designs that are going to raise many eyebrows at the event

• Toyota RiN

Designed with an aim to promote harmony with nature, the eco-friendly Toyota RiN concept car touts heated ergonomic seats that keep your spine in its proper position, an oxygen-level conditioner and humidifier, a ‘mood training’ steering control system that checks the driver’s psychological state, and greenish glass that saves you from UV and infrared light. To express both “harmony with nature” and “healthy mind and body,” they have used the motif of the deep-rooted and tall-growing Yakusugi tree (a variety of Japanese cypress) for its exterior and interior design.

• Toyota Hi-CT

Being touted as a cool and fun next-generation urban assault vehicle, the Toyota Hi-CT concept car has been designed specially for narrow tracks. It gets its power from a 1.5-liter engine mated to a hybrid motor, which comes complete with plug-in capability. It enjoys a more compact, upright design, thanks to the reason that batteries are stored under the floor. The 100V AC interior outlet lets user users plug in their favorite portable electronic gadgets.

• Mazda Taiki

The stunning Mazda Taiki looks to be flowing seamlessly. It’s the fourth vehicle in Mazda’s Nagare series of cars. The vehicle gets its power from Taiki’s Renesis next-generation rotary engine. The design is inspired by Japanese koinobori (decorative carp-shaped streamers). The concept’s exterior lines are inspired by wind flowing through a Hagoromo. The hyper-aerodynamic Taiki’s design is basically meant to visually put across the flow of air.

• Honda PUYO

Honda is calling it a pet. The Honda PUYO is a zero emissions fuel cell vehicle that features soft ‘gel’ body, which Honda says will add to the safety. It’s meant to make a soft, friendly impression and entertain the occupants. In fact, the name PUYO is a Japanese onomatopoeia meant to express the sensation of “touching the vehicle’s soft body.” The car runs on a super-small, ultra-high efficient fuel cell and interestingly, is maneuvered not by steering wheel, but rather by joystick. Among the original features is the luminescent box-shaped exterior body.

• Nissan Pivo 2

The Pivo 2, from Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., is an advanced electric concept car that will debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. The fully electric vehicle swanks a 360-degree turning cabin, 90-degree turning wheels and employs by-wire technologies for braking and steering. The ultra-compact vehicle can swivel its bubble-shaped cabin and wheels independently to facilitate easy parking at the hard-to-manage parking spots. The cute vehicle can drive sideways as well as forward and has a small robot to assist with navigation.

• Mitsubishi i MIEV Sport

Mitsubishi might just be the first out of the gate with a plug-in car. The front two wheels of the eco-friendly Mitsubishi i MIEV Sport electric minicar are driven by a pair of in-wheel motors, while the rear wheels are driven by a separate motor. The minicar runs on lithium ion batteries, has an auxiliary solar cells embedded on the roof, and reach speeds of 200 kilometers (120 miles). The breaking system is highly designed with a regenerative feel that recovers energy as the car slows down. The car has a fan on the front grill, and efficiency is achieved with power-saving LEDs and heat observing windows.

• Suzuki’s Sustainable Mobility (PIXY + SSC)

Suzuki’s Sustainable Mobility concept vehicle comes in two units, the PIXY which is a low-speed personal transport pod and the Suzuki Sharing Coach (SSC) i.e. a minicar-based mobility unit. The PIXY is a small thing that’s designed transport individuals along sidewalks and into buildings, which is great for small rides, however the PIXY fits well inside the SSC for longer trips. The PIXY can also be coupled with a sports car unit called the SSF and a boat unit called the SSJ.

I would simply love to see all these cool concepts going into production. Just imagine how cool you would look with one of these cars on the road.

via PinkTentacle