Mazda MX-5, RX-8 and 787B scale models

Three new Mazda models were added yesterday to my diecast collection. The Mazda 787B is the only Japanese car that has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race ever!

• Mazda MX-5 tuned by MAZDASPEED (Red Metallic) by AUTOart
• Mazda RX-8 tuned by MAZDASPEED (Red Metallic) by AUTOart
• Mazda 787B (Dark Silver) by HPI

Some more renderings of next-gen Honda Civic (2HC)

We have seen some very clear spy shots (earlier post), so there are no surprises... unfortunately. Those renderings seem very realistic, but I wish the real thing would be different. I still think that the current model (FD) looks much better.

Official trailer: Revenge of the Electric Car

Lego Aygo Crazy...!!!

[Source: Toyoddity]

Largest public EV trial in UK with i-MiEVs completed - some facts

EVs... are not anymore the type of car living in our fiction, you know - in the distant future, cars will be electric, they won't have wheels etc - they are here and it won't take so much time until we see them on a regular basis. The Leaf has won the 2011 Car of the Year award in Europe and although Toyota and Honda still hold back from this electric "race", people will soon have a variety of models to choose from.

The limited range and the lack of infrastructure in most countries are limiting factors and it will take time until everyone is able to choose between a "normal" car and EV, but now that the largest public EV trial in UK has ended, at last some real-world data is available. Below are some interesting facts from the press release.

The first stage of the Government-supported UK-wide project to trial low emission vehicles started with the 25 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) in Birmingham. The vehicles were handed over to independent drivers in Centenary Square, on 12th December 2009.

Infiniti EV sedan coming in 2013

Infiniti is already working on a compact model (earlier post) and also, on an EV sedan. The latter is sceduled to go on sale in 2013. 

According to managing director Shiro Nakamura, the sketch shown above is a very good indication of what to expect to see on the streets. The final design is going to be decided in the middle of 2011.

[Source: Response]

Mitsubishi reveals sketches of new small global car

Mitsubishi has revealed those official sketches of its upcoming small global car, which is going to be produced in a new facotry in Thailand. The new model will be sold in emerging markets, as well as Japan, but it is not known whether it will make to Europe. Expect to see it at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

[Source: Autocar]

Toyota displays iQ-based EV in Japan

Toyota displayed its iQ-based EV (earlier post) at Eco-Products 2010 in Japan. The capacity and the voltage of the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery are about 11 kWh and 270 V respectively. The drive range of the vehicle is 105 km under the JC08 test mode.

The charging time is about 10 hours with AC100V input and about four hours with AC200V input (in the normal charging mode). Under the CHAdeMO charging standards, which are promoted by Japan's CHAdeMO Association, the EV can be charged up to 80% capacity in about 15 minutes. The connectors for normal charging and rapid charging are located on the front side of the vehicle.

The actual car is scheduled to be mass-produced and released in the Japanese, US and European markets in 2012.

[Source: Tech-On!]

Subaru shows carbon fibre roof of Impreza WRX STi tS

Back on December 3 (earlier post), it was revealed that the upcoming Impreza WRX STI tS will feature a carbon fibre roof, which has been developed with Toray (東レ).  Subaru has now revealed a teaser image and the only new info is... that the tS version will be only available in Japan (as with the Forester tS STi).

20 years of Lexus in the UK: 1990 LS 400 meets 2010 LS 600h

Scoop: Next-gen Toyota Camry

The next-gen Toyota Camry will be available only as a hybrid in Japan (earlier post) and it is expected to be launched in July 2011. According to early info, the next-gen Camry will share its platform with the Toyota Avensis, although it is not clear whether it will use the platform of the current-gen Avensis, or the platform of the new Camry will used in the next-gen Avensis. I reckon that the latter scenario is more likely.

[Source: Mag-X via CarSensor]

Some new scale model pre-orders placed!

Further to my latest pre-order for an Advantage GT-R Concept scale model (earlier post), I have placed three new ones today. Note that the photos of the Civic Type R model are from moke-up, so the real thing will much more detailed. Hopefully, I should get all of them by the end of March.

• Honda Civic Type R 1999 EK9 (Championship White) by Interallied (インターアライド)
• Lexus IS-F 2008 (Black) by Kyosho
• Toyota Crown Athlete 2008 (White) by Kyosho

Nissan Leaf's rear aerodynamic design

Since fuel efficiency, range in the case of EVs, plays a very important role nowadays, it is self understanding that among top priorities when designing a new car is aerodynamics.Inoue Makoto, chief designer of Nissan's Global Design Product Division, gives Leaf's rear design as an example.

The air flows coming from the roof, side and under the floor had to be separated. For that reason, the taillights have a a more convex shape in order to act as spoilers. Also, the lack of an exhaust sysem has enabled a much better design, aerodynamically, which would not be possible in the case of a car equipped with an internal combustion engine. 

Even the design of the antenna has been carefully considered in order to limit the generated wind noise. Therefore, the antenna has a pentagon shape with a round tip. Another important area was the edge of the rear bumper, in order to have a clear separation of flow.

[Source: Response]

Dimensions and prices of new Suzuki Solio!

Further to the fuel efficiency of the new Suzuki Solio (earlier post), dimensions and prices of it were also revealed ahead of its official debut. 

Exterior dimensions:

3,710 mm x 1,620 mm x 1,765 mm (length x width x height)

Prices:

1.2 G FF 1,280,000 ¥
1.2 X FF 1,380,000 ¥
1.2 S FF 1,500,000 ¥ 
1.2 G 4WD 1,458,500 ¥ 
1.2 X 4WD 1,558,500 ¥ 
1.2 S 4WD 1,678,500 ¥

[Source: 頑張れ！三菱自動車 応援ブログと株日記]

New Suzuki Solio to achieve 22.5 km/L fuel efficiency

The new Suzuki Solio, due to be introduced on December 24 (earlier posts), will be powered by a 1.2L engine and when matted to a CVT gearbox, it will achieve a fuel efficiency of 22.5 km/L under the 10-15 test cycle.This figure is not as good as the 26.5 km/L of the upcoming new Vitz (earlier post), but it's not bad at all...

[Source: Response]

Free Wi-Fi in Tokyo cabs

If you live in Tokyo, you can access Wi-Fi freely when using a cab. Docomo, in collaboration with the large taxi consortium Tokyo Musen, is installing free access Wifi hotspots in 820 taxis around the Japanese capital. What’s more, 100 of those 820 cars will carry PSP Go for in-flight (er, in-traffic) entertainment!!!

[Source: docomo via 7Tune]

Spy shots of next-gen Nissan Tiida / Versa hatchback

The new Nissan Sunny for the Chinese market, caught several times, has been considered as the new Tiida, but somehow, I am not convinced that this will be the new Tiida (aka Versa). Hm, now it's time for spy shots of the hatchback version and as you will notice, the interior is clearly different. I reckon that this is the actual Tiida replacement...

Nissan and Mitsubishi dealer alliance for mutual use of fast chargers

Nissan and Mitsubishi EV dealers across Japan have agreed for mutual use of the quick chargers. I reckon that this is a smart move and it will encourage people to buy an EV...

[Source: GAZOO.com]

Nissan Leaf's power system among '10 Best Engines' for 2011

Ward has announced yesterday that Nissan Leaf's power system is included on its prestigious '10 Best Engines' list for 2011. As you can imagine, it is the first time that a power system which doesn't have an engine is included. 

The Leaf features a high-response 80kW AC synchronous motor powered by a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery manufactured at the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) operation in Zama, Japan, which is a joint-venture of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and NEC Corporation. Both motor and inverter have been developed by Nissan, and the power system generates 107 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. The power is transferred to the wheels through a single-speed reduction gear.

Toyota Prius sells more than 300,000 units in Japan in 2010

The last-gen Toyota Prius has proved to be very successful in Japan, as sales have passed the 300,000 unit mark in 2010 (the Corolla set the record 20 years ago in 1990, selling 300,008 units)! The Prius is the best-selling model in Japan for the past year and a half.

Google launches Chrome OS