« Midsize SUVs get mixed grades in crash tests | Main | Backseat Driver: Bravo Al Gore! »

Japanese automakers get cute for Tokyo auto show

TOKYO — Cute, communicative and cubic seem to be the fashion statement as far as offerings from Japan's "Big Three" automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan, debuting at the Tokyo auto show later this month, according to USA Today.

Sporting whimsical names — Rin, Puyo and Pivo 2 — the toylike "concept," or show, cars appear to be inspired more by the iPod, futuristic space capsules and Japane0se manga animation than what we are used to associating with vehicles.

Check out this rendering of the Rin:

In this artist rendering released by Toyota Motor ahead of Tokyo Motor Show, a "concept" car called Rin is shown. The green-and-beige model has a transparent floor, huge windows and doors that slide open like Japanese "shoji" screens.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:47 AM to Design | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)