ENG TOKYO MOTOR SHOW BLOG

Hello, I am Yoshizawa from the Tokyo Motor Show office.

Allow me to start this blog entry with an advertisement:
Japanese Motor Vehicles Guidebook 2007-2008 Vol. 54 will be on sale from Wednesday, October 24 for 1,200 yen. This is the only guidebook that covers all Japanese vehicles, showing approximately 1,000 cars in full color with the specs for each car. This year's feature article is "Car Festival Travelogue," which provides firsthand information about automobile festivals in Japan and abroad, including Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K.
You can buy the guidebook at bookstores throughout Japan or mail order from Japan Automobile Manufactures Association (JAMA) Mail Order Center(Tel: +81-3-5802-1851). Be sure and get your copy! You will be glad you did.

(Japanese Motor Vehicles Guidebook 2007-2008 Vol. 54)

As I mentioned in the last blog entry, the 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007 will present four test-ride and test-drive events where visitors are welcome to actually ride or drive cars. They are the “Safety Experience Test Drive”, “4x4 Adventure Test Ride”, “Clean Energy Vehicles Test Ride”, and “Commercial Vehicles Test Ride” events.

In this and the next blog entries, I would like to look more closely at these events.

Firstly, I would like to introduce the “Safety Experience Test Drive” event.
From the title, Safety Experience Test Drive, some of you may think this is a safe driving lesson. It is actually slightly different.

The Safety Experience Test Drive event aims to improve driver understanding and knowledge of car safety technologies. In the event, drivers actually experience some of the state-of-the-art safety devices installed in cars.

ABS, ESC, and TCS are three major safety devices in cars. ABS (Antilock Brake System) prevents the wheels from slipping when the driver brakes and the wheels lock. ESC (Electronic Stability Control) stabilizes the car, preventing it from skidding. TCS (Traction Control System) prevents wheels from spinning round without grabbing when the car accelerates.

I interviewed staff at the Special Event Office, which runs the test-ride and test-drive events, and the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), which provides assistance.

Hello, everyone!

ESC, one of the three safety devices you will actually experience in this Safety Test-drive event, is installed in over 70 percent of cars in Germany and approximately 20 percent of cars in the U.S.A.
We expect that car manufacturers will be obliged to install ESC in all their cars in the future. In Japan, however, only 10 percent of cars have ESC. ESC is often offered as an option, and car owners decide whether to install ESC in their cars.
If all cars were equipped with ESC though, approximately 25 percent of current traffic accidents could probably be prevented.

In this event, ESC will be switched on and off to see the difference under the same conditions, actually experiencing how it works.
The Safety Experience Test Drive is the only event at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007 where drivers can drive cars by themselves. Drivers must have had their license for at least one year. Drivers who have had their licenses suspended or received a severer punishment due to accidents resulting from gross negligence or violation of traffic rules within the past year, as well as drivers who have been drinking, are not allowed to participate in this test-drive event.

A very special mat was installed on the temporary driving course made for this test-drive event, enabling realistic simulation safely and in limited space. Water and detergent solution are sprayed on the mat placed on the ground, creating a road that is as slippery as an icy road with freshly-fallen snow. Technically speaking, the slipperiness is approximately 0.2 to 0.3 μ.
This special mat was very difficult to find. Although cars drive quite slowly, strength and durability are required. We spent three months finding an appropriate mat.

(Cars cannot be controlled on the slippery mat.)

This mat enables drivers to experience the extreme situation where the car slips.
The slip can occur even at safe speeds. In addition, drivers can see the difference, switching ESC on and off, under the same conditions. This is a very special opportunity.
This Safety Experience Test Drive event also has other demonstrations, including a seat belt convincer with airbag. You can even participate in these without a test-drive ticket.

Six types of cars, nine cars in total, from six manufacturers will be available in the Safety Test-drive event, where you can have the rare opportunity of experiencing an extreme driving situation. Don't miss this valuable opportunity.

I would like to thank the staff at JAF for helping to make this event possible.

The next event I would like to introduce is the “4x4 Adventure Test Ride” . The staff at the Special Event Office will explain:

As the title suggests, the course of the “4x4 Adventure Test Ride” is very adventurous. The course consists of five sections: V-shaped Mogul where a twisting road is created with logs, Camber with a 30 degree slope, Tabletop/Water Zone where you climb a hill that is approximately 2 meters high and then drive through a pool that is approximately 30 centimeters deep, Slalom, and Climb-hill/Down-hill with a slope of up to 40 degrees.

Standard cars cannot drive in any of these sections. They will get stuck, unable to climb or go down the slopes. The test-ride event is a marvelous opportunity to experience the excellent running stability and road ability of 4x4 vehicles. You will be fascinated by 4x4 vehicles, being surprised by their abilities.

Several types of cars, nineteen cars in total, from seven manufacturers will be available in the “4x4 Adventure Test Ride” event.
Professional drivers are willing to offer information and answer your questions.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them. When taking a test-ride, check the course information displayed at each section. It might be interesting to see what angle professional drivers take to approach the section, what course they select, and how they accelerate.

I would like to thank the staff from our Special Event Office for this explanation. I am already getting excited!

The “Safety Experience Test Drive” event enables you to safely experience car movement in an extreme situation, and the “4x4 Adventure Test Ride” event enables you to fully enjoy the abilities and fascination of 4x4 vehicles without going to the countryside. They both will be great fun. I am very interested in them and imagine you are too.

In these test-drive and test-ride events, you usually can drive or ride cars from several manufacturers. There are, however, a few days, on which cars from only one manufacturer are available. In the “Safety Experience Test Drive” event, there are two days, November 1 and 2, when only BMWs are available. In the “4x4 Adventure Test Ride” event, the same two days are designated as the DaimlerChrysler Japan (Jeep) days. On these days, instead of comparing cars of different manufacturers, you can take an in-depth look at cars from your favorite manufacturer. Also, there may be special events presented by the manufacturers.

A test-drive/ride ticket is required to participate in these events. Test-drive/ride tickets will be given out at the ticket distribution corner at the west side of the South Rest Zone from one hour before each test-drive/ride session. Make sure to get your ticket, as you cannot take a drive/ride without it. The two test-drive and test-ride events introduced in this blog entry will be held at the Makuhari Seaside Park. Test Ride Shuttle Bus service to the park will be available, making it easy and smooth to get there.

In the next blog entry, I will write about two other test-ride events, the “Clean Energy Vehicles Test Ride” and “Commercial Vehicles Test Ride” events. I will see you then!