Exhibitors -Mazda-
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Mazda booth filled with young
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Thanks to the fine autumn weather, many visitors arrived for this first Monday since the opening of the show. The flow of visitors seems to be towards the reference and production vehicles, which could hardly be seen on Saturday and Sunday due to the crowds. The show area is settling down during the weekdays. The lack of crowds allows visitors to take photos of popular vehicles from any angle.
Mazda Motor Corp.
Visitors focus their attention on the new Roadster
Reality oriented, the tastes of users change
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The new Roadster
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The show theme of Mazda, "The Practical Car. The Enjoyable Car. That's MAZDA.", is very simple and easy to appreciate for anybody. The new Roadster, which made its debut on the first day of the show, and the Capella Wagon are production vehicles on display. Mazda is also displaying three concept vehicles developed under a new design theme, introducing compact direct fuel injection engines (both diesel- and gasoline-powered) and displaying the main unit of a vehicular fuel cell power source to demonstrate its research and development activities in the area of environmental preservation. But, as expected, the Roadster, located in the center of the booth and the center of attention, was surrounded by young people. The styling has been carried over from the original Roadster, but it was the lightweight, compact and highly-rigid two-seater open body that drew their attention.
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The SW-X7
passenger compact space wagon
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Of course, the new Roadster has also improved its aerodynamics and safety characteristics. The Capella Wagon embodies comfortable cabin space under Mazda's "functional and dynamic wagon" concept, with the world's first SRS side airbag system with head protection, in addition to the SRS airbags for both driver and front-seat passenger.
Among the reference vehicles, the MV-X is remarkable as a new concept multipurpose vehicle with a flexible cabin-space design that can support a variety of user lifestyles, not only for leisure but also for business. The SW-X is a 7-passenger compact space wagon with a mini-van's taller exterior build in compact dimensions and a length of 4.355m. Unexpectedly, the unique MS-X multipurpose sedan, a 4-door sedan with enhanced interior utilities and planned for market introduction by 2005 as a next generation passenger car, was not defected by Roadster at popularity.Visitors may be looking for RVs not sedans, and for a reality not a dream.
Exhibitors -Fiat/Alfa Romeo,Ferrari-
Fiat / Alfa Romeo
Booth color in line
with company's image
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A big sensation in Europe,
the Alfa 156
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The Fiat booth is separated into two parts, a blue section for Fiat vehicles and a red section for Alfa Romeo, constructed from materials imported from Italy. The main focus of the Alfa Romeo section is the Alfa 156 making its debut in the Japanese market as a successor to the Alfa 155. The unique layout of the door handle in the rear section enhances the solid but smooth body surface. Looking at the new 156 brings back memories of the era when Alfa Romeo's sporty sedan styling was famous for its well-balanced design and performance many years ago.
Ferrari
Semi-automatic 355 series
Ferrari makes its debut
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Quicker than manual shifting,
cockpit of a 355F1
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In the Ferrari booth, the 355F1 with a sequential six-speed semi-automatic transmission and steering wheel mounted shift lever, is on the stage at this show. The F355 increased its body strength greatly in 1997 models,and will highly boost its value with this F1-like (Formula 1) semi-automatic transmission in next year. A V12 Ferrari super sports car is always a target of people's interest, but this 355 series with a V8 mid-ship engine should get more attention because it brings the Ferrari tradition down to a reasonable price.
Today 27/Oct
Interview with Aguri Suzuki
By Reugene Nishikawa
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Aguri Suzuki
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Reugene: You have always visited the Tokyo Motor Show, haven't you?
Aguri : Yes.
Reugene: What is your impression of this motor show?
Aguri : Good, and nice looking. Especially, the exhibition style. But I wonder about the quality of the vehicles. (Laugh) The way they design the displays and the techniques for exhibiting have come a long way.
Reugene: There is also a lot more space.
Aguri : It's good, but it's exhausting to walk around the area. (Laugh) I suppose it's very expensive to show each manufacture's concept using these wide areas.
Reugene: At this show, exhibitors are stressing consideration for environmental preservation. What do you think about this?
Aguri : I hope they don't just display the concept vehicles, but put them into production as soon as possible. I don't want a dream car anymore. I need a practical car with vision.
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Reugene Nishikawa
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Reugene: Well, I think there are many vehicles which can already run on the road.
Aguri : But they all look the same. Why don't they create something more unique? I just want to see originality. I can't imagine these vehicles becoming production models, they're just too far from reality.
Reugene: How about the concept vehicles.
Aguri : I really don't care. Again, I don't want to see just a display model with a nice interior anymore. I'm really requesting automobile manufacturers to show me a car to which I can't help saying, "that's it, I want to buy this!"
Reugene: Thank you very much.
Welcome to Tokyo Motor Show
Visitors:
82,900attendes
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