In this week's round-up of automotive gossip, we chat hybrids with Mitsubishi, get swept up on Toyota's mad e-broom, talk Kei cars with Nissan and more.
Mitsubishi's hot air
Mitsubishi showed a gas turbine range-extender powertrain at Tokyo, but don’t get your hopes up about it making production. Engineering boss Hiroshi Nagaoka said the technology has been in development for only a short time and is a long way from proving itself in areas such as heat management and control.
Toyota sweeps Tokyo
Bizarrest moment of the Tokyo show was Toyota boss Akio Toyoda unveiling an e-broom. Although no technical details were given, it appeared to have an electric wheel at the end of the brush that propelled a man on rollerskates around the show stage. “It doesn’t fly yet,” said Toyoda, ruefully, as the slightly bemused audience looked on…
Suzuki's side hustle(r)
Japanese cars have some unusual names and the oddest unveiled at the show was probably Suzuki’s Hustler. It’s not a dodgy mag or a conman, but rather a Suzuki Jimny crossed with an MPV. It looked charming, albeit without the desirability of the Jimny off-roader.
Toyota - now with added beef
Could cow droppings power cars? Toyota’s chief technical officer, Shigeki Terashi, suggested that possibility while explaining why car firms shouldn’t be railroaded into a single solution to lower emissions. “Methane from cows is one interesting solution,” he said. “There are many different ideas and we must remain open to them.”
Timing is Kei
Tiny Kei cars are hugely popular in Japan but Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s product planning boss, admitted: “I’d never buy one for myself or my wife today.” He reckons they’re too slow and noisy right now but will be better suited to electric tech.
READ MORE
Mitsubishi's Tokyo show star is roofless SUV with four electric motors
Nissan reveals electric IMk city car concept
2019 Tokyo motor show: show report and pictures
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