Honda to Take on Fiat 500 with N Concept 4

One of Honda's less publicized world premieres at the 42nd edition of the Tokyo Motor Show could well very turn out to be the most interesting. We're talking about the new N Concept 4 which is a follow up to the EV-N study that was displayed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.

The new N Concept 4 has not only veered closer to production in styling but it will actually go on sale next year. The announcement was made by Sho Minekawa, who is the Managing Officer and CEO for Honda Regional Sales Operations in Japan, during the company's presentation in Tokyo.
"As a part of the N Series, a new model based on N Concept 3 will be introduced to the market in spring 2012, followed by the introduction of another model based on N Concept 4 in fall 2012," said Minekawa. "With that, we will strive to increase our mini-vehicle sales to 280,000 units, which would double the sales of 2011," he added.
The N Concept 4 will be based on the running gear of Honda's new Kei-class N Box tall city car, which also made its world premiere in Tokyo but more on that later. 
 
It's still too early to know Honda's exact sales plan, but like the model that inspired its creation, the 1967-1972 N360, the production version of the N Concept 4 will probably be a global mini – which kind of makes sense if Honda want's to double its mini car sales.
Compared to the 2009 EN-V study, the new concept has grown in size and obtained another set of doors while Honda's designers also refined the car's styling.

NEW HONDA N CONCEPT 4

2009 HONDA EV-N CONCEPT

1967-1972 HONDA N360

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Fashions Designers get Creative with Recycled Lexus CT 200h Hybrid Parts

Lexus has bridged the worlds of cars and high-end fashion with a new project that challenged four fashion designers to create unique clothing pieces and accessories from more than 2,000 individual parts of a completely dismantled CT 200 hybrid hatchback for an advertising campaign that will appear in the January 2012 issue of Vogue magazine.

The Japanese firm's goal is to highlight the fact that the CT hybrid is 90 percent recyclable.
Fashion designers Moss Lipow, Eddie Borgo, John Patrick, and Alejandro Ingelmo used all sorts of parts from crank bearings to exhaust gaskets to create the four fashion accessories.
“Merging the worlds of luxury automobiles, art and fashion is another example of how Lexus is ‘Engineering Amazing’ or maybe more appropriately, ‘Engineering Unexpected,’” said Brian Smith, vice president of marketing for Lexus. “We were able to challenge four designers to turn one of our most progressive hybrid vehicles into innovative fashion pieces, inspiring the designers, and the world, to see things differently.”
Mind you, this is not the first time we've seen fashion designers using automobile components. Just recently, Ford UK commissioned Cornish designer, Katherine Hawkins, to construct a unique piece of jewelry made out of select Focus parts.
Aside from making the centerfold on Vogue, the Lexus collection will be on display December 1-2, at the opening day of Art Basel Miami Beach, and will then be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund (CFDA).

[From Lexus Press Release]

• “Environmental Crown of Virtue”—A truly head-turning piece designed by Moss Lipow using a transmission starter and exhaust manifold gasket.
• “The Valve Collection”—Designed by jewelry creator Eddie Borgo using valve lifters, crank bearings and hose clamps.
• “Nomadic Sanctuary”—A sleek trench coat, shorts and clutch designed by John Patrick, featuring floor mats made from plant-based plastic, sustainable sound-dampening material, wire harness, leather seat covers and cargo covers
• “The Luna Shoe”—Created by Alejandro Ingelmo using armrest leather trim and clear plastic tubing.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Photos of the New Toyota Aqua or Prius C from the Tokyo Motor Show

Apparently, the Prius nameplate isn't as strong in Toyota's home market of Japan as it is in the rest of the world as what we will come to know as the new Prius C will be marketed locally as the Aqua. Besides the name, there's nothing else different about the Aqua that made its world premiere this week at the 42nd edition of the bi-annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Toyota's smallest dedicated hybrid model measures 3,995mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,445 mm tall and has 2,550 mm between its wheels, which means it is slightly bigger than the latest Yaris five-door hatchback.
The five-seat model is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 74HP at 4,800 rpm and 111Nm (81.9 lb-ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm, and an electric motor producing up to 61-horses and 169Nm (125 lb-ft). The hybrid system's combined output (in JDM tune) is rated at 100HP with a CVT transferring power to the front wheels.
In Japan, the Aqua returns a fuel efficiency of (equal to 83.3 mpg US or 2.8lt/100km) under the JC08 test cycle and 40 km/L (94 mpg US or 2.5lt/100 km) under the 10-15 driving cycle.
Following the launch of the Aqua in Japan that is scheduled for the end of December, the Prius C will gradually reach showrooms across the world.

NEW TOYOTA AQUA JAPAN

NEW TOYOTA PRIUS C NORTH AMERICA

VIDEO

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