Toyota

The recently concluded K 2007 conference in Düsseldorf, Germany, featured a variety of recent advances in materials science that will change your life. No hyperbole there--just a safe prediction.

I didn't make it to the show, but I've been following the announcements on the Web site of Design News, a trade publication for mechanical engineers. The K Fair is all about plastics...but in truth, the line between plastic and metal is getting pretty blurry these days.

Indeed, companies such as DuPont are now talking about plastics climbing "the metals replacement curve." MetaFuse technology, … Read more

This new minivan concept could enter production in 2008. It features luxurious middle- and third-row seats that recline and have ottomans. These seats also each get a video monitor mounted on the head rest in front, making it a fine line between personal jet and minivan.

The greenhouse on the RiN is actually green, as befits the idea behind the car. It is supposed to promote the health and well-being of its occupants through posture correcting seats and a mood-meter on the steering wheel. If the car detects tension, it will try to calm down the driver.

The Hi-CT looks like a Scion xB for tall people. With a freight truck design, it's not pretty, but it does employ the usual concept-car features, such as a yoke-style steering wheel, lots of panels on the instrument cluster, and a white interior. The rear external deck can be used to store sports gear.

Although none of these cars are likely to make it to production, they represent some of the most interesting, or, possibly, aberrant, ideas in automotive design. From the Nissan R.D/B.X, designed to let its occupants interact, to the Honda Puyo with its gel-covered body, these concepts are as wild as they come.

Click here for photos of wild concept cars at the 2007 Tokyo auto show.

At the 2007 Tokyo auto show, we found many concept cars that could be put into production today. These cars wouldn't look out of place on the road or in a mall parking lot. We've got photos of these ready for the road concepts, from the Volkswagen Space Up to the Toyota iQ.

Click here for photos of road-ready concept cars at the 2007 Tokyo auto show.

Toyota's 1/X concept, shown at the 2007 Tokyo auto show, uses a body design that closely resembles that of the current Prius. But the 1/X has a lot of tricks up its sleeve that could give it double the already frugal Prius' mileage. First off, the 1/X's body is made of the same carbon fiber materials Toyota developed for its racing cars. This type of body makes the 1/X a third lighter than the Prius. As a flexible fuel vehicle, the 1/X's plug-in hybrid power train can burn gas and ethanol. With … Read more

Among the concept cars on display at the 2007 Tokyo auto show, a substantial number run off of electricity. Some, such as the Suzuki Pixy and the Nissan Pivo2, are a little outlandish. But many represent very serious efforts on the part of automakers to develop a successful and practical zero-emission vehicle. Both the Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport and the Subaru G4e look like they are ready for the road.

Click here for photos of electric concept cars at the 2007 Tokyo auto show.

Single-person wheeled vehicles look like the stuff of science fiction, but Toyota and Suzuki showed off a few concepts at the 2007 Tokyo auto show. They tend to have a futuristic look and electric drive, but we're not entirely sure what problem they are supposed to solve. Just as the Segway become more novelty than necessity, we can't imagine future thoroughfares jam-packed with people commuting in the vehicles. Still, they look like they would be fun to drive.

Click here for photos of personal transportation concepts.