Motor show is an exciting event for most of car manias. The highly noted overseas motor shows are those held in Detroit (the United States), Geneva (Switzerland), Paris (France), and Frankfurt (Germany), but no less famous is the Tokyo Motor Show held in autumn of every two years. This year, it took place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba from October 23 to November 4.

    The Tokyo Motor Show looked a bit different this year. Notwithstanding the high-profile show for car manufacturers the world over, few of them exhibited their new models. The reason is that they have not recovered from the global economic crisis that happened a year ago. Car sales have slumped in Japan, the United States, and Europe, while China, India, and other emerging countries have become promising markets.

    The Tokyo Show was somewhat a disappointing event for car-loving people, but Japanese auto makers were full of vigor as the host country's exhibitors. Concerns over global warming are mounting these days with relation to car driving. Ecology-friendly cars are very much sought for protection of the global environment and reduction of CO2 exhausts. The motor show, therefore, became an important scene for the Japanese car manufacturers, the world leaders in the environmental technology, to show their presence.

    Observation of the show from such perspective overwhelmed you with a dazzling lineup of cutting-edge eco-cars from Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, and Suzuki, which makes you feel like driving away from the very spot.

                                                           Let's pick up some highlighted models, starting with Toyota, the best- selling auto maker in the world. It is the pioneer company in the eco-car development that sent the world's first hybrid car "Prius" to the market 10 years ago. The up-and-coming car to watch this time was "Prius Plug-in Hybrid." This is a kind of electric vehicle (EV) outfitted with lithium-ion battery on the existing Prius model and is designed so as to run as EV for a short distance and as a hybrid car for a long distance in use of gasoline engine. It racks up 20km on a full charge of battery, and the mileage is as long as 55km per liter.

       What drew attention as Toyota's new super sports car was the model "LF-A," developed from its premium brand car "Lexus," which has specifications and a style that almost surpass Ferrari. It will be put on sale in 2010 at the stunning price of 3,750 yen for the limited number of 500 units.

    Next, let's take a look at Honda. Its pullout from the Formula One disappointed many fans but the company's aspiration has proved to be going toward the research and development of eco-cars. One of the most coveted stylish cars is the model "CR-Z" which will appear in the market next year. This is a sports car evolved from the hybrid technology of Honda's "Insight." It is a merit of the company that even an eco-car has a sports taste.

    Another eye-catching exhibit was a one-man vehicle "U3-X." It is a unicycle invented based upon the control technology applied to the Honda's bipedal robot ASIMO. The shape looks strange and uncomfortable for sitting, but its operation is quite simple. After mounting on it and sandwiching it between the inner thighs, you incline your body to shift your weight, then the vehicle moves back and forth, sideways, and obliquely just like you walk.

    Nissan is the eco-car manufacturer that is likely to attract attention next year as "LEAF" is going to make a debut in the world marketplace next autumn as the first EV car in commercial production. It is a five-seater hatchback car with an equipment of lithium-ion battery and runs about 160km with one-time full charge. Assuming that an average driver travels 50km to 100km daily, it is no doubt a car for practical use that satisfies the driver's need. The battery can be charged from zero to full in eight hours at the 200V household power supply. When a fast charger is employed, it takes only 10 minutes to charge the battery enough to run 50km. When it comes to the car price, you would be amazed to know that it costs only as much as the same type of a gasoline car.

    At the Tokyo Motor Show, nearly 20 original EVs and hybrid cars were exhibited from other manufacturers to herald a new age when power source shifts from gasoline to electricity. Visitors to the show must have realized the turn of the tide in the automobile history.