Concept models of advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles and gasoline-electric hybrid cars are expected to dazzle visitors to the 37th Tokyo Motor Show beginning Oct. 25, Japanese carmakers said Tuesday.
Mazda Motor Corp. will exhibit the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, its first rotary engine vehicle equipped with a dual-fuel system, which runs on both hydrogen and gasoline, supplied via separate tanks.
Suzuki Motor Corp. will show its Mobile Terrace and MR Wagon FC, the carmaker's first fuel-cell vehicles fueled by hydrogen. The fuel-cell technologies used in both concept vehicles were developed jointly with U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp., which owns a 20 percent stake in Suzuki.
Other hydrogen vehicles on show will include Toyota's Fine-N four-wheel-drive car, Nissan's Effis compact and the Honda Kiwami sedan.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. will unveil its B9 scrambler convertible, an advanced gasoline-electric hybrid model that can accelerate to 80 kph using only an electric motor. Fuji Heavy manufactures Subaru vehicles.
Daihatsu Motor Co. will exhibit the UFE-II, a hybrid minicar that can travel 60 km on one liter of fuel.
Some of the concept models will go on sale in the near future.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s i compact, to be launched in 2005, will be based on the concept model.
Mazda-Ford venture
Ford Motor Co. and its Japanese affiliate, Mazda Motor Corp., said Tuesday they will invest $500 million in a joint venture plant in Thailand over the next several years.
The investment in Auto Alliance Thailand will raise annual manufacturing capacity to 200,000 units from 135,000 over the next three years, the automakers said in a statement.