Mitsubishi's Double Shotz Hot Wheels Concept!

This is a sweet looking car, even if it's only big enough for G.I.Joe to drive. Hot Wheels ran a design contest, and the Mitsubishi Double Shotz was one of the winners (thanks to the folks at Jim Norton Mitsubishi of Tulsa for the heads up), so while you will be able to purchase this, you won't find it at a dealer, but rather you're local toy store.

It's an awesome design, and I'd love to see this produced for the road!

Auto Shows Calendar

Here's a rundown of the Auto Shows coming to a city near you, and a bunch of cities probably very far from you. These are typically the best opportunities to see the latest concept cars and production models.

European Motor Show
January 17-27, 2008
Brussels, Belgium
Website: http://www.salonauto.be/

North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)
January 19-27, 2008
Detroit, MI
Website: http://www.naias.com/

Chicago Auto Show
February 8-17, 2008
Chicago, IL
Website: http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/

Canadian International Auto Show
February 15-24, 2008
Toronto, Canada
Website: http://www.autoshow.ca/

Melbourne International Motor Show
February 29 - March 10, 2008
Melbourne, Australia
Website: http://www.motorshow.com.au/

Shanghai Auto Show
April ?, 2008
Shanghai, China
Website: ?

British International Motor Show
July 23 - August 3, 2008
London, England
Website: http://www.britishmotorshow.co.uk/

Paris Motor Show
October 4-19, 2008
Paris, France
Website: http://www.mondialauto.tm.fr/

Prague Auto Show
October 9-12, 2008
Prague, Czech Republic
Website: http://www.incheba.cz/

There's still some blanks here, so leave a comment if you can help fill in information. I'll update it as more info is available.

Honda Concept Car

In all the hoopla of the Tokyo Motor Show and the new concepts being displayed, I had to show this even though it's old.


Of course the image begs the question, what's that hose pointed at the dog for?

Well, thanks to high-tech imaging software developed by NASA, we can answer that question and actually display 2 possible explanations for it.

You'll see, clearly, in the above image that it's conceivable the hose is an oxygen supplier combined with a carbon dioxide filtration system. The antenna would transmit data on the health of the dog to the on-board veterinarian, which Honda is calling the iVeterinarian.

The second possibility detailed below actually identifies it as a dog-to-human translation system. When the dog barks the translator, which Honda has dubbed the iDogInteriorOscillatingTranslatorSystem, or iDIOTS for short, translates the barks into the driver's language of choice.

Notice that NASA's advanced imaging system was able to determine that the iDIOTS platform would actually be able to judge and assert emotion in the translations, indicated by the exclamation point at the end of the canine's announcement.

Let's hope this is a concept that makes it to market.

Toyota Prius Limo Redefines OxyMoron

I remember hearing something about a fine line between genius and madness.

I also remember hearing something about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Behold, in the tradition of the question "Why?", the Toyota Prius Limo!

This Canadian-made monstrosity was probably brought to us by a guy who sprinkles tobacco on his cure for cancer.

What To See At The Tokyo Motor Show

More pictures added 10/12/07.

This is a run-down of what we should expect to see at the Tokyo Motor show, which runs from October 26th to November 11th in London, England...uh, Tokyo, Japan.

Daihatsu

Mud Master-C: For mountain bikers who don't want to get their bikes dirty.


Lexus

LF-Xh: Hybrid SUV. That's all.

Honda

Puyo: A silicon car. Which makes it fake, right?


CR-Z: Hybrid sports car supposedly being used for a production vehicle at some point.

Nissan

NV2000: Customizable van-ish vehicle. Office on wheels, locker room on wheels, editing studio on wheels... Hey, Nissan, I want this vehicle. What are the odds of getting one?


GT-R: Not just a concept, look for it in dealerships this year.


PIVO 2: Mood ring on wheels + nagging wife.

Intima: Swiveling passenger seat for easy car access is supposed to target men, actually targets my grandmother.

Round Box: Oxymoron. Sports car slash RV. NASCAR tailgater in waiting.


Mazda

Taiki: Discussed in previous post.

Premacy Hybrid: Mini-van + rotary engine + hydrogen fuel = Yawn.



Mitsubishi

i MiEV Sport: Complicated combination of lOWer aNd UpPErCASe letters award winner. Motors are in the wheels, lithium-ion battery/electric car.

Concept-ZT: Dual clutch sedan for those with two left feet.

Suzuki

Pixy: Wheelchair on wheels. Wait....

SSC: Pixy dispencer, PEZ optional.


Subaru

Impreza WRX STI: Next-gen Impreza

Exiga: Big vehicle, glass roof. Kinda boring.

G4e: Electric car.

Toyota

i-Real: How Hulk defends his feelings in an argument with She-Hulk, or another go-round of a one-seater vehicle.

Hi-CT: A truck for the city. Possibly a competitor for the Ridgeline? With added Vitamin C for a healthy immune system? Supposedly inspired from a guerilla, so "no" to the above.



RIN: Mood ring on wheels.



1/X: Plug-in hybrid vehicle that promises to make the Prius look like a Hummer by doubling its MPG.

The Mazda Taiki - Everything's Cooler In Japan

In Japan you can get an iPod like device that can get HDTV over the air...no joking.

So, to continue their dominance of all that is cool, the Mazda Taiki (a car-like-device) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show. Sure, you can't buy it in Japan, but you know this wouldn't be seen at the Detroit Auto Show.

Mazda's Press Release
Mazda Taikireflects one possible direction for a future generation of Mazda sports cars aimed at helping create a sustainable society. The fourth concept car in the Nagare design series, Mazda Taiki further evolves the "flow" theme to establish a breathtaking presence that clearly distinguishes it as the next in the series, and which visually expresses the atmosphere - called taiki in Japanese - that wraps the Earth in its protective mantle. The basic proportions begin with the stretched coupe form of a front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout, the short overhangs, and the liberating feel of an all-glass canopy. The challenge to create "a design that visually expresses the flow of air" was inspired by the image of a pair of Hagoromo - the flowing robes that enable a celestial maiden to fly in Japanese legend - floating down from the sky. Inspired by Japanese koinobori - the decorative "climbing carp streamers"- the notion of creating an Air-tube became the concept word for the interior design. In accordance, from the dashboard and seats down to the door trim, the interior space creates the dynamic sensation that the flow of the wind is being visually depicted. Centering around the performance rotary engine sports packaging that is synonymous with the Mazda name, technologies introduced for the Mazda Taiki include the next-generation RENESIS (rotary engine 16X), which sets new standards for environmental and driving performance, a front-engine rear-drive layout, a unique 2-seat configuration, and Mazda's rotary sports package, which conveys an image of lightness. The effect integrates the design theme perfectly to realize outstanding aerodynamic performance.

Maybe my next trip to Atlanta Mazda I'll be surprised and they'll have it.

Intelligent Vehicles

Imagine your vehicle warning you when a slippery part of road is just up ahead. or that construction is around the corner. Maybe you get a beeping noise when the genius in front of you begins to swerve, or your brakes initiate automatically when he slams on his.

These intelligent vehicles that are being worked on sound great, UNTIL....

And don't think K.I.T.T.'s superior parking ability is going to save you!