Well, this is not a joke! Japanese companies Yodogawa and Kinki Knives Industries have developed a prototype thee wheeler Electric Vehicle named Meguru, which is more like a three-wheeler auto-rickshaw used in countries like India and Thailand.  This electric auto rickshaw features steel frame painted with red lacquer, and it resembles the red tori gates of shrines in Japan.  The vehicle has bamboo flooring, and its doors are crafted from Japanese washi paper, resemble the folding fan.  At night, the vehicle looks like a lantern as the lights inside glow through the paper doors.  A driver sits in front, and one or two passengers sit in back on a couch.  Kyoto craftsmen helped to give a distinctly Japanese traditional touch to the styling of this vehicle.

Well, this electric vehicle is not meant for driving on highways.  Meguru is designed for use as a taxi.  This vehicle inspired by the traditional jin-rickshaw and Japanese culture is meant to attract customers in popular tourist places like Kyoto, Nara, Nikko and Asakusa which are famous for the traditional Japanese culture.  The electric vehicle can run at a maximum speed of 40 km/hour and a range of 40 km.  It needs just two hours from charging from household power supply.  Thus, it is an eco-friendly and affordable, way to go around the town in style.

The makers of Meguru are serious about selling this electric car made of traditional materials such as bamboo and paper.  Meguru is expected to go on sale in Japan for around $10,000.

In old Japanese cities like Nara and Kyoto, which have old temples and palaces, with old type jin-rickshaws still plying in the streets, the Meguru probably would not look out of place. The  bamboo and paper would give it an air of old-style craftsmanship, and environment lovers would definitely love its zero-emission ride.

I liked the idea of using traditional indigenous materials like bamboo, lacquer and washi paper in vehicles.  Though it may not be the safest idea to use bamboo in vehicle body, Meguru’s bamboo floor is both tough and elegant.  Next time, you visit Osaka for Japanese used car auction, just remind me to have a pleasure ride in Meguru taxi.

For more pictures and videos of Meguru electric car, check the news at Japan Trends.

Technorati Tags: Japan, Electric Vehicle, Meguru, Japanese, Kyoto

Japanese auto makers have left behind all other countries by giving some of the wonderful car names to their car models. Japanese auto manufacturers are more concerned about “mouth feel” or how good would certain combination of words sound and so neglect relevance and grammar while arriving at new car names for markets other than the United States. Japanese car names have been a source of humor in International motoring circles.

One example of this name combination is Mitsubishi Chariot Grandio Super Exceed which sounds like a grand name, but this vehicle is used more for carrying groceries.

There are many more examples like this which the Japanese car makers have created to give some extraordinary name to their model, but are supper funny car names! or at times sound the exact opposite.

Have you heard of Mazda Bongo/Bongo Friendee/Bongo Brawny? Latin singer Ricky Martin made ‘bongo’ famous by using it in most of his songs and then there is a famous jeans company by the name “Bongo”. Considering this fact Mazda wanted to cash on the Bongo’s inherent prestige, so Mazda introduced a small-van called as Mazda Bongo. Apart from this standard form, Mazda also manufactured its sub model which is called as Bongo Brawny and Bongo Friendee. The name sounds so musical and affirming masculinity at the same time!

Isuzu Mysterious Utility Wizard is one is a sport-utility vehicle, but it brings up the image of some mysterious old man who has some magic tools than that of an SUV. And, Isuzu Big Horn Truck sounds like it is for people who like the sound of big horns instead of those little beep-beep horns. Isuzu GIGA is a series of heavy duty trucks with high capacity, and are mainly used to perform heavy duty task such as carrying cargo. Considering its name Isuzu GIGA 20 Light Dump, it may sound like some small truck used for carrying dump.

Honda Life Dunk has an engine which is turbocharged. Seeing at its name it sounds like your life is going to dunk after driving this car. This is clear example of how funny Japanese Car names can be. And, you may not have heard that Yamaha made any cars, but one of their cars is named the Yamaha Pantryboy Supreme. It is a supreme compact van, but we wonder where the pantry boy came from? Nissan Elgrand Homy is not at all like a home as it is a luxury minivan. Perhaps, they should have named it as homey – a trusted companion.

Daihatsu Charade Social Poze sounds like a dance craze of the 1980’s with semi-naked girls. And, Daihatsu Rocky also named as Daihatsu Rugger in some countries, bring up the image of boxers, rugby players, or rocky mountains. And, I am sure you would need to have some guts if you are planning to buy a Naked Daihatsu!

Mitsubishi has come up with some of the silliest names for their cars and trucks. If you think of Mitsubishi Mirage, you would dream of driving in a desert where there is no one else but you. Mitsubishi Townbox sounds like a children’s toy car, but it is a 5 door hatchback. And there is a sillier name like Mitsubishi MUM 500 Shall We Join Us? That a question mark in the name would really make us wonder if it is some sort of joining proposal by group of 500 Moms! And how can we join ourselves?

Technorati Tags: Japanese Car, Japanese auto makers, funny car names, Mazda Bongo, Isuzu GIGA, Mitsubishi

Among of the 11 teams in F1 Racing Teams, Toyota is the team that has the same engine maker and the same tyre partnership. Besides that, their Race Driver also the same as last season. This make it the unique team that can make the team learned the weak point from passed season and make the Panasonic Toyota Racing Team to has good result in this new season.

Techical Specifications for TF107 as below:
It has moulded carbon fibre and honeycomb construction for its monocoque construction. Front suspension is Carbon fibre double wishbone arrangement, with carbon fibre trackrod and pushrod. Rear suspension is Carbon fibre double wishbone arrangement, with carbon fibre toe link and pushrod. For the dampers, it use Penske and wheels is from BBS forged magnesium. Tyres is Bridgestone Potenza. Brake calipers and Brembo Brake master cylinders is from Brembo. Braking material is Hitco (carbon/carbon) Steering is Toyota power-assisted steering and Steering wheel is Toyota carbon fibre wheel with Toyota / Magneti Marelli instrument. Driver seat is make from Carbon fibre, moulded to driver’s shape. Driver restraints is Takata and Driver HANS device is designed from Toyota. Electronic systems Toyota / Magneti Marelli, Transmission is 7-speed unit plus reverse. Beside that , the race engine is RVX-07 that has 8 cylinder with approximately 740bhp.
For the acceleration system, it use Pneumatic Valve actuation and hydraulic throttle actuation.

For year 2007, Toyota aim is to win the race.

Technorati Tags: Panasonic Toyota Racing Team, Japanese, 2007 F1 Championship Season, Australia, Toyota, Bridgestone

? If the lithium ion electric battery for the load of the small size high performance was utilized, it charged by nighttime electric power, and the like it extended the distance which it can run with the electric motor to 20 kilometer to 60 kilometer with? the “plug in hybrid car”. Utilization of the electric automobile and Mitsubishi, Fuji Heavy Industry is in the midst of developing enters into range of vision. Especially you say that large portion of the user travel distance per 1 days and expect replacement to the electric automobile within 100 kilometers.

Technorati Tags: Lithium ion electric battery, automobile, Mitsubishi, NEC, electric automobile, hybrid vehicle, electric motor