Toyota, like some of the other top carmakers, has expressed a view that the goal of carbon neutrality to prevent climate change is not a single-solution – going electric with motor vehicles – approach. While they do recognise the importance of moving towards that goal, they feel that the electric-only solution is not practical and is also costly. A choice of solutions that include some existing technologies (improved, of course) is being promoted as a more realistic approach.
Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda, is very vocal about this and was among the first car company CEOs to state the position. Perhaps that encouraged the CEOs in the other companies to also echo similar views but still committing to increasing production of zero emissions battery electric vehicles (BEVs). They are probably under a lot of pressure to allocate massive funding for BEV R&D and at the same time, they still need to continue some development of combustion engine powertrains.
Subaru Tecnica International, the carmaker’s motorsports division which Subaru fans know more as ‘STI’, is looking ahead to the era of electrified vehicles, and inevitably a time will come when motorsports will go fully electric. As it is, there is already a single-seater all-electric series (Formula E) and in the recently-ended Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, Audi entered three electrically-powered rallycars.
To prepare for the new era, STI has initiated the E-RA Challenge Project as a near-future motorsport study project. This project (‘E-RA’ stands for ‘Electric-Record-Attempt’) has the aim of gaining experience and training of new technologies in the world of motorsports in the carbon-neutral era. The insights gained from this project will help Subaru contribute to the future electrified society.
To complement the studies that will be carried out, STI has developed the STI E-RA concept car which is on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon this weekend. The first goal of this model is to try to record a lap time of 400 seconds (6 minutes 40 seconds) in a time attack at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit from 2023 onwards. Before then, driving tests will be conducted at circuits in Japan during 2022 as part of the development program.
Subaru’s strength and long experience in in all-wheel control technology will be used to develop systems for the control of the high outputs. With 4 motors, these will reach maximum system output level of 800 kW (1,088 ps) and reach the road using proprietary 4-wheel torque vectoring technology
The unique torque vectoring system is a technology that equalizes the balance to the grip limit of each of the 4 wheels with a driver-focused control system. It raises the grip level to the maximum and stabilizes car body position.
In order to obtain the maximum effect, the best way is to independently apply the optimum drive torque to the 4 wheels as the load shifts. To realize this, the system calculates the signals from sensors in wheel speed, vehicle speed, steering angle, g-force, yaw rate, brake pressure, and wheel load, determines the drive/braking torque of each wheel to gain a target stability factor, and provides instructions to the inverter.
For the motors, a high-torque high-revolution type with an integrated inverter and a gear for hyper EVs, which were developed and supplied by Yamaha Motor have been adopted. This motor is driven by a lithium-ion battery with a storage capacity of 60 kWh.
The structure where the motors are directly attached to the 4 wheels enables a high level of responsiveness and a direct control of the yaw of the car body. Since this is considered to be a system which can maximize a vehicle’s kinetic performance, and is included in the regulations for future motorsport (FIA E-GT), STI will follow the direction for development.
A few car companies have CEOs or Presidents who are ‘car guys’ and who even go racing sometimes but none probably is as passionate about motorsports as Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation. Since becoming President in 2009, the grandson of the company’s founder has been transforming the world’s leading automaker to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Perhaps having started driving in the era of the Japanese auto industry when there were affordable sportscars, Toyoda also came to be a car enthusiast, notwithstanding the fact that his family owned the No.1 carmaker in Japan. And being of the younger generation, he had greater exposure out of Japan where he also had a chance to go racing (although he wanted to be a taxi driver at one time), which he enjoyed greatly to the extent that he created a nickname to use when racing – ‘Morizo Kinoshita’ – in the 2009 Nurburgring 24 -Hour race. Perhaps he wanted to avoid undue attention, being who he is, or maybe he didn’t want his parents to know…
When he became President, Toyoda started off promising that Toyota would make cars ‘Fun to Drive, Again’, reviving a tagline used in the 1980s. He gave TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) greater responsibility to not only manage Toyota and Lexus motorsports activities but also to develop products for the new GR high-performance brand.
Since then, enthusiasts around the world have been treated to a number of impressive sportscars and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing itself has also risen in prominence. Notable models like the GR Supra and GR Yaris have made big news wherever they have been launched and today, at the at Tokyo Auto Salon 2022, TGR has unveiled another mouth-watering hot hatch – the GRMN Yaris.
The ‘MN’ in ‘GRMN’ stands for ‘Meister of Nurburgring’, which is a way of paying tribute to TGR’s test drivers who have developed the products on the legendary German circuit. These would include Hiromu Naruse, the company’s chief test driver and head of GAZOO Racing who died in a crash in Germany in 2010. Naruse was Toyoda’s mentor in racing and whom Toyoda was asked to replace as ‘Master Driver’ of Toyota and Lexus.
Since its launch in September 2020, the GR Yaris has been involved in various motorsports such as the Super Taikyu Series where the Toyota President himself (65 years old this year) got behind the wheel as Morizo and participated with ROOKIE Racing, and the Japanese Rally Championship, where it won the season championship.
Having been closely involved in the development of the GR Yaris, Toyoda wanted to ‘deliver cars to customers that evolve quickly and can be tailored to individuals in the field of motorsports’. Using lessons learned from motorsports activities, the body rigidity of the GR Yaris has been enhanced. The number of spot welds has increased compared to the GR Yaris, and body rigidity has been further enhanced by applying longer structural adhesive.
The GRMN Yaris is also wider by 10 mm, this increase said to be for improving aerodynamics, while the height has been lowered by 10 mm for a lower centre of gravity. In addition to the lightweight high-rigidity carbonfibre (twill weave CFRP) used for the bonnet, roof, and rear spoiler, removing the rear seats to make it a two-person car has achieved weight reduction of approximately 20 kgs.
The engineers also installed a mechanical LSD, a close-ratio gear transmission, and a low final gear set, which has been improved through repeated ‘breaking and fixing’. Issues under extreme use conditions were identified through driver feedback and quickly resolved. Thus the GR Yaris has evolved into a car that can be driven faster, with improved braking force, grip, cornering and following performance to give the driver more confidence pushing it hard.
Power to all 4 wheels will still come from the 1.6-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder unit already used in the GR Yaris but with higher output. As it is, the G16E-GTS engine produces 261 bhp/360 Nm, making it the world’s most powerful 3-cylinder engine and the lightest and smallest 1.6-litre turbo unit currently in production.
Only 500 units of the GRMN Yaris will be available with sales in mid-2022, only at GR Garages around Japan. Customers will be able to specify a Circuit or Rally package to suit their requirements. Each customer will get a Personalisation program that provides individually tailored customization conducted by analyzing driving data. Steering control, engine control, and drive distribution, hardware including shock absorber damping force, spring rate and aerodynamic components will then be optimized for the best performance with the specific driver.
Expecting the 500 units to be snapped up quickly, TGR is having a lottery for those who are interesting in booking the GRMN Yaris. The basic GRMN Yaris will cost 7,317,000 yen (about RM269,000) while the Circuit package will add another 1,150,000 yen (about RM42,300) and the Rally package will cost an extra 1,061,764 yen (about RM39,000).
Over the past year, with lockdowns forcing many people to stay home and still have to work, some have found motorhomes useful for getting around, treating them as mobile offices for certain situations. Nissan’s designers may have picked up on this trend and have developed an office on wheels with its NV350 van.
For the remote working lifestyle
Referred to as the Office Pod concept, it offers dual purpose functionality that will make the remote working lifestyle more enjoyable. The customised van incorporates a ‘pod’ that is a workspace, complete with everything needed to get a job done – including a coffee station. Ambient edge lighting provides relaxing illumination and the floor is of polycarbonate so you can see the ground below (perhaps to feel ‘connected’ to the outside world).
While its name has ‘office’ in it, the concept vehicle can also be used for recreational purposes. The pod can slide further out so you can sit in the open even when it rains, or go on the roof which has a balcony.
For journeys away from the highway too
The NV350 Office Pod also has some exterior modifications which allow the vehicle to be driven a bit further off the highway if desired. Extra overfenders protect the bodywork from flying stones, while a simple stairway can be neatly tucked in the sliding door opening.
Similar concept in 2007
This year’s concept vehicle for the Tokyo Auto Salon follows the concept that was used in 2007 two years before the NV range of light commercial vehicles was introduced. Nissan displayed a NV200 Concept at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show which was presented as a ‘smart business tool of a new generation’. It had a customisable cargo area housing a pod that could be configured for different business needs.
The display vehicle was intended for use by a professional ocean photographer. The work area was equipped with a remote control panel for a spider camera, as well as equipment for organising and editing photographs and images while on assignment.
Visit www.nissan.com.my to know more about the NV200 range as well as well other Nissan models available in Malaysia.
The Honda Civic Type R started off in 1997 as a Japan-only model in 1997, offering drivers a Civic with greatly enhanced performance. By the next generation, which debuted in 2001, Honda decided to offer it in the European market where it found a strong following. The third generation got more international and by the current fifth generation, it has been engineered as a global model with even the US market in mind.
The current generation of the Civic Type R went on sale in 2017 in many markets and after 2 years, the 2020 model has been revealed at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon. The latest model has a number of changes and improvements that include revised styling, improved aerodynamic performance, and the addition of Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technology as standard.
Exterior design changes are a new larger front grille opening for improved engine cooling and the availability of a new, Type R-exclusive Boost Blue.
The 2020 Civic Type R continues to be powered by a race-bred 2.0-litre direct-injected and turbocharged 4-cylinder VTEC engine which develops 306 ps/400 Nm. That’s a big leap from the first generation which used a B16B engine (that boasted one of the highest power outputs per litre of all time for a naturally aspirated engine) with 185 ps/160 Nm.
The power reaches the front wheels through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. As before, drivers can choose between 3 driving modes – Comfort, Sport and +R – that vary suspension firmness, steering and throttle response. The selectable drive modes enhance driving on twisty roads while enabling the driver to optimise performance for the race track.
The Comfort mode makes the car ‘civilized’ for daily driving, something which could not be said about earlier Type R models which were focussed on track use. Also new for 2020 is Active Sound Control, which modifies interior sound in concert with chosen drive mode.
Other changes improve its already stellar driving dynamics, including new 2-piece brake rotors and new brake pads designed to reduce fade and improve high-speed braking efficiency. Suspension revisions for 2020 include updated dampers for better ride comfort, stiffer rear bushings for better grip, and modifications to the front suspension to reduce friction and improve steering feel.
For the 2020 model year, drivers get extra cabin refinement with a new Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and a new shifter with a restyled knob and shorter shift throws.
The global production hub for the Civic Type R is in England but the engine comes from a Honda factory in the USA. The price is not known but deliveries will start only from mid-2020.