Toyota has launched a website called Kodamobi, which will attempt to teach elementary school kids about traffic safety. This has been an ongoing effort of Toyota’s since the 1960s when the automobile first began to appear as a household commodity in Japan. Of course, there’s the obligatory adorable mascot, a claymation polar bear.
[Source: Toyota]
Japanese automakers’ websites offer an obscene level of user interaction and Nissan’s User’s Voice is just the latest example. Here, if there’s a particular model you’re interested in, you can see what actual customers have said about it. For example, filter for “Males in their 30s” and the site spits back what blokes my age feel are important features of the Cube and what colors and options were most popular with that demographic. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to navigate the site.
[Source: Nissan]
Honda debuted a facelifted Airwave yesterday. The JDM wagon was notable for its vast panoramic glass roof that appeared to be one large piece flowing into the windshield. Disappointingly, it wasn’t. The main difference here is that there are now three bars in the grille instead of one.
[Source: Honda]
Road Race Motosports has created the Suzuki SX4t, which bolts a Mitsubishi 16G GT3 turbo good for a 78hp bump over the stock 143hp four. The kicker is that this will be offered at Suzuki dealerships for $5400 plus another $1100 to $1200 for installation. Ouch. Why don’t we have the Swift again?
[Source: Autoblog]
Toyota’s barristers have filed for trademark on the names Lexus IS 250C, IS 300C and IS 350C and the speculation is that “C” is for “Coupe” though why it isn’t “Convertible” we don’t know. Automakers often file for such names and never use them, so let’s not get too excited, even though personally it’s kinda hard for me to get excited about any IS in general that isn’t the previous generation Altezza.
For further proof that Honda robots will soon be either helping humans or farming us for their own self-made Matrix, Honda’s ASIMO will be conducting the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at 8pm on May 13, 2008. Jack Roush was heard saying, “This means war. I ain’t gonna rest till we get an Amurrican-made robot to conduct the DSO.”
[Source: Honda]
Honda has developed a prototype of walking assist machine for the elderly and handicapped, unveiled at the Barrier Free 2008 showcase. It weighs only about 2.8kg and can be adjusted to fit a variety of body sizes. The built-in motors reduce the load the user needs to move with his or her leg muscles, essentially the beginnings of a giant robot you can move with a flick of your pinky toe.
[Source: Honda]
Someone figure out what this snack is called and where I can buy it.
[Source: Jalopnik]
There’s really no stopping it.
[Source: Toyota Motorsports]
The Toyota Rumion (aka Scion xB) will be available in a new special edition starting May 6 called the Aerotourer Sora, which comes slathered in a unique Light Blue Mica Metallic and Super White II two-tone color scheme. The package, available on 1.5G FF and 1.8S AWD configurations, comes with aero goodies like a body kit and roof spoiler. The only transmission option, sadly, is a Toyota’s Super CVT-i. The Rumion Aerotourer Sora will be available through August.
[Source: Toyota]