The Suzuki Jimny with a retro Jeep Cherokee XJ-style makeover was showcased at the Nagoya Auto Festival 2023. The Jimny, a small off-road vehicle, was customized by Marvelou to resemble the 1990s Jeep Cherokee. The concept behind the Jimny XJ-style was “off-road and retro.” The exterior features a square headlight kit, front and rear bumpers, and wide fenders. Marvelou also sells used cars and related products.
Toyota’s concept car “Fine-Comfort Ride” was unveiled at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and sparked rumors of being the next generation Estima. The model proposed a combination of electric and hydrogen technology in a mini-van body type with a “new form of premium saloon” theme. With a length of 4830mm, width of 1950mm, and height of 1650mm, the silhouette led to speculation of it being the next Estima. The long wheelbase of 3450mm allowed for a spacious interior that could accommodate six passengers. The exterior design featured a diamond-shaped cabin that widened from the front to the center and narrowed towards the rear.
Toyota’s Thai subsidiary has announced that it is conducting performance tests of carbon-neutral vehicles, including a Thai version of the JPN TAXI, a taxi exclusive to Japan, jointly with Isuzu, Suzuki, Daihatsu, and Hino. The JPN TAXI was developed as the next-generation taxi following the discontinuation of the Crown Sedan/Crown Comfort/Comfort series in 2017. The new taxi is based on the platform of Toyota’s compact minivan, the Sienta, and has a significantly higher roof, spacious interior, and improved accessibility. The body measures 4400mm in length, 1695mm in width, and 1750mm in height.
Suzuki’s XL7, a 3-row SUV, has won the Car of the Year award in Thailand. It is a long-wheelbase version of the second-generation Escudo and an overseas version of the Grand Escudo previously sold in Japan. The current model was reintroduced in 2020 and is comparable in size to the Toyota Corolla Cross. It has a tough and powerful design with a skid plate-like front bumper and a spacious and refined interior with versatile seating arrangements. The powertrain includes a 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder K15B engine that produces 105 horsepower and 138 Nm of torque, with a choice of 5-speed MT or 4-speed AT transmission in Indonesia.
Toyota’s Proace, a van larger than the Hiace and popular in Europe, won various awards at the Fleet News Awards. The Proace City, a smaller version of the Proace designed for the European market, has a high body shape with sliding doors and is equivalent to the Townace van in Japan. The Proace lineup includes both short and long versions with diesel engines and an electric version called the Proace Electric. The Proace City is supplied through an OEM partnership with Peugeot and Citroen, and the passenger wagon version is sold in Japan as the Peugeot Lifter and Citroen Berlingo. The Proace is a light van equivalent to the Hiace in Japan, with multiple body types and engine options including a BEV version called the Proace Electric. It is also produced in partnership with Peugeot and Citroen.
Suzuki has released a two-seater Jimny truck in Fukushima, Japan. The Jimny has a ladder frame, FR layout, part-time 4WD with a low-range transfer gear, and a 3-link rigid axle suspension. The current model was released in 2018 and has since been sold in various countries. The exterior design emphasizes functionality, while the interior has improved cargo space and usability. The Jimny comes with a 660cc turbo engine, while the Jimny Sierra has a 1.5-liter engine and both come with 4-speed AT or 5-speed MT. A 5-door version of the Jimny is set to be released overseas in the future.
DAMD has released a custom kit for the Suzuki Spacia Gear, a popular model in the super high wagon category of kei cars. The kit adds a retro-style front face and enhances the car’s fashionable image. The super high wagon category is currently the most popular among kei cars due to its high efficiency packaging and practicality. Other car makers are also introducing SUV-inspired models in this category. Suzuki was the first to pioneer this new genre with the release of the Spacia Gear in 2018. The car has since gained popularity among outdoor enthusiasts, and various custom parts have been released for it, including DAMD’s Spacia Gear NOMAD kit.
Toyota unveiled the “Alphard Hercules Concept” at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2015, which was based on the popular Alphard model. The event has since been renamed the “Japan Mobility Show,” with a focus on showcasing various forms of mobility beyond just cars. Despite the emphasis on new mobility, users are still drawn to exciting concepts and designs, such as the Alphard’s open-top cruiser version. The Alphard model has undergone several updates since its third generation release in 2015, including a major interior and exterior refresh in 2017.
Toyota’s luxury minivan, the Alphard, is a long-selling model that combines a strong design, luxurious interior, and spacious seating for many passengers. Users are calling for improvements in the current model, which has been on the market for eight years. The Alphard debuted in 2002 and was known for its low floor and high interior height due to its adoption of front-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive. The current model, released in 2015, has improved its luxury and safety features, including pre-crash brakes and a panoramic view monitor. It has consistently ranked high in registration numbers for regular cars and was fourth in 2021 with 95,049 units registered.
The Nissan Skyline is often seen as a sports sedan, but it was originally designed to appeal to a wider range of users and keep up with the latest trends. While it has a strong association with high-performance driving, its history reveals that it was not always strictly a sports sedan. As Toyota’s Crown undergoes changes to stay relevant, Nissan must consider how to keep the Skyline alive. The Skyline has been around for over 65 years and has remained true to its sedan roots, although it has also included hatchbacks and wagons in its lineup.
The article emphasizes that Nissan’s “Skyline” was developed as a “slightly sporty family car”. The author owns the most basic model, the “1800G” from 1985, and was able to fulfill their father’s dream at the time because the price was reasonable. The article explains that the Skyline had enhanced its image as a “sporty car that is fun to drive” by incorporating the latest cutting-edge technology.
Nissan’s “Skyline” is a long-established brand that has always adopted cutting-edge technology and equipment. The current model, V37, is also equipped with the latest driving support system “ProPilot 2.0” and is positioned as a symbol of “Nissan’s technology”. However, there are rumors of development being discontinued in 2021, and its future is in an uncertain state.
