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736: Suzuki Swift Sport Suzuki’s bargain hatch proves big fun can come in small packages 732: Dualis & X-Trail Nissan introduces a new SUV while its marquee model continues to play tough 728: Toyota Vanguard Head off to the concrete jungle with a bit more vehicle than you need 724: Subaru Impreza S-GT Japan’s automotive loudmouth learns some manners 720: Tokyo Auto Salon 2008 Get ready for some modification mayhem at Makuhari Messe 716: Dodge These! Chrysler introduces three muscle-bound imports to Japan 712: Licensed to Drive We guide you through the bureaucratic jungle 708: Tokyo Concours D’Elegance Exotic autos from the past and present glide into Roppongi 704: Car Knows Best Automakers are introducing technology that will let your ride decide if you’ve had one too many 700: Range Rover & Land Rover We put three SUVs from the fabled British maker through their paces 696: Aston Martin V8 Vantage Channel 007 in this latest incarnation of the marquee automaker’s “baby” 692: BMW R1200GS Adventure The storied bike maker competes with itself to create a three-in-one masterpiece 688: Lexus LS460 The new sedan is big, fast, safe, classy—and unremarkable 684: Alfa Romeo Spider We unleash the Italian monster on a 1,200km road trip 680: Ford Mustang The American classic goes back to its roots 676: Citroën C6 The French automaker's latest eccentricity pushes its own boundaries 672: Nissan’s Pino and Otti Japan-friendly K-cars pack a big punch 668: Jaguar XK Forget James Bond—this is the UK’s sexiest export 664: Mazda’s Axela, RX-8 and Roadster Here’s the word on Japan’s resurgent automaker: buy, buy, buy! 660: Mazda’s Axela, RX-8 and Roadster Here’s the word on Japan’s resurgent automaker: buy, buy, buy! 656: Alfa Romeo Brera This gorgeous Italian coupe is both poised and sexy 652: Premium wheels Business is good for Rolls-Royce in Japan, with an eagerly awaited convertible due out next year 648: Citroen C3 Pluriel The quirky French automaker barrels into the 21st century 644: Jeep Commander& Grand Cherokee Off road and on, these 4×4s do their military heritage proud 640: BMW Z4 M Roadster Beemer’s monster convertible provides the most fun you can have sitting down 636: Name dropping What your car is called says something about you—and even more about automakers’ marketing departments 632: BMW Mini Cooper S All hail the mighty Mini! 628: Mazda Roadster Redesigned and retooled, this two-seater is now a car for enthusiasts 624: Hyundai Sonata A rev-happy South Korean import tries to find its niche in Japan 621: Lexus IS350 Toyota brings its upmarket brand to Japan—finally 616: Volvo XC90 V8 A bit sleeker and a lot more spacious, this SUV still puts a premium on safety 612: Chrysler 300C This black beauty recalls the golden age of motoring 608: The Big Ideas Tokyo Motor Show 2005 was a concept car bonanza 604: Tokyo Motor Show 2005 The automotive world’s big players zoom into Japan with some high concepts in tow 597: Three brothers We put a trio of Nissan sedans through their paces 593: Ducati 1000S DS Multistrada The boys from Bologna deliver an Italian masterpiece for your garage 589: Mazda Demio Sport A worthy cousin to the Atenza and RX8, this roomy sedan is happy around town and in the country 585: BMW K1200S The boys from bavaria clothe an iron fist in a velvet glove 581: Chrysler’s Cruisers The American auto manufacturer concentrates on the body beautiful 577: Suzuki Skywave 650LX If you thought scooters were just for kids, think again 573: Cadillac STS 4x4 America’s flagship automaker recaptures its former glory 569: Tour de Force Yamaha’s FJR1300A offers an unbeatable blend of poise, power and price 565: Alfa Romeo GT and 156 GTA With stunning looks and power to spare, these two Alfas are an enthusiast's dream 560: Driving the Future The talk of the auto industry in 2004 was hybrids, safe driving and intelligent vehicles 556: Deja vu Blast to the past on Harley-Davidson’s Road King Custom 552: Sports sensation Nissan's new SUV breaks out of its class 548: Lean machine Lighter, faster, stronger and sexier—a diet works wonders for BMW’s R1200GS 544: Kings for a day The Honda Elysion is master of all it surveys 539: Rules of the road New traffic laws are on the horizon. Turn off your cellphone, watch where you park and don’t ride in gangs, Chris Betros warns. 537: Open roadster William Bonds gets up-close with the elements courtesy of the Nissan Fairlady 350Z convertible. 535: Extreme makeover Volvo sheds its stodgy-but-safe image for sleek-and-sporty with the new S40 T5. William Bonds likes what he sees. 533: Sporting chance Mazda has brought the station wagon up to speed with its Atenza Sport Wagon 23Z. William Bonds takes one for a spin. 531: Street smarts Automakers are taking car safety to new levels with sophisticated warning systems that almost do the driving for you, reports Chris Betros. 529: Speed zone Just down the road from Ueno Zoo, a virtual hog heaven has everything for the motorcycling enthusiast. Steve Trautlein cruises on over. 527: Italian Stallion The Alfa Romeo 147 carries on its maker’s reputation for hot cars with unmatched sex appeal. William Bonds gets carried away. 525: Hot wheels A cross between a snowboard and a scooter, the Wheelman is a quirky Australian invention that's grabbing attention worldwide. Tim Colquhoun takes one for a ride. 523: Mean Machine William Bonds gets behind the wheel of the Nissan Skyline 350GT. 521: Show stealers Toyota stunned attendees at the recent Geneva and Melbourne auto shows with two concept cars that represent a powerful vision for the future of motoring. Tim Colquhoun reports. 519: Mighty mouse Subaru goes boldly against the tide with its new R2 minicar. Justin Gardiner admires this latest feat of audacity and engineering. 517: Trail blazer Nissan's top-selling 4x4 features cool touches for winter sports fans. Justin Gardiner drove the latest X-Trail to the slopes 515: Up to speed The Formula One circus is gaining momentum as the season opener in Australia draws near. Tim Colquhoun takes a look at the latest developments. 513: Good save Hybrid cars are the rage this year with Toyota, Honda and Subaru touting their gas-electric vehicles. Chris Betros looks at what they're offering. 512: The road ahead Despite the lack of a full-fledged Tokyo Motor Show in 2004, domestic manufacturers have a bevy of weird and wonderful offerings in store for this year. Justin Gardiner previews the lineup. 509/10: Top of the class Justin Gardiner finds his favorites from this year's Metropolis test drives. 507: Mom-mobiles Japanese mothers are trading in their once ubiquitous mama-chari bicycles for a new breed of K-car. Justin Gardiner tries a couple of the most popular mini-cars. 505: Cubic's rube Nissan has lengthened its highly successful Cube a few centimeters and added an extra row of seats. But, as Justin Gardiner finds out, the result is a bit puzzling. 503: Globe trotters Kerstin Gackle and Volker Aldinger left their native Germany on April 1 and pointed their Yamahas toward Australia. Eight months later Justin Gardiner caught up with the couple in Tokyo. 501: Back to the future Cutting-edge technology and futuristic vehicles highlight the 37th Tokyo Motor Show at Makuhari Messe through November 5. Justin Gardiner offers a guide. ISSUES 499- ISSUES 449- ISSUES 399- ISSUES 349- ISSUES 299-

Show stealers

Toyota stunned attendees at the recent Geneva and Melbourne auto shows with two concept cars that represent a powerful vision for the future of motoring. Tim Colquhoun reports.

Alessandro Volta's hybrid engine delivers sports car-worthy power

March is a significant month for the motoring industry as it emerges from winter hibernation, and it was Toyota that burst forth with its proverbial guns blazing. At the Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland, held March 4-14 this year, Toyota captured the attention of the international press with the stunning Alessandro Volta supercar. Boasting 300kW of power and acceleration from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.03 seconds, the Volta is very much in the league of Ferrari or Lamborghini sports cars.

But it's what lies beneath the gorgeous sheet-metal that really stunned onlookers. Toyota used the hybrid petrol/electric system from the RX400, giving the Volta performance with an ecological edge. Who said hybrids can't be sexy?
"We have entered a new era," said designer Fabrizio Guigiaro. "We have created a hybrid that has nothing to do with the typical electric power vehicle [that] so often flaunts rather unappealing characteristics."

The Alessandro Volta, named in honor of the Italian physicist and discoverer of the voltaic pile, has a conventional 3.3-liter V6 engine, but its motion is provided by two electrically powered engines-one for each axle. The shell is made from weight-saving carbon fiber, which ensures that weight is kept to 1,250kg, even with 70kg of batteries on board.

Toyota also showed the Motor Triathlon Race Car (MTRC), another quirky concept that would not look out of place alongside the Personal Mobility (PM) it showed at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The futuristic MTRC was designed by Toyota's European design studio ED2 to race on three types of road surface: high-speed race tracks, tight city circuits and off-road, all without a drop of gas. It's powered instead by hydrogen fuel cells. Toyota said that the two-seater race car would feature in the racing simulation, Gran Turismo 4.

Nu metal
The Geneva motor show, now in its 74th year, is traditionally the forum in which car makers exhibit their design credentials and flair. And there was plenty of other new metal on show. Mazda revealed the MX-Flexa-its fifth concept car in six months. Created at the Mazda Design Studio in Hiroshima, the MX-Flexa is a space wagon that was designed to look "dynamic even when standing still."

Volvo's YCC (Your Concept Car) was designed by women for women

Chief designer Koji Tabata said the goal was to expand its "emotional designs" while making a car that's fun and safe to drive. "It's simple; we want people to look at the MX-Flexa and think, 'Zoom-zoom, yes, that's a Mazda'."

Mitsubishi, meanwhile, had a relatively subdued stand, choosing to show the European version of the Colt, which has been on sale here since November 2002. Due in European showrooms in May, the "Euro" Colt was developed in partnership with DaimlerChrysler, and will be built in The Netherlands.

One of the more unusual concepts at Geneva came from Volvo with the YCC (Your Concept Car), a vehicle designed by women, for women. It features initiatives designed to improve accessibility and functionality. The paint repels dirt to reduce cleaning time and the hood is fixed in place. The designers felt there would be no need for owners to look underneath; the car can check itself in at the most convenient workshop when it needs servicing. An auto-park function also steers the car when parallel parking.

For its part, Peugeot focused on its model lineup with the new 407 taking pride of place. Alongside it were the derivative 407 SW, which had its public and media debut at the show, and the 407 Silhouette, a concept car designed to highlight the sporting credentials of the 407. Peugeot's World Rally Championship entry, the 307 WRC, was also on show.

BMW showcased its performance credentials with the M5 concept, a precursor to the next generation E60 M5, the fourth incarnation of BMW's luxury super sedan. With a V10 5.0-liter engine that produces 368kW of power and 500Nm of torque, the M5 concept is said to launch from 0-100km/h in less than 5 seconds. It also has the world's first seven-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox.

Cool coupe
Taking the limelight from the more traditional Australian industry heavyweights, Ford and Holden (a subsidiary of US car maker General Motors), Toyota stole the show at the 70th Melbourne International Motor Show. The February 27-March 8 motoring expo featured the unveiling of the Sportivo Coupe, a revolutionary concept that went from drawing to reality in less than 30 weeks.

The revolutionary Sportivo Coupe automatically displays the current speed limit

The Sportivo's numerous innovative technologies included an adaptive electronic speedometer that automatically displays the relevant speed limit in the cabin at all times by receiving signals from speed signs. It also adjusts the limit so it's always in the 12 o'clock position for easy reference.

Metal license plates were also replaced with a system that displays the driver's license details, enabling law enforcement and other government agencies to identify the person responsible for the vehicle-an interesting touch considering teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 participated in the development process. The Sportivo Coupe was also completely designed and built in-house by Toyota Style Australia, one of a number of Toyota design studios located around the world.

Like most concept cars, the Sportivo, MX-Flexa and Alessandro Volta are not likely to become production models-their intention is to challenge designers into thinking outside the box, creating vehicles that aren't compromised or limited by cost-effectiveness and mass marketability. They also grab column and page space, providing a valuable means for car companies to promote their brand and project their desired image.

But car makers also use motor shows to gauge public reaction to ideas and styling cues that, if successful, will be incorporated into future models. So who knows; if enough people want one, you may see a Toyota Volta on the streets of Tokyo someday.

Tim Colquhoun is a motoring writer for the Sydney Morning Herald

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