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"Japanese automakers have a long history of making cute and playful concepts, but this year it&amp;#039;s all business as they take the wraps of show cars destined for a showroom near you. Honda is seeking to rekindle the magic of the original CR-X with the CR-Z 2-seat hatchback, while Nissan explores the upper reaches of the luxury-sedan segment with the Intima. Lexus lifts the veil somewhat on its next-generation RX crossover with the LF-Xh hybrid concept, while Mazda continues to explore its futuristic &amp;quot;flow&amp;quot; design philosophy with the Taiki show car. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi shows us that urban electrics can be sporty too with its i MiEV concept.  Honda CR-Z Concept Fans of the CR-X 2-seater, rejoice. Honda has heard your pleas for a 21st century version of this sporty econocar and has developed the CR-Z concept, the spiritual if not eventual heir to the CR-X legacy. Not only would the CR-Z appeal to those fans, but also, its hybrid powerplant will certainly appeal to buyers of that other Honda 2-seater, the Insight. The concept&amp;#039;s initials stand for Compact Renaissance Zero, which announces a rebirth in compact-car design mated with leading-edge hybrid technology. The CR-Z has a bold single-frame grille, and a sculpted body that owes more to Italian than Japanese design. The glass roof carries down through the hatch, a design cue from the last-generation CR-X. The interior design is &amp;quot;high-tech and sporty,&amp;quot; according to Honda. The seats use a simple mesh material on simple frames to provide a light and airy feel to the cabin. The instrument panel is encased in a large glass piece illuminated by indirect lighting. Although Honda is not being specific on the hybrid drive, insiders expect the CR-Z will be a front-engine, front-drive layout. Power will come from a 4-cylinder gasoline engine with Honda&amp;#039;s integrated hybrid drive that uses supercapacitors for an electric boost on acceleration. Lexus LF-Xh Concept Hinting at what a future RX crossover may look like, Lexus showed the LF-Xh concept, offering few specifics on the package, other than to say that it would be powered by a V-6 gas-electric hybrid system. The concept rides on a 112.2-in. wheelbase and measures 189.0 in. overall. Width is 74.6 in. Eschewing conservative design, the LF-Xh is much bolder than the current RX, with slab sides, sharp character lines and the division&amp;#039;s new signature grille and notched C-pillar. Thin slits housing three projector-beam headlamps flank the grille and curve into the front fenders. Critics say the proportions and look are similar to those of the current Ford Edge or Lincoln MKX. The concept, which stands 65.0 in. tall, has a high beltline and low greenhouse like the LF-S concept that preceded the current LS sedan. Expect the roofline to grow somewhat in production trim. Inside, the LF-Xh has a center console that extends upward into the instrument panel and is driver-oriented. Instead of conventional controls, the concept has flush touch-panel switches, while the steering wheel is attached to the bottom of the main instrument binnacle, which projects from the dash. Mazda Taiki Concept The fourth concept exploring Mazda&amp;#039;s &amp;quot;flow&amp;quot; design philosophy uses the Japanese word for atmosphere, taiki, as its name. This stretched coupe features multiple design elements, starting with louvers extending from the grille that sweep into side strakes to visually express the flow of air. Large front wheels have a turbine spoke design, further playing to this wind-driven design. The 2-seater&amp;#039;s glass canopy has a fast rake and is pushed rearward and flows into a teardrop fastback shape. The rear wheels are attached outrigger style and are enclosed by additional bodywork, which gives the appearance of rear spats. This design is said to help reduce aerodynamic drag. Designers used Japanese koinobori \u2014 decorative &amp;quot;climbing carp streamers&amp;quot; or kites \u2014 as their inspiration for the air-tube shapes used in the vehicle&amp;#039;s cockpit. The dash, seats and door trim, like the Taiki&amp;#039;s exterior, create the sensation of flowing wind. Beneath this futuristic body is a front-engine, rear-drive chassis powered by Mazda&amp;#039;s Renesis rotary engine, which indicates that the Taiki is laying groundwork for a rumored RX-7 successor. Nissan Intima Concept The press release title for this handsome 4-door concept says it all: &amp;quot;A New-generation Saloon for People with a Sophisticated, Discerning Eye for Beauty \u2014 Who Enjoy Spending Time in Refined Elegance and Comfort, Whether Traveling Alone or with a Partner.&amp;quot; Whew. And then the release itself offers scant details on the mechanical platform for this sedan, which may or may not be a new flagship for the division. Nonetheless, the overall look is quite stunning. The hood sits on top of the fenders, sort of a reverse approach to the BMW 7 Series. A crisp character line with strong shoulders carries through the sides, swooping downward at the rear of the car. The front screen extends past the area where you&amp;#039;d normally find the windshield header to form a glass roof. Inside, the car is clad in supple leather, and metal accents abound, adding to the upscale aura. Intelligent four-zone air conditioning automatically adjusts to the selected temperature in the cabin&amp;#039;s four quadrants. The front seats rotate 80 degrees to provide easy access to the B-pillarless cabin, while the rear suicide door opens nearly 180 degrees. Nissan says the Intima is powered by a V-6 clean diesel. Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Concept Mitsubishi&amp;#039;s cool-looking &amp;quot;i&amp;quot; family of electric city cars gets a fast and fun addition in the form of the i MiEV Sport concept. Looking like a modern, fastback version of BMW&amp;#039;s Isetta bubble car, but with conventional doors, the i MiEV Sport uses a rear-midship design in its layout. This long-wheelbase design uses this configuration to mount the lithium ion battery pack in the middle of the vehicle beneath the floor, which contributes to an extremely low center of gravity. Like the other cars in the i series, the i MiEV Sport is driven by two hub-mounted motors in the front and a single rear-mounted motor powering the rear wheels. An electronic all-wheel-drive system distributes torque among the four wheels to provide optimum traction, stability control and regenerative braking. In addition to the battery pack, the i MiEV is equipped with roof-mounted photovoltaic cells to provide auxiliary power to the car&amp;#039;s accessories. The i MiEV features an aluminum space frame covered by plastic body panels painted light green as a way of advertising its eco-friendly credentials. Inside, the interior features blue LED lighting and extensive use of Green Plastic, Mitsubishi&amp;#039;s unique plant-based resin technology. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/tokyo-auto-show/news/a13594/5-fierce-concepts/>