Toyota explores it's Japanese roots

[Bakemono]

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs...30/1148/AUTO01

TOKYO -- Toyota wants to bring Zen to the art of making a car.
The automaker will explore its Japanese roots at the Tokyo Motor Show, which opens later this month.
Toyota General Manager Tetsuya Kaida said his company wanted to show how it differs from its American and European rivals and found inspiration from Japan's ancient arts that emphasize zenlike spirituality.
A single-seat vehicle packed with sensors and a car designed to blend harmoniously with nature are among the futuristic-looking "concept," or experimental, models Toyota Motor Corp. is readying for the biannual exhibition opening to the public Oct. 27.
The show, which draws automakers from around the world, tends to have more whimsical offerings than the more practical products on display at other auto shows.
Kaida said cars are starting to be seen by some as a nuisance, causing pollution, traffic accidents, noise and global warming.
Instead, cars must become gentler and more friendly, offering value to people's minds and sensibilities, he said. To tackle such challenges, Toyota should fall back on its Japanese culture, which emphasizes a subdued aesthetic including harmony with nature, Kaida said.
A toylike green-and-beige model called Rin has a transparent floor, huge windows and doors that slide open like Japanese "shoji" screens so its interior appears to blend with its surroundings for what Toyota called a soothing ride.
The I-Real, another model, is Japanese in another way, boasting the nation's robotics technology. It looks like a roofless plush armchair on wheels, with buttons and controls on the arms. It changes positions, straightening up to move slowly among pedestrians or laying back to travel faster at up to 30 kph (18.6 mph).
Chiharu Tamura, a Toyota manager, said that was an effort at redefining "Japanese cool," exemplified by "manga" animation and street fashion, to appeal to youngsters.

Its nice to see that Toyota hasnt forgotten who it is and where it comes from.

[ECHOKnight2000]

What? Toyota isn't American? That's it I'm selling mine

Kudos for Toyota. Don't be ashamed of who you are.

[Bakemono]

Amen to that. I always kinda laugh when people are like, "I dont care how many Toyletta says they build here, they will always be 'forn."
Toyota has never pretended to be American, they merely point out the number of Americans who they employ to build their vehicles and the contributions they make to American charities.
To me, the fact that Toyota is Japanese is a plus. I greatly admire the Japanese for their work ethic, attention to details and the pride they take in their work.

[ECHOKnight2000]

Its hypocryticle and interesting that people are less incline to call out a European car maker but if its Japanese then that's "foreign" and very bad! But if it is German or what ever its not as "bad" or its not an issue. When people say imports the first thing comes to mind is "ricer" but besides that is Japanese, then maybe some European companies. I think this is the case as most of caucasian Americans are decendents of European countries so obviously there is this connection where's the most don't have anything to do with Japanese well Japanese Americans but I'm talking before they even came to the America. It was the Europeans who settled here.

I digress.

[HomeGrown]

Toyota has never ventured far from it's roots. They had 2 or 3 false starts in the auto industry WAY back in the first days, when they were primarily a sewing machine company. They were very large and prosperous in powered looms and sewing machines. Their start as an automaker was literally in the corner of their large sewing machine factory. Most of the managers frowned upon this rogue activity going on, and thought they were wasting time and resources with such foolishness. During those first years they could have easily thrown in the towel with regards to auto building, but they didn't.

A bit of Toyota history.