New Technologies on New Models: New Equipment Featured by New Passenger Car Models Released to Japanese Domestic Market in 2006
Toyota boasts high technologies on safety/driving assists, Nissan appeals 4-wheel active steering and Honda features VSA/DBW.

  The following is a summary of new technologies and equipment adopted on new passenger car models launched to domestic market by Japanese carmakers in 2006. The new passenger cars counted 31 models composed of newly introduced models and fully changed models (including OEM models). Toyota and Daihatsu brought 16 models out of them. And 11 models were mini-cars.

  Toyota introduced a number of high level safety and driving assist technologies with the LS460, the flagship of the Lexus brand. And also it equipped the Corolla Axio of Toyota brand with many advanced technologies.

  Nissan adopted the 4-wheel active steering control and the intelligent cruise control with a tracking function at a low speed on the new Skyline. Honda equipped all glades of the new CR-V with VSA and DBW (Drive by wire) which improve driving stability as standard.

  The adoption of cutting edge technologies is prevailing even within mini-cars. Daihatsu installed the Move Custom with pre-crash safety and the lane deviation warning function. Suzuki provided the Cervo with the keyless start system as standard and the Bluetooth compatible hands-free system as standard for some grades.

  As for the power train, the technologies which combined driving performance with environmental performance were adopted. The LS460 was installed with the Dual VVT-i engine and the world's first eight-speed AT. The Skyline of Nissan was provided with the new FR exclusive V6 engine which adopted the electromagnetic VTC on the exhaust valves. Honda provided the engine for the Stream with the variable intake air volume control system.

■Toyota: The Lexus GS450h and LS460 came up with various cutting-edge technologies.

  Toyota introduced the GS450h of Lexus brand which was the world's first FR passenger car base hybrid vehicle in March 2006 and the LS460 which was the flagship of the Lexus brand in September.

  The GS450h was installed with a V6 3500cc gasoline engine, but attracted market attention with the power performance of the hybrid system which was comparable to a 4500cc vehicle and the fuel economy of 2000cc class vehicle (14.2km/L on Japanese 10-15 mode test).

  The LS460 was provided with a newly developed V8 4600cc Dual VVT-i gasoline engine (the intake-valve timing mechanism exploited the world's first electric motor driven type) and the world's first eight-speed AT, thus combining excellent starting and acceleration performance with low fuel consumption and quiet operation.

  The LS460 was installed with a number of safety features, driving assist and comfort equipment (for riding comfort) including many of the world's firsts. The optional pre-crash safety system was provided with new functions like 1) a driver monitor (also installed on the GS450h), 2) greatly improved pedestrian detection ability by a fusion of the new millimeter-wave radar and newly developed stereo camera technologies, 3) an addition of the assist function during driver's accident avoidance steering operation and 4) the world's first rear end pre-crash safety system.

  The LS460 was also provided as optional with driving assist systems like the radar cruise control which enabled the tracking run at all speeds and the intelligent parking assist (with ultra-sonic sensor) which eliminated the necessity of position correction.

■The Corolla Axio of Toyota brand was also provided with various advanced technologies

  Toyota expanded the safety and drive assist equipment on Toyota brand new models.

  The Estima Hybrid released in June 2006 was equipped with the VDIM as standard, the Estima released in January adopts the S-VSC as optional and another six models launched in 2006 were equipped with the VSC.

  The Corolla Axio released in October 2006 was equipped with the back guide monitor as standard for all grades, and such advanced and beyond the compact class (according to Toyota's materials) technologies as the intelligent parking assist, pre-crash safety system, radar cruise control were adopted.

  The Corolla Axio/Fielder and Auris released in October were installed with newly developed Dual VVT-i 1800cc 2ZR-FE engines and the Axio with CVT and 2WD configuration performed the low fuel consumption of 17.2km/L.

■Daihatsu: The Move was provided the mini-car's first pre-crash system and the lane deviation warning function.

  Daihatsu released six new models in 2006 including the Altis which was a sister version of the Toyota Camry.

  The new Move Custom released in October 2006 adopted the mini-car's first (according to Daihatsu's material) pre-crash safety system and the lane deviation warning function as optional. The Move Custom, the Sonica released in June and the Mira launched in December were provided with the radar cruise control as optional.

  Moreover, the new CVT which exploited the world's first input-speed reduction type three-shaft gear train mechanism was introduced by the Sonica in all grades and some grades of the Move and Mira followed.

  The new Mira X Limited with "SMART DRIVE Package" released in December 2006 attained fuel consumption of 27.0km/L, the best of gasoline-engine vehicles, on Japanese 10-15 mode test with the combination of the KF-VE engine, the new CVT, and Daihatsu Idle Stop Package.

■Nissan: The new Skyline was equipped with the four wheel active steering and the new FR exclusive V6 engine.

  Nissan released the new Skyline sedan in November 2006 (the new Skyline coupe is planned to be launched in the autumn of 2007). The world's first four-wheel active steering (4WAS) which combines the rear wheels steering (4WS) with front active steering was equipped as optional. Additionally VDC was adopted as standard and the intelligent cruise control with tracking function at low speed, pre-crash safety system, etc. were provided as optional.

  The newly developed FR exclusive VQ35HR/VQ25HR engine introduced the electro-magnetic VTC on exhaust side valve lifters with new technology and thoroughly reduced friction including the coating on piston rings.

■Honda: The new CR-V adopts VSA/DBW as standard and the new Stream performs low fuel consumption of 14.8km/L.

  Honda equipped the Stream released in July 2006 and the CR-V released in October with the VSA (Vehicle stability assist), IHCC (Intelligent Highway Cruise Control) which reduce the workload of a driver by controlling the speed/distance, collision mitigating brake + E-Pretensioner, etc.

  The new CR-V was installed with VSA and DBW (Drive by wire) as standard for all grades to improve driving stability.

  The 1800cc/2000cc engine of the Stream adopts the variable intake air volume control system and the both X grade and G grade (former is with 1800cc engine and 5-speed AT and latter is with 2000cc engine and CVT) attained the low fuel consumption of 14.8km/L.

■Mazda/Mitsubishi/Suzuki/Fuji Heavy Industries: New equipment in the new passenger cars launched to domestic market in 2006

  Mazda adopted the new MPV released in February 2006 and the CX-7 launched in December with the pre-crash safety system and radar cruise control, and equipped discharge headlamps as standard.

  Mitsubishi adopted the mid-ship layout on the i mini-car introduced in January 2006, and the Active Stability & Traction Control on the new Pajero launched in Octorber.

  Suzuki provided the Cervo released in November 2006 with the keyless-start system as standard and the Bluetooth compatible hands-free system as standard for some grades.

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