The 2007 Automotive Engineering Exposition: An Overview of Automakers' Exhibits
Powertrain technologies contributing to improving driving
and environmental performances

  The following is an overview of Automakers' Exhibits at the 2007 Automotive Engineering Exposition held by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan from May 23 to May 25, 2007.

  The exhibits centered on powertrain technology that contributed to improving both driving and environmental performances. As for the newly-developed powertrain, Toyota exhibited its newly-developed 4600cc engine and 8-speed AT installed in the Lexus LS 460 while Nissan came up with the new 3500cc VQ engine and the combination of the modified 1500cc HR15DE engine and XTRONIC CVT, which improved fuel efficiency by over 6%. Fuji Heavy exhibited the newly-developed 6-cylinder 3600cc gasoline engine and the world's first horizontally opposed diesel engine for passenger cars.

  As for fuel-cell vehicles, Honda exhibited a low-profile sedan (a mockup) featuring a V-flow FC platform and Suzuki exhibited its concept of a fuel-cell powered senior car (motor-driven wheelchair).

  Mitsubishi Motors and Fuji Heavy exhibited their electric vehicles currently being developed. Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors each exhibited lithium-ion batteries to be released for volume production in 2009. Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso, commercial vehicle manufacturers, exhibited 2-ton class hybrid vehicles that were released for sale in 2006.

  As for safety equipment and driving stability technologies, Toyota exhibited its Intelligent Headrest that formed part of the rear pre-crash safety system that is made available in the Lexus LS 460, while Mitsubishi Motors exhibited cut models of the rib-bone frame, multi-around monitor and resin-made fenders that were adopted for Delica D:5.

  Other exhibiters included four manufacturers of large commercial vehicles that came up with, among others, ESC and other preventive safety systems and Telematics services eying ultimate fuel saving and driving safety.

■Toyota and Nissan exhibit new engines installed in Lexus LS 460 and the new Skyline sedan, respectively

  Among the newly-developed engines, Toyota exhibited its new 4600cc engine installed in Lexus LS 460 while Nissan came up with the new 3500cc engine installed in the new Skyline model and the combination of the revised 1500cc engine and CVT, made available in Cube and other models in December 2006 and which contributed to over 6% improvement of fuel efficiency as the company claims.

  Mazda exhibited the turbo-charged 2300cc engine featuring a direct injection system, and the non-turbo 2000cc engine made available in Premacy that achieved a low fuel consumption level of 15.0km per liter. Fuji Heavy Industries exhibited the 6-cylinder 3600cc engine being installed in the Tribeca 2008 year model to be released for marketing in North American markets.

Toyota's 4600cc engine in Lexus LS 460

Nissan's modified 1500cc engine+ Xtronic CVT

Mazda's direct-injection 2000cc engine made available in Premacy

■Gasoline engines contributing to the improvement of driving and environmental performances (exhibits from the 2007 Automotive Engineering Exposition)

	Item	Description
Toyota	1 UR-SFE (4600cc) engine	The new 4600cc engine (D-4S type), installed in Lexus LS460 and combining direct injection in the cylinder and injection in the port, features VVT-iE with motor-driven intake valves that evolved from the Dual VVT-i.
Daihatsu	KF-DET engine	Installed in the Sonica minicar released for sale in June 2006. The 2WD type featuring the new CVT marked the highest fuel efficiency of 23.0km/L in 10e15 mode among the turbo-charged engines.
	KF-VE engine	Installed in the Mira minicar released for sale in December 2006. The type combining the new CVT and idle-stop marked the highest fuel efficiency of 27.0km/L among the gasoline-fueled vehicles.
Nissan	New VQ35HR (3500cc) engine	Hydrogen-free DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) and other low-friction technologies mark the ultimate reduction of friction losses. Variable valve timing is available in both intake and exhaust valves (magnetic VTC available in the exhaust camshafts). Installed in the Skyline sedan released for sale in November 2006.
	Modified HR15DE (1500cc) engine + CVT	The modified HR15DE engine + CVT combination made available in Cube and five other models released for sale in December 2006 and all certified under SU-LEV while the 2WD type achieved 20% over and above the fuel efficiency standard for 2010. All vehicles represent over 6% improvement in fuel efficiency over the previous models.
		Main technologies that were adopted include (1) reduction of pumping loss at idling by delaying the intake valve closing; (2) reduction of fuel consumption at standstill by lowering the idling rpm, and (3) reduction of fuel consumption at standstill by configuring the CVT in neutral (N) position even when the gear is in drive (D) position.
Honda	Cylinder-idle V6 engine	Adopted in 3000cc gasoline-fueled engines installed in Elysion and Inspire. During cruising or other conditions with little engine load, the valve drive of the 3 cylinders (in one of the two banks of the V6 engine) are deactivated so that the vehicle continues running with the remaining 3 cylinders.
Mazda	MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo engine	Combination of a direct injection system and a turbo-charger to achieve both high environmental and driving performances. Installed in MAZDASPEED ATENZA, MPV, CX-7, etc.
	MZR 2.0L DISI engine	A direct injection system is adopted to lower the temperature in the combustion chamber by evaporation heat while drawing more air to increase torque. The system also leads to a high compression ratio of 11.2 resulting in 15.0km/L fuel efficiency in 10e15 mode and sharp driving sensation. Available in Premacy.
Fuji Heavy	6-cylinder 3600cc gasoline engine	The 3600cc engine was developed by increasing the bore and stroke of the 3000cc without changing the external dimensions. The Dual AVCS is adopted for variable timing of both the intake and exhaust valves. Installed in 2008MY of Tribeca released for marketing in North American markets.

(Note)

Honda's cylinder-idle V6 engine was exhibited in the "Progress in Automotive Technologies in the Last 10 Years" corner.

■Fuji Heavy exhibits its newly-developed horizontally-opposed diesel engine

  As for diesel engines, Toyota and Honda exhibited their 2200cc diesel engines installed in their European models while Fuji Heavy came up with its newly-developed horizontally opposed diesel engine (to be installed in European models being released in 2008).

Fuji Heavy's newly-developed horizontally opposed diesel engine

■Diesel engines (from the 2007 Automotive Engineering Exposition)

	Item	Description
Toyota	2200cc diesel engine with DPNR	Combines DPNR (Diesel Particulate NOx Reduction System) and the 1800-bar common rail that uses the piezoelectric injectors to achieve high power output and clean exhaust gas emission.
Honda	Autonomously-developed 2200cc diesel engine	Honda's first independently-developed diesel engine (i-CTDi) installed in Accord, etc, for European markets. 2200cc in compliance with Euro 4 standard.
Fuji Heavy	Horizontally opposed turbo-charged diesel engine	The world's first horizontally-opposed diesel engine for passenger cars. Piston displacement is said to be 2000cc. The high rigidity and low vibration, advantages of horizontally-opposed diesel engines, are maximized to conquer problems associated with diesel engines while realizing a compact design. To be installed in cars being released for sale in 2008 in Europe.
Isuzu	4JJ1-TCS type diesel engine	The 3000cc inter-cooled turbo-charged diesel engine installed in the new Elf. The torque per piston displacement is maximized while reducing overall weight and size.

(Note)

Diesel engines by Toyota and Honda are from the "Progress in Automotive Technologies in the Last 10 Years" corner.

■Transmissions: Toyota exhibits 8-speed AT installed in Lexus LS 460

  Among the transmission exhibits, Toyota displayed its world-first 8-speed AT installed in Lexus LS 460 while Daihatsu came up with CVT featuring the newly-developed input-speed reduction type three-shaft gear train system that was made available with Sonica released for marketing in June 2006. Nissan displayed a working model of CVT demonstrating the benefits of CVT that allows continuous acceleration unlike the AT. Isuzu and Mitsubishi Fuso exhibited automated manual transmission installed in their commercial vehicles.

Toyota's 8-speed AT installed in Lexus LS 460

■New transmissions (from the 2007 Automotive Engineering Exposition)

	Item	Description
Toyota	8-speed AT	World-first 8-speed AT installed in Lexus LS 460. The wide-range and cross-ratio setting achieves high acceleration performance and high fuel efficiency without affecting each other.
Daihatsu	(3-shaft gear train) CVT	The input-speed reduction type three-shaft gear train system (as opposed to the conventional four-shaft CVT design) marks 15% improvement in fuel efficiency and 6% higher passing acceleratability at 40-80km/h over Daihatsu's AT vehicles. Made available with Sonica minicar released for marketing in June 2006.
Nissan	Extronic CVT	A working model was exhibited showing the advantages of the continuously accelerating CVT as compared to the conventional AT in which the engine's rpm is reverted for each gear shift.
Suzuki	CVT (supplied by JATCO)	Suzuki exhibited CVT available with Wagon R. CVT was made available with Wagon R FX-S Limited released for sale in September 2006 (and additionally with two other versions in May 2007).
Isuzu	Smoother Ex	Automated manual transmission installed in the new Elf. The driver can choose between completely automatic and sequentially manual transmission.
Mitsubishi Fuso	INOMAT-II	Electronically-controlled mechanical automatic transmission. INOMAT stands for Intelligent & Innovative Mechanical Automatic Transmission. Available with the Eco hybrid and the cargo versions of Super Great large-size vehicles.

(Note)

Toyota's 8-speed AT and Mitsubishi Fuso's INOMAT-II are from the "Progress in Automotive Technologies in the Last 10 Years" corner.

■Environmentally-designed vehicles: Mitsubishi Motors and Fuji Heavy exhibit electric vehicles slated for market release in 2010

  As for fuel-cell vehicles, Honda exhibited an FC sedan (mockup) with a low overall vehicle height resulting from its V flow FC platform while Suzuki came up with an FC-powered "senior car" (motor-driven wheelchair).

  Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso exhibited their 2-ton class hybrids that were released for marketing in 2006 while Mitsubishi Motors and Fuji Heavy each exhibited minicar-based electric vehicles that are scheduled for commercialization by 2010.

Honda's fuel-cell vehicle FCX Concept (mockup) (built on the V flow FC platform)

■Environmentally-designed vehicles (from the 2007 Automotive Engineering Exposition)
■Fuel-cell vehicles and hydrogen engines

	Item	Description
Honda	FCX concept (mockup)	Built on the "V flow FC platform" with the fuel-cell stack located within the central tunnel, resulting in a low-profile, streamlined sedan form that was hard to realize with the conventional FC vehicles. Limited marketing of the new FC vehicles based on this concept is scheduled for 2008 in Japan and US.
Suzuki	Fuel-cell Senior Car MIO	Fuel-cell senior car (motor-driven wheelchair) being developed (Suzuki is also a manufacturer of motor-driven wheelchairs)
Mazda	Renesis hydrogen rotary engine	The driven can choose between hydrogen and gasoline modes. In 2006 spring, Mazda began leasing RX-8 Hydrogen RE powered by this engine.

■Hybrid technologies

	Item	Description
Honda	Civic IMA engine	Cut-model engine of the new Civic Hybrid released for marketing in November 2005. IMA stands for Integrated Motor Assist. Features an additional function that allows driving on the motor alone during low-speed cruising.
Hino	New hybrid system	The new Dutro hybrid released for sale in October 2006. The hybrid unit was redesigned entirely (use of the new permanent magnet type motor that doubles as the generator, etc) to achieve higher output and efficiency.
Mitsubishi Fuso	Canter Eco Hybrid System	A cut-model of the 3000cc diesel engine combined with a motor, generator, and lithium-ion battery. Driven on the motor alone when starting.

■Electric vehicles

	Item	Description
Mitsubishi Motors	Electric vehicle i-MiEV	The concept car of an electric vehicle being developed, based on the "i" minicar, toward commercialization in 2010. The large-capacity lithium-ion battery can be charged in any of the three ways, namely from 100V or 200V household power source or quick-charger (3-phased 200V-50kW).
Fuji Heavy	Electric vehicle R1e	An electric vehicle designed per Tokyo Electric Power Company specifications. Full charge in 5 to 10 hours from household power source; 80% charge in 15 minutes using a quick-charger. Can run 80km after full charge. Uses maintenance-free, long-life (70,000km or 7 years) secondary battery.

(Note)Honda's Civic IMA engine is from the "Progress in Automotive Technologies in the Last 10 Years" corner.

  Among other environmentally-oriented technologies at the trade show were lithium-ion batteries that Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors are to start volume production of in 2009, and lithium-ion batteries being developed by Fuji Heavy. Mazda came up with "smart idling stop" that the company plans to introduce in the domestic market in 2009.

■Other environmentally-oriented technologies

	Item	Description
Nissan	Lithium-ion battery	A compact, high-output and high-capacity lithium-ion battery was exhibited to demonstrate the company's elementary technology for electric vehicles. Volume production, jointly with NEC, is slated for 2009.
Mitsubishi Motors	Lithium-ion battery	Joint volume production with GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation is slated for 2009 for installation in i-MiEV. Has a large capacity, about 10-times that of the battery for hybrid use, boasts the potential of meeting demand for plug-in hybrid use.
Mazda	Smart Idling Stop System	Based on a direct injection system, the smart system restarts the engine by injecting and igniting the fuel without the help of the motor. This increases fuel efficiency while allowing a quiet, quick restart. Scheduled for introduction in the Japanese market in 2009.
Daihatsu	Super Intelligent Catalyst	Daihatsu became the first automaker in the world to succeed in introducing self-regenerative function in the precious catalytic metals (palladium, rhodium and platinum), to suppress the use of precious metals.
	Catalyst Early Activation System	The system detects ionized current within the flame and controls combustion accordingly. Catalyst is activated immediately after the engine start, which leads to substantial reduction of exhaust gas emissions.
Fuji Heavy	Lithium-ion battery	Fuji Heavy succeeded in prototyping batteries with high energy density (200Wh/kg) by using vanadium positive electrode material and other proprietary technologies.
Nissan Diesel	Urea SCR	Installed in Quon large truck in November 2004. An agreement was reached in June 2005 to license the urea SCR technology to Mitsubishi Fuso.

(Note)

Mitsubishi Motors' lithium-ion battery and Nissan Diesel's urea SCR are from the "Progress in Automotive Technologies in the Last 10 Years" corner.

■Safety technologies: Toyota exhibits Intelligent Headrest for rear pre-crash safety

  Toyota exhibited its Pre-crash Intelligent Headrest built into its world-first application of rear pre-crash safety system featured in Lexus LS 460. Daihatsu came up with a cut-body of Mira featuring seven airbags and radar cruise control.

  Honda exhibited its pop-up hood which is a standard feature in its Legend destined to European markets.

  Mitsubishi Motors exhibited a cut model of Delica D:5 released for marketing in January 2007. Delica D:5 has a skeleton-structured rib bone frame that contributes to increasing the body rigidity and durability, and also features a multi-around monitor that eliminated nearly all dead spots, and resin-made fenders that suppresses impact to the pedestrian.

Daihatsu Mira with seven airbags and radar cruise control
(SOFI stands for Safety-Oriented Friendly Interior)

Pop-up hood of Honda's Legend for European markets

■Safety and driving stability technologies (from the 2007 Automotive Engineering Exposition)

	Item	Description
Toyota	VDIM simulator	Experimental demonstration of VDIM, which integrally controls the engine, brake, steering and other components as a single unit, thereby realizing ideal motion performance and high preventive safety at high levels without compromising each other.
	Pre-crash Intelligent Headrest	The Rear Pre-crash Safety System available with Lexus LS 460. When rear-end collision is likely, the driver's Pre-crash Intelligent Headrest is moved to an appropriate position to minimize whiplash damage.
Daihatsu	Mira safety equipment	Mira with seven airbags and radar cruise control released for marketing in December 2006.
Nissan	Four-wheel active steering system (4WAS)	The front-wheel active steering (the relationship between the amount of steering and the tire steering angle is optimally controlled according to the vehicle speed) is combined with the rear active steer (rear wheels steered in the same phase as the front wheels according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle), to realize the just-as-wished steering in low to medium range and a stable, smooth steering in high ranges. Available with the new Skyline sedan released for marketing in November 2006. (The Fuga released for marketing in 2004 featured rear active steer that allowed rear wheel steering both in the same and opposite phases as the front wheels, but the new Skyline only has same-phase steering.)
	Safety Shield	Video presentation of Safety Shield (Nissan's concept that the vehicle is to protect the human).
	Sky Project	A project aimed at reducing head-on collision or traffic congestion by using road-to-vehicle communications. Demonstration tests began in Kanagawa Prefecture in October 2006. The project also includes gathering probe information from vehicles under "Carwings" membership and taxis to provide accurate shortest-route navigation guidance.
Honda	Pop-up hood	When a collision with a pedestrian is detected, the hood is instantly raised by means of a gunpowder type power unit to create hood clearance, thereby preventing the pedestrian from hitting his or her head against the engine or other hard components. Standard feature in Legend for European markets.
	Intelligent night vision	When the far-infrared camera detects a pedestrian in front of the vehicle, the driver is warned by means of audible signal and highlighted message display. Available with Legend.
	HiDS	HiDS, Honda Intelligent Driver Support System, is designed to reduce driver's load or fatigue on expressways by means of LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System) and IHCC (Intelligent Highway Cruise Control).
Mazda	Advanced driver support technology (in pursuit of highest safety)	Total safety integrating the human, the vehicle and road environment, aimed at further reduction of damages from collisions and at reducing the risk of accident itself.
	Driving safety support by means of probe cars (being studied)	Studies are under way at Mazda to develop driving safety support systems by means of probe car information. "Oops! Map" provision system, designed to gather probe information, identity risky spots and tell the drivers accordingly, is currently being developed in joint efforts with the Internet ITS Consortium.
Mitsubishi Motors (used in Delica D:5)	Rib bone frame	The skeleton structure rib bone frame, consisting of a circular configuration of the pillars, roof bow and floor cross members at four points (A, B, C pillars, and tailgate opening), increases body rigidity and durability.
	Multi-around monitor system	World-first use of a multi-view screen displays an assortment of images of the vehicle's front (or rear) and left side, from cameras located at the vehicle's front (with the front low view), rear and on the left-side door mirror, to nearly eliminate dead spots as in intersections with poor visibility.
	Resin-made fenders	Front fenders, made of flexible, self-restoring resin, are hardly scratched while minimizing collision impact in the event of a pedestrian being hit by the vehicle. The resin fenders represent 4kg reduction from the metallic counterparts.
Suzuki	Select View Back Eye Camera	The car navigation monitor shows the vehicle's rear view as taken by a system camera during backing and other parking operations in tight spots. (1) The horizontally or vertically "swollen" pictures are corrected, and (2) the driver can select a bird's eye view seen from directly above for easier coordination. Suzuki's genuine component.
Fuji Heavy	SI Radar Cruise Control	Video presentation of the SI-Cruise Control that helps the driver keep regular distance from another vehicle in front in roughly 0 ~ 100km/h range. Made available with Legacy released in November 2006.
	Next-generation stereo camera	Introduction of the new stereo camera being developed jointly with Hitachi, capable of instantly showing not only the cars running in front or lanes but also the positions and sizes of people, bicycles, etc.

(Note)

Nissan's four-wheel active steering system and Honda's pop-up hood, Night Vision and HiDS are from the "Progress in Automotive Technologies in the Last 10 Years" corner.

■Preventive safety technologies and Telematics services exhibited by four large-truck manufacturers

  The four manufacturers of large commercial vehicles exhibited ESC, pre-crash safety and other preventive technologies, and Telematics service for large commercial vehicles aimed at higher transporting efficiency, fuel efficiency and driving safety.

■Toyota introduces the new "G-BOOK mX"service

  Toyota had a panel introducing G-BOOK mX, a new Telematics service that started in May 2007.

■New services available on Toyota's G-BOOK mX (from the 2007 Automotive Engineering Exposition)

Item	Description
Map on demand (map updating service)	The world-first service allows the navigation map information to be updated from the network. The new data are sent manually to a cellular phone after some simple steps or automatically to the dedicated communication terminal (DCM). Data about new expressways or toll roads are available after 7 days or so.
Probe Communication Traffic Information	In addition to the conventional VICS information, the system guides the driver through the optimum congestion-free route based on data gathered real time from G-BOOK mX users' vehicles. The system's expanded coverage can offer highly accurate prediction of congestions.
Wireless audio with Bluetooth	The applicable navigation system has a built-in Bluetooth AV connectivity function. Once a cellular phone or portable audio unit is connected to Bluetooth, the driver can enjoy favorite music, free of noise or distortion and wireless, from the car audio system.

(Note)

Toyota's new G-BOOK mX services are from the "Progress in Automotive Technologies in the Last 10 Years" corner.

Copyright(C) 2007 MarkLines Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.