Once again, the Japanese have placed themselves right there at the forefront of cutting-edge technology – style included. Check out Nissan’s newest breakthrough concept, Pivo 2.

Here’s what I gathered from the recent interview with their designer and technical development engineer:

1. Fuel cell vehicle (Read: Eco-friendly!)
2. Rotating three-seater cabin: Achieved through electric “by-wire” technology, downsizing mechanical parts and completely eliminating others.
3. Frontal door: No more conventional engines remember?
4. In-Wheel Motor: Conventional axle and steering mechanisms eliminated, allowing the Metamo system to move the tires in any angle. (Read: No more embarrassing parking situations!)
5. Robotic Agent: Interactive interface that monitors and accumulates driver’s information and responds like a little boy would, promoting bonding between driver and the car. (Wow!)

Imagine the view on the road when you travel to work in the future, with fresh air might I add. Baby blue, pink, yellow, round electric cars bobbing along on the road! Oh, I’m really pretty tickled at my own imagination. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not being sarcastic at all.

More cute Pivo imageries below.

Honda is well known for its cars and motorcycles. What is less known is its research in robotics technology, as seen in the Honda ASIMO robot. Since the company is capable of making ASIMO walk “reliably” on its own, why not extend the technology to help humans in walking?

And thus, Honda’s new Walking Assist Device is born. Available in three sizes, the device is worn around the hips and thighs to assist walking for the elderly and other people with weakened leg muscles. Unfortunately, it is designed to assist only people who can already walk on their own.

It uses brushless DC motors powered by lithium ion batteries, allowing up to two hours of walking assistance per battery charge.

Honda will be showcasing the device at the International Trade Fair on Barrier Free Equipments & Rehabilitation for the Elderly & the Disabled (BARRIER FREE 2008), which will be held at Intex Osaka, April 25-27, 2008.

Official Press Release

Honda to Showcase Experimental Walking Assist Device at BARRIER FREE 2008

Honda is planning to offer interested attendees an opportunity to wear and experience this walking assist device at the Honda booth at BARRIER FREE 2008.
(*) This device is designed for people who are still capable of walking on their own.

Imagine if you’re one of the swanky 150 owners of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition.

Well, even if you have $480,000 to spare and an extreme need for speed, it seems like you’ll have to satisfy it another way. Apparently, each and every one of it has already been spoken for.

I’ll leave you to the mind-boggling details about the 300 over enhancements made to this limited edition baby, but from the brief outlook, it’s definitely faster and lighter. With a new leather trim in the cockpit, an Alcantara steering wheel, sexy red stitching and loads of carbon fibre, it’s definitely a car with looks that can kill.

Now, imagine a femme fatale behind that wheel and I’m sure the guys will go soft in their knees!

• Base Price: $480,000 (est)
• Vehicle Layout: Front engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
• Engine: 5.4L/641-hp/605 lb-ft supercharged SOHC 24-valve V8
• Transmission: 5-speed automatic
• Curb Weight: 3700 lb (mfr)
• Wheelbase: 106.3 in (2.7 m)
• Length x Width x Height: 183.3 x 75.1 x 49.3 in (4.7 x 1.9 x 1.3 m)
• 0-60 MPH: 3.6 sec (mfr)
• EPA City/HWY Econ: 12/17 mpg (est)

Enough of those lousy sticky grip pads. They just aren’t good enough to hold your gadgets when you perform those dangerous turns (to impress your girl friends of course).

The Koosh-like design by Renault is what they call the “Grass Mat”. It’s integrated into the dashboards of their new vehicles and is able to securely hold your iPods and cellphones. Simple yet effective. Everyone auto manufacturers should have a hint from Renault.

Driving your BMW out for camping? Hmm. Well, BMW must know their own drivers well right?

The tent attaches to the rear of BMW 1-series. It inflates by itself with a low-voltage fan hooked up to the car’s cigarette lighter, and accomodates two person. And it comes with a spiffy BMW logo on the side to round things up!

Set to be revealed at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show next week, the Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports is the sporty alternative to the winning Toyota Prius. Other than looking amazingly-cool, Toyota claims that it can achieve 0-60 in just four seconds.

400 horsepower
3.5-liter V6 engine
4-seater
Retractable hard roof (covers backseats, rendering the car a 2-seater)
170.3 inches from tip to tail, wheelbase of 104.3 inches, 73.2 inches wide, and 50.8 inches high

The sharp edged style apparent in both the interior and the exterior are what Toyota calls “Solo Space.” Look forward to photos of the real deal when it gets revealed at Detroit Auto Show.

More picture at Jalopnik.

If Toyota Prius can self-park, so can LEGO. It’s not perfect yet though, as it still knocks around the barriers a little.

It’s a kind of robot-car done with LEGO mindstorms NXT elements that can automatically park itself if it detects enough space between 2 objects. It has got an ultrasonic sensor that detects the length of free spaces. Then, when it detects enough space, it makes the necessary movments to park. And when you say “GO!” it returns to the road.

It’s amazing what the LEGO enthusiasts are capable of coming up with.

I hope this video is simple enough for you to understand the meaning of Nissan Pathfinder’s “Front Independent Suspension” system.

Please excuse me while I wipe the blood trickling off my nose.

In case you haven’t heard of drifting:

Drifting refers either to a driving technique, or to a sport based on the technique; this article deals primarily with the sport. When the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, and the front wheels are pointed in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right), and the driver is controlling this, the car is drifting.

And this guy drifting in the video has to be the drifting king! Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift? Initial D? Ha! They aren’t even close.

What do you get when you mix a team of Hungarian engineers, an old Russian tank with its gun turrets removed, two turbines from a MiG-21 fighter jet and lots and lots of water?

You get the ultimate fire extinguisher powered by fighter jet turbines!

The vehicle will prove extremely useful in putting out oil-fires that would otherwise take days to extinguish. Above is the video of it in action.