Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show a new concept car - the "PM." This a single-seater personal vehicle whose cabin posture changes from upright to reclined as speed increases. Photo by AFP
The Tokyo Motor Show opened showcasing products from more than 260 auto industry companies, with the emphasis on cutting-edge green cars and futuristic vehicles challenging current preconceptions about driving. Around 700 vehicles including motorcycles are on show with 38 cars developed by Japanese automakers getting their world premiere, according the organisers, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). Foreign carmakers are introducing 50 models that have never been seen in Japan before. The PM -- a "wearable" single-seat electric vehicle -- is one of the concept cars stealing the limelight at the Toyota Motor stand at the Makuhari Messe convention centre in the coastal city of Chiba, just east of Tokyo. The PM's pod-like cabin and seat shape are designed to fit the driver "almost like a glove" according to Japan's leading carmaker. The cabin is independent from the suspension system, enabling the vehicle to vary its posture according to speed.