JAPAN: Japanese automobile fanatics tweak their cars to produce a range of hi-tech vehicles

Record ID: 465673

  • Title: JAPAN: Japanese automobile fanatics tweak their cars to produce a range of hi-tech vehicles
  • Date: 15th January 2008
  • Summary: (L!WE) MAKUHARI, JAPAN (JANUARY 11, 2008) (REUTERS) TWO RED CUSTOM CARS COMPETING IN DRIFT RACE AUDIENCE CUSTOM CARS RUNNING IN LINE MAN WAVING RACING FLAG CARS DRIFTING "TOKYO AUTO SALON 2008" BILLBOARD AUTO SHOW THREE FEMALE ATTENDANTS IN FRONT OF A CUSTOM CAR MAN FILMING VIDEO ATTENDANTS SUPER AUDIO VISUAL CUSTOM VAN WITH 77 TELEVISION SCREENS INSTALLED INSIDE VISITORS LOOKING AUDIO VISUAL CUSTOM CARS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DAISUKE NAKAJIMA, DESIGNER OF HIGH-TECH AUDIO VISUAL CARS, SAYING: "I wanted to create something unprecedented so that people would be surprised, excited and find it cool." SLOT MACHINE CAR WITH POWERED DOORS OPENING AUTOMATICALLY FISH AND WATER TANKS INSTALLED IN SLOT MACHINE CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MASASHI SUGIMURA, OWNER OF SLOT MACHINE-AQUARIUM ENTERTAINMENT CAR, SAYING: "I'm hoping that my car will make everybody smile or laugh no matter if they like cars or not." VISITORS AT CUSTOM AUTO SHOW AUTO SHOW
  • Embargoed: 30th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Industry,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA48NU4OQH10BTGY81XD7TPOAZ3
  • Story Text: Japan's automobile enthusiasts showed off their drifting techniques as well as their latest hotrods at one of the world's largest custom car shows over the weekend.
    At Tokyo Auto Salon 2008, which started on Friday (January 11) in Makuhari, east of Tokyo, major Japanese automobile manufacturers competed to promote the hottest, revved-up vehicles.
    Among the more than 500 custom cars on display at the event, one that stole the limelight was a fleet of "super audio visual" cars which have as many as 77 state-of-the-art flat panel television screens - both big and small - installed inside.
    Concerned the battery could die soon? Well, manufacturers say not to worry as each of the cars has three batteries.

    "I wanted to create something unprecedented so that people would be surprised, excited and find it cool," said Daisuke Nakajima of Super Autobacs, designers of the super audio visual custom cars.
    Another wacky vehicle was a mobile casino and entertainment car with a slot machine installed on one side of the car and a fish tank with live fish embedded on the other side.
    Its owner, a 29-year-old old electric engineer, says he has spent more than 30 million yen, or $270,000 U.S. dollars, remodeling his Nissan President by adding all the gadgets and water tanks as well as Toyota Celsior's front grille.

    "I'm hoping that my car will make everybody smile or laugh no matter if they like cars or not," said the owner, Masashi Sugimura.
    When this annual custom show was first held in 1983, car customisation had been considered an illegal activity in Japan.
    The organiser of the convention said the show has sought to correct the social misconceptions by supporting the establishment of a custom car culture.
    Industry sources say that the diversification in people's values resulted in increasing the market, with people seeking out that special, unique, one-of-a-kind vehicle that perfectly satisfies their demands.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register