First minor change in Toyota 86

Toyota Motors has partially improved the FR sports car “86” for the first time in April 2012 and sales will start from June 2. 

In the partial improvement this time, the tuning is implemented in the suspension like the review of friction characteristic of the shock absorber, and improvement in the control stability and riding comfort.


Roof antenna of shark fin type is standard

In the internal and external of the car, the design of the instrument panel (GT, GT limited) was changed by implementing the carbon decoration, in addition to the provision of roof antenna of the shark fin type, and was made much like the sporty specification. 

In the body color, the traditional “Satin white pearl” and “Sterling silver metallic” were abolished, and the new colors of “Crystal white pearl” and “Ice silver metallic” was added.

Crystal white pearl

Ice silver metallic

Do you like these changes?

Linear visitor center

The “Linear Chuo Shinkansen” is aimed for opening between Tokyo Shinagawa and Nagoya in the year 2027. What is the linear motor car technology scheduled for introduction? Why does the superconducting linear raise and then advance?

Yamanashi Prefecture has established the "Prefecture linear visitor center" near the “Yamanashi linear experiment line” on April 24. The Yamanashi linear experiment line is the most advanced railroad technology of the world.

The visiting center helps to understand the liner technology
The facilities consists of three stories. The symbol of the train “MLX01-2” that made the maximum speed record of 581 km/hour for the railroad in the year 2003 at the Yamanashi linear experiment line is exhibited in the 1st floor.

The special attraction at the visit center is being able to visit the linear motor car under test run very closely.

The linear motor car traveling at a speed of 500 km/hour can be seen from the view deck on the test run day.

The masterpiece is the view of the linear running. The wind that dashes out from the train gives a glimpse of the foresight.
There is not much fascination in the inside of the exhibition, but seeing the linear that drives the linear train “MLX01-2” is very rare and charming.

Yamanashi prefectural linear visitor center
Opening house: 9:00AM ~ 5:00PM
Time required for seeing: About 1½ hours
Visiting center holiday: Every Monday

Tomioka silk industry, origin of Japanese industry prospect of World Heritage registration.

The “Tomioka silk industry” of Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture has become the prospect of registration as World Heritage.

This is the 18th World Heritage of Japan, and the first government managed silk industry.
The Tomioka silk industry was established in the year 1872 as the first government managed silk industry in Japan.

The main equipment was located on the same district where the raw silk production was popular as part of the plan to increase the production and establish the business of the Meiji era government.

During the golden age a total of 370 tons of raw silk was produced in 1974 but the operation came to an end in 1987. It was designated as the national important cultural property in the year 2006.

 

The main building is excellently preserved almost at the condition during the first establishment. The construction is the fusion of Japanese and Western architectural technique with the piling up of the bricks in the framework of wood, in about 5.5 hectares of site area. 

 

 

 A formal registration in the World Heritage Committee is expected in June this year.

Appearance of big castle tower of national treasure Himeji Castle

The top roof of the big castle tower of the world Heritage and national treasure Himeji Castle (Located in Hyogo Prefecture, Himeji City) enclosure was removed for repair work, and it appeared after an interval of about three and half years. 

The white outer wall is also called as “Shirasagi-jo”, and I saw the new beautiful appearance. 

The construction work “Major repair of Heisei era” started from October 2009, and completed in November 2013. At present, the dismantling work of the enclosure is in progress.

The roof tiles were replaced, the darkened mortar were painted.

The cracked fish tail fin was also made newly.

The entire castle tower can be seen during August. 

The internal of the castle will be opened from March 27 next year.

This is my most favorite castle.  

Joint Engine basic research by 8 car companies

The 8 major Japanese car companies including Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Daihatsu Motor, Fuji Heavy Industries, Mazda, and Mitsubishi Motors have announced that they would jointly embark on the basic and applied research of fuel cost improvement and exhaust gas reduction of the passenger car.

They will tackle the technologies like the exhaust gas purification of the diesel engine vehicle mainly used in Europe and India.
They have established the Research Association of “Automotive Internal Combustion Engines (AICE)” to tackle the European power by tagging the Japanese powers aiming at strengthening the competitive edge.
It is expected that the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology will also participate in the future.
 
In Europe, the basic and applied research and standardization are executed by the cooperation of each automobile companies, parts manufacturers and universities for a many years in the fields such as the vehicle performance development, controls, engine etc.
The activity for the standardization assumed as a weak area and the combination of various development systems are made to counter the Japanese and European influence, and the efficiency improvement and development time reduction are aimed.
The specific topics of research are purification technology of diesel engine, upgrading the combustion technology of engine, and engine performance investigation. About US$10 million (1 billion yen) was allotted for the project expense in the current year.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has allocated US$5 million (500 million yen) for the diesel engine purification technology, and the balance will be shared by the 8 car companies.
 
The research will be carried out in cooperation with the universities and research laboratories, and will develop the combustion technology that will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent compared with ten years by the year 2020.
The thermal efficiency of the engine will be improved from the present 40% to 50%.
It is judged that the gasoline engine and diesel engine will account for about 80 percent of the entire car market even by the year 2020. Each company will the individually put the result to practical use.
 
At present, the European powers are preceding with the downsizing technology that supplements the power performance with turbocharger instead of reducing the engine displacement of both the gasoline and diesel engines.
 
The Japanese are countering by the hybrid technology with the electric motors.