For a third of a century, many of Japan’s major vehicle makers have invited me over to the Land of the Rising Yen, or let me gatecrash their HQs, style as well as engineering centres, test tracks, personnel canteens, worryingly hi-tech toilet facilities – locations like that.
Among the much more unforgettable firms to hold me were Tokyo (and world) No.1 Toyota, plus neighbouring, underrated, misinterpreted Mitsubishi. likewise special was Mazda of Hiroshima, which was – as well as still is – classy, as well as punching above its weight. Deliciously different Daihatsu in incredibly goofy Osaka was bonkers, however with a lovely, seldom seen major side as well as a huge prospective that, sadly, it never realised.
Honda e vs small Electric
Most outstanding of the lot? Honda. Based in Tokyo, however building as well as having its own, world-renowned circuits (Suzuka as well as twin sound Motegi) not far away, this is much more – much, much much more – than a simple maker of motorised mobility machines.
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I’ve always admired Honda’s standalone, somewhat off-the-wall attitude. Here’s a business that required me to have a conversation with its Asimo robot that had eerily squeaky shoes, which still haunt me; required me to clap my hands to activate an autonomous prototype that drove to my feet before enabling me to climb aboard; required me to strap myself into one more self-driving vehicle travelling on a test track that was intentionally littered with potentially lethal challenges it was expected to – as well as did – swerve around at fantastic speed. Scared? just a lot.