Eduardo Pontaoe
6 Nov 2007

 

 

Wait. Let him be. Let Al Mendoza stuff himself first. Let him savor the hospitality his host showered on him before you ask about the Tokyo Motor Show.

The show runs until the 11th of November, and it features 500 vehicles on display dominated by the most innovative concepts of the Japanese with the odd looking fuel efficient hybrids to accelerate buyer’s interest.

With car sales at home going to the dogs, the Japanese car makers let fantasy run wild to indulge the wary car buyer.

Does Al Mendoza have the technical know-how to elucidate how these contraptions work like the Nissan Pivo 2 or the much vaunted GT-R . . . Suzuki’s SSC Pixy. . . Mazda’s Taiki . . . Yamaha’s Bobby . . . Toyota’s Prius or the i-Real? It remains to be seen.

But with his mind clogged-up by outrageous amount of food and Kirin he’d taken, his eyes glued to golf balls in flight, his attention occupied by his benefactors; there’s only one way we can terminate . . . his trip is insultingly – a waste of time.

Will these hybrids entice buyers’ interest especially the young? Unlikely.

Hybrids have drawbacks. It’s bulky which includes the battery, motor and engine and not known for speed, handling and acceleration. And the hustle of charging the battery everytime.

Christopher Richter – analyst with the Calyon Capital Markets Asia in Tokyo said, “The decline in personal incomes, particularly the young, has had a negative impact on the vehicle market”.

Al Mendoza should know that Tokyo is notoriously unfriendly to car owners. Parking fees, sky-high taxes drives the urban dwellers to commuter trains and the gap between the rich and poor widening hurt car sales.

He should know, too, Lamborghini sells like hamburgers in Japan not hybrids. The name of the game.