The Tokyo motor show always offers up a range of interesting concepts, but it's also home to its share of the more intriguing inventions of the automotive world.
From pod-like runabouts that are due to be mass produced in the next six months through to wacky eight-wheeled sports limos, the Japanese sure have a way of creating cars that make you look - and in some cases, look away.
For example, what do you get when a pharmaceutical and electro-optronics company gets together with a robot maker? These cute little Kobots.
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Toyota Auto Body Coms concept cars
The P-Com and B-Com are electric commuter vehicles produced by Toyota's aftermarket accessories company. Top speed is 60km/h, range is 50km, recharges in five hours. Due to launch in mid-2012.Once the driver reaches the destination, they can use their smart phone as a remote control to collapse them into a more manageable size.
The Kobots are also designed to talk to each other and can use satellite navigation to pick up car-sharing partners.
They're designed to be picked up and left in parking stations on the perimeter of a future CBD that doesn't allow cars.
The commuter drives their own car to the perimeter of the city and then picks up a Kobot for the rest of the journey.
The Japanese start-up company's sales blurb says: "Our concept vehicles come from the urban-planning initiatives being undertaken in European cities including London and Paris. These enviro-friendly programs shut out regular car traffic from city centres and tourist areas by providing parking lots in the peripheries.
Small electric mobility vehicles are all the rage with Japanese car makers at the moment, but the dawn of the EV is also encouraging other companies with battery and electronics expertise to try their hand at city runabouts.
Car makers are also working on city-friendly mobility vehcies. Toyota offshoot Toyota Auto Body is looking to launch two mobility vehicles in the middle of next year.
The P-Com and B-Com are electric single-seat commuters with a top speed of 60km/h, a range of 50km, and a recharging time of 5 hours. You can add a delivery box on to the back of them for courier applications.
