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Future wheels at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show (pictures)

From car-motorcycle hybrids to far-out tractors, the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show experiments with all sorts of new vehicle architectures.

Tim Hornyak
Crave freelancer Tim Hornyak is the author of "Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots." He has been writing about Japanese culture and technology for a decade. E-mail Tim.
Tim Hornyak
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Toyota FV2

The usual suspects of concept vehicles are on display at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show this week, where environmentally friendly, fun driving are prominent themes.

Toyota debuted a number of vehicles including the 9-foot-long FV2, a Light Cycle-style one-seater with a hatch that closes over the driver.

Designed to be like a futuristic horse that has a physical and emotional connection to the driver, the FV2 doesn't have a steering wheel. Instead, it responds to the driver's movements such as forward and back or left and right, while also assessing his or her mood.

Meanwhile, the exterior is covered with touch-panel displays that can be changed at will. Inside, an augmented-reality windshield provides information such as navigation data and safety warnings.

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Toyota FCV Concept

Toyota took the wraps off its Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) Concept, a hydrogen-powered four-seater with a range of at least 310 miles and a refueling time of three minutes.

When fully fueled, the FCV can provide enough electricity to meet the needs of an average home in Japan, according to Toyota, which plans to launch the car in 2015.

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Toyota i-Road

Toyota also showed another three-wheel vehicle, the i-Road. Somewhat of a cross between a car and a motorcycle, the 7.7-foot-long two-seater has an active lean system that changes the height of the front wheels to ensure stability on turns.

The i-Road is slated to be tested in Japan and France next year, according to Toyota.

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Honda S660

Honda debuted its S660 Concept roadster, a compact charmer with a three-cylinder, 660-cc engine that recalls Honda's earlier small sports cars. It's expected to be mass-produced for the Japanese market in 2015.
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Kawasaki J electric motorcycle

Another jaw-dropping concept at the Tokyo Motor Show this year is this unreal electric motorcycle concept from Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

The J is a three-wheeler with one wheel in the back and two in front. The latter split apart in "comfort mode" when the driver sits in an upright position, but come together for "sport mode." The J is powered by a Gigacell high-capacity nickel-metal hydride battery.

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Mini Cooper S

Mini showed its refreshed Mini Cooper hatchback in Tokyo, with the S model giving drivers a 2-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 192 horsepower. The car is also on display at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show this week.
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Lexus NXB bicycle

Lexus' crushworthy NXB concept bicycle and the LF-NX crossover in the background make a gorgeous pair. The "Neo Xtreme Bike" has a carbon frame, tubeless tires, and a SRAM XX1 drive train.

Presented at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, the LF-NX is a luxury compact SUV with a 2.0-liter turbo engine and looks that seem designed to instill fear in people.

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Ken Okuyama Kode 9

Tokyo-based Ken Okuyama Design exhibited the Kode 9, a sporty two-seater that evokes vintage racing cars. It has engine options from 1.6 to 2.4 liters, right- or left-hand drive, and a plush red interior.
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Y-Concept YT01 Advanced Tractor

Also from Ken Okuyama Design, this 3,600-pound tractor is one of the slickest farming vehicles we've seen in a while. About 10 feet long, the YT01 Advanced Tractor was created for Japanese diesel engine maker Yanmar.
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Durax D-Face

Motor shows are never without quirky concepts, including this odd electric two-seater concept called D-Face. Conceived by a Japanese group called Durax, the D-Face is 7.8 feet long and features a tablet computer on the steering wheel.

It has a front-entry system via a hatch that is supposed to open automatically but needed a little assistance during a demonstration. Access isn't exactly easy for people with long legs, but at least the hatch can keep you dry before unfurling an umbrella in the rain.

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Suzuki Hustler Coupe

The new Suzuki Hustler Coupe has a 658cc, three-cylinder engine and is emblazoned with the words "Green Feel" to appeal to younger drivers.

Indeed, Suzuki describes its roof as "reminiscent of a cool young person wearing a baseball cap with the peak rotated around to the back." Does that make you want to drive it?

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Nissan BladeGlider

Nissan's super-sleek BladeGlider concept electric vehicle is inspired by swept-wing aircraft design. It can seat three people, two behind the driver, and is supposed to provide a sensation of "gliding" over the road. Nissan calls the BladeGlider a "prototype of an upcoming production vehicle."

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