Japanese boxes on wheels.

[randomness]

I find I have a strange weakness for the Japanese "box on wheels" car concept. For example, I actually like the way a Honda Element looks.

One morning back in April, as I was walking from my hotel to the Minowabashi terminus of Tokyo's last streetcar line, the Toden Arakawa Line, I saw one of these stopped at a traffic light:



I stared at the thing for so long that the driver gave me an "and what is your problem?" look back, but I really wanted to know what kind of car it was.

It was a Nissan Cube.

Car and Driver included it in its August 2003 article Ten Japanese Cars You Can't Have. Since the article came out, there's been some talk that the Cube may be available in North America in 2007.



"In Japan, it's a very big deal. Here's why: It's terrific."

"At speed, the Cube is flat, stable, and confident, with steering that is heavy but accurate. The car is rattle-free, as solid as a Maxima. Body motions are nicely checked, and the ride is firm without being harsh. Despite its apparent boxiness—we say "apparent" because the 0.34 Cd isn't bad for a device so angular—the Cube generates far less wind noise than the smaller March Nismo, which rides on the same platform. Under most circumstances, the four-speed automatic shifts to perfection, but it begins to hunt above 65 mph. We'd love to have tried the optional CVT.

"The Cube's twin-cam, 1.4-liter engine is willing, smooth, sporty. At 100 mph on one of Tokyo's ring roads—where the limit is half that, incidentally, mercilessly enforced by speed cameras—it still wasn't screaming. Americans, though, would likely demand 2.0 liters, and it would be a valid request."

"Here's something else that's cool. The Cube is a front-driver, but with the optional e-4WD system, when wheelspin is detected, the rears are temporarily turned by an electric motor that derives its juice from the alternator. The e-4WD is only active below 30 mph—just enough to pull you out of a snow drift. All for not much more than $13,850.

"The foreign journalists selected the Cube as the car they most wanted at home. I'd have voted for it for this reason alone: One official Cube color is called Beans.

"Yankee Desirability Rating: 10.0"



2007 is a longish time to wait, given that my Corolla has 245k on the clock, so I may have to settle for a Scion xB instead.

bloodstones and I saw one near City Hall in Manhattan recently. It's based on the Toyota bB.

Comments

[ceo]

I've yet to figure out why the Japanese manufacturers seem to conflate "appealing to the youth market" with "pig-butt ugly". The Scion xB looks like a mid-80s Maxima that got rear-ended by an old Volvo station wagon, then crushed lengthwise. At least it's better than the Honda Element, which looks like the mutant bastard spawn of a Hummer and a Pontiac Aztec.

The Cube actually manages to not be completely hideous, even if it looks like an old refrigerator. (Oh... I see, it was meant to look like one. Well then.) 0.34 Cd? That used to be in "holy grail" territory; it says something about how the science of aerodynamics has advanced that they managed that with something that's basically shaped like a brick.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yah, I think you're onto something here. I mean, I like them, but the designs are very polarizing: people either seem to hate the things or really want them.

My suspicion is that the Japanese think the youth market wants something that looks "different". This may be more true of the Japanese market than the American one, however.

[klingonlandlady.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I like that type too for the cargo space. How do they do on gas mileage?

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Good question.

http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/vehicleReport.cfm/vehicle_nmb/11194/section/economy says:

Fuel Economy (city / hwy):
4 Speed Electronically Controlled Automatic Transmission 30 / 34
5 Speed Manual OD Transmission 31 / 35

Zipcar has a Scion!

[mud-puppy.livejournal.com]

Matt & I rented it a little while ago. it's weird! but good. If you like we could rent it for an hour sometime and drive it around to see if you like it. Of course that'll actually cost money, whereas you can just go to a dealer and they'll give you a test drive for free :)

Re: Zipcar has a Scion!

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Of course that'll actually cost money, whereas you can just go to a dealer and they'll give you a test drive for free

Much better, however, to drive a car wherever you want without a dealer rep in the car.

Does Zipcar let non-members drive their car, or would I need to join first?

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's cute, but that could be the Volvo 240 wagon drive in me talking. (I hated boxy cars until I acquired the wagon. Now I hate them and love them at the same time. It's very confusing.)

How the hell did they get away with driving it that fast in Japan?!?

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

How the hell did they get away with driving it that fast in Japan?!?

Damn good question.

[dr-memory.livejournal.com]

Kawaii!

Seriously, that thing would make a great urban assault vehicle. Especially in NYC. I hope they give importing it a try.

(Are you living in Manhattan now?)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

(Are you living in Manhattan now?)

Alas, no. But I do get down to the city occasionally.

[elthar.livejournal.com]

It's all yours, man. I find those things hideous.

[whitebird.livejournal.com]

In the Fall 2004 issue of SportZ magazine that I just received, one of the Nissan Notes is that Carl Ghosen, president of Nissan says that the Cube (likely in only the stretched 3 seat row version) should be available in America in 2006. (Technically, he said it and the GT-R would be sold globally. But there's no global market without America.)