OPENERS CAR Selection 2013: Satoshi Watanabe
2013's Top 5 Cars for OPENERS Readers
OPENERS CAR Selection 2013: Toshifumi Watanabe Edition
Automotive journalist Toshifumi Watanabe selects five cars from 2013 that caught his eye. Following last year's feature, six journalists who have written for OPENERS CAR have chosen their five cars to watch from 2013 and offered their overall assessment of the year in cars.
Text by WATANABE Toshifumi
Demand for Advanced Safety Features Surged
Looking back at this year's market, in addition to the prevailing trend towards fuel efficiency, there was a growing demand for advanced safety equipment.──This seems to be an additional requirement for popular cars. A symbolic development was Daihatsu and Suzuki, the two top players in the kei car segment, offering collision mitigation braking systems for around ¥50,000. Furthermore, new C-segment cars, which led the booming import car market, came standard with these features. Not offering them on a new model means missing a significant business opportunity. This is the current state of the Japanese market.
In other words, there is no other country where automatic braking systems are so widely adopted. From a technological development perspective, it is a positive sign that this trend will lead to the practical implementation of autonomous driving technology.
For example, the Volkswagen Golf, a major topic this year, introduced an active lane-keeping system that, along with optional adaptive cruise control, keeps the vehicle within its lane. While not standard on all trims, no other manufacturer has introduced such advanced safety features in this class. I imagine that the Japanese market, with its significantly higher receptiveness than other countries, is of great interest to Volkswagen for observing various reactions.
Additionally, Volvo reportedly chose Shibuya's Scramble Crossing as a test site to develop the control algorithms for its pedestrian collision mitigation braking, used in models like the V40. Japan is a unique location globally in terms of population density in urban areas, average traffic speeds, and road infrastructure conditions. Therefore, it is essential to establish a foundational mindset for moral development and legal frameworks, which are the biggest challenges in promoting autonomous driving technology.
This type of technological development is expected to accelerate further in 2014, alongside the upcoming consumer EV launches from German manufacturers Volkswagen and BMW. The distance to the future will feel much closer. For Japanese manufacturers, improving dynamic quality, where they have lagged behind imports in recent years, may become a key theme. Early signs of this are already apparent in models from Mazda and Honda, and Subaru will debut a station wagon that boasts driving performance to meet the expectations of the Japanese market. This will likely put pressure on Toyota and Nissan to keep pace.
Toshifumi Watanabe's Top 5 Recommended Cars of 2013 for OPENERS Readers
Porsche Cayman
Porsche Cayman (2.7L, 6MT)
I was certainly impressed by the superb overall performance of this year's "Golf 7." However, I was equally compelled to bow my head in admiration for the Cayman's exceptional execution.
The key improvement is the refined ride quality resulting from enhanced body rigidity balance. Designed from the outset with this in mind, it offers superior rigidity to the 911 while providing exquisite suppleness, from everyday driving to full-throttle sports performance.
Including its environmental performance and practicality, it can be definitively declared the benchmark for all sports cars in the multi-million yen class.
Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Edition 507
Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Edition 507
The general public has already been introduced to the new "C-Class," and judging by its appearance, it is expected to represent a significant evolution.
However, I personally believe that the current C-Class, with its compact body packed with Mercedes-Benz's signature ride feel, is a rare masterpiece. In other words, it's often said that it's best to buy imported cars in their final, most refined iteration.──If that's the case, you can't go wrong with any current C-Class model. The "C 63 AMG," in particular, with its luxurious 6.2-liter V8 engine developed and manufactured by AMG, possesses a unique charm that makes one wonder if cars of this nature will ever be produced again.
Chevrolet Corvette Z51
Chevrolet Corvette Z51
OHV V8 engine, frame structure chassis, transverse leaf spring suspension──The C7 "Corvette" faithfully inherits the basic structure that has defined the Corvette for over 50 years. However, every detail has been refined with the latest technology.
This isn't merely about reviving old traditions; GM's engineers genuinely believe this is the best approach. The spirit of confronting Porsche and Ferrari without compromising its own style is commendable. Incidentally, the C7 has achieved a level of refinement and ride comfort that allows it to compete directly with the latest sports cars.
LEXUS IS F Dynamic Sport Tuning
LEXUS IS F Dynamic Sport Tuning
Japanese cars lack dynamic feel. Even Lexus falls far short of Benz and BMW.──However, Lexus has recently been producing more cars with dynamic qualities that challenge such preconceptions. This was evident in last year's "GS," and it continues with this year's "IS."
And regarding the IS, the "IS F," a sports grade that shoehorns a 5-liter V8 into the chassis of the now-previous generation model, is expected to cease production soon. This special edition, released at the very end, is a testament to the development team's dedication, delivering a driving experience that could rival even the "C 63 AMG" mentioned earlier.
Mazda Axela 1.5S
Mazda Axela 1.5S
Mazda continues to overturn the impression of Japanese cars lacking driving dynamics with its "Skyactiv Technology," and the Axela stands out as the definitive model in its lineup.
This compact car corresponds to the C-segment, a segment dominated by European manufacturers, often referred to as the Golf class. While ride comfort is subjective, the sheer joy of cornering with precise control rivals that of its European counterparts. Furthermore, the well-balanced 1.5-liter grade is priced at just over 1.7 million yen. For those who cherish driving, it's an impeccable finish that makes one feel fortunate to be born in Japan.