Automotive

Famed Japanese designer presents three new cars ... and a tractor

Famed Japanese designer presents three new cars ... and a tractor
Ken Okuyama's new vehicles on display at the Tokyo Motor Show
Ken Okuyama's new vehicles on display at the Tokyo Motor Show
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Ken Okuyama's new vehicles on display at the Tokyo Motor Show
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Ken Okuyama's new vehicles on display at the Tokyo Motor Show
Ken Okuyama's new vehicles on display at the Tokyo Motor Show
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Ken Okuyama's new vehicles on display at the Tokyo Motor Show
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept cockpit
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The kode 9 concept cockpit
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The Yanmar Y Concept YT01 Advanced Tractor
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The Yanmar Y Concept YT01 Advanced Tractor
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman
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The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Exclusive
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The kode 7 Exclusive
The kode 7 Exclusive
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The kode 7 Exclusive
The kode 7 Exclusive
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The kode 7 Exclusive
The kode 7 Exclusive
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The kode 7 Exclusive
The kode 7 Exclusive
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The kode 7 Exclusive
The kode 7 Exclusive
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The kode 7 Exclusive
The kode 7 Exclusive
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The kode 7 Exclusive
The kode 7 Exclusive - design sketch
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The kode 7 Exclusive - design sketch
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept
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The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 is powered by a Japan-sourced 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with an HKS supercharger, that puts out 370 hp
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The kode 9 is powered by a Japan-sourced 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with an HKS supercharger, that puts out 370 hp
The kode 9 concept's cockpit
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The kode 9 concept's cockpit
The kode 9 concept, with designer Ken Okuyama
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The kode 9 concept, with designer Ken Okuyama
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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The kode 9 concept - design sketch
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View gallery - 56 images

While you might not know who Ken Kiyoyuki Okuyama is, you've no doubt seen his creations. The Japanese auto designer has worked with Pininfarina and General Motors, overseeing the design of cars such as the Ferrari Enzo and P4/5, the Honda NSX, and the C5 Corvette. He was also employed at Porsche, where he helped design the 996 and Boxster. At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, he's showing four vehicles that he created as part of his own Ken Okuyama Design brand. Three of them are intended for the road and/or track, while the other is made for the field.

The kode 9 concept

Looking sort of like it belongs in the Speed Racer TV series (especially with that rear dorsal fin), the kode 9 is a street-legal racer that was inspired by race cars from the 1963 to 1973 era. Its body features a hydro-formed aluminum chassis, along with custom carbon fiber, 3D-printed and CNC-cut components. All of the components in its adjustable suspension are also unique to the car.

The kode 9 concept
The kode 9 concept

It's powered by a Japan-sourced 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with an HKS supercharger, that puts out 370 hp. The car's total weight is a lithe 890 kg (1,962 lb).

The kode 7 Clubman

This open-top racer is a simplified version of Ken Okuyama Design's existing k.07, which has actually been manufactured and sold in limited numbers since 2008. In order to make it faster and lighter, changes introduced in this model include a movable front cowl, retractable headlights and less driver comforts in the cockpit. Additionally, a reported 50 percent of its parts are 3D-printed.

The kode 7 Clubman
The kode 7 Clubman

Power is provided by a 250 hp 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, although no performance stats are available. If you want one, it'll cost you 8.5 million yen (US$83,900).

The kode 7 Exclusive

This one is the regular k.07, with some new features and a new name. The aluminum and carbon fiber-bodied car is hand-built to the specs of each buyer. It's claimed to deliver "motorcycle-like handling and performance," thanks to its 230 hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine.Again, there's no word on exactly what it's capable of doing, other than making a 25 million yen ($246,880) dent in your bank account. It can be seen in action in the video below.

KEN OKUYAMA DESIGN kode7

Yanmar Y Concept YT01 Advanced Tractor

Yes, and then there's this thing. It was designed in collaboration with the Yanmar tractor company, and reportedly features "superb all-around visibility" in a comfortable, safe cockpit. Driver comfort may ultimately not matter, however, as its GPS satnav system is intended to allow it to eventually operate autonomously – and it wouldn't be the first tractor to do so.

The Yanmar Y Concept YT01 Advanced Tractor
The Yanmar Y Concept YT01 Advanced Tractor

Source: Ken Okuyama Design

View gallery - 56 images
1 comment
1 comment
rik.warren
Love the Exclusive Clubman. I only it were priced @ one tenth of the posted cost it would be a hit. Understanding the "Exclusive" moniker is the key, it seems mass producible. Seems like the market which considers motorcycles would have no problem embracing the open cockpit.