TRANSPORTATION : Mitsubishi Shows Off a Few Handy Ideas in 2 New Models

Japan’s Mitsubishi Motor Co. has been providing its Cypress-based U.S. import and sales arm with some hot-looking and technologically advanced cars to market across the country.

Like Mazda, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America sees its sales successes in North America with buyers who like a little visual and mechanical excitement in their cars.

At the recent Tokyo Auto Show, Mitsubishi showed off a few innovations that offer a preview of things to come.

Among them:

* The HSR-III car, which has no foot pedals. All controlling is done with hand instruments that do not “strain the driver’s nervous resources unduly,” the company says. The design also gives the driver extra legroom. HSR stands for Human Science Research. In addition, there are sensors on the car’s steering that monitor the driver’s alertness, turning up the air conditioner or blinking warning lights to jolt a drowsy driver.

* A car for women, the mS.1000, which is billed as a vehicle with a compact body and a “friendly interior brimming with casually pleasing touches.” One of those touches is the pair of rear seats turned slightly so that occupants can face each other. The arrangement, Mitsubishi says, is to “make conversation easier.”