Something between a hotrod and a buggy, this fun concept purposefully exposes much of its inner workings.
Set to be unveiled at the 44th Tokyo motor show at the end of October, the KIKAI’s styling looks a little like a retro-future VW Beetle buggy and seats three with the driver in a central position up front and two passengers behind.
More a fun project than anything destined for the production line, it was created to showcase the fine craftsmanship and beauty that’s normally hidden on most cars. The idea, says Toyota, is to turn the machinery into objects of admiration and create a connection between car and driver that’s more analog than digital.
And anolog it certain is with a navigation system that uses a large physical arrow to give directions and a fuel gauge filled with liquid to mark its level. There are also small windows in the footwells through which the driver can check out the suspension.
Kikai is there Japanese word for either “strange” or “machine.”
