TOYOTA
KIKAI CONCEPT
As
the products of human creativity, dedication, and knowledge, machines should be
objects of admiration. The concept was designed to explore and emphasize the
fundamental appeal of machines: their fine craftsmanship, their beauty,
simplicity, and their fascinating motion. As a true concept car, the Toyota
Kikai's appeal is simultaneously free from and reliant on the core concepts of
automobiles.
This
concept takes the machinery, normally hidden beneath the vehicle body, and
makes an open display of its beauty. Directly expressed in this way, the
vehicle's inner workings become part of the exterior. In addition to the
carefully designed form, continued into details including the fuel tank,
reserve tank, and exhaust pipes, the analog-style meters and switches offer an
engaging dialog with the machinery.
The
small window at the driver's feet is another distinctive aspect of this car's
structure, communicating the movements of the tires and suspension and the rush
of speed along the road surface. Through the windshield, the movements of the
upper control arm are also visible. This provides a novel driving sensation in
which the machinery that supports the operations of cruising, turning, and
stopping in ordinary everyday driving can be directly perceived with the
senses.
The
adoption of a central driver seat, which places the driver at the heart of the
car, gives a more instinctive sensory connection with the vehicle. The optimal
spacing between the three passenger seats achieved by their triangular layout
creates a congenial in-cabin communication space. The expansive side window
that reaches up to the roof delivers full enjoyment in urban and natural
landscapes alike.
While
most vehicles conceal their inner workings beneath smooth sheet metal, this
concept encourages us to appreciate the complex beauty of the mechanical
aspects of cars. More broadly, it reminds us of the appeal of the physical and
tactile in a digital age.
