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Toyota Envisions “Wall-E” As A Car

Typically concept cars must retain some link to reality—a subtle hint at a future design language; an innovative powertrain or technology; maybe a preview of an upcoming new model. Toyota’s new Kikai, revealed ahead of its Tokyo motor show debut, is not one of these cars.

And that’s why we love it.

There’s nothing relevant about this concept. You’ll never see one on the road, nor exposed suspension components in the next Camry or a dial in the cabin with an inexplicable pig on it. The Kikai is, well, Wall-E, if he morphed from robot into car.

Think of the Kikai as one of those inside-out humans used in school to show you which bit is which. Toyota’s concept, exposing aspects of the vehicle usually hidden from view, is to reestablish people’s love for machines by displaying the intricate parts men and women create.

It’s the attention to detail where Toyota scores. The fuel gauge is simple but beautiful, the thin-rimmed steering wheel entices and the simplistic form of the cabin — not withstanding the weird pig dial to the far right — is retro, elegant and yet somehow inline with modern tastes. It has sliding electric doors like a minivan and the three-seat layout is similar to that of a McLaren F1. (Never thought I’d use “minivan” and “McLaren” in the same sentence.)

Under no hood resides a hybrid powertrain, likely from the new Prius. Toyota didn’t release specific details, but given this car will never set foot off the show floor, it doesn’t really matter. We’ll be on hand in Tokyo for the upcoming motor show, so check back for shots of Wall-E in the flesh.