Toyota Kikai Concept is Totally Metal

Combining a medley of touches from an old-school hotrod, dune buggy, and motoring's earliest days, Toyota says that the point is to "appreciate the complex beauty of the mechanical aspects of cars." This work is a pure fantasy by the designers, though, so don't expect to see the little oddity ever hit the road.

One of the coolest features of the Kikai is that the design leaves nothing hidden. The front and rear suspensions are entirely exposed, and even the rear-mounted engine is extremely easy to inspect. The spirit of openness continues to the inside, too. In addition to the large side glass for the two passengers in back, the driver in the center can watch the tires at work through windows mounted near the floor.

Toyota's philosophy with the Kikai is that "machines should be objects of admiration," but it's still fascinating for the brand to express that so well with such a simple concept.