The Japanese make some of the craziest concept cars.
Whether they’re giving us a glimpse of the future or celebrating the past, the Japanese have a tendency to do concept cars unlike anyone else.
From tech to styling and performance, here’s 5 Japanese concept cars that are just straight-up crazy.
5. Eliica
Designed by a team at Keio University in Tokyo, the Eliica (ELectric LIthi-Ion CAr) was first shown in 2004.
Despite looking like it belongs under the ocean, the eight-wheeled electric car, which measures 5.1 meters long, offered incredible performance.
Those eight wheels are actually smaller than standard wheels, meaning the Eliica concept car was closer to the ground for better aerodynamic efficiency.
Each of the wheels housed an 80hp motors for a combined output of 640hp, with the 0-100km/h (0-62mph) sprint coming in four seconds and a top speed of 370km/h (230mph).
4. Suzuki Sharing Coach
With the Suzuki Sharing Coach (SSC) you get two vehicles for the price of one.
Tucked away inside is the PIXY – a one-person transport device specifically designed for footpaths and inside buildings.
But when you’re ready to go further afield, you ride PIXY up into the Sharing Coach which becomes an automobile piloted from within the little pod.
We can’t help but think the SSC resembles ones of those Russian Matryoshka nesting dolls.
3. Bambgoo
No, the Bambgoo isn’t a bird’s nest on wheels.
As the name suggests, it’s built completely from bamboo, weighing just 132 pounds.
The unique electric concept car, developed by the Kyoto University’s Busienss Venture Laboratory, was capable of running 31 miles on a single charge.
Needless to say, the Bambgoo never came to fruition, and we’ve never seen anything like it since either.
2. Honda Fuya-Jo
Basically, the Honda Fuya-Jo is a party on wheels desifgned to cater for a young audience.
The concept car featured a dash and controls that looked like a DJ’s turntables, a floor that was completely flat like a dance floor, and seats that left you nearly standing.
The name literally means ‘sleepless city’, so it comes as no surprise the Honda Fuya-Jo boasted a pumping sound system.
The harsh reality is, though, that’s all it really had going for it.
1. Isuzu Como F1
The strange-looking Isuzu Como F1 looks a bit like a pick-up concept from its side profile.
With scissor doors it would’ve been one unique ute to boot.
But in the middle, where the load bed should be, the Como F1 concept car featured a 3.5-liter V12 engine, sourced from the Lotus Formula 1 car of the day.
Who said the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE was the first road-car to feature an F1 engine?
