A car made out of paper is usually crafted by kids as a school project to be submitted by the end of the week. And usually, the art of folding paper, or origami in Japanese is only done in a smaller scale, with the exception of large world record projects of course. However, Lexus, a luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota, has just made a working electric car out of cardboard.
Lexus calls its cardboard-made car the Origami Car. It is a fully functional Lexus IS sedan complete with parts made out of cardboard, as its name suggests - namely, its main body, interior, and even wheels. The designer of the Origami car laser-cut 1,700 pieces based on a regular car's digital model. Afterwards, the pieces were stuck together into place by using a water-based wood glue that has to set and dry for 10 minutes between each step. It is not exactly a quick and easy process as the project took three months to stick everything together.
However, the Origami Car won't be seen running on the road anytime soon - that really goes without saying. The instrument cluster simply is not anything more than a couple of drawings, and no one can vouch for the safety and comfort cardboard material can provide on the road. What is more, rainwater and fire hazards can easily spell doom for a car made out of cardboard. Although, the proof of concept marks as a great indication that modern assembly techniques can produce anything from growing bone tissue to making a working car out of cardboard material.
The finished Origami Car will be showcased at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England, later this week during the Grand Designs Live Show. Considering that the automaker recently showcased a real working hoverboard just recently, innovation is definitely moving forward in Lexus.
