Never let it be said that the Japan Mobility Show - what was once the Tokyo Motor Show - doesn't throw up some deeply interesting, quirky concept cars. Toyota's Kayoibako concept is a perfect example - an MPV-camper-mobile office whose design is based on shipping containers.
Fully adaptable
Not just the bland, blank steel 40-foot shipping container you'll see down at Dublin, Cork, and Rosslare ports - according to Toyota: "The word kayoibako refers to configurable shipping containers for safely and efficiently transporting parts and products between facilities, sized to eliminate waste and able to meet diverse needs with changeable inserts."
So, the Kayoibako has been designed to be modular and adaptive, able to switcheroo between different modes and layouts according to your needs.
It's an electric car, of course, so its flat-floored layout is reckoned by Toyota to be: "A quality base unit of mobility through a commitment to interior/exterior packaging and affordability. With an ultra-expandable design that allows tailoring to suit different roles."
MPV, shop, even power station
So, the Kayoibako can be used as an efficient last-mile delivery van set up to carry and distribute packages. Or it can be an MPV with multiple seats or a transport service for wheelchair users with its flat floor especially handy for those who need flexible access and egress. It can also be set up as an expedition vehicle and camper for exploring the wilderness. It can be a shuttle bus with lots of seats, or it can even act as a mobile shop. It's been designed to act as part of a smart grid so that the battery can charge other devices or theoretically even provide power to homes during an outage.
Up front, there's a dramatic, high-set cabin that's almost like that of some futuristic aircraft, with a slim display screen that runs the full width of the cabin. The driver gets a compact flat-topped steering yoke and a smaller instrument and infotainment screen mounted next to it.
Futuristic design
It's also a really cool design, with that heavily-glazed cab and slim, high-set windows at the back, giving it a Blade Runner-meets-HiAce look that we find really appealing. The unadorned slab sides have a sort of industrial cool look, while the front doors, sliding side door, and rear tailgate open very wide to allow easy access for everyone.
While any direct production version is extremely unlikely, it's good to know that Toyota is working on wild and wacky concepts like this, whose good ideas should trickle through to cars that we can actually buy.