In the wake of the Volkswagen diesel-gate scandal, automakers are now making even more of an effort to design vehicles that are as eco-friendly as possible. But Lexus might have gone too far with this paper version of its IS, made from 1,700 sheets of precisely laser-cut cardboard.
We’re not just talking about the vehicle’s outer shell, either. Every last bit of the Lexus IS has been recreated in cardboard, from the seats, to the dashboard, to the side mirrors, to even the hubcaps.
The car’s doors work too, and thanks to a hidden steel and aluminium frame, it’s not only strong enough to support passengers, it can actually be driven around via an electric motor.
But just because it can be driven, doesn’t necessarily mean that it should. Even a low-speed impact in a car packed full of safety features can be dangerous to those inside, so imagine your odds of surviving an accident inside a vehicle made from corrugated paper. It probably wouldn’t even survive you spilling a latte inside it.
Understandably, Lexus has no intentions to actually sell its cardboard IS to the public, despite how affordable it would be. It will instead be put on display at an upcoming design show in the UK, and kept off city streets.
Photos by Designboom