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An Exercise in Zen
Toyota Setsuna concept car

Offering wood elements in vehicle interiors is common practice today and one usually associated with tasteful luxury and subtlety. However crafting a car primarily from wood is extremely rare. Toyota took up the challenge and their exceptional results can be seen in their Setsuna concept car debuting at Milan Design Week next month. The material is durable, but at the same time, its colour and texture are prone to change over time in response to temperature and humidity, reflecting Toyota’s intention to have the Setsuna concept gradually develop a complex and unique character over the years.

The name “Setsuna” is derived from an original Buddhist term meaning “moment” in Japanese. The nautical shaped vehicle includes a 100-year meter that will keep time for generations. Different wooden materials were selected for specific applications, such as Japanese cedar for the exterior panels and Japanese birch for the frame. The floor and the seats are also made of wood. The car does not require any nails or screws at all as it was assembled using a traditional Japanese joinery technique called “okuriari”. The powertrain remains a modest part of the design concept and reportedly uses six 12V batteries which provide a range of around 25 km/h, at a top speed of 45 km/h.