Toyota i-unit

The Toyota i-unit is an ultra-compact single-seater four-wheeled concept car that debuted at the World Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, a cross between a microcar, a motorcycle and a vehicular exoskeleton. It has an upright low-speed setup that lets the rider talk face to face with pedestrians, and a reclined high-speed setup with a lower centre of gravity. It weighs 180 kilograms, has a lithium-ion battery, rear wheels driven by electric motors, and front wheel steering by two joystick-like controls with drive-by-wire. Its shape was designed to symbolise a leaf and it uses environmentally friendly materials such as kenaf. Toyota uses the concept for public relations, and twelve i-units performed with two i-foot walking seats at the 2005 Expo. The i-swing, a three-wheeler that leans in curves, superseded it, and one unit is on display at the London Science Museum.