The Kikai, which was revealed in October 2015 at the Tokyo Motor Show, pays tribute to the beauty of mechanics by taking the machinery normally hidden beneath a vehicle’s bodywork, and revealing it. After the Geneva Motor Show at March 2016, its presence at Le Rendez-Vous Toyota offers a great opportunity to discover these spectacular and unusual details in all their naked glory.

The variety of models shown alongside the Kikai demonstrate how much sport and fun are deeply embedded in Toyota’s identity; in racing, of course, with the World Endurance Championship TS030 in the new TOYOTA GAZOO Racing colours, with Giniel de Villiers’ Hilux that ended up third in the 2016 Dakar, as well as the Yaris R1A and GT86 CS-R3, designed for rallying. There are also the spectacular FT-1 and FT86 Open Concepts.

The AYGO x-wave, with its large canvas roof and cyan blue colour is set together with the small i-ROAD and COMS electric vehicles -participants of Grenoble carpooling system, called Cité Lib by Ha:mo.

Le Rendez-Vous Toyota also offers several interactive activities to its visitors, such as customizing the FT-1 on a touch screen, painting the GT86 with a virtual aerosol, the WEC driving simulator and for children, drawing Toyota sports cars on a backlit trace table.

Located at 79 avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, Le Rendez-Vous Toyota is open from Sunday to Wednesday, from 10.30 am to 10.00 pm, and from Thursday to Saturday, from 10.30 am to midnight.

For further information please contact:

Martine Mugard+33 1 56 89 29 71martine.mugard@toyota-europe.com

Please visit www.lerendezvoustoyota.com for more Le Rendez-Vous Toyota on Facebook: facebook.fr/lerendezvoustoyota

TOYOTA KIKAI takes the machinery normally hidden beneath a vehicle’s bodywork, and reveals it. Throughout, the componentry on display has been painstakingly detailed to celebrate the intricacy and mechanical elegance of its construction, whether simple or complex in nature.To that end, the bodywork of the mid-engined concept has been kept to a bare minimum, simply enclosing the structural core of a central, three-seater cabin. Housed within exposed aluminium sub-frame members, all other components are uncovered; the vehicle’s inner workings becoming part of the exterior.

At the front, the KIKAI’s radiator, steering system, brakes and elegantly cast aluminium front suspension members are all on display. To the rear, the suspension members, brakes, fuel tank, chromed exhaust system and the notably compact packaging of Toyota’s full hybrid powertrain technology are all open to view.

The KIKAI’s hybrid system combines an electric motor with a 1.5 litre, 4-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine. The latter includes an electric water pump, a low-friction distribution chain, an intake manifold made of a composite material and a compact exhaust manifold.

As with all Toyota hybrids, the KIKAI stands out for its silent running, comfort and easy handling, particularly in urban areas where the hybrid system allows the car to run solely in electric mode or with a limited - and therefore silent - use of the combustion engine. The automatic transmission ensures a smooth drive without any jerkiness, giving a comfortable and reassuring driving experience, both for the driver and his two passengers.

Accessed via sliding doors, the three-seat cabin layout features a central driver’s seat, placing the driver at the heart of the car. The triangular seating layout creates a congenial, on-board communication space, whilst the use of unique, analogue-feel instrumentation continues the concept’s theme of celebrating the simple beauty of mechanical technology.

Expansive cabin glazing not only offers outstanding all round visibility, but also offers occupants a novel and engaging visual dialogue with the machinery in operation. For instance, the movement of the front suspension upper control arms is visible through the windscreen, and small windows by the driver’s feet offer a unique view of tyre and suspension movement, and the road surface speeding by beneath...

So, whilst most vehicles conceal their inner workings beneath smooth sheet metal, TOYOTA KIKAI actively encourages to appreciate the beauty of automotive mechanical engineering. More broadly, it hints at the visual, aural and tactile appeal of the warmth brought by the analogue and the physical in an increasingly digital age.