Last year, one of the more interesting designs in a solid year of concept cars was a toy car from Toyota. The Camatte revealed at the 2012 International Tokyo Toy Show was a realistic children's car designed to stimulate the imagination, foster an early love for automobiles and encourage family time. For this year's show, Toyota has refreshed the concept with a sporty roadster.
Most small children would probably forgive the pedestrian minicar look of the original Camatte the minute they stepped behind the wheel, but there's a handful that would be thinking: That was fun, now I want a fast, red sports car! The Camatte57 isn't red, but the red racing stripes definitely convey a sense of speed and fun that the original Camatte lacked. The new concept also uses an airy, open-doored convertible design that is sure to add to the fun driving experience.
In addition to its sportier design, the Camatte57 is also more customizable than the original. It encourages children to get wrenching with 57 removable body panels that children can mix and match to personalize their ride.
Like the original Camatte concept, the Camatte57 uses a 1+2 seating layout designed to foster bonding among family members. It can be driven by both parents and children thanks to an adjustable front seat and pedals.
Toyota hasn't announced any plans to sell either Camatte variant, but we hope that it's considering it. We'd be awfully jealous of today's seven-year-old, but the Camatte is an interesting product idea that could be educational and fun for kids and adults alike.
The Camatte57 is on display in the Kids' Life Zone of this week's Tokyo Toy Show, which takes place at the Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward, Tokyo.
Source: Toyota
