When you look at the Toyota Setsuna in photographs, it has this funny way of appearing like a toy wooden car, but this wooden car is no toy. It’s a concept vehicle produced by Toyota set to go on display at the Milan Design Week, and yes, it’s crafted predominantly out of wood.
Can a car be a family heirloom? Meet the amazing @Toyota Setsuna concept: https://t.co/It9DuM8Yu3 pic.twitter.com/bkqYweohhx
— BBC Autos (@BBC_Autos) April 6, 2016
The idea behind a wooden car is to honor the relationship between driver and vehicle, and the way the quirks of the driver will start to influence the shape of the car, since it is made from wood. It can serve as a functional family heirloom, passed from parent to child for generations, and always acquiring a more unique look and feel as the wood ages along with the driver. “Setsuna” in Japanese means “moment,” and the name serves as a reminder of the intimate moments we spend with our vehicles, each one leading into the next, each one changing the vehicle and driver.
“We evaluated various ways to express the concept and selected different lumber materials for specific applications, such as Japanese cedar for the exterior panels and Japanese birch for the frame. We also paid particular attention to the sizes and arrangements of individual parts. For the assembly structure, we adopted a traditional Japanese joinery technique called okuriari which does not use any nails or screws. The completed body line of the Setsuna expresses a beautiful curve reminiscent of a boat. We would also like the viewer to imagine how the Setsuna will gradually develop a complex and unique character over the years. The car includes a 100-year meter that will keep time over generations, and seats that combine functional beauty with the gentle hue of the wood.” –Kenji Tsuji, the Toyota engineer overseeing development of the Setsuna, speaking of his process.
If automobile design could be poetry, then the Toyota Setsuna concept vehicle is just that. It’s a masterful combination of traditional Japanese joinery techniques, traditional materials, and innovative car design. And while it’s definitely just a concept, it does inspire us here at Charlie’s Toyota. If you’re feeling the love for this awesome concept design, come see us in our Augusta showroom, where you’ll find a great selection of new and pre-owned Toyota vehicles, though none of them is crafted from wood.
