Lexus 'Origami Car' Is A Fully Functional Electric Vehicle Made From Cardboard

Lexus just unveiled a new car that has some pretty unique standard features. The car looks like the latest Lexus IS, with one crucial design difference: It's made of cardboard. Building a cardboard car is one thing, but Lexus designers took the challenge to the next level by making it a fully functional electric vehicle.

The Origami Car was created using 1,700 laser-cut cardboard sheets. Five people designed and built it using a mix of trial and error and gallons of glue. "The seats took a few attempts to get just right and the wheels required a lot of refining. Once we could see the physical pieces taking shape, we could identify where we needed to make improvements," Ruben Marcos, Scales & Models Ltd. founder and director, said in a statement.

Cardboard cars are usually reserved for fun craft projects, which is why the best part of the Origami Car is its electric engine -- not made of cardboard. The car has fully functional headlights and can be driven. The press release does not mention how fast the car goes or the mileage it gets, but it's safe to say it has a very limited range. The other drawback to the Origami Car is the seats, which look pretty uncomfortable. There's also the issue of cardboard not holding up too well in inclement weather.

Lexus can add the Origami Car to the list of cool products -- along with its hoverboard -- that will never be available to the public. Lexus will unveil the cardboard car at Grand Designs Live in Birmingham, England, Thursday.