The Tokyo Motor Show wasn’t dented by a concept car equipped with external airbags that protects the vehicle from being dented in a collision.
The Flesby II ultra-compact vehicle has it’s body panels covered with soft, next generation rubber.
“We put airbags, which are mainly employed inside the car, on its exterior, such as its hood or fender, to protect the entire body,” Takashi Ishikawa, managing officer of Toyoda Gosei, said at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The idea of the concept car was first thought about in 2013 by Toyoda Gosai, a manufacturer of rubber and plastic automative parts and LED’s.
LED lights projected onto the rubber also allow the driver to communicate with pedestrians and other vehicles, the company said.
“In the event of contact with a pedestrian, the soft body serves a safety function in absorbing the impact,” the company said.
The company hopes to introduce Flesby II by 2030.
