In Japan, parking space is so scarce that certification of suit able
parking is required just to purchase a car. A team of engineers from the
car company Toyota put their minds to the problem as part of an annual design
competition within the company. They came up with a concept car which, at
the touch of a button, stands up on its end and pretends to be the entrance
to a house. The Town-House car seats four when it is on the road but in
its domestic mode the bodywork opens out to form two mock pillars which
conceal the seats. The wing mirrors contain lights, in case late visitors
mistake the doorway for a car leaning against the wall.
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