The Flatmobile: Japanese Reach All Time Low

Quite literally, in fact. A group of Japanese teens have seized Guinness’s “Lowest Roadworthy Car” title from Britain’s “Flatmobile”.

Called the Mirai, the electric single-seater measures just 45.2 cm tall - a full 6cm less than the (though much, much cooler) 100mph Flatmobile. It took a group of twelve 15-18 year-olds, with the help of their teachers from Japan’s Okayama Sanyo High School, more than a year to build and design. Given the same brief, we feel all Britain’s teens could’ve managed in a similar time is a ramshackle go-kart and four illegitimate children.

A Morgan Three-Wheeler is about the most vulnerable I’ve ever felt in a car - and that’s at least twice the Mirai’s height. The school’s principal, Harada Kazunari, said: “you can feel afraid that you’ll be run over by other cars.” He says they always travel in convoy, with leading and trailing cars.

Ok, you’re gonna get run over at some point. But think of the benefits. Eternal free access to multi-stories and free passage through whatever toll road takes your fancy.