In an obvious bid to remind the world just how good they are at everything automotive, the Japanese have clinched Guiness's coveted "Lowest Roadworthy Car in the World" trophy. And just to rub it in, the amazingly-low rider was constructed by a high school class.
Students and teachers at the Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan, call their little project the Mirai, which in Japanese means future. From the ground to the highest point on the car (not including driver), the single-seater measures 45.2 centimeters, or 17.7 inches. That's almost 6 centimeters lower than the previous record holder, the Flatmobile.
But while the battery-powered Mirai looks like a car some of us would be willing to drive, the Flatmobile was a jet-powered, 100-mph, Batmobile replica built by Britain's Perrywinkle Customs.
Harada Kazunari, Principal at Okayama Sanyo High School, says, "It can be frightening to drive MIRAI on a big street, especially when the speed goes over 40km/h because the road is very close to the driver's eye point. Also, you can feel afraid that you will be run over by other cars. So, we make it a rule, when we drive MIRAI on a busy street, to place a leading car to the front of MIRAI, and a guarding car in the rear."
Video evidence of the car's ability to hang with traffic as well as negotiate parking deck ramps is posted below.
Students and teachers at the Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan, call their little project the Mirai, which in Japanese means future. From the ground to the highest point on the car (not including driver), the single-seater measures 45.2 centimeters, or 17.7 inches. That's almost 6 centimeters lower than the previous record holder, the Flatmobile.
But while the battery-powered Mirai looks like a car some of us would be willing to drive, the Flatmobile was a jet-powered, 100-mph, Batmobile replica built by Britain's Perrywinkle Customs.
Harada Kazunari, Principal at Okayama Sanyo High School, says, "It can be frightening to drive MIRAI on a big street, especially when the speed goes over 40km/h because the road is very close to the driver's eye point. Also, you can feel afraid that you will be run over by other cars. So, we make it a rule, when we drive MIRAI on a busy street, to place a leading car to the front of MIRAI, and a guarding car in the rear."
Video evidence of the car's ability to hang with traffic as well as negotiate parking deck ramps is posted below.
Lowest Roadworthy Car Races into the New
Guinness World Records 2013 Book
September 26, 2012 (New York) - Introducing "Mirai", featured in the new Guinness World Records 2013 book for being the Lowest Roadworthy Car. "Mirai", which means 'future' in Japanese, measures 17.79 in (45.2 cm) from the ground to highest part of the car. It was created by students and teachers of The Automobile Engineering Course at Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan.
The record-breaking vehicle took over a year to create. Several months were spent planning and designing, with the production taking a further 6 months. Twelve students, aged 15 to 18, and nine teachers were involved.
Harada Kazunari, Principal at Okayama Sanyo High School, said: "It can be frightening to drive MIRAI on a big street, especially when the speed goes over 40km/h because the road is very close to the driver's eye point. Also, you can feel afraid that you will be run over by other cars. So, we make it a rule, when we drive MIRAI on a busy street, to place a leading car to the front of MIRAI, and a guarding car in the rear."
The world renowned and celebrated annual, Guinness World Records 2013, contains the most comprehensive collection of superlatives from around the globe and beyond. To create this year's book, the Guinness World Records team traveled to the far corners of the Earth searching for the tallest, smallest, fastest, heaviest and more, packing in more 4,000 new records. A "must-have" for both knowledge-seekers and aspiring record-breakers of all ages, Guinness World Records 2013 is out now.
About Guinness World Records:
Guinness World Records (GWR) is the global authority on record-breaking achievements. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records™ book has become one of the biggest-selling copyright titles of all time, selling 120 million copies to date in 22 languages and in more than 100 countries. The internationally renowned brand is now also available across a number of platforms – GWR's global television shows are watched by 250 million viewers annually; digital media and online record-processing services attract more than 50 million visitors a year; and the live events team annually entertains and inspires 1.5 million people around the world. GWR receives more than 1,000 applications each week and has a specialized team of multi-language record managers and adjudicators who travel the globe to verify official record attempts. GWR also has a commercial division (Guinness World Records Corporate) that offers accessible record-breaking business solutions to other organizations and brands.
Guinness World Records 2013 Book
September 26, 2012 (New York) - Introducing "Mirai", featured in the new Guinness World Records 2013 book for being the Lowest Roadworthy Car. "Mirai", which means 'future' in Japanese, measures 17.79 in (45.2 cm) from the ground to highest part of the car. It was created by students and teachers of The Automobile Engineering Course at Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan.
The record-breaking vehicle took over a year to create. Several months were spent planning and designing, with the production taking a further 6 months. Twelve students, aged 15 to 18, and nine teachers were involved.
Harada Kazunari, Principal at Okayama Sanyo High School, said: "It can be frightening to drive MIRAI on a big street, especially when the speed goes over 40km/h because the road is very close to the driver's eye point. Also, you can feel afraid that you will be run over by other cars. So, we make it a rule, when we drive MIRAI on a busy street, to place a leading car to the front of MIRAI, and a guarding car in the rear."
The world renowned and celebrated annual, Guinness World Records 2013, contains the most comprehensive collection of superlatives from around the globe and beyond. To create this year's book, the Guinness World Records team traveled to the far corners of the Earth searching for the tallest, smallest, fastest, heaviest and more, packing in more 4,000 new records. A "must-have" for both knowledge-seekers and aspiring record-breakers of all ages, Guinness World Records 2013 is out now.
About Guinness World Records:
Guinness World Records (GWR) is the global authority on record-breaking achievements. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records™ book has become one of the biggest-selling copyright titles of all time, selling 120 million copies to date in 22 languages and in more than 100 countries. The internationally renowned brand is now also available across a number of platforms – GWR's global television shows are watched by 250 million viewers annually; digital media and online record-processing services attract more than 50 million visitors a year; and the live events team annually entertains and inspires 1.5 million people around the world. GWR receives more than 1,000 applications each week and has a specialized team of multi-language record managers and adjudicators who travel the globe to verify official record attempts. GWR also has a commercial division (Guinness World Records Corporate) that offers accessible record-breaking business solutions to other organizations and brands.
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