Renowned mecha designer, Kunio Okawara has reached worldwide fame as his mechanical designs have been loved by the world all over, especially the designs he made for the Gundam franchise. Besides designing giant robots like the original RX-78-2 Gundam and the Zaku II, did you know that Okawara has also designed a new electric car?

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Known as the Machina, this pint-sized compact electric car bears some very familiar blue, red, and white colors, which sort of resembles that of the RX-78-2 Gundam. It was displayed side-by-size with a 2m Char’s Zaku II statue and boasts that it “should be able to do what a full-sized automobile can’t,” which is transform. You can check out how this car can transform through these links: https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/nextwaves-videos/videos/9797c379be7c0e5de0d65d48844a881484c3c662949e564f2ae442064762e668.mp4 and https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/nextwaves-videos/videos/e5c6c38cc182dcf56f503fb2f4c37075015a6c04b9d66adf224b791adc61ee56.mp4

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The Ex Machina Corporation is currently developing the car, which they hope will become a “rideable smartphone or portable information terminal.” And because it is an electric car, the Machina is also environment-friendly, so people should not worry about Carbon emissions.

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The Okawara-designed car was unveiled during a special Kunio Okawara exhibition at the Ueno Royal Museum, which celebrates the renowned mecha designer’s 40-year career. The exhibition features plenty of Gundam series like the original 1979 anime and Gundam Zeta, as well as Armored Trooper VOTOMS, and will be held until 27 September 2015.

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Okawara said that they want to make Machina street legal in Japan, and said that it could go on sale in two years or so. He also added that “When they debut in the market I’d like to add the Federation or Zeon logo.”

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The car has gained so much notoriety as of late, that there is even a crowdfunding campaign for it being launched in Japan! You can check it out through this link: https://nextwaves.jp/project/home/541

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Okawara himself previously visited Singapore earlier this year during the Gundam Docks in Singapore event, which also celebrates the country’s 50th jubilee.

sources: amiami blog via Kotaku