Toyota hopes the Camatte57s concept will teach kids to care for cars.

Toyota has had its share of wacky show cars over the years, but the new Camatte57s takes things to a new extreme.

Then again, what it describes as a “sporty, open-top family-oriented concept” vehicle isn’t aimed at today’s buyers. It’s hoping to win fans among the post-Millennial generation. And that’s why the Toyota Camatte57s is making its world debut at the International Tokyo Toy Show that starts up later this week.

“The concept,” explains a company release, “is aimed at bringing parents and children closer together as they work in collaboration on building their ideal car.”

The goal, it seems, is to “convey the joy and dreams of motor vehicles to current and future drivers.”

Change out a few panels and...how do you say "voila" in Japanese?

That may make some sense, after all, when you consider that in Japan, there’s a growing disdain for the automobile among young motorists, perhaps no surprise considering the country’s endlessly over-crowded roadways. Even in the U.S., Millennials are showing a growing reluctance to get their driver’s licenses, never mind actually buy or own cars.

(Is the American driving boom over? Click Here to find out more.)

Loosely based on the Camatte concept it revealed a year ago in a more traditional venue, the Camatte57s isn’t your classic pedal car. It measures exactly 3.0 meters, or roughly 10 feet, nose-to-tail, and is 1.44 meters, or nearly 5 feet in width.

The concept vehicle is battery powered, though Toyota hasn’t provided specific details on the powertrain, such as whether it relies on older nickel-metal hydride batteries or more modern lithium-ion technology.

Just like Legos...sort of.

The body is a simple, open-top roadster design which Toyota promises will give a child a “liberating driving experience.” The seats are laid out in a triangular fashion with room for three – including an adult in a seat behind the driver who can help with steering and braking duties.

The exterior consists of 57 small, detachable plastic body panels of various colors that can be mixed and matched to a child’s delight.

(Growing number of Americans go car-less. Click Here for the story.)

The name, Camatte57s, incidentally, comes from the Japanese word for “care,” though to Toyota, that apparently translates into “caring for cars.” The “s” is short for “sawaru,” meaning “to touch.”

While its likely at least some children attending the Tokyo Toy Show might, indeed, start begging their parents to buy one of the little Toyota concepts, the maker insists the Camatte57s is a one-off with no plans for production.  The little tykes will simply have to wait until they’re old enough to drive.