We're always being reminded how the children are our future, and if this work of automotive engineering is anything to go by, then the ageing Japanese populous should be in good hands. Constructed by students and teachers from the Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan, the "Mirai" (Japanese for "future") stands a mere 45.2 cm from the ground to the highest point on the car (excluding driver). As such it has been certfied by Guinness World Records as the lowest roadworthy car in the world.

The Mirai took over a year to complete. The motors, control mechanisms and the car's six main batteries were taken from a "Q-car" built by CQ motors. The switching console is from a motorbike, while the steel chassis, body, suspension, steering system, LED lights, seats and all other parts were all manufactured at the school.

"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," notes Harada Kazunari, Principal at Okayama Sanyo High School. "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 previous world-record lowest car was the Flatmobile, a low-riding, Batman-inspired vehicle built by Perry Watkins in the UK back in 2007.