A car coated in hyper-realistic synthetic skin that changes colour in the sun is being described as one of the strangest vehicles Australians have seen in years, and it has a serious point to make. Commissioned by mycar Tyre & Auto, the one-off creation features a custom interior wrap designed to look and behave like human skin, right down to skin texture, fine hairs, moles and blotches of angry red sunburn.
The synthetic “skin” is engineered to mimic how real skin responds to UV exposure in real time, shifting colour to show the impact of sunlight on people who are not wearing protection. mycar says the skin reacts to different UV conditions, including when a car window is open or closed, highlighting that time in the driver’s seat does not automatically mean you are shielded from harmful rays.
The project follows mycar research suggesting many Australians have a false sense of security on the road. The company found 70 per cent of Australians wrongly believe they are protected from the sun while inside a car. Standard vehicle windows do not fully block all harmful UV, and tinting only reduces exposure so much, something 39 per cent of respondents did not realise. The research also found 65 per cent of people do not apply sunscreen before driving, increasing the risk of long-term skin damage.
mycar Tyre & Auto Chief Customer Officer Adele Coswello said the campaign was designed to make that risk impossible to ignore. “Many Australians don’t realise that UV exposure in the car creates damage over time,” Ms Coswello said. “Damage to your skin can happen without the visible effects of burning. “This experiment is an important reminder to drivers and their passengers to understand the risk and protect themselves.”
The synthetic skin effect was created with ODD Studio, known for award-winning prosthetic work, with scientific input and medical guidance provided by Dr Joanneke Maitz, a surgeon-scientist in burns and reconstructive surgery at Concord Hospital.
The warning is especially relevant in Australia, where melanoma remains the deadliest form of skin cancer worldwide and Australia has the highest incidence and mortality rates.
Alongside the “skin car”, mycar is also offering “sun spot stickers” at its 275-plus locations. The stickers can be placed in the car and change colour when UV is detected, acting as a daily prompt for drivers and passengers to think about sun protection before and during trips.
It may be unsettling to look at, but the message is clear: UV exposure can add up quickly on the road, even when you do not feel it, and it pays to protect your skin every time you drive.
