Ikea car news - Ikea's flat-pack car? - 2009

Flat-pack sleuths, we need your help. Take a look at this slightly mysterious microsite and you'd be forgiven for thinking Ikea is planning a flat-pack car.

So, April Fool's joke or surprise new car of the year? If you let the video play, an enthusiastic designer chap spouts a few lines about introducing ‘the car of tomorrow' on March 31.

It immediately got us thinking about a build-it-yourself city runabout, easily assembled with an Allen key and a large hammer, guaranteed to leave you with a worryingly large pile of bits left over when you've finished building it.

We spoke to Ikea in France and they're staying tight-lipped until March 31, but have hinted at a new ‘car system' that'll mean lower fuel bills and the space to carry 'products the customer wants to bring home', presumably from Ikea.

There are also internet rumours about a link-up with tree-huggers WWF. We called the charity and they confirmed this - and told us this is no April Fool joke, but then, as with Ikea, the trail went cold.

So, we're thinking car-sharing scheme or leasing plan that'll offer a greener alternative to running your own car and solve van-hiring hassle when you want to pick up a flat-pack wardrobe.

But probably not a Swedish kit car made out of MDF. Which, to be honest, is probably a good thing...