Suzuki Mobile Terrace concept

Suzuki's literally named Mobile Terrace is a four meter long, six seat fuel cell powered vehicle, designed to "quickly turn into a relaxing open terrace at your favorite destinations". To facilitate this, the four front seats swivel and slide, the instrument panel slides and turns to become a centrally positioned table and the thick pile carpet covered floor slides outwards.

The Mobile Terrace is a valid concept proposal for a 'camper van for the Japanese urbanite', but the poor quality of the display model, lack of thorough detail design and abundant use of white weakened its impact as a serious concept.

Nissan Effis concept

Powered by a fuel cell, the EFFIS is an asymmetrical, three meter long commuter car that takes a lead from the Nissan Beeline concept shown last year, in its 3+1 seat interior configuration. It is a strange looking and very 'Tokyo Motor Show' type of concept car, but is also a well resolved design with superb detailing.

Feature lines arching backward from the front end describe the Nissan 'flying wings' corporate facial identity, and this is echoed in the front wing and the DLO profile, which are then balanced by a feature line sweeping back from the door handle into the rear aspect of the car. 32 small red lights alternate with 32 small orange lights (the indicator) in each rear lamp cluster. The rear number plate surround and door mirror indicator repeater lights are similarly made of numerous small lights. The use of semi-circular and 'slot' shapes thematically connect many elements of the exterior and interior, including the door mirrors, IP plan, wheel trims, door handles, rear window, rear number plate surround and interior floor.

Nissan Conran Cube concept

The Conran Cube concept is a Nissan Cube that has been modified by the London design consultancy, led by Sebastian Conran. Widmer Laurence, from Nissan's Color and Trim department in Japan, explained how Nissan worked with Tris Keech from Conran to introduce a more feminine and luxurious, more 'Conran' and 'London' themed, and yet also more Japanese identity to the car.

The Conran aspect she attributed to the circular themes apparent on the car's wheel covers, grille and IP. The more feminine and luxurious aspects can perhaps be seen in the use of soft touch materials throughout the interior, the London and Japanese influence perhaps in the strong use of red, and the milk white glass roof.

Honda Kiwami concept

Makoto Yamashita, the Kiwami's interior designer, explained to us that the idea behind the Kiwami was to be Japanese by being different and that no one had yet produced a squashed MPV type of monospace design before! With minimal tumblehome and a monospace profile, the Kiwami does share its genes with the MPV, but inside the car has just four seats and is an exploration of modern Japanese luxury.

The proportion and package also closely relate to its fuel cell powertrain (Honda is the world's first car manufacturer to produce their own commercially viable fuel cell) which is positioned in the car's broad central tunnel and has enabled the car to have a long cabin area and minimal overhangs.

Hyundai NEOS-II concept

There is no doubt that the NEOS-II from Hyundai doesn't have the prettiest of faces. But look beyond its unhappy monster looks and there are some really interesting aspects to its design.

The strong plan shape to the bonnet underscores the way the front wings are read as separate elements, a signifier of its SUV character. The bonnet shut feature line runs into the base of the DLO and then sweeps up into the front side window and B-pillar, a line echoed in the base shut line of the rear door. This rear door slides backward to reveal a large, B-pillarless aperture.

At the rear the NEOS-II continues its, atypically Korean, restrained form language and simply integrates rear window, lamps and Hyundai logo. Another neat touch is the red illuminated piping that shines through the lower door and boot shut to echo the red interior and inner surfaces of the front grille.

Subaru R2

The R2 is a new five door, monospace K-class production car, notable for its supercharged engine option. Featuring the new Subaru corporate facial identity, the R2 has a high waistline for this type of car and a linear, constant section feature that runs from indicator side repeater into a rubbing strip to the rear indicator repeater, neatly integrating the door handles along the way.

A dynamic side window graphic, high mounted rear lamp integrated into the rear window graphic, and the strong and simple IP form shared with the R1e concept are further evidence of more European design sensibilities at Subaru.

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