Suzuki Takes The Wraps Off The Air Triser Minivan Concept

Suzuki it testing the grounds ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show with an awesome compact minivan concept.

If there’s anyone out there who can interpret the classic, simple lines of European classic cars, then the Japanese would be it. Retro-looking, tribute-paying style cues are a big part of the Nippon automotive culture, and this concept has plenty of them.

Called the Air Triser, the three-row compact minivan – with manageable body dimensions – offers a highly configurable cabin, with emphasis on roominess. It has an interesting, smart seating arrangement that can transform its interior into a genuine private lounge.

While the concept is parked, the seats can be configured in a variety of modes, varying from “relaxation mode” (where the seats face each other) to the “lounge mode” (where the seats form a U-shaped sofa). Furthermore, in order make the whole thing cozier, a display extends from one of the B-Pillars to the ceiling and connects to any smart-device in order to play multimedia content.

Design-wise, the concept is reminiscent of the original Volkswagen T1 Bus, with its almost symmetric format, two-tone paint-scheme and interior configurability. In fact, it resurrects the old German model’s concept and tradition, while blending it with the basic Japanese Kei culture, trying to include a wide variety of mobility features in a relatively small space.

In fact, the Air Triser concept is only 4,200mm long, 1,956 wide and 1,815 tall (13 x 6,4 x 5.9 ft) and it’s powered by a 1,372cc inline 4-cylinder, dual-jet engine, aided by a hybrid system and an “Allgrip” five-speed transmission that sends the power to all four wheels.