What Is It?
Mitsubishi SE·RO Concept
What's Special About It?
With a name derived from the words "secret room," the SE·RO is intended not only as a source of transportation, but also as a personal space for the driver who needs a respite from adult life and can no longer hole up in a tree house or couch cushion fort. Much like the Honda Element and Scion xB, the SE·RO employs a tall, box-on-wheels design to maximize interior dimensions. However, Mitsubishi's designers have softened its exterior lines, giving it a bubblelike form that's supposed to call to mind an airplane or blimp. The vehicle's natural aluminum finish (in lieu of a coat of paint) heightens this effect.
Inside, the aeronautical references continue, as there's a cockpit design up front, while the rear-seat area has been styled to look like a living room — complete with a comfy sofa where hungover (or otherwise exhausted) friends are sure to take up residence. Fortunately, the driver seat can swivel 180 degrees, allowing the hypothetical owner to join in on the fun when the SE·RO is parked. An electronically controlled steering system even makes it possible to flip the steering wheel out of the way. When it's time to get some actual work done, the rear seats fold flat into the floor, revealing a durable floor surface that can be wiped clean once the job is done.
The SE·RO is equipped with an IT system accessible to the driver through M-PIC (Mitsubishi Portable Information Carrier), which in addition to all the usual functions of vehicle management systems (GPS navigation, vehicle service data, fuel consumption, etc.), allows the driver to store and play downloaded music and video files. M-PIC also allows the driver to start the car without inserting a key.
Even less conventional is the SE·RO's drivetrain, which uses a midengine/rear-wheel-drive layout. Power comes from a turbocharged 0.66L three-cylinder engine clearly intended for the Japanese or European market, rather than the U.S. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard.
Why Should You Care?
The SE·RO is an unlikely candidate for the U.S. market in its current form (the tiny engine being the main drawback). However, given the success of budget-priced cars like the Element and xB that are similar to the SE·RO in design and function, a future Mitsubishi production vehicle that looks something like it is not out of the question. — Erin Riches
Mitsubishi SE·RO Concept
What's Special About It?
With a name derived from the words "secret room," the SE·RO is intended not only as a source of transportation, but also as a personal space for the driver who needs a respite from adult life and can no longer hole up in a tree house or couch cushion fort. Much like the Honda Element and Scion xB, the SE·RO employs a tall, box-on-wheels design to maximize interior dimensions. However, Mitsubishi's designers have softened its exterior lines, giving it a bubblelike form that's supposed to call to mind an airplane or blimp. The vehicle's natural aluminum finish (in lieu of a coat of paint) heightens this effect.
Inside, the aeronautical references continue, as there's a cockpit design up front, while the rear-seat area has been styled to look like a living room — complete with a comfy sofa where hungover (or otherwise exhausted) friends are sure to take up residence. Fortunately, the driver seat can swivel 180 degrees, allowing the hypothetical owner to join in on the fun when the SE·RO is parked. An electronically controlled steering system even makes it possible to flip the steering wheel out of the way. When it's time to get some actual work done, the rear seats fold flat into the floor, revealing a durable floor surface that can be wiped clean once the job is done.
The SE·RO is equipped with an IT system accessible to the driver through M-PIC (Mitsubishi Portable Information Carrier), which in addition to all the usual functions of vehicle management systems (GPS navigation, vehicle service data, fuel consumption, etc.), allows the driver to store and play downloaded music and video files. M-PIC also allows the driver to start the car without inserting a key.
Even less conventional is the SE·RO's drivetrain, which uses a midengine/rear-wheel-drive layout. Power comes from a turbocharged 0.66L three-cylinder engine clearly intended for the Japanese or European market, rather than the U.S. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard.
Why Should You Care?
The SE·RO is an unlikely candidate for the U.S. market in its current form (the tiny engine being the main drawback). However, given the success of budget-priced cars like the Element and xB that are similar to the SE·RO in design and function, a future Mitsubishi production vehicle that looks something like it is not out of the question. — Erin Riches
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