Micro Camper | GIZMODO.cz

The trend of camper vans is gradually clawing its way into the small car segment, and it makes sense for solo riders who give weightage to minimalism more than anything. Lutz Focke’s Lutz Minicamper and the Mini Pop Bee Active Gear by Mystic are the most recent iterations that prove it. The latest one, substantiating the fact, comes from Mitsubishi Motors, which just recently showcased the Delica Mini active camper at the Tokyo Auto Salon, one of the world’s largest custom car shows, that concluded in Chiba, Japan, on January 11.

The redesigned Delica Mini, which made its recent appearance, is one of the 11 vehicles displayed by the company. The custom version of the Delica Mini is a reimagination of the super compact kei car, which is rugged and ready for off-road adventures courtesy of some worthwhile tweaks on the inside.

Designer: Mitsubishi

The Delica Mini, since its launch in 2023, has been known for combining spacious interiors with powerful driving performance. Owing to this, the car has been awarded recognitions like the Design Car of the Year in Japan for 2023-2024. For its 2026 look, the Delica Mini maximizes indoor utility with a pop-up roof that features a roof-mounted tent for two, a suspension lift, and for four-wheel-drive system for off-roading. The space-constrained camper van also gets an ARB side awning to increase the livable space on the outside.

According to the information, the Delica Mini measures only 133.7 inches in length. The space seems cramped up until the roof above is popped open, and you have almost double the living space, but vertically. While the model retails all the popular features of the original Mini, including its endearing style and touch construction, it gets an uplift in the safety features, off-roading capabilities and interior design.

In addition to increasing the livable space with a pop-up roof, customization allows for making the camper off-roadable. The lifted suspension adds ground clearance, all-terrain tires keep stable, while the protective skid plates on the underbody ensure durability in rough terrains. With its all-drive powertrain and enhanced ground clearance, the Delica Mini is uplifted from a city camper to a true all-terrain camper for those who want to embrace the outdoors wholeheartedly.

Delica Mini is only a showcase concept at the time of writing. Its true world potential is yet to be seen and experienced. That said, Mitsubishi has not yet made anything official about when the new custom Mini will be made, or if it will ever be made. Even if it were to roll out in the near future, adventurers in Japan are likely to be the first to get their hands on it, before it drives into other markets.

The post Mitsubishi shows Delica Mini Camper with roof-mounted pop-up tent and off-roading capabilities first appeared on Yanko Design.

Daihatsu recently took to the Japan Mobility Show to showcase some of the fascinating vehicles it’s building in the small segment. Personally speaking, small cars are incredibly difficult to pull off with all the features and functionalities, let alone the idea of stuffing them with features to fit the camper segment. But that’s what Daihatsu continues to take up as a challenge for itself, which is evident in the showcase of the Toyota Daihatsu Kayoibako-K concept.

The adorable micro-transporter is showcased in various possible variants, including a camper van, a small family hauler, and as a self-driving adventurer and mobile delivery van. While the concept vehicle is not fully autonomous, the Kayoibako-K concept has been depicted in promotional videos as navigating itself to the driver’s doorsteps, driving autonomously on specific routes, or returning autonomously to its parking spot after a long day of work.

Designer: Daihatsu

Even though, for those who have been following Toyota’s vision of the micro-van, there wouldn’t be much to distinguish between the Kayoibako-K and the original Kayoibako concept the company showcased at the Japan Mobility Show, two years back in 2023, but the adorable micro-camper is skimmed down in size further to be more adaptable to city roads. Kayoibako is a name Toyota has picked from the name deriving from shipping containers in Japanese, which rely on modular interiors to haul different types of cargo. On similar lines, the Kayoibako-K is a compact concept van and mini-camper, is basically a single vehicle (a platform) that features interchangeable interiors for versatility and enhanced scope of use.

According to the press information received, Kayoibako-K van measures almost 3,395mm, 1,475 mm wide, and 1,475 mm high. It can accommodate 4 people, and is designed to pull off everything from last-mile deliveries in local communities to camping beyond the cityscapes, in of course what is the smallest mini vehicle form factor ever in the mini vehicle-sized commercial vehicles. In the camper version, this little vehicle puts on a roof tent accessible by a ladder, and off-road tires for traveling some unpaved roads on the way to the campsite.

Even though camping has its versatile functionality, the Kayoibako-K is primarily conceptualized with a large rear cabin for delivering packages. The van can work as a mobile storefront, used to carry tools, and even be used, if you may, as a cab to transport elderly passengers in an urban road setting. However, it’s the camper van feature of the Kayoibako-K that impresses me. The van is shown to feature a two-person rooftop tent, and can also be used to haul your gear, including a kayak, to the beach. There is no word on when or if the concept micro camper van will hit the market, but if and when it does, it will definitely slay the onlooker with its graphic detailing and blinky-like headlamps.