Making its world debut in Tokyo, Mitsubishi's Se-Ro concept is a roomy and versatile vehicle that can be used as a durable mobile hobby shop or cozy home away from home. Promising to add spice to a humdrum daily existence, Se-Ro's soft shape fuses a futuristic airship look together with a sense of sweet nostalgia by combining trendy burnished aluminum and tall-boy proportions with retro curvy styling. High-set expansive windows provide privacy while also allowing abundant visibility from within.
Taking its name from "secret room," Se-Ro provides its occupants a personal space where they can release their inner child, with a swing-away steering wheel and flexible seating options. Front and rear doors open out from the center of the body to allow access to the roomy interior. The dashboard shares the same "hovering" look as the "i" but with a more mechanical touch using spherical, cylindrical, and other geometric shapes in a design that intends to visually amplify the car's fun-to-drive capabilities. A swiveling driver's seat turns to face a sofa-style rear bench creating a spacious area that ignites its occupants' sense of fun. Stretch out and relax on the sofa, or fold it away to create a multifunctional space with lots of room for cargo or hobby work. Interior trim combines with a tough floor covering to create a living area that can easily be wiped clean.
Based on the same midship engine/rear-wheel-drive platform as the "i", Se-Ro is powered by a new 0.66-liter three-cylinder 12-valve DOHC turbocharged engine linked to a belt-driven, continuously variable transmission for exhilarating feel-good performance, silky smooth powershifts, and, of course, low fuel consumption within a lightweight and compact package. Like its naturally aspirated cousin, the Se-Ro engine features a direct-drive valvetrain with variable-lift timing, plastic intake manifold, and silent chain-driven camshafts.
Developed to fit within Japan's kei minicar category, Se-Ro is just 135.8 inches long and 59 inches wide with a longish 102.4-inch wheelbase that exploits its engine location between the rear axles for greater freedom in styling design. Its 70.6-inch high roofline helps create its spacious interior feeling.
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