Nissan started in 2022 as it did at the start of 2021 – showcasing an inspiring adventure concept car to encourage people to live a more active lifestyle. The Caravan Mountain Base concept looks and feels like a mountain hut and offers a respite for tired trail runners going deep into the wild. It is both a pre-run rallying point and a post-running lounge.
Nissan's transformation of Its Caravan into an expandable mobile office, a personal natural escape for a man or woman working at last year's Modified Motor Show in Tokyo, is very impressive. At this year's show, it transformed the mildly updated Caravan into a more rustic mobile space and used exterior planks to give it the feel of a mountain hut or chalet.
Paneling on the walls, ceilings and floors continues to extend inward, supported by a structural lattice that perfectly suspends helmets, water bottles, coffee cups and other outdoor gear. An electric fireplace perfects the cabin feel, while a simple combination of benches and worktops creates a space – from preparing meals to putting on running shoes to drawing routes, all of which are practical. Above the workbench is a large digital screen, visible through wooden boards.
But the most satisfying thing about Mountain Base is its adjustable solar panels. Like the solar panels of other expedition vehicles, it sits flat on the roof of the car, collecting sunlight while on the move. At the camp, however, it increases efficiency by tilting and rotating toward the sun, combining the benefits of traditional roof-mounting systems with those of more adjustable arrays of independent solar panels that are stored during driving.
While Nissan designed the concept for trail runners, its construction is simple and versatile, supporting almost any type of outdoor adventurer – from snow hikers and cross-country skiers in winter to mountain bikers and rock climbers in summer. Whatever a driver's hobby, sturdy tires, off-road light strips and protective X-shaped front skid plates with diagonal running lights help them find it. In addition, Nissan offers a four-wheel drive option on Caravan.
Nissan didn't show Mountain Base's overnight camping capabilities, but it looked fairly easy to lower an inflatable cushion on an open floor without a pull-out sleeping platform. While large solar panels interfere with tents on the roof, mounted tents or shelters will be an alternative. Of course, carrying an old-fashioned ground tent is also an option.
If these overnight solutions don't look unsightly, Nissan will also convert Caravan into a rolling hotel room in Tokyo. The MyRoom concept isn't a full campervan, but it does look like a luxurious living space with sofas, mattresses, magazine racks, tables, storage rooms and plenty of its own light-coloured wood panels. Park it next to a secluded hot spring so you have a private hot spring hotel.
The Tokyo Modified Auto Show kicked off on January 14.