Concept Car of the Week: Isuzu Zen

Space. Freedom. Feng shui. Inner peace. These terms relate to Japanese carmaker Isuzu's aims for its 2001 Zen Concept. 

The concept, first seen at the 2001 Tokyo motor show, was developed as a combination of a 4x4 passenger vehicle and a light commercial van and it is because of this unusual mix that we have decided to take another look.

The Zen – designed and developed at Isuzu's Advanced Design Center in the United Kingdom – had box-like proportions of the Zen that emphasized the cabin's spaciousness.

The bold exterior design was inspired by a unique mix of industrial architecture and Japanese culture.

You can see the cultural references in the side graphics and DLO, which features a number of pillars to create the illusion of an ‘Ogi', a Japanese fan. The windows even open with the movement of a fan, with each window sliding behind the next.

The vertical sliding panel is inspired by ‘yukimi shoji' sliding screens and provides easy access to the rear loadspace.

The Japanese cultural influence translates smoothly into the interior, with the driver being able to create the illusion of a traditional Japanese tearoom, complete with bamboo flooring and Tatami woven mats.

Isuzu said that the Zen was designed for ‘Tokyo high-flyers' who can turn their vehicle into a stationary office as well as being able to fold away every element of the car to create a sense of freedom and relaxation.

The steering wheel folds upwards out of the room while the gear level tucks away neatly into a hidden drawer. Not only this, the traditional Royal Blue silk-covered seats slip smartly into the floor.

Designers Senior Manager Atsuhiko Yamada, Chief Designer Geoff Gardiner, and Senior Designer Ian Nisbett
First seen Tokyo, 2001
Length 4,480 mm 
Width 1,900 mm
Height 1,980 mm 
Wheelbase 3,050 mm

By Rufus Thompson