Suzuki isn't sold in the US anymore, and after seeing one of its cars dismally fail a recent crash test, we're not too disappointed about that. Even when the cars it sells are decent, some aren't even made by Suzuki itself. Still, the Japanese automaker does have some excellent products like the Jimny, and as the company enters a new era without its long-time chairman at the helm, we hold out hope that the company may one day be competitive enough to return to the States. One of the reasons we have a renewed interest in the brand is the Misano, a new EV concept that has just been unveiled by the automaker.
At 157.4 inches, it's slightly longer than a Mazda MX-5 Miata, one of the most compact sports cars out there. But unlike the Miata, the Misano has an off-center seating layout that sees the passenger sit behind the driver. It's been designed in conjunction with the European Institute of Design (IED) with the goal of mixing the experience of driving a car with the thrill of riding a motorcycle. Much of this car is designed with the Italian 'La Dolce Vita', or The Sweet Life, as its inspiration, so you get a large side trunk for your goods that you've collected on a Riviera run. In a real-world version, this space would house the battery back of the car.
As you can see, the Misano is nowhere near being a production vehicle and is more of a design study than anything else. The OZ Racing wheels are unlikely to ever see mass production and the steering wheel is a sort of crossbar much like the handlebars you get on a motorcycle. Meanwhile, the small windscreen is meant to look like a bike's fairing. As for that name, it is meant to sound Japanese while still referencing Italian motorsport, and although that may seem a little pretentious, cars like the Abarth 124 show that Italian and Japanese experts working together can create a masterpiece. Let's just hope that something this cool does reach production - we want to see Suzuki become an exciting brand for those who like four-wheelers too.