Automotive

Outclass Suzuki off-road micro-camper van explores small spaces

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Outclass showed the Suzuki Every off-road camper van (right) alongside a retro-styled Jimny
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Sofa-bed folded down into double configuration
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Outclass showed the Suzuki Every off-road camper van (right) alongside a retro-styled Jimny
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A suspension lift, ruggedized bumpers, skid protection and other upgrades make Outclass's Every a capable off-roader
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The bed frame folds over the folded rear seats
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The roof-top tent makes the tiny Every a four-sleeper
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A look at the single bed and crossbar gear-carry system above
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Outclass Suzuki Every camper van on show at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon
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Outclass Cars created an adventure micro-camper van for this year's Tokyo Auto Salon
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Outclass Suzuki Every
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Ever wonder what a Sprinter 4x4 off-road camper van would look like if you shrunk it down? It'd look something like this Suzuki Every show van from Outclass Cars. Outclass gives Suzuki's pint-sized people-mover a suspension lift, off-road components from bumper to bumper and a sleeper-style interior conversion to make it one of the smallest, most efficiently packaged micro-campers you'll see this year (or any year). Not only will this van attack the usual dirt trails and sand dune playgrounds, it'll squeeze its way through narrow canyons and step lightly over barely-there ledges that leave other off-road vans backing up and retreating to safety.

Tokushima-based Suzuki 4WD customizer Outclass Cars designed this flashy, little off-road camper van as a Tokyo Auto Salon showpiece. It displayed it at the 2019 show before revising it further and showing it again at this year's show in January. The project started off as an adorable Suzuki Every, a Japanese microvan that measures a mere 134-in (340 cm) bumper to bumper, more than 4 feet (122 cm) shorter than the fifth-gen Mitsubishi Delica that makes a mean off-road mini-camper van itself.

Purposeful or not, Outclass's retro styling brings to mind a few Hollywood classics. The bold side stripes on dark paint (green, in this case) are reminiscent of the A-Team van and the KC Daylighters sticking up off the bull bar invite visions of Marty McFly's Toyota pickup, though neither feature is an exact replica. Outclass also swaps out the stock rectangular headlamps for Jimny-style rounds and drops a horizontal grille in to visually enhance the sense of width and strength, lessening the lankiness brought about by lifting the tiny van. The ruggedized front bumper design includes a winch.

A suspension lift, ruggedized bumpers, skid protection and other upgrades make Outclass's Every a capable off-roader
Outclass Cars

Moving on back, Outclass adds some tubular steps for getting up into the lifted van. A hitch-mounted spare tire and jerry can carrier sits in back of the ruggedized rear bumper, helping the tiny van haul the essentials when wandering off road.

Below those retro-rugged good looks, Outclass gets its hands dirty by adding a fully adjustable off-road suspension that gives the van its tippy-toe stance with help from beefy Maxxis Buckshot Mudder tires. Skid plates protect vital components.

Inside, Outclass avoids any temptation to go overboard, sticking with a very straightforward sleeper van configuration. The custom-upholstered bed folds down over the rear seats, first into an L-shaped sofa/single-person mattress, then into a double bed. Interior crossbars stretch across the width of the cabin, serving as fishing rod holders in the demo model but also potentially useful for hauling other gear like skis or surfboards, even with four people filling the seats and the hardshell roof-top tent (RTT) taking up the roof. That two-sleeper pop-up tent is accessed via a rear door ladder, completing the four-person adventure micro-camper.

A look at the single bed and crossbar gear-carry system above
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The van was designed as a show vehicle, but nothing appears to be so complex or outlandish as to be impossible to replicate ... if you happen to be in Japan and in need of a tiny all-terrain sleeper van. The short video below shows the pre-RTT 2019 van getting to it as a solo adventure camper, and if you want a closer look at some of the features, Outclass' 9-minute walkthrough has available English subtitles.

Source: Outclass Cars

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6 comments
guzmanchinky
I'm building a Sprinter 144 4x4 and I think THAT is BARELY big enough. This is such a cool little concept...
Signguy
They show her laying down; then outside and she's like, 4' 10"...
Tom Lee Mullins
I think they are really nice and neat. I have a feeling they won't make it to the USA. If they did, I would not mind owning and driving them.
bergamot69
Those vans are notoriously easy to overturn even with standard road-based suspension. As soon as you get off road for the rough stuff- you'd most likely overturn. Not to mention that the track would be too narrow to fit into the ruts made by standard sized off-roaders. A gimmick.
Fast Corner
No way this big fella would ever fit in one but they're cool AF.
ljaques
Love the Zuki Cube (my name), but they're impractical for larger humans. What I want, though, is a Suzuki Jimny pickup truck, which is Not Sold In The USA! (boo/hiss) https://www.motortrend.com/news/suzuki-jimny-truck-conversion-photos-details/