Suzuki Misano roadster concept revealed

The new Suzuki Misano concept is a two-seat roadster that's claimed to combine the company’s “two souls” of manufacturing cars and motorbikes.

• Misano roadster concept features tandem seating for two on the left
• Battery pack and boot positioned on the right
• Will be displayed at Mauto, the Italian national automotive museum in Turin, on June 15 and 16

Suzuki Misano concept: What you need to know

Designed by a group of 24 Master’s students at the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Turin, Italy, it's inspired by Suzuki’s brand values, as well as the famous film La Dolce Vita's depiction of “a life marked by pleasure and sophistication”.

IED Turin director Paolo Zini said: “The Misano is the result of the teamwork of our students who, from all over the world, have chosen Turin as the place to prepare for their professional future.”

The electric sports car, which gets its name from Italy’s Misano World Circuit bike racing track, has a classic barchetta silhouette. However, the IED students, commissioned by Suzuki to create a concept embodying the contrasting essences of driving and riding, have given the look a futuristic twist.

The driving and passenger seats are both situated in tandem format on the left-hand side of the car and have been designed to blend into the bodywork through the deployment of angular but smooth lines. The right-hand side, therefore, is uniquely kept for the battery pack and a ‘sideways boot’.

The rear end of the Misano has been styled with an emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency, while the front is characterised by distinctive, arrow-shaped headlights.

Suzuki Misano concept: Motorcycle-inspired elements

Although the Misano is technically a car, it features some motorbike-inspired elements. The concept features a control yoke in place of a steering wheel and the small windscreen is another nod to the experience of riding a motorbike.

The Misano will be displayed to the public at Mauto, the Italian national automotive museum in Turin, on June 15 and 16, this year.

Maruti Suzuki in India

While the Misano concept is likely to remain a one-off creation for Suzuki, in India, the company’s domestic arm, Maruti Suzuki, has more than a few important launches in the works. The carmaker is expected to launch the all-new Celerio in the coming months, with the Jimny SUV also earmarked for an India launch, albeit in a longer 5-door form.