The tree-lined boulevards of the USA are the primary habitat for one of the motor industry's unusual machines - the minivan. Although often just a commercial vehicle equipped with seven seats and a host of extras, these machines are perennial best sellers across the Atlantic. The British public are less than convinced however, preferring their standard MPVs to the largely ungainly minivan, with its susceptibility to struggle with crosswinds and simple things like corners. Mitsubishi's latest minivan concept is the D:5; a boxy six-seater due to be displayed at the forthcoming Tokyo Motor Show.

The D:5 is designed as a "go-anywhere-anytime, high-mobility, high-functionality new 4WD mono-box concept" and combines the practicality of an MPV with the off-road abilities of a Land Rover, thanks to its complex four-wheel drive system, allied to a 2.4-litre petrol engine and a six-speed CVT gearbox. Unsurprisingly, the interior expresses the latest trends with expanses of metal and a luxurious finish, complemented by a full-length glass roof.

Concept cars rarely make it to production; however, the D:5 hosts a selection of safety features which could become widely available in the future. These include a peripheral monitoring system designed to warn the driver of oncoming hazards, a complex safety-minded cruise control system and Lane Trace Assist - an on-board camera that monitors the vehicle's movement between dividing lanes, adjusting the steering to correct any unwanted lateral travel.

Although the D:5 is only a concept, it does provide an output for Mitsubishi's creative thinking, and forms an outline for the next minivan. Whether this model would ever sell in the UK market is unclear, although given the lack of minivan sales and the limited appeal of a 2.4-litre four-wheel drive MPV, it is unlikely.

Andrew Frampton - 5 Oct 2005