Toyota Prius mobile home

If there was an award for the most unlikely campervan conversion, then this would have to be a strong contender.

Featured at last week’s Tokyo Auto Salon, this Toyota Prius camper is the brainchild of Japanese company Camp-inn which, when it’s not converting hybrid cars into fuel-efficient campervans, makes a steady living turning more conventional base vehicles like the Toyota HiAce into mobile homes.

The bulbous, campervan body that hugs the rear half of the Prius is made from fibre-reinforced plastic and increases the car’s overall length to 4980mm and height to 2050mm. The rear features a full-size door that provides access to the living and sleeping areas, which come with optional retractable coffee table and sofa/ bed arrangements.

Camp-inn hasn’t messed with the tried-and-tested petrol/electric mechanicals, and just so you can still recognise it as a Prius from the rear, the original tail-lights have been retainedd, albeit placed a little higher than on the hatchback.

With an ‘upstairs’ double bed, the camper will sleep five, although you’ll want to be close friends if sleeping three across on the drop-down seats.

The light grey interior looks to have plenty of LED reading lights and there’s a skylight vent if things get, umm, a little steamy inside...

In case you were wondering, the Relax Cabin, or Space Shuttle as it’s also dubbed, is available for sale in Japan, for the equivalent of around $50,000... perfect for those who want to mix green motoring with a spot of greenery.

Unlike the Tokyo Motor Show, which also has its share of whacky concepts the Tokyo Auto Salon is a showcase of the latest products and ideas from tuning and aftermarket specialists.

While confronting, the Prius camper didn’t look too out of place alongside other ‘enhanced’ vehicles at this year’s show, which included an STI version of Subaru’s new BRZ sports car, a chrome-painted Fiat Abarth 695, and the Flash Box (based on Honda Japan’s new N Box kei car), complete with matte-grey paint, reflective decals and more LED lights than a Chevy Chase Christmas movie.