The Booth Babe Chronicles: Can A Minivan Be Cool?

The cow is on my side. (Please don’t tell her I ate her brother for dinner.)

In observance of Labor Day, I stray from my labor work as a Booth Babe and write about something considered unsexy: Minivans. I think by now we’re all well aware of my feelings on minivans. And we’re also well aware how you feel about my feelings on minivans.

I was afraid this was an insurmountable issue between you and me, and that’s sad. Life is too short for such ire brought on by automotive classism, don’t you think? So just for you, I have gone searching for some minivans in which the driver might actually be datable. MIGHT. I am making no promises.

Let’s explore, shall we?

Honda SkyDeck Concept

From the outside the Honda SkyDeck looks like pretty much every other minivan, but inside it looks like a chic minimalist beach house Ari Gold would rent in Malibu for the summer. The glass roof is perfect for star-gazing – tres romantique! Scissor doors are just hot on anything. In fact, I might do an aftermarket scissor door on my fridge. Alas, the Skydeck is only a concept at this point.

Volkswagen New Small Family line

The VW NSF is another concept, but one that will actually hit the streets pretty soon. A compact three-door version is due in 2011, with a five-door in summer 2012. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as we’ll have a couple of months to date before the world ends. This VW was written up here at TTAC back in ’07 and I love the design – it’s something a cute hippie boy who showers and doesn’t smell like patchouli but still cares about the earth and bunnies would drive.

Nissan FORUM Concept

This is the ultimate party wagon, perfect for a group date – and much classier than those party vans with the stripper poles in the middle. Those swiveling captain’s chairs are begging for a poker game. There’s an outdoor Bose audio system and a microwave for God’s sake. We can go to the drive in, microwave our own popcorn and watch a movie on a blanket with surround sound from the minivan doors! Modern science is the best, isn’t it?

And, well, that’s about all I found. All concepts. Everything out there now is extremely family-oriented, and car seats just don’t scream “hot date” to me at this stage in the game. Much like how pig and elephant DNA just won’t splice, utilitarian family vehicles and sexy cars haven’t found a way to mate yet in a commercially viable way. These concepts show us with a little dreaming, it could be possible. Keep the hope alive, kids.

The Booth Babe is an anonymous auto show model who dishes about what really goes on behind the scenes. Read her blog at http://doyoucomewiththecar.blogspot.com. And if you treat her nicely, read her each Sunday at Thetruthaboutcars.com