Despite a number of big-name automakers dropping out, the Tokyo Motor Show will not be without fanfare and reveals. Case in point: the Honda Skydeck concept, which will debut at the show during its Oct. 24-Nov. 5 run.

The 6-seat, hybrid powertrain-driven concept is a looker, all right -- we're practically forced to get behind anything that combines scissor and sliding doors in the same package -- but we'll admit that after our initial reaction, we were somewhat confused. After all, what's the point of going large with a crossover? Even big-body stalwarts like the Ford Explorer are ditching a truck base in favor of a tighter unibody design that packs big feel into a smaller package.

But the Skydeck deserves another look; after all, we've been operating with a pretty narrow definition of "crossover" since the term because popular a few years back -- it tends to refer to a something with SUV-like styling, but with car-like handling thanks to a smaller, lighter platform. But inherently, "crossover" sort of means a mash-up, right? So rather than thinking of the Skydeck as a larger version of, say, a Honda CRV, perhaps it's better to think of it as a minivan masquerading as a crossover. After all, it lacks the ground clearance of a lot of SUVs and crossovers, and it does seat six.

It's kind of like what I see happening with hatchbacks: When the likes of Audi and even Lexus are making 5-doors, the line gets blurred between luxury models and space-savers, and that's a good thing. Maybe the same type of thing is happening with this sort of mixed-up design language, and soon we won't be able to comfortably say something is a minivan, a crossover, a sport sedan or a hatch. It will just be ... well, whatever it is.

(Photo credit: Dale Jewett/AutoWeek)