MINI Crossover Concept previews upcoming softroader all-wheel drive MINI SUV
At first glance the little hatch above may look like the Infiniti FX. It is actually BMW MINI’s third variant in its line-up of “New MINIs” and it will be an all-wheel drive type of vehicle. MINI will be previewing the upcoming MINI crossover “softroader” SUV (reportedly going to be called the “Crossman”) at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.
The MINI Crossover Concept rides on a 2606mm wheelbase (longer than the Cooper’s 2466mm and Clubman’s 2547.6mm) and has a conventional four doors with two on each side of the car. The driver’s side has no B-pillar so that particular door is of a sliding type that slides to the rear to open. The rear hatch once again opens with a split in the middle, so I suppose you could call this a 6-door hatchback?
The focus of the interior is the “MINI Centre Globe” which is installed in the place of where you’d typically expect the giant speedometer to be. The 3D sphere uses laser projection to display two different views if viewed from different positions. This allows the front passenger and front driver to view different displays from the same MINI Centre Globe.
It’s quite obvious that BMW ConnectedDrive will come to the MINI brand soon enough because the press release also indicates the ability for the front passenger to surf the web from the MINI Centre Globe display, and ease of data input is facilitated by a keyboard that can slide out from the front dashboard on the passenger side. Steering-wheel controls typically use buttons or scrollwheels but in the MINI Crossover Concept, a trackball is used.
The starter system gimmick is also integrated into the MINI Centre Globe. Instead of a keyfob, a Keyball is used. The Keyball is inserted into an opening in the upper edge of the globe. It will then roll down towards the driver along the middle of the globe. The driver can then press the Keyball to start the engine. When the engine needs to be turned off, the ball is pressed again and it will then roll down into its housing bay where it can be removed.
The MINI Crossover Concept is a four seater with four individual seats, with all four having the ability to slide forward and aft. Something called a MINI Centre Rail runs through the middle of the car from the front dash all the way to the tailgate. Cupholders, storage boxes and other items such as an external music player can be attached to the Centre Rail. Even the armrest attaches to this rail and can be removed if needed. You can also slide things along the rail, allowing someone at the rear to place a drink in a cupholder and then slide it to the front for the driver.
Look after the jump for more hi-res photos of the concept.
PHOTO GALLERY: MINI Crossover Concept
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo
September 11, 2008 @ 11:07 am
Not so MINI
September 11, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Very yummy looking MINI!! Crossovers are in! Wonder whats the price will be like..
September 11, 2008 @ 11:26 am
aquired taste………now in my eyes this is one ugly car. Oh well some may like it.
September 11, 2008 @ 11:48 am
erm..man..these BMW guys are truly milking the MINI brand dry. Its a pointless car.
Whats next?
The MINI Traveller Pickup?
September 11, 2008 @ 11:50 am
On second looks,
If you upsize this perhaps 300%, it looks like what Aston Martin might come up with if they decide to go silly and come up with a X5/X6/Cayenne …….notice the front grill.
September 11, 2008 @ 11:59 am
OMG!..
Im feeling horny looking this car.
September 11, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
Not good.Not in the spirit of Mini.Furthermore retro theme doesn’t really work on SUV/4X4, unless it’s the original..
September 11, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
Kinda impress with the MINI centre globe at the front dash, but…if it’s for driver to review the condition/balancing/starting engine/wat-so-over of the so called-SUV..isn’t that too much?
Btw, what’s the purpose of having the rail in the SUV? so that it will roll over front and back when the car is up-slope/ down-sloped?lol
Kinda hilarious, but…it’s just a concept, well agree or not, most of the concept cars are for their viewing pleasure only.
I like the design of this SUV, instead of the waving interior of recent Mazda concept auto~hmm, the centre globe, just make it an AI, damn shock if they really able to show 3D image of GPS, well, not to say if they do communicate like real life.., then there goes i-robot, resident evil, threatening human kind..lol
September 11, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
Looking froggy these days!!!
September 11, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
90% not production feasible…
September 11, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
that sphere thing…. iBall?
September 11, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
or… iCrash, good way to distract driver
September 11, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
most probably, they’re trying to see whatever they can do with the MINI brand and see what ideas pop out.
it is an interesting concept, but production standards now not really efficient if this were to be implemented, too unconventional.
well, at least they’re innovating.
cant say the same for CERTAIN other manufacturers.
September 11, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
at least.. they are not as boring as toyota.
September 11, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
Funniest part was, we were not allowed to sms or make phone calls nowadays in kl or anywhere? THey pop an idea of keyboard..lol
September 11, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
Wow! love this car, but this will kills that mini tag line. Germans love big cars, so when they got hold of minis, they just can’t wait to make it bigger!~
But the globe thing was really cool!~
But not logic to have one surfing the netwhile driving the car. Dangerous.
September 11, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
this was extremely ugly… Giant Mini?
September 11, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
this is brilliant, unlike that retarded toyota rush
September 11, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
weird design for the doors…
September 11, 2008 @ 8:51 pm
Looks like someone loved aston Martin so much that he decided to make the mini look like it.Kudos for making it uglier than it already is
September 11, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
First the clubman…now a crossman?
Next on the list…
Diverman
Flyman
Driftman
September 11, 2008 @ 11:07 pm
it somehow loses the mini-ness.. its getting bigger and bigger… not so mini anymore
September 12, 2008 @ 12:33 am
it’s only like 2/3 feet longer than the mini cooper, well…
for me, Mini is a brand, and 2606mm wheel base is a bloody mini for a SUV.
September 12, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Even so called mini, their size was near Myvi in size. Kancil, kelisa, viva should be a categorized as “mini mini” or “double mini”.
The look is nice in my eyes.. Not plain and bored as other.. and, better look than porsche cayenne.
BTW, sure cost a bomb in malaysia..
September 12, 2008 @ 11:46 am
if its price is below 300k, i’ll definitely want one!
September 12, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
definitely NOT for the average people, the design is very brave, in fact too brave….. just like Cayenne and Bettle, either u hate it or like it…..
but driving this around in town sure will attract lots of eyes, hahaha