MINI Concept at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show

Not if you’re selling hot dogs at night!!! LOL

I’m not trying to be mean or anything…

but is that a giant cup holder over the boot?

Tea and scones? OK, so where’s the deep fat fryer for the fish and chips? Do we get steak and kidney pies with our MINIs, too?

Looks interesting. BUILD IT!

Looks like that’s just a place to store the table? I guess they must have alot of time on their hands….

It’s a little hard to tell from this angle, but from the sketch, it appears to me that we may see a new headlight treatment for the Tokyo Concept.

I don’t get it.

I don’t get it.

For those that don’t understand why MINI would be showing a seemingly radical (and crazy) concept, you first have to understand the Tokyo Auto Show. There’s really nothing quite like it. Tokyo, more than any other autoshow, is where manufacturers can let the air down a bit and get freaky. This concept is just a another iteration on the Frankfurt Concept theme… except this time the MINI Design team accessorized the hell out of it.

If you think this is a bit crazy, wait until you see what the Japanese manufacturers have in store.

For those that don’t understand why MINI would be showing a seemingly radical (and crazy) concept, you first have to understand the Tokyo Auto Show. There’s really nothing quite like it. Tokyo, more than any other autoshow, is where manufacturers can let the air down a bit and get freaky. This concept is just a another iteration on the Frankfurt Concept theme… except this time the MINI Design team accessorized the hell out of it. If you think this is a bit crazy, wait until you see what the Japanese manufacturers have in store.

Got it – I was unaware. Now I look forward to seeing more crazy designs :)

The cargo box in the rear of the car can be taken out and attached to the side window when open to create a table for serving tea and scones.

…and the Union Jack can be peeled off the roof and serve as a picnic carpet under the round table?

LOL

“I don’t get it.” For those of you who may think this concept is a bit silly. You have to understand the Japanese culture, it is very reserved, and so the way they release (or let loose a little) is to really trick out their cars. MINI is just responding to a cultural need. This is why the MINI, in my opinion, is more than just a British car. In the spirit of it’s orginator it is a people’s car or world car. Reminder too, it’s just a concept. Just my 2 cents.

Nah, if it was “Pimp my Ride” there’d be 2 flatscreen TV’s and yeah, probably the fish and chips deep fryer.

Gabe’s probably right that this will be pretty boring stuff in the grand scheme of the Tokyo Auto Show. For those of you that haven’t had the chance to travel in Asia, there is a fun, silly, almost childish aspect to parts of their culture. They just don’t take themselves too seriously when it comes to stuff like this. If you get a chance to watch Asian TV or asian films, their sense of drama is very different from the west. So outlandish car designs will be right at home on that side of the bigger pond.

I like it in an odd sorta way it’d be kind of a novelty fun item. It’s not like the traveller or what ever you call it is the “sporty” car we currently know and love so why not have its own way of “smiles” and fun?

Swivel out chairs, kind of a cool idea.

The turn down side table by the driver seat that is swiveled out, kinda cool too.

The table and chairs? Sure why not, tweak the design a bit so it doesn’t look like a giant cup holder, np I’m sure.

Attach the cargo bit from the back to the side window for a small bbq, excellent! Combined with the table and chairs this could make for a “surprising and romantic” date, a real surprise the first time, probably looked forward to after that!

If it’s not rigged to be a “sports car” then why not for a “recreational car” that isn’t a SUV?

Cheers.

This looks like something from the producers of Monster Garage.

I don’t think there’s any greater instult to an automotive designer.

why does it have no tires? alt. why does it run on 215/5-17s?

For what it is, I like it!!!!

A portable bar with your MINI… hmmm.. only in Japan I guess.

Which makes me wonder how the heck they ended up with something so blasé as the Camry

Because the Camry is an American car. Once upon a time it was Japanese, but that was quite a few years ago and these days there’s hardly an iota of Japanese left in it. Designed in the US. Made in the US. Sold in the US. The Camry is more “American” than many “American-made” cars.

Do a search for Japanese Custom Cars. This MINI concept is tame…

I think the cencept is cool. Too bad it’s unlikely it’ll ever be shown here.

I think that “cupholder” on the roof is to hold that table!!

How cool is that? Not just 1 concept, but a concept and a re-mix all in one year.. sweet… and I agree that the ‘cupholder’ is for the table… or maybe that’s where the aliens tried to make a crop-circle… :)