Comments on: MINI Concept at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 16 Oct 2005 18:42:53 +0000

Kinda cool. In a trippy, "hey Twiggy looks good when you're on acid" way.

Actually, I could see the roof bit sliding forward a touch & serving as a rally-style mount for a couple of spares...

By: Rocketboy

Rocketboy — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 02:21:41 +0000

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… :)

By: alpinamike

alpinamike — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 01:32:11 +0000

Its the largest cupholder in the world , for The super gulp at the 7-11!! Or it could be where you put all your loose change, because you took out the gas cap lid smoke cup…lol

By: Joey Limon

Joey Limon — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 01:18:30 +0000

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

By: Twig

Twig — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 20:28:39 +0000

Does it turn into a robot? Autobot I hope.

By: Ian F

Ian F — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 16:05:50 +0000

Which makes me wonder how the heck they ended up with something so blasÃ© 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.

By: Timothy Sipples

Timothy Sipples — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:29:43 +0000

When you hit the horn, does this MINI play “Rule Britannia” or “God Save the Queen”?

By: The Blue Canary

The Blue Canary — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:07:00 +0000

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

By: Jace

Jace — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:34:44 +0000

Makes me think a bit of the Peugeot 1007 in that it tries to do more than it should? But then that might work in this category since it costs quite a bit more than the 1k7.

By: gokartride

gokartride — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 04:03:42 +0000

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

By: Dave H

Dave H — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 01:21:53 +0000

Thin tires, the sketch is of the car on grass so you can’t see them too well.

By: xplode

xplode — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 23:40:50 +0000

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

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 23:34:09 +0000

I soooooo want Union jack turn indicators!

I bet they're 9 kinds of illegal in the US.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 23:23:57 +0000

This looks like something from the producers of Monster Garage.

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

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 23:05:39 +0000

Matt is correct. This looks like something from the producers of Monster Garage. Sorry, not my cuppa.

By: csdmmnt

csdmmnt — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 21:45:08 +0000

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.

By: fishbulb

fishbulb — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 19:06:46 +0000

"Well, i'm going to keep my 02-06 FOREVER if every mini comes with a table now!!!!"

it's a concept... that's all. Sort of a creative exercise for the designers. Let them play a little.

-jac

By: Nathaniel Salzman

Nathaniel Salzman — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 18:58:22 +0000

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.

By: Matt Korr

Matt Korr — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 18:26:20 +0000

It looks like somthing you would see on Monster Garage. I think its cool that they would even make a concept like that. Did they actually build it and if so is there any real pictures of it. It seems like it would be more of a show piece but I can see people buying it.

By: Nate

Nate — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 18:22:00 +0000

“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.