MINI Crossover Concept Official Video

pablum Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

I’m in the minority among the mini fanatical, but I think this looks pretty nice. I’m really digging the retro future vibe. It’s really hard to get a sense of scale from the numbers. Has anyone tried doing a scaled photoshop to show how it compares to say a RAV-4, etc, in terms of general dimensions?

For those of you with short attention spans, it gets more interesting after the two and a half minute mark. They show the opening mechanism of the back door and actually pan around the car a little bit after that amount of time. Then they spend a bit of time showing the disappearing fruit… which I can only assume is being consumed by either health conscious ghosts, or hungry cameramen.

plys Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

driving light is the option that must have in crossover

dickdavid Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

It’s nice to see some of the details up close.

I would really like to see it in context with a coupe and a clubman.

KipperFillets Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

I doubt many of the details shown will ever make it into the real world. I’m more interested in the aspects that this car may possess that the current Mini lineup doesn’t provide – such as the extra ground clearance, roomier interior and larger boot space. I expect this will end up much like an off-road Clubman, with similar equipment to the rest of the Mini range. I still don’t think that’s a bad thing though. As long as they just improve on the current heating/radio controls I’ll be happy.

VMMVMMM Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

Like the last concept, I don’t really like it, but the actual clubman vs. the concept was great. I think the crossover will probably be the same. Sort of a weird concept, but the actual product will be much better.

eto Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

I hope the rear door makes it into production. It’s odd to me that MINI variants = funky doors… I also think the rear looks a lot like a Chrysler product with the oversized MINI emblem and the chrome CONCEPT lettering across the swing-gate.

Chad Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

I’d buy this in a heartbeat. Dunno if I would buy the non-concept version as I’m sure some of this will be trimmed for cost reasons.

MINI VANILLI Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

what’s with those sliding center trays? should be great sliding all over on track day!!

JonPD Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

Gabe has already said this is actually pretty close to the final product from what his resources have told him. No doubt there will be some changes but likely not as many as there were on the Clubman prototype to production model.

Some things I liked in the design:

The retractable rear glass is a nice touch. Exhaust looks decent.

Things that unsettle me:

Side view of the headlamps, very bulbous, low point of the design imo. Side view the stance of the car is odd, very high at the back and crouched up front, reminds me of a muscle car stance. The huge rear Mini symbol looks like it came from Playschool.

Other items:

The rear cargo space with the rear seats up looks very similar to the Clubman.

Chris W. Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

No car will ever meet everyone’s expectations, but I like it a lot and it might just be the perfect vehicle to replace our gas guzzling Mazda CX-7.

Have you guys seen iMotor magazine. The recent issue has a very cool interactive feature story on the R60. Check it out at http://www.imotormag.co.uk/

lilcoopr Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

“Sorry this video no longer exists.”

??????? :( :( :( Is this only a problem with my computer or is it really gone and I won’t get a chance to check out the highly anticipated door mechanism?? Ahhhh the suspense!

zm Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

much better than a clubman.

i’m getting used to the fact that 5-10-yrs from now when we think ‘MINI’ we won’t think of R53, R56, etc. rather, a whole line of different MINI’s for ppl to choose from.

it’ll be a brand, vs just a car w/ a cpl models. makes complete sense as more ppl downsize in the future.

callahan Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

There are parts I do not like just as there were with the cluman but over all I like it and would buy it over the Clubman. I think having the two is a little reduundant and would like to see BMW focus on a hardtop roadster variant.

Beavers Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

Sweet Jesus! I think they grafted the hind-quarters of a Chrysler Pacifica onto it!

That said, I think it’s pretty great overall. I’m hoping that the revenue they generate from selling the snot out of this in the States will allow them to give us a classic-sized MINI as the next act. Make it an electric and I may just piddle in my pants…

bavarian racing green Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

…i agree the video does it more justice than 2-d…

…i love it…

…with the predictable changes to ‘de-concept’ it a little, i won’t just love it…

…i will buy it…

…(with a diesel)…

RocketMini Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

After seeing the video, It actually is starting to grow on me. I think Mini is trying to give a diverse range of vehicles. I doubt that this vehicle will destroy the brand, but only strengthen it.. This vehicle can not be compared to the coupe, see it as a extension to the brand. Honestly, I love my mini, but I need something with more space and now down the road I will be able to have a mini and the space I need! Great Job Mini! I will be waiting with cash in my pocket ready to pick one up as soon as they are available.

lavardera Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

The back end is probably the least successful part of the design. I like the asymmetrical back door, but those narrow tall tail lights just look odd.

MINIme Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

The video is way cool. The car… not so much. I am very disappointed if this vehicle is sold in the U.S. with only 4 seats and only 3 real doors. Also, where is the rear cargo room? I do like the exterior look/ stance but find this “concept” to be missing the mark in terms of an SAV that provides any practical advantage over the current offerings.

If this is clos to what is going into production, I’ll pass.

JonPD Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

Agreed laverdera about the rear lights, too long and skinny, it just really makes the car look wider and taller to my eye.

msh441 Sep 23rd, 2008 Link

Am I the only one that thought the original Concept photos were all just computer generated images? I must not have been parying close enough attention. Cool to see it in video.

The things I see on the car that I think will make it to production, I like quite a bit. I think the BIG grill and flat look front end screams more “classic” that the R53 or R56 do. Unlike DB I thought the front looked more “MINI” than the back. I kind of thougt the rear end looked a little PT Cruiser-ish. The colors and front end save it a bit in my mind.

The hinges on the side and rear door look intersting. That back one is BEEFY! Can you imagine milling that puppy!?!

Interior overall looks a little like a mix of an iPod, Fiat 500 and and old Wirlitzer (sp?) Jukebox. I dont see the speedo making the cut… or the silly trays. But the rest is kind of pretty. Colors are interesting and the shape/cut of the seats looks cool. The range of motion on the rear seats looks pretty good, too… but a fold-flat set up, or some kind of tray to make the rear flat when the seats are folded forward would be more versitile.

I like the passenger-side multi-spoke wheels more than the chrome/black five (or was it six) spoke wheels on the driver’s side.

I like the louvered rag top idea… but doubt we’ll see that as well.

Again, if this thing doesn’t grow too much (leangth-wise) beyond the Clubman, I think it’ll sell like crazy.

Wes Sep 24th, 2008 Link

Love the Concept, especially the rear window sliding into the back door! So much for wind drag with the front windows open.

Hope they fix the dash vents, as the ones shown in the video jut out into the cab, and may be a knucklebuster to the driver using the left power stick.

gmini Sep 24th, 2008 Link

I’m still waiting for a picture of the concept with people next to it for scale. I guess I really will have to wait for the show.

Alex Sep 24th, 2008 Link

gmini, you may try to compare yourself using standard plates size…

Aurel Sep 24th, 2008 Link

I am liking it more and more. The stance from the rear with the large door gives me a Chevy HHR vibe for some reason.

RGC Sep 24th, 2008 Link

I like the theory, but for my taste, they need to make some changes. The rear doors should match – either make it a 4 door or make both rear doors like the driver’s side. Get rid of the center rail – I would rather have a fixed console. And the dash needs to be more MINI-like, without the huge air vents and by all means, lose the silly globe!

lavardera Sep 24th, 2008 Link

I also thought that one of the image sets might have been a computer model – there are two different sets of wheels. So there are either two show cars, or one of them is virtual..

MaxMCS Sep 24th, 2008 Link

As a design student, I don’t really feel like the proportions are quite right- it’s not bad, it just doesn’t seem to flow properly to me. The angles and curves feel as if they’re somehow misplaced on the bodywork… I’m also not entirely a fan of the color palette they used.

That being said, the car’s electronic “brain” looks absolutely incredible!! That has got to me the single most advanced car control/sat nav/diagnostic system I have ever seen in a vehicle since BMW released the latest 7 series. I’m supremely impressed with the software and how it’s integrated into the overall user experience- THAT is good interface design. Definitely cool.

The interior is a step in the right direction aesthetically I think, although the sort of central sliding rail-tray thing seems about as realistic as the concept Tokyo/Detroit/Frankfurt etc.’s cantilevered seat design.

I’m sort of impressed, sort of not. What do I take away? KEEP THE ELECTRONICS!!

SFRedMCc Sep 24th, 2008 Link

Why is it some designers (not just MINI) refuse to incorporate a standard size USA license plate into their designs? In SF it’s now a $250 fine for not having a front plate (so those red light cameras can legally nab you). I do like how the sliding canvas top is integrated into the roof design and it really opens things up, but I wonder how they plan to manage the wind turbulence. I also agree that those narrow vertical lights at the rear look don’t fit in with the overall design. I like that the rear window slides into the door, but allowing clearance for the wide swing of that rear door is going to be an ongoing problem. I also think it’s fussy and confusing to have each door open a different way.

Volkan Sep 24th, 2008 Link

First of all, after reading the comments before the story, I thought I was reading something else. Wow! What a change of tone here from the MF readers. What happened to the “I hate it” comments? :)

The video makes the R60 concept look much better indeed compared to 2-D visuals. This will be a vehicle I’d definitely consider buying -in addition to my R53- as a baby-mobile. Let’s hope that the final product would be similar to how Clubman ended up compared to it’s concept.

JonPD Sep 25th, 2008 Link

I am still not loving this direction at all Volkan as I am sure many others are not. I believe the people not in favor of this are trying to temper the “I hate it” comments. Note that most that have had that reaction have not commented on this story.

Gabe has already said this concept is much closer to the production model than the Clubman concept was.

TO Sep 25th, 2008 Link

The front end looks like the Chinese Mini knock off pictured several months ago.

Ramón Sep 27th, 2008 Link

All thru the video I kept thinking “RAV4 with four seats”, and that’s not a pleasant thought at all. And as to the front, well TO’s comment sums it up for me too. I know – I know it’s a concept car; WHEW!