MINI Crossover Concept Debuts at Paris Motor Show (Video)

Sections: R60 (Countryman) | Video Oct 3rd, 2008 20 Comments

The official Paris debut of the concept that will spawn the R60.

Written By: Gabe

lavardera

Different pairs of wheels on the right and left – that’s a concept I’d be amazed to see make it to production.
gokartride

That started off weird…thank goodness BMW man began talking. I never thought I’d say that.
RocketMini

Now you can see the actual height with the comparison to an actual person. I think it is still pretty small and will only help the brand. I personally like it!
Ketan

Why did they have a guy hovering above the car? That was a strange intro but bit silly. But I really do like the concept in terms of design. All the haters will come around.
MINI VANILLI

i like how he says “innovative” ;)
JonPD

Ketan still have to say I personally really wish Mini would not do this. While I may respect some of the design concepts I still think a Mini SUV (no matter how successful) is not good for the brand image.

Any competition can have a field day with Mini’s own prior advertisements. Just would show that company X has built this car while Mini promoted dislike of SUVs. See how Mini comes around now many years after everybody else.

At this rate of riding trends (be they good or bad) Mini should have a hybrid out by 2015 so they can be 5+ years late to that party as well.
lavardera

Jon – its not the election. I don’t think Mini’s competitors are going to spend ad dollars chasing that line of thinking.
GregW

was that Steffi Graf in the glasses or a Sarah Palin look-a-like? As Sarah would say “it looks kinda small, but I like that global thing”.
Glenn

I still think the extremely different sides of the car looks dumb. Why not just put the same style doors on both sides? I kind of like the rear door.
Zack

The rear door is a huge mistake.
http://www.nwiminiacs.com Dean Cory

MINI SUV OK I can deal with it. Some thoughts…

Either make it a true 4 door or put the mommy van sliding doors on both sides.

Put that rear door on the Clubman. Ditch the barn doors.

Adjust the rear roof line so that this doesn’t look like a horrible crossbreeding exprerement between a Clubman and a Porsche Cayenne.

SUV’s are meant to do 3 things:

A) MAKE INSANE $$$ for the company. B) SUCK GASOLINE. C) HAUL PEOPLE.

That in mind it will easily do both A and B. Now ditch the center rail system and make it a true 5 seater.

Next the BMW Overlords need to listen NO DAMN IDRIVE! The MINI brand Does not need it! Infact BMW does not need it. Return to your roots Pure, Simple Driving! I know that they will immediately ignore this section but I had to say it.

Finally don’t bother with a “Just-A” version of the Crossman. Give us a Crossman D and a Crossman S.
http://www.nwiminiacs.com Dean Cory

And one thing I forgot.

Since it is a SUV, Build the thing at the Spartinburg South Carolina plant! That way the BMW overlords can save shipping costs as this is the first MINI designed with the USA Market in mind. And only Amrikans want a SUV in a $4.50 a gallon Premium gasoline and $5.00 a galon diesel world.
ohiocooper

Warming up to it a little.
gmini

Seeing people next to and in front of it – I accept it as MINI. Welcome.
nuvolari

Why did they have a guy hovering above the car? That was a strange intro but bit silly.

Silly intro for an even sillier car.
Evan

I agree that the proportions of the car with people next to it confirm it’s small size. I saw somewhere that it was just over 13ft long, which makes it only just over a foot longer than my R50.

Plus, it’s not an SUV. It’s a slightly taller wagon with AWD. It won’t do anything off-road. That’s what the Landies and Jeeps are for. This is a crossover. And it’s a very small one at that.

Regular rear hatch. Bring the cool sliding doors on both sides and ditch the silly roof. Normal panaramic moonroof is great.

It’ll be interesting to see it in person. Is a version coming to Detroit? Please let us know where we can see the concept on these shores. Thanks!
Shamus

Hate to say it, but I’m really warming up to the look of this thing. Sure it’s odd, but I thought it was bigger than it actually is. Now that I can see it in proportion to people, it only looks wide and tall, not really long at all.

For a city dweller who owns a small SUV (Forester XT), like myself, I might be inclined to trade up to one of these if they massage out the design a bit. With the added frontal windage, I would expect the fuel economy to drop a tad more than the standard R56 S motor I’m currently running, but it’s still a heck of a lot better than the 16/25 I’m getting in my Forester.
eto

The hovering guy would have been cooler if he took off from the driver’s seat through the roof! I think this car will be a big success with the diesel.
indi

Sorry, I don’t like it. It is over designed. The rear looks like an old American car. Hinge to the side is much better than the barn door. Give us simplicity please. Size is OK. I want a four wheel drive and four door and hope there is room to carry a full spare tire. I never believe a slightly bigger size will destroy the MINI brand. It is all relative. And please don’t make me drive an hour to get to a dealership. I live in Redmond, WA and the nearest dealership is about one hour away in good traffic. And for that, I have been holding back buying a MINI.
http://moronics.net Nics

I wonder if we could snatch parts off of it and turn a FWD Mini into RWD.

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