MINI Crossover Prototype Spied Undergoing Cold Weather Testing

you guys remember the 2-door rav4? remember that it didnt sell well during a booming economy?

well… apparently Mini product planners forgot about it.

I second the idea of an AWD drivetrain for the Clubman, however being in a right-hand drive (RHD) market will only consider buying a Clubman if they change the suicide door to the left hand side for the RHD market. Having the suicide door behind the driver’s door in the RHD market was the main deciding factor for me not buying a Clubman, as access to the back seats is dangerous and restricted. If the Crossover gets around this issue at a reasonable price and has more streamlined lines like the Clubman (including possible pop-out or vertically lowering rear window), I may consider buying one.

Im a noob to this Motoringfile and I’m already sick of C4.

This is a test mule, far from production and far from its final look. No need to write it off yet.

This R60 could be a huge blunder for MINI, or..like some others here have stated, could be a great way to reach new demographics. Its a good time to go for it, right now it seems that people love EVERYTHING MINI.

Even though there are no other cars shown next to it, in these photos it appears the Crossman actually isn’t going to be as big as the overblown concept/prototype they were showing. It looks like they just added the 2.5″ to the Clubman’s wheelbase so they would have enough room for 4 doors.

That swirly camouflage sure does a good job of hiding all the details, and the double rear doors seem to be a fake-out, since the rear window has only one wiper. Looks like those funny vertical tail lights weren’t included for final production. I think the scariest looking thing are those monster headlights that have morphed from frog eyes to lizard eyes. Looks like that “skull cap” roof design was left in, and I think that is also a big mistake. All-in-all, it still looks like it’s going to be the “smallest SAV” on the market, so by today’s standards, I guess you could call it the MINI-UTE.

You beat me to it – I thought this was a Toyota RAV4! Is the rear boot area designed by Chris Bangle? – it seems to have his “duvet cover bump”.

well, the thing is, if the r56 cabrio is already absurdly priced, imagine this thing. Its going to be well into the $40K range, which by then you’d be better off with either an A3 or A4 wagon, or honda element, scion xB, honda crv, acura RDX, FX35, nissan cube, etc…. I’ll bet you that Mini is use MPG as their main attractor, which is fruitless bc its a car that cost significantly more than the competition… so financially, it doesnt make sense. As a niche car, it might succeed.. but only by selling 2500 per year… but where’s the money machine in that? not to mention it is diluting the brand (and I do understand that back in the day they had a variant much like this, but times have changed).

mini needs to abort this thing ASAP while it still can, and just focus on strengthening its core product line. And by strengthening, I mean improve quality of materials, and better build… perhaps even use some of that money to solve the infamous german electronic gremlins?

just a suggestion.

I just checked the Audi website (which is really clumsy to navigate); and it seems that for a “base” A3-Sportwagon w/ all-wheel drive it’ll cost $30.5K.

I wonder why some people are hating this car the same way some were hating the newer and chubbier version of MINI Cooper… I recommend waiting, I assume most have grown into the newer ones by now.