Possible MINI SpaceBox Mule Spotted

Autoblog has some seemingly innocuous spy shots of a MINI mule in R60 garb. There’s a chance it’s actually a test mule for MINI’s upcoming Spacebox concept, also known as the Traveller. The photos aren’t particularly telling, other than some changes to the footprint of the car. What is the SpaceBox?

If you take a look at what we’ve reported previously, the driving idea behind the Spacebox concept will be maximizing interior space and utility. Look for the most seats ever in a MINI and lots of clever storage.

Code-named “Spacebox” and known as the Traveller (or even the MINI Activity Tourer) the car will be based on the front wheel drive BMW Compactive Sport Tourer or ‘FAST’. The idea (for both but especially the Traveller) is all about increasing practicality and flexibility for a customer who would have had to to move to another brand because they’ve simply run out of space. Both but especially the Traveller will be the most utility oriented of all of BMW or MINI’s upcoming products based off of the UKL1 platform.

As expected the overall look of the Traveller will be very much MINI. The dimensions are compact and the front overhang is kept short. In essence the MINI Traveller is very much like a larger Clubman. It’s internal term “Spacebox” is derived from the spacious interior and also the expanse of glass which gives the MINI Traveller an abundance of light including a larger panoramic roof which allows the interior to look larger than it is. The appearance of the MINI Traveller is very much MINI III (The F56) – raked headlights and larger grille determines the facial features, whilst at the rear they are experimenting with high level taillamps in the C-pillars.

And of course what we see above shows us nothing of this. But given that development is extremely early that’s to be expected. It likely won’t be until next year that we see prototypes with a distinguishing shape on the road.

[Source: Autoblog]