Update: For a full gallery of photos check out our MINI Concept Detroit gallery just posted. Because of that we’ve closed comments on this post.
For those of you who wanted to see more of that Detroit Concept we previewed last week, just hold tight. We’re going to have a couple dozen photos of the new MINI Concept in a matter of hours. But to hold you over until then you can check out our friends at Jalopnik who have a few early pics courtesy of the wonders that are the Sunday Press Day at the Detroit Auto Show:
[ MINI’s Detroit Concept ] Jalopnik
I’d like to see the interior shots.
Also, the headlights remind me of the bullseyed dog’s eye in the “Li’l Rascals” series! :o) Too much space between the chrome ring and the headlamp – makes it look like an eyeball. Kinda wierd.
Gabe, is the steep angle of the headlight outer glass part of the european pedestrian safety standard?
Yep, the headlight looks just like “Petie”.
So now we’re down to three doors from six — and closer to reality. The extra side doors are gone and there’s a hatchback in place of the ‘barn doors’ (or van doors, if you think back to those Traveller or Countryman origins). These things tend to go from CONCEPT.. to Concept.. to concept… before launch and production. So, we can expect the estate car to get more and more conventional before it hits the showroom (and after the cynical tease of the concept phase is watered down to practicality). Zzzzzz.
Bryn – this is the same exact car that was shown at Frankfurt (with some modification). MINI has yet to show any extra side doors on a concept. Just two really big doors 🙂
Nice, but I want to see the 5 door!!!!
mini said the tokyo concept had a british touch by putting a couple of tea bags/spoons and made it neon green. i am guessing ski racks and the blue rims are a “Detroit thing” too? i dont see how this is Detroit or American.. just because you throw a couple of blue stars on the side of cars doesnt make it American.
It still has way too much front end overhang though but I guess that’s controled my those Euro Ped law stuff.
Looks good. Those blue wheels gotta go though!
The rear still seems to be two separate doors to me.
Also, I’d love to see some close-up shots of the parallelogram door hinge articulation!
Theo
theo – to be found in previous mf concept photos, for sure.
if they bring this to ny auto show, i’ll yawn. i look forward to the revelation of any new production designated models.
I like the wheels and especially the bonnet stripes but that doesn’t change the fact that it looks like a cat fish.
Maybe they should have put lions a an homage to the beleaguered Detroit Lions instead of the stars for the Dallas Cowboys uniform. Maybe they got their towns wrong.
Those happen to be some of the most confusing wheels i’ve ever seen. Seem to be made of that suede like racer cloth with the africanesque name. Alacantra?
…so far,so good. I like the way the MINI concept car is going(thrid of three). I still would like to see what the actual ’07 MINI will look like. I have a ’03 PW MC and,”Sade”,has been driven a bit hard;plus,I been eye-balling the new BMW 1-Series and the Lotus Elise/Exige so I’m on the sidelines on which car to purchase at year’s end. BTW…I’m a BIG fan of Our Gang/L’ll Rascals…it’s,”Petey.”LOL.
Check out autoblog.com for more pics, including shots of the interior and boot.
<a href="http://autoblog.com/2006/01/08/mini-traveler/" rel="nofollow">MINI Traveller shots.</a>
Gabe – thanks for putting me right, Perhaps, the one in ‘cynical’ mode was me! (actually, getting confused between last year’s sketches and this year’s photos… )
Doesn’t the front grille shape, with the extra chrome extention, look kinda like the Aston Martin grille?
LokiSnake: Maybe a little (although the Aston grille derives its trademark shape from a distinctive inwards curvature the concept’s grill lacks). But it looks more like the classic Mini grille 😉
Yes, my first Cooper S (a 1275cc Mk11, last of the ones with sliding windows) bought new in 1970, had an angular, slatted grille very much like that shown. Previously, a smaller, rounder ended grille was used (with slats on the earlier Morris models and a more crinkly mesh on the Austin, I think). So, it’s fair to say that the new car re-visits a genuine Mini style – as far as the grille feature is concerned.
Just seen the more revelatory Autoblog photos. I’d rather have one less blind spot than a place to keep my hat, scarf, and goggles. But then, no one says a concept has to be practical. 😛
Looks like a PT Cruiser or a HHR disguised as a Mini.
I kind of liked the first concepts better then I like this one. The thing looks HUGE in comparison to the current MINI line. If the fronts of the newer MINIs are going to look like this then I am going to have to consider some other cars when looking for my next one.
Hey did anyone notice that it has “angel eyes”?
<blockquote>I kind of liked the first concepts better then I like this one. The thing looks HUGE in comparison to the current MINI line.</blockquote>
It’s the exact same bodyshell just refurbished each time.