MINI announces the North American debut of the MINI Traveller Concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The MINI Traveller Concept – the third appearance for this design study – will be transformed into unique a sport oriented theme that will be seen only in Detroit.
The Traveller concept made its debut in Frankfurt with a “Traveling in Style” theme befitting the beginning of the 21st century. The Tokyo concept focused on the “British-ness” of MINI. Each theme is a unique translation of the Traveller.
The sporty theme of MINI Concept Detroit is striking in its appearance and demonstrates a flexible and intelligent use of space. The car is inviting to passengers and features plenty of space for sports equipment. Innovative roof carriers and cargo box systems offer additional storage space.
Coupe-Like Look Without a B-Pillar.
MINI Concept Detroit places an emphasis on features such as the wheel arches, the shoulder line and the power dome of the car, making a clear visual statement that it is full of class, muscle, and elegance all in one. Dropping the usual B-pillar, MINI Concept Detroit has an openness usually only found in a coupe or convertible.
The Overall Concept – Clever MINI Style All the Way
The fundamental idea in developing MINI Concept Detroit is to make loading and passenger access as simple and convenient as possible. The driver/front passenger and rear doors come with parallelogram kinematic joints and springs: To allow optimum access and entry into the car, the doors swivel to the side and at the same time to the front in one single movement, ensuring maximum opening space leading into the interior. The rear sliding windows open electrically.
Cargo box in the Luggage Compartment, Large Loading Area in the Roof.
MINI Concept Detroit comes with an adjustable Cargobox in the luggage compartment with its loading cover moving out to the rear for convenient loading. Another convenient feature is the trans-parent cover on the Cargobox that moves up and serves as a partition bet-ween the passenger area and the luggage compartment. The rear sec-tion of the roof opens up just as conveniently for easy loading.
Sports Utility Box and Roof Box with Interchangeable Flexibility
The Sports Utility Box is a multifunctional, additional interchangeable storage box hooked into position behind the open rear side window. This unique box features flaps on either side for convenient loading and unloading from both outside and from the passenger compartment, and for handing through objects just as easily and conveniently.
Satellite Silver Metallic Paintwork and Neoprene Contours.
MINI Concept Detroit stands out in the light through its beautiful silver paintwork. Parts of the car not directly in a person’s line of vision are viewed in a more discreet gray. Special highlights in red and blue give this outstanding concept car a particularly dynamic touch. Soft, resilient neoprene is featured on the black side band so characteristic of the car, extending along the side-sills and wheel cutouts.
Interior Design Characterized by “Floating Elements”
The “Floating Elements” concept offers a surprisingly generous and open impression right from the start when the driver and passengers get into the car. The seats are suspended in position, and the free-hovering dashboard with its Center Speedo, a revolving central dash-board with both a digital and analogue display, enhances and up-grades the feeling of space and style.
MINI Concept Detroit offers ade-quate space for four. The front seats swivel to the side for easy and convenient access to the rear. When tilted down, the rear seats form a flat surface flush with the floor of the luggage compartment.
Leather, Chrome and Aluminum as the Principal Materials.
Throughout the interior, white leather underlines the impression of modern style and generous space, adding a strong touch of sophisticated class and stylish flair. An aluminum-coated glass-fiber structure accentuates the door panels and linings inside the car, while a special carbon-fiber look highlights the foot area in combination with nylon texture in powerful blue that is also on the seat inserts and armrests.
Forty-Six Years of the Mini Traveller.
The four-seater Mini with its extra-large luggage compartment was launched in September 1960 in the guise of the Austin Seven Countryman and the Morris Mini Traveller. The term “Traveller“alone clearly proved that this special version of the Mini was intended from the start for an active target group.
MINI USA Press
Related:
[ MINI Concept Frankfurt: In Detail ] MotoringFile
[ MINI Concept Tokyo: In Detail ] MotoringFile
Nice. Not too much that hasn’t been seen in Tokyo or Franfurt, but that roof rack is the nice. Billet, I presume?
Also, are those turn signals in the roof? (right over the a-pillar)
Love the roof rack, too. The lack of a B-pillar is visually nice, but probably won’t make it to production–you lose too much stiffness that way.
It’s a pro-SU and anti-SUV MINI. Conceptually it’s all about the states I believe. Our obsession (well not mine or the majority here :P) with oversized gas guzzling “Sport Utility Vehicles” is represented by the “sport utility theme.” I like it, it’s interesting. I wish there would be more of an “Americana” presence about the car rather then just focusing on sport utility. I like all the features pertaining to sport utility, but maybe the coloring of the car could better represent the other two colors of our flag.
any info on what type of engine and tranny this car has?
Awsom! I really hope this happens, soon. It will look great next to my Cooper.
The front seats seem to float but I wonder if that would be a safety issue. Where an object from the back seat would roll up and get lodged behind the brake pedal?
The new front end, more upright, is less fun than our current one I think. But then again, it might be even more classic, more like the vertical front of the original Mini. Pedestrian safety… grrr… 😉
I hope this thing does not see the street as it is, in either of it’s three nearly identical incarnations. As for what kind of engine it has, methohydrogasoline hybrid.
its minging.
Got to ask, what is that on the inside of the driver’s side A-pillar? The small roundish metallic thingy.
Anyone got a clue?
Still not sold on the headlights.
GMG
Very nice, but where is the 5 door version, MINI??????
I like it – especially the how the boot doors open
and slide around to the sides. Kinda like those fancy
armoires. But does anyone else look at this and think
“Vega” ?
The front end has a more aggressive look that will probably appeal to the market segment for which it is intended (me, for instance). Too bad that the split rear doors probably won’t make it to production, and the floating seats probably won’t make it past crash testing. I wonder if the retractable roof will survive past the concept stage? Lots of interesting ideas, but they had me as soon as they addded six inches to the overall length.
OK. Seats four, houses two sets of skis on the roof, a pair of boots in the boot compartment, and a hat, a scarf and a set of goggles in the special window attachment… why the two rear seats, really? why even a passenger?? Is this the ride for all your renting friends?
I have to agree with what I read previously….the front does look like a catfish……
The SU Cooper… Should we call it the “SUper”?
…as I have stated in a earlier post,I’m on the sidelines waiting for the actual ’07 MINI photos to surface. However,as James Brown sang it,”…Please,Please,Please…”,keep that 100th Birthday Badge of Sir Alex for the REAL ’07 MINIs. Sweet.
If this a future Winter Sports Concept for North America; why would MINI put Dunlop SP Sport 01 Ultra High Performance Summer tires on the car?????????????? If you tried to go Skiing; everyone would be laughing at you; as you sat in a ditch calling & praying for road side assistance.
That’s why it is only a concept. No German Engineers have been involved yet in seeing if they can really make one of these puppies.
Todsys Car Connection said:
“MINI conformed that a production version based on this estate concept will hit the market by the end of 2008.”
By end of 2008 to me means 2009 Model year. That equals 3 years by me reckoning.