BMW X1/MINI SAV Caught Testing
Similar to the early X6 testing mules, BMW appears to be going old school with it’s camouflage of the BMW X1. But why on MotoringFile are we mentioning the X1? Because BMW will likely use the underpinnings to produce the upcoming MINI SAV (code-named possibly R58 or R60). You can check it out below:
[ BMW X1 Mule Spotted ] Worldcarfans.com
LOL!!!
You Guys are ALL wrong …
This is the mini armored van (close look at the wheels), where BMW chaps send (Fast .. take a look to the RECARO Seats) the money earned with MINI sales to switzerland …
Personally think the SUV should stay in the BMW family, Mini doesn’t need a SUV. No matter how I feel about this have no doubt that we are going to see yet another micro SUV. I personally have to believe that Mini is way off the mark on this one, they are attempting to produce something for a already flooded market. I feel the base concept of a Mini SUV is a betrayal to the brand.
ha………ha……..ha
Geez. Nice joke.
(checks callendar) Umm…October fools?
Might be an undisguised Hummer H7.
New Beetle???
It isn’t April yet, right? There’s no way…
It was all a good laugh, really it was… Ha!
Wait… you’re serious?! Oh, my…
Did the design team from American Motors [you remember them don’t you? The Pacer, the Gremlin, The Matador]that weren’t executed for their designs all get jobs at BMW? What’s next? The MINI Edsel?
I got it! MINI is moving into the previously untapped Micro-Armored Car business. Without blocking traffic, Roger Rabbit will be able to ensure safe delivery of cash in crowded urban enviroments. In a nod to the current rage for product placement (a la Aston Martin/James Bond) the final prototype will be seen driving through the Treasure Island lagoon in the upcoming heist flick Ocean’s 14
I’m afraid hints of future styling possibilties will have to wait. Doesn’t look too awfully off-roadish, either, y’ask me.
Agreed – mini doesn’t need an SUV, but all wheel drive – that’s something else.
How can you expect us to take this seriously, Gabe and DB???
That “thing” is like a mail truck for the United States Postal Service.
Happy October Fools, everyone!
Okay I take back all the nasty comments I made about the plastic disguise panels used on MINIs. Based on this, they weren’t all that bad!!!
Look at the rear picture. That is a Clubman with a different body. You can clearly see the MINI rear suspension and the Clubman’s dual exhaust.
What rear picture?
I guess that most people don’t realize that early component test mules often have cobbled-together bodies that are there only to hide the components they are testing and to provide a bit of protection from the elements to the test engineers driving them. You will often find early mules with simple sheetmetal bodies or even the sheetmetal from the existing model welded over an all new development chassis. So before everyone starts howling for the head of Chris Bangle and ranting on how this will ruin the MINI brand again, just remenber: what you see now is not what you are going to get!
These aren’t the droids you’re looking for. Move along now…
Glad to see that Gabe and Worldcarfans.com have a sense of humor…
Ya’ll are all wrong! It’s the NEW MOKE!
I like it!
If my options were this or a smaller X3, I’d take this. I actually am very fond of the industrial design shown, and in all seriousness like the Moke-ish nature of the styling… even though that was probably not the intent of the “designer” / BMW chop-shop that assembled it.
This looks like a Peugeot Deux Cheveux as interpreted by Kraftwerk.
Oops. Said “Peugeot” when I clearly meant “Citroën”. I’ve got that BMW/Peugeot deal on the brain I guess.
>Glad to see that Gabe and Worldcarfans.com have a sense of humor…
Well as much as it looks funny that is a pretty serious test mule. This is how BMW goes about very early prototype drivetrain and chassis development.
>Look at the rear picture. That is a Clubman with a different body. You can clearly see the MINI rear suspension and the Clubman’s dual exhaust.
Good idea. However looking at the rear of the car with enhanced levels in Photoshop, it’s pretty clear that the exhaust system and underbody components are quite a bit different than a Clubman.
Y’know what? If they released this to the public just as it is, it would be a cult classic…Scion’s got nuttin’ on this!
I saw that car yesterday selling ice cream sandwiches to the kids down the street.
Still have to say its just plain silly for Mini to be going into what is already a flooded market. 100% anti against Mini building a SUV, whats next a half ton truck or maybe they will just rebadge a Hummer to finally quench their move to the “bigger is better” mentality.
… what happens when DMC merges with BMW. Go Delorian, GO!!!
Did anyone read the comments below the pictures? According to one commenter the exact same pictures (license number and all) were posted three years ago on a different website.
sorry, the same picture was published in a UK magazine three years ago… not on a website.
>sorry, the same picture was published in a UK magazine three years ago… not on a website.
I know the picture you’re speaking of. It was a X6 test mule. I remember the vehicle being noticeably bigger however. And of course BMW could simply be recycling plates as that is a standard German BMW manufacturer plate.
How do I get a look at the “rear view” of the test mule? I can only see the one photo on the worldcarfans.com website.
the rear is under the ‘more photos’ section below on the right side.
I think it looks like a new mini moke, which would look a lot better than the suv concept posted a while back. it would be as much of a betrayal to the brand as the original moke was.
I wouldnt mind a dune bug kind of mini myself, low enough to keep good road performance but high enough that I can run over stuff without worrying about breaking off a deflector or something.
Hey Matt… I Like It. LOL
The larger version Gabe is talking about (the X6 mule) was in Motor Trend a few months back. I remember the funny caption saying something like ‘easy on the Bangle jokes.’