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]
8 Comments
<p>I am pretty open to the 6.3 million different variations of MINI that we have (we own two of the biggest ‘hater’ MINI’s – an auto S and an ALL4!) – but this thing is pretty rough looking. I hope it does not end up as the Countryman Coupe!</p>
<p>Thanks for the great reporting!</p>
<p>Countryman Coupe is done. Production should start at Steyr after the summer break. They are running around with very limited camo now and should do a soft launch in the not so distant future.</p>
<p>Good to hear! I would love a slightly smaller/lower/sportier ALL4 MINI!</p>
<p>Am I missing something..? From the photos it looks like a Countryman with beefier arches!</p>
<p>Lilcoopr,</p>
<p>That’s what I was think. I was think that it may off been the Countryman JCW.</p>
<p>When a new model is beginning development it starts out with a modified current platform if it being developed in that platform- speeds up development and decreases cost. Prototyping is very cost prohibitive so any components that can be modified at this stage are- this thing is a long ways out and they are just working on basic chassis alignment and such… the body has not even been decided (dimensions have).</p>
<p>The code name for the MINI Traveller is, by all accounts, F58. The MINI F-series code names, with the exception of F56 MINI 3dr Hatch, do not automatically mirror those of the R-series, and are issued in chronological order of their launch dates. As far as I am aware, the F-series MINI code names are as follows:-
F56 MINI 3dr Hatch late 2013
F54 MINI 5dr Hatch summer 2014
F55 MINI 6dr Clubman summer 2015
F57 MINI Convertible ??
F58 MINI Traveller spring 2016
F59 MINI 4dr Notchback late 2016 (selected markets)
The current R58 Coupe, R59 Roadster, R60 Countryman and soon to be launched R61 Countryman GT replacements are a long way off and will have code names in the 60s.</p>
<p>I can confirm all of it except the F55 and F54 and switched. According to one of our sources in Munich (who’s seen the finished product) the 5dr hatch is the F55.</p>
<p>BTW this reminded me to update the category name :)</p>