The MINI Crossover Concept.

The MINI brand is continuing its overwhelming story of success - now
taking a new approach with the MINI Crossover Concept. This Design
Study offers a fascinating outlook at a new facet of the brand
powerfully expressed by a truly innovative body concept - the fourth
body variant, to be precise, following the classic two-door, the MINI
Convertible, and the MINI Clubman. The MINI Crossover Concept is a
new model variant for the first time measuring more than four metres in
length, with four drive wheels, four doors and four single seats. These
features alone place the new car right in the line of vision of new
target groups seeking to combine the individual style of the brand with
enhanced versatility within the interior and innovative functionality
throughout. A universal, multifunction fastening rail, the MINI
Center Rail, extending between the seats on the centre console of the
MINI Crossover Concept, offers not only offers unconventional storage
options, but also provides a consistent link between the front row of
seats and the rear. A further highlight within the MINI interior is
the innovative central instrument in three-dimensional finish, the MINI
Center Globe. This combined control and display unit formed as a
globe featured for the first time in an automobile worldwide sets new
standards for the integrated control of entertainment, communication,
navigation, and vehicle functions. The MINI Crossover reflects not
only the potential of the MINI model family in growing further and
further to new dimensions, but also the innovative power of MINI's
designers. In this case, the outlook at an additional MINI concept is
enriched by a wide range of visions expressing a unique driving
experience and way of life only a MINI is able to evoke. All
innovations presented in the MINI Crossover Concept are conceived to
expand that characteristic MINI feeling by yet another new dimension.
The innovative character of the new car comprises its body design as
well as the drivetrain, the interior and the control concept. Indeed,
offering options and versatility of this kind, the MINI Crossover
Concept opens up new dimensions in mobility also beyond urban life.
All-wheel drive - the foundation for a new MINI feeling. A new MINI
offers more - and does so in unique style every time. The MINI
Crossover Concept clearly expresses this principle, its all-wheel drive
serving to give the new model an even wider range of practical use in
new areas and a new experience on routes already driven. But in doing
so the MINI Crossover Concept is not limited to the usual status of a
conventional all-wheeler. Rather, to offer its additional mobility
potential even more consistently, the Concept Car comes with numerous
design features making it an all-round talent for a unique experience
in everyday life, for enjoying leisure time to the utmost, for
adventure travels of all kinds and for travel planning. Hence, the MINI
Crossover Concept looks at new objectives and, at the same time, new
target groups. Four metres in length - more calibre, more options.
As a consistent enhancement of the MINI model family, the MINI Crossover
Concept offers new calibre and new format in every respect. This is the
first MINI to measure more than four metres in length. And measuring
1,830 millimetres/72.0" in width as well as 1,598
millimetres/62.9" in height, the MINI Crossover Concept goes
beyond the existing production models from MINI also in this respect.
Wheelbase, finally, is 2,606 millimetres/102.6", again ensuring an
even more powerful stance on the road. These exterior dimensions of
the Concept Car are a clear symbol of the quest for additional options
in driving the car and in the new, enhanced driving experience. The
MINI Crossover Concept offers extra space and mobility at the rear as
well as a capacity to transport never seen before in a MINI. Added to
all this, there is enhanced flexibility in splitting up the interior
space, catering for all individual wishes and demands. Combining
its unique design with outstanding agility by no means restricted to
the beaten track alone, the MINI Crossover Concept holds a unique
position within the MINI segment. At the same time it clearly stands
out as a member of the MINI model family through the appropriate
re-interpretation of design elements typical of the brand. The MINI
Crossover Concept thus symbolises the breakthrough into a new category
of vehicles, broadening the appeal of the brand to an even larger
target group. Four doors - new diversity through asymmetric
arrangement. With two doors on each side of the car, the MINI
Crossover Concept offers particularly comfortable access to the rear.
Here again, therefore, the new model enhances the options and qualities
offered so far by the existing body concepts of the MINI. But even
this is not all: The MINI Crossover Concept is not a four-door in the
classic sense, as is clearly expressed by the asymmetric arrangement of
the doors in the Design Study. A conventional arrangement of doors is
to be found only on the front passenger's side, while on the driver's
side the MINI Crossover Concept comes with a conventional door for the
first row of seats plus a lift/sliding door moving along the outside
for convenient access to the rear and for loading the car from the
side. And by dropping the B-pillar on the driver's side, the MINI
Crossover Concept exhausts the potential of this generous opening to an
even higher degree. Frameless side windows, finally, are yet another
feature of this truly exceptional four-door. The rear door swivelling
to one side, together with its frameless and retractable rear window,
likewise offers an even higher standard of practical use and most
convenient loading conditions. Thanks to the large opening and the low
loading sill, sports equipment and other, even bulkier objects can be
loaded conveniently into the luggage space offering even larger capacity
when required by lowering the individually folding rear seats
completely into the floor of the car with the help of a parallelogram
kinematic mechanism. Storage capacities may then be increased even
further by a transport case fitted outside on the rear door. And last
but certainly not least, the roof rail system available on the MINI
Crossover Concept is simply ideal for fitting ski, snowboard and
bicycle carriers as well as transport boxes of all sizes. The roof
structure of the MINI Crossover Concept offers further options in
enhancing everyday driving qualities and leisure-time enjoyment. As a
folding roof cover extending throughout the entire length of the roof,
the roof structure may be opened both from the front and from the rear,
letting either fresh air or warm sunshine into the car - or both,
depending on the driver's and passengers' wishes. The opening at the
rear also serves to accommodate extremely long objects transported in
the car, ranging from a surfboard all the way to cross-country skis. So
even in this case, transporting anything the driver wishes to take
along is easy and convenient. Four single seats - for maximum comfort
inside the MINI. The MINI Crossover Concept stands out not only as an
unconventional, but rather as a truly exceptional four-seater. The
single seats at the rear, to mention perhaps the most significant
highlight, come in the same contours as the driver's and front
passenger's seats and are adjustable by 13 centimetres or 5.1"
fore-and-aft. So depending on individual requirements, the rear seats
offer either lounge-like legroom or additional storage capacity in the
rear compartment. The MINI Center Globe - a new vision of the
central instrument of the future. Featuring their round Central
Display right in the middle of the dashboard, the current MINIs already
boast an interior design feature quite unique and unmistakable in its
look. Indeed, this multi-function display serves to conveniently
control all major entertainment, telecommunication and navigation
functions, providing the speedometer function around its outer
circumference. Now the MINI Crossover Concept introduces the
consistent enhancement of this display and control concept: the MINI
Center Globe. For the first time, therefore, the central display and
control unit is designed in this Concept Study as a globe. This
three-dimensional layout allows even more consistent integration of
functions and the appropriate presentation of information and
entertainment options. In addition to the vertical and horizontal
display features currently available, the new instrument adds a
further, three-dimensional element with displays stratified on various
levels and highlighted to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the
driver's and front passenger's requirements. The current speed of the
car, finally, is shown as before in typical MINI style on the display
round the edge. To clearly, flexibly and legibly present all
information at all times, the MINI Center Globe comes with ultra-modern
laser projection technology. With its unique optical features, the
laser projector allows simultaneous presentation of pictures on various
levels, with a varying focus and in powerful colours. Benefiting from
this technology never seen before in an automobile worldwide, the MINI
Crossover Concept is also able to optically separate the MINI Center
Globe into two hemispheres. These adjustable, moving hemispheres then
enable the driver and front passenger to present and view different
pictures recognisable only from their individual perspective. In other
words, the front passenger may for example surf the net while the
driver maintains his free view of all displays and instruments. To
provide this special effect, the hemisphere facing the front passenger
closes down from the other side and acts as a projection surface
presenting the pictures required. The MINI Center Globe presented in
this Design Study already shows today what options are conceivable in
terms of navigation, communication and entertainment in the car of the
future, using innovative technologies of this outstanding calibre.
The driver and/or front passenger operate the MINI Center Globe by a
touch-sensitive surface, a trackball on the steering wheel, buttons and
slide controls in the lower section of the MINI Center Globe, and a
keyboard on the front passenger's side extending at the touch of a
button from the dashboard. Such versatile and flexible use of the
MINI Center Globe gives this new control unit the character of an
innovative travel companion adjusting at all times to the individual
wishes of the driver and front passenger and helping them enjoy
mobility in a new dimension wherever they go. The MINI Center Globe
is additionally linked to the starter system for the engine. Instead of
a conventional key, the driver uses a start/stop unit referred to as
the Keyball. To start the car, all the driver has to do is insert the
Keyball on the MINI Crossover into the appropriate opening in the upper
edge of the MINI Center Globe. The Keyball then rolling towards the
driver along the middle of the MINI Center Globe. In this position the
driver is able to press the Keyball in order to start the engine.
Pressing the Keyball again, in turn, he switches off the engine and the
Keyball rolls down into its housing bay from where the driver can
conveniently remove the ball. The MINI Center Rail - a perfect
connection bringing the MINI team front and rear together. Instead of
a conventional centre consol, the MINI Crossover Concept comes with a
fastening rail referred to as the MINI Center Rail and extending from
the dashboard all the way to the tailgate of the car. This is indeed
the connecting unit between the front and the rear seats. Holders for
entertainment and telecommunication devices, cupholders, storage units
and boxes may be conveniently attached to this rail and subsequently
pushed forward or backward along the entire length of the car. A
special fastening system developed specifically for MINI serves to
attach individual items to the Center Rail, for example an external
music player and other devices, storage boxes and holders for
sunglasses, gloves, tickets for parking, coins, writing utensils or a
travel guide, as well as all other kinds of holders and supports. An
armrest with an integrated storage box, to mention another example, may
be attached both at the front and at the rear. The Center Rail also
facilitates the common use of storage boxes and devices and makes it
much easier to pass on food and drinks to the rear-seat passengers
while driving. In the MINI Crossover Concept this pleasure of enjoying
all the benefits of motoring together is symbolised by a special
collection of dishes and cups made of unique porcelain created
specifically for the new Concept Car. Four sophisticated materials
for a truly exclusive ambience. Such use of top-quality porcelain
highlights the exclusive lifestyle character borne out in the MINI
Crossover Concept also in conjunction with three further, particularly
exclusive materials in the interior: Around the instrument panel
genuine wood trim extends across the entire width of the car. The
armrests on the doors and the inlays in the footwells, in turn, are
made of massive lime wood. Inlays made of specially hardened,
lagoon-blue glass, in turn, highlight the door linings as well as the
surrounds on the air vents. Like the door closing handles on the
front passenger's side, the MINI Center Rail is made of massive,
matt-polished aluminium. Looking at the appropriate colours for the
interior, in turn, the designers opted for natural, authentic shades,
the Dark Green leather on the driver's seat standing out clearly from
the Coffee Brown leather on the other seats. The remaining cloth
surfaces are finished in Light Grey and Light Brown, with a soft rubber
cover adorned by wood inlays in the footwells.