4 x 4 x 4 x 4 MINI

MINI goes Channel hopping with Crossover Concept debut at Paris Motor Show.


The MINI Crossover Concept is a design study for a fourth variant in MINI's
current model range. With four doors, four drive wheels, four single seats and
at four metres in the length, the Crossover Concept combines versatility and
style: its main aim is to tempt new target groups into the world of
MINI.

The MINI Crossover Concept is packed with innovative design details and
practical solutions. It seeks to retain MINI ownership as a unique prospect as
competitors continue to try and replicate the successful MINI recipe.


You know what they say about length...


The MINI Crossover Concept is the first MINI model to measure over four metres
in length and almost 1.6 m high, giving it greater practicality and enhanced
flexibility. Interior personalisation opportunities are also increased.


Looks matter...


The MINI Crossover Concept still features many of the typical MINI
characteristics, such as the wheels located at four corners to highlight the
'go kart' feeling, the circular design features and the entertaining use of
space and functions. More than just an all-wheel drive, however, the MINI
Crossover offers fantastic flexibility and meets more specific customer
requirements.


With four doors, two on each side, you may think the MINI Crossover Concept has
a conventional feel after all. But you'd be wrong. Two conventional doors can
be found on the passenger's side (front and back), with a third for the
driver. The fourth door, for the rear passenger on the driver's side, slides
back along the outside of the car for convenient access and loading.


The rear door has a frameless, retractable window and when open, swivels to one
side to facilitate the loading of long items, such as skis, snowboards and
surfboards. But it doesn't stop there: the capacity can be increased even
further due to the folding roof cover which extends across the whole length of
the roof and there's even a transport case which can be fitted on to the
outside of the rear door.


But it's what's inside that counts...


With more storage space than ever seen before in a MINI, the MINI Crossover
Concept offers additional capacity and uniquely, the opportunity to personalise
the layout of the interior.


The four seats are individual, single seats which can be adjusted forwards and
backwards by up to thirteen centimetres in the rear - allowing more legroom to
the rear passengers.


The front and rear seats are linked visually by the new MINI Centre Rail - a
matt-polished aluminium fastening rail which extends from the dashboard through
the middle of the car, to the rear. A unique fastening system can be used with
the Centre Rail to attach cupholders, storage units and entertainment consoles
which can be passed between the front and the rear passengers.


A special collection of dishes and cups have been created by Porzellan
Manufaktur, Nymphenburg, specifically for the Crossover Concept's Centre Rail.


The MINI Crossover Concept features a new display and control console which
hosts all major entertainment, telecommunication and navigation functions: the
MINI Centre Globe. This three dimensional globe can be personalised
independently by both the driver and passenger as the display is shown in two
hemispheres - for example, allowing the passenger to surf the net whilst the
driver follows the navigation.


Operated by a touch-sensitive surface, the MINI Centre Globe can also be
programmed by a trackball situated on the steering wheel, buttons or slide
controls in the lower section of the globe, or even by a keyboard which extends
out from the dashboard on the passenger's side.


The MINI Centre Globe also hosts the stop/start function, whereby the driver
inserts a Keyball into the upper edge to start and switch off the engine.


The MINI Crossover Concept previews at the Paris Motor Show and is the basis on
which a series production will be developed in the future.