Mini Concept Detroit combines sporting performances and look with a flexible use of space, thanks to innovative roof carriers and cargo box systems that offer additional storage space.

This design study celebrates the 100th birthday of Sir Alec Issigonis, the inventor of Mini, born in 1906 from a Greek father and a German mother.

The exterior style is between a small wagon and a coupé, and the accessibility is made easier by the absence of the B pillar.

The Concept Detroit has a high-tech look achieved with a the special Satellite Silver Metallic Paintwork and Neoprene Contours.

The flexible interior i based on the “Floating Elements” concept, and uses leather, chrome and aluminium as main materials.

From the official Press Release:

Design

In its overall appearance MINI Concept Detroit is sleek and smooth, while nevertheless placing the emphasis on important features such as the wheel arches, the shoulder line and the powerdome of the car.

So MINI Concept Detroit makes a clear visual statement – this is a car full of class, muscle, and elegance all in one.

Dropping the usual B-pillar, MINI Concept Detroit offers a particular impression of generosity and flair otherwise to be admired only on a coupe or convertible.

The Concept

The fundamental idea in developing MINI Concept Detroit was to make loading and entering the car as simple and convenient as possible. This is why all the doors (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.

MINI Concept Detroit comes with an adjustable Cargobox in the luggage compartment with its loading cover moving out to the rear for convenient loading at all times. A further convenient feature is the trans­parent cover on the Cargobox moving up and thus serving as a partition bet­ween the passenger area and the luggage compartment. The rear sec­tion of the roof, finally, 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.

Introducing the Roof Box, MINI Concept Detroit also offers an equally practical system for the cargo opening in the roof.

MINI Concept Detroit stands out perfectly in the light through its beautiful silver paintwork, all points not directly in the beholder’s line of vision being kept in a more discreet grey. Special highlights in red and blue give this outstanding concept car a particularly dynamic touch.

Soft, resilient neoprene, finally, is featured on the black side band so characteristic of the car, extending along the side-sills and wheel cutouts.

Interior

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 dash­board with both a digital and analogue display, enhances and up­grades the feeling of space and style.

It almost goes without saying that MINI Concept Detroit offers ade­quate space for four, the front seats swivelling to the side for easy and convenient access to the rear. And when tilted down, the rear seats form a flat surface flush with the floor of the luggage compartment.

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 aluminium-coated glass-fibre structure accentuates the door panels and linings inside the car, while a special carbon-fibre look highlights the foot area in combi­nation with nylon texture in powerful blue also to be admired 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.

Sales of the Mini Traveller from 1960 to 1982 amounted to more than 400,000 units, including a special version of the Mini Clubman introduced in 1969.

2006: Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Alec Issigonis, the Inventor of Mini.

Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born on 18 November 1906 as the son of a Greek father and a German mother in a region which now belongs to Turkey.

He moved to London for his schooling and technical studies, later becoming one of the most successful English car designers and automotive engineers.

(Source: Bmw/Mini)