The MINI Crossover Concept is a design study for the fourth variant in the current model range. With four doors, four drive wheels, four single seats and at four metres in the length, it targets new market groups seeking for a versatile and stylish car.

It 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.

According to the official information, it will serve as "the basis on which a series production will be developed in the future."

Design

Many of the typical MINI characteristics are retained, such as the wheels located at four corners, the circular design features and the entertaining use of space and functions.

The unconventional four-door layout includes two conventional doors 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 easy 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.

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.

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 Center Rail – a matt-polished aluminium fastening rail which extends from the dashboard through the middle of the car, to the rear.

It features a unique fastening system that can be 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.

Among the features are a new display and control console which hosts all major entertainment, telecommunication and navigation functions: the MINI Centre three dimensional Globe

This globe can be personalised independently by 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 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.

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

(Source: Mini)