Filed under: Concept Cars, Paris Motor Show, Crossovers/CUVs, MINI
Paris 2008: MINI Crossover Concept
by Noah Joseph on Oct 2nd 2008 at 11:29AM 
Click above for a hi-res gallery of the MINI Crossover Concept
Some concepts are purely design exercises, while others serve as previews of upcoming production models. It's rare for one show car to serve as both, but then MINI is unique in the business. The Crossover concept that the BMW subsidiary unveiled here at the Paris Motor Show has a bit of a Dark Knight villain thing going for it. On one side it's got an unusual door configuration, big show-car wheels and a decidedly conceptual turquoise-highlighted paint scheme. On the other it's more staid, with conventional doors, a more conventional color palette and an altogether more production-feasible appearance. Up top and inside everything's all fantasy, however, with the cloth roof and trick glass infotainment system we reported on earlier. Click the thumbnails below to see the MINI Crossover Concept live from the Paris show floor, and the gallery below that for the factory studio shots, and let us know what you think of the two-faced concept car in our comments section.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Torrent 11:35AM (10/02/2008)
OH GOD STOP IT
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zoom-zoom 3:32PM (10/02/2008)
Completely agree. Horrible.
CarlosMC 5:50PM (10/02/2008)
Agreed, if they're going to do something with it, do a real off-road mini, now *that* would be cool.
SUV= :P
Mike G 11:44AM (10/02/2008)
Where's the live pics of the other side?
Too much chrome on the nose for me personally
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Nellydesign 12:24PM (10/02/2008)
Seriously, if you want people to comment on both sides, then take PICTURES of both sides.
J M C 3 11:48AM (10/02/2008)
Love the 50's era design influence.
Stand alone design.
Good proportions.
Hope they build it.
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Mehul 12:37PM (10/02/2008)
Agree... I quite like it.
Tiny Tim 11:50AM (10/02/2008)
I just ran out to the garage to give my Generation 1 MINI a little hug... bleh.
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Mobius_1 11:54AM (10/02/2008)
I'm actually sort of glad I'm not at Paris, just look at this and the BMW X1... Is BMW group trying to have a worst design competition? (And IMO, Bangle is actually losing!)
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Bluestreak 12:15PM (10/02/2008)
Meh. I think I'd just prefer a 5-door version of the present Mini. I'm sorely tired of all the CUVs out there, and putting Mini styling on one just doesn't make it any better.
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Rocketboy 5:37PM (10/02/2008)
There already is, if you count the barn doors as separate doors.
Red 12:16PM (10/02/2008)
At least I know why the driver's mirror is green now. (sigh)
It looks like an overbloated toad with braces. I'll pass.
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scozzd01 12:31PM (10/02/2008)
maybe if the headlights didn't look like someone who had too much coffee i would consider buying it...
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Silver 12:42PM (10/02/2008)
I like it. I really do. This would make a great ski mobile.
I do agree with Mike G though: lose that sea of chrome on the front end. At least go with a satin finish.
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Steve 12:52PM (10/02/2008)
I gotta say, I'd look at it. I have a 2005, and a 2008 Clubman - this one might look very good with them.
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ugg.tryptophan 12:54PM (10/02/2008)
four door clubman with some chrome bits and a green roof
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abase 1:00PM (10/02/2008)
Looks like hyundai tucson to me... which is not bad after all ))
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Sid 3:15PM (10/02/2008)
Not feeling it...The 2dr mini is still the best looking of them all. They try to expand the market with the clubman and I thought it was a bad idea...now comes this!
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JF 4:11PM (10/02/2008)
Why the lift kit and big wheels/tires again? That won't give you any more interior space and will hurt driving dynamics significantly.
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Rocketboy 5:38PM (10/02/2008)
Because it's the concept for a softroader. Driving over things is a higher priority than handling on a softroader.
Of course, cheapness was a much higher priority on the classic Minis, and that seemed to work out for the best.