Spy Shots: Production MINI Crossover spotted!
Beneath all that ridiculous (though pretty darn effective) yellow and black paisley camouflage sits the new MINI Crossover. First shown in concept form at the Paris Motor Show, at 162-inches long, the new MINI CUV is quite a bit larger than its other older stablemates. At what point is a MINI not so mini any more? This could be it, as the spy photographers point out that it appears larger than the BMW 1-Series that shares a number of parts with. Lost in the translation from show car to test mule are the unique doors, which appear to have been replaced with a standard, run-of-the-mill four door body style. The rear hatch also opens from the top instead of sideways like on the concept, though it's been taped-up to appear like the barn-door style portals from the Clubman. The whole shebang's been lifted a bit and all four wheels are driven. Expect both gasoline and diesel four-bangers under the pointy-snouted hood.[Source: NextAutos.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ImSteevin 1:32PM (10/17/2008)
Smell that? It's the dilution of the brand.
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Gregg 1:36PM (10/17/2008)
The long snout is very un-Mini-like, but otherwise it has the Mini shape. Yes, it is a lot bigger, but still the same size as the Suzuki SX4 Crossover, so here in the US it will still be considered a mini-car.
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MajorGeek 1:49PM (10/17/2008)
Once you make it that big, it is simply not a "Mini". It needs a new name... Notso Mini?
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Snark 3:29PM (10/17/2008)
The linked article says it's 161in long. That's 10 inches shorter than a Pontiac Vibe, four inches shorter than a VW Golf, and about three inches longer than a Honda Fit.
In what alternate universe is that considered a large car?
Derek 6:04PM (10/17/2008)
@ snark: 161 inches is a whopping 21" longer than the original Mini.
MajorGeek 6:11PM (10/17/2008)
Uh... in the Mini universe it IS a long car. No big deal, i like the Min, i think this is fugly.
Torrent 1:55PM (10/17/2008)
WTFOMFGROFLMFAOLOLXD
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Brn 1:57PM (10/17/2008)
Crossover? That's more of a station wagon than the Ford Flex.
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Tired 1:59PM (10/17/2008)
Don't ruin your brand.
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Crackberry Addict 2:06PM (10/17/2008)
thats sad.
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jsb 2:06PM (10/17/2008)
Um, that isn't even close to paisley....
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Shipey 2:14PM (10/17/2008)
BMW,
I know you want to capitalize on the Mini brand. I can't blame you for it in the least. But did it not occur to you that since you -and everyone else- already makes vehicles this size, and that since this brand's name is Mini, that perhaps your new model should be, well, mini-er?
Just a thought.
Love,
Captain Obvious
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jte 2:16PM (10/17/2008)
Just make it a 4 door wagon mini, no need to jack it up with 4 wheel drive and decrease the fuel economy.
Goes against what a Mini is, small and fuel efficient.
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Snark 3:17PM (10/17/2008)
How is a vehicle that is the size of a lifted VW Rabbit and which will come with a diesel NOT small and fuel-efficient?
jte 7:08PM (10/17/2008)
yes a mini cuv may be more effcient that many other cuvs,
however, what i am saying is a low wagon with 2 wheel drive would be more fuel efficient than a jacked up high drag mini cuv with 4 wheel drive.
Mobius_1 2:27PM (10/17/2008)
Please, keep the camo on this new "MiniMax"
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ugg.tryptophan 2:31PM (10/17/2008)
while this car will dilute the brand name (mini suv?), I have to admit i do like it, and would buy it given the chance ,but then again the tiguan already fills the small german suv and looks better...
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eddie.gonza 2:36PM (10/17/2008)
the driver is flicking off the photographer!
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Peter Lombardi 2:59PM (10/17/2008)
Hahaha!!! I noticed that too Eddie!!!
-peter
Mi key 2:46PM (10/17/2008)
The Mini-Max.
That sound like a pretty cool name for this model.
Yeah Cooper, Clubman and Max.
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