Auto-Salon Vision Paris: Mini Crossover Concept

Vision Automotive / By Roberto Perez S. The MINI-owned British firm BMW Group will be announced at the Paris Motor Show a new variant, the fourth-MINI. This is the prototype Crossover Concept, a prototype that shows quite precisely the look and some of the details that will have its future SUV brand whose marketing is expected to begin in the spring of 2009. However, until this wheel-drive MINI is a reality, there are still some months of waiting. Meanwhile, those admirers of the mark may comply with the prototype dubbed MINI Crossover Concept.

The differences between the MINI Crossover Concept and the Clubman are great. The Crossover Concept slightly over four meters long, making it the first model of the brand that reaches this length. Also, the width is 1.830 mm and the height is 1., 598 mm. When compared with the Clubman, the 4x4 prototype is 14 inches wide and 17 inches high. And so does the wheelbase, which in the Mini 2606 4x4 mm-with-six inches higher.

Its ground clearance is apparently greater than that of other MINI models, which together with the system driving all four wheels (MINI models currently on sale only front wheel drive), can give you some ability for driving off the road.

The first thing that strikes us is its configuration, very similar to the Clubman. However, it has the odd differentiator. For example, while the Clubman has an asymmetrical configuration of three doors, one in the driver's side and two on the passenger, the new Mini Crossover Concept has four doors.

Leaving aside the two front doors for driver and passenger seats, the other gates are arranged in a sliding rear door and liftgate on the left side, allowing access to rear seats. In law, however, the door has a traditional opening.

Following the differences against the Clubman, the Mini 4x4 is also characterized by having no central pillar, a solution that leaves ample room for access to rear seats, but who, in return, reduces the security of the same in case of accident . Hence, in all likelihood the final version will have a central pillar itself.

Another difference from the Clubman is the gate. While in the Clubman the gate is divided into two halves, the prototype of 4x4 gate is in one piece and opens from left to right. Finally, the windows have no frame.

Continuing with the body, this concept car has a roof made almost entirely by a folding top that can be opened from back to front and vice versa.

In relation to the internal configuration, the Mini Crossover Concept has four seats, all with the same design, which carries up to four adults. In addition, the rear seats have a longitudinal adjustment of up to 13 inches, allowing more cargo space, or conversely a higher habitability.

The rear seats have a longitudinal travel of 13 cm, which serves to distribute the space between passengers or volume of the trunk, as appropriate.

The tailgate is made of one piece and opens to the side. Your moon can be practiced, allowing, for example, to load the trunk without having to open the gate.

The rear seats have a system to flush with the floor of the trunk. There is provided a system for transporting a bag hanging on the outside of the gate and the roof has two lanes that are used to mount fasteners.

The Crossover Concept is also instrumentation placed in the center of the board, but has three dimensions (MINI Center Globe). This is the traditional round clock used as the speedometer mark for the occasion, has been transformed into a spherical instrument which not only shows the speed but also blending the main entertainment systems, telecommunication and navigation of the vehicle.

According to MINI, the information is superimposed on several levels, each of which may be highlighted at various levels of intensity. Optically You can divide the area of ​​projection in two parts, to represent different images on the driver's side and passenger.

It can handle a variety of ways: from the touch surface from a spherical control on the steering wheel or from cursor keys and a retractable side placed in up MINI Crossover acompañante.Poner requires dedication. We must place a ball as a key in the top of the instrumentation, allowing the sphere to roll down the driver's side, and then have to press it. If pressed again, the engine is Agapa and ball (Keyball) rolls to the bottom of the sphere so that the driver can remove it.

In the center console, the MINI Crossover Concept has an element that extends from the dashboard to the rear of the cabin. It serves as a storage area and to allow passengers to connect various portable players.

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