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September 10, 2008
Mini Gets Blimpier, And The Timing Couldn't Be Worse
By Jen Dunnaway
Editor
It seems like a heck of a time for Mini to be planning a new SUV, even if it is still 20 inches shorter than a Honda Civic. I guess it just illustrates the general tendency of a given manufacturer’s products to bloat over time until they’re not popular anymore (another case in point: the once-spartan Subaru Forrester’s portly new middle-aged appearance). The one thing that the new "Mini Crossover Concept" has going for it, aside from careful avoidance of the term "SUV," is four-wheel drive, a first in Mini’s lineup. Expect the concept to start making the rounds at the shows in 2009. More pics below the jump.
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GTwildfire
Sep 12, 2008 at 2:01 am
I like the door panels, the rims and the floor.
valek
Sep 11, 2008 at 6:32 pm
bmw should’ve called the new mini the bmw 0 series, because it’s not a real mini. so this could be the X0. oh and it’s bloody ugly!
Maverick
Sep 11, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Depending on ground clearance and towing capacity (if any) and unladen mpg, I might just consider one of these, At some point i suppose im going to have to find a replacement for my vehicross, and this is just funky enough to make it to my short list…
rodney
Sep 11, 2008 at 3:13 am
lol is this a joke?
melville248
Sep 11, 2008 at 12:20 am
I think this looks fun and interesting and yet semi-practical. Not a good market for SUV’s but come on it’s a mini!
Nothere
Sep 10, 2008 at 9:56 pm
A bit larger, rides a bit higher, 4 wheel drive, more interior space, a bit more crush space – all good things as far as I am concerned. It could look better, but there you go, they are riffing off a 50 year old design.
dodahman
Sep 10, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Sweet. Where do I sign up?
Oafman
Sep 10, 2008 at 7:12 pm
At first it may sound like a bad idea, but think about all of us who live north of the snow belt. A small SUV may be just the thing we need. Especially from a company known for its fuel economy and fun to drive factor. I like the idea of a Mini SUV. It will not have much ground clearance for serious off roading but it would be great for light offroad stuff and winter driving in the ice and snow. All of this in a package that is still easy to park downtown and will not completely piss off the environmentalists.
Dave
Sep 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm
One rear door opens normally while the driver side rear door slides back? ok, whatever