The Mini BioMoke concept, inspired by the original Mini Moke, was an entrant to the LA Auto Show design competition which asked competitors to create environmentally friendly vehicles.
All body components of the Mini BioMoke are formulated to biodegrade after a five year life cycle, no sooner. The biodegradable sandwich panels used in constructing the BioMoke are implanted with palm tree seeds. As the Mini BioMoke completes its life cycle, its drivetrain will be passed on to future generations of biomokes, while its body composts to grow trees.
The Mini BioMoke concept would be delivered in kit form, encouraging user interactivity with customizable body panels and alternative fuel powertrains. The kit car format of the BioMoke also promotes the reusing of mechanical components from previous generations of vehicles, and the practice of recycling and reducing waste.
The Mini BioMoke concept is an optimistic and minimalist approach to travel as it relates to the issue of global warming and sustainable design. The go-anywhere capabilities of the Mini BioMoke would allow you to motor through Southern California’s exquisite landscape while its open-aired cockpit lets you enjoy the temperate climate native to the region.
Mini Crossover Concept
t's finally arrived folks... and it's not the coming apocalypse. MINI has released the first official images of the Crossover Concept, proving that BMW not only has a sense of humor, but that it's serious about bringing an all-wheel-drive MINI to market in 2010.
These initial images give us a clear indication of how future MINIs will be styled, and if BMW's reputation for making only a few revisions from concept to production hold true, this is very close to the finished product
Measuring about six inches wider and taller than the Clubman, the Crossover Concept features a five-door body style, but that's where the similarities end. The right rear door has a conventional hinge, but the left door slides out and back, minivan-style. The rear hatch ditches the Clubman's dual doors and is instead fitted with a single panel that opens to the right. Sources suggest that the concept's door arrangement might be nixed in favor of something more traditional when it reaches production.
Power specifications and exact trim levels have yet to be revealed, but expect the Crossover to carry the same naturally aspirated and turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines as its Cooper counterparts, BMW's Efficient Dynamics system (with start-stop tech) and naturally, all-wheel-drive.
It's likely that the Crossover won't be spending much time off road, but with a higher ride height, more space, a comfy interior and MINI's iconic styling, we're sure we'll see several on the highways and byways both here and abroad.
Mini Concept 4x4
The MINI Beachcomber is a concept designed to give a preview of the upcoming MINI off-roader which is due out towards the end of 2010. The new 4x4 model will be the fourth model in the MINI range, and join the standard MINI, the MINI Traveller and the new 2-seat MINI Coupe/Roadster model.
It's not hard to see that MINI got their inspiration for the Beachcomber concept from the Mini Moke from the 60s. Except where the Moke was extremely basic and retained a similar layout to the original Mini, the Beachcomber and the new 4x4 are built off an all-new platform.
The 4x4 drivetrain of the Beachcomber is not the first one to be fitted as standard by MINI. Back in the 60s when they were trying to sell the Moke to the military, Mini built a few 4x4 prototypes by adding an extra engine at the rear to drive the rear wheels. Thankfully, for the Beachcomber concept and the new 4x4, MINI have decided to adopt a more conventional layout!
MINI's designers have done a pretty good job of balancing the styling between being instantly recognizable as a MINI product, and tough enough to roll with the rest of the 'soft-roader' competition. The body colored front grille - which is designed to mimic the Moke's - is echoed at the rear in the design of the spare wheel housing. Massive side-sills along the front and rear entry points interact with the dark body frame to add a further touch of robustness, while the free view offered into the interior emphasizes the lightness and agility of this concept car. Stylised push button elements around the entry point, like on the MINI Moke, indicate the option to fit a simple and straightforward cover for bad weather.
According to MINI's press release the "all-wheel drive and the variable interior give the MINI Beachcomber Concept abilities absolutely ideal for a spontaneous and active experience of freedom and leisure time. The potential offered by the car's modern drivetrain technology and space concept is used here to the greatest possible extent to ensure a highly emotional driving experience. Hence, the MINI Beachcomber Concept consistently does without doors, a conventional roof and all other body elements which might possibly limit the intensity of the occupants' encounter with their surrounding world. This makes the driver and up to three passengers one harmonious entity communicating directly with their surroundings – whether cruising through town, enjoying rough tracks in the mountains, or breezing along the beach."
Essentially what MINI are saying is that if you want to be a show off you can drive around with the doors and roof removed, and that this will somehow bring you and your surroundings into harmony. Rubbish.
However for locations where it's possible to drive around without any weather protection, or the security of a locking door, the open configuration would probably be quite nice. That is until you realized you'd taken a wrong turn in a bad neighborhood, in an expensive vehicle with no doors, and it starts raining.
MINI Cooper concept detroit
While the Mini Concept Detroit’s exterior is sleek and smooth like the existing Mini Cooper, special emphasis has been placed on its muscular wheel arches, pronounced shoulder line and power dome hood. For show car duty, the Mini Concept Detroit is detailed in Satellite Silver Metallic paint and neoprene contours engineered with special highlights in red and blue.
MINI Traveller Concept
The iconic MINI gained its larger brother at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Mini Traveller concept displayed was one of the more exiting concepts to come out of the important German Motor Show.
The new MINI Traveller concept is a revival of the original Mini Traveller from the 1960's, the new Traveller was launched exactly 45 years after the old model.
The new model although obviously closely related to the current production Mini, features a modified front end with an all new 3-bar grille, swept back headlights, higher bonnet and more aerodynamic windscreen. The Traveller's station wagon body shape suits the Mini and has many interesting features.
The Mini Travellers rear side windows slide backwards creating a single, large open space, the rear section of the roof can be slid forward, further enhancing the open feeling while also helping during loading and unloading.
The Traveller's side doors use parallelogram hinges for maximum accessibility, as do the unique split rear doors, these being a feature of the original Traveller.
The all new interior of the Mini Traveller features 'floating' seats as well as a prominent centre display.
The designers regular use of circles and spheres is apparent when looking at the interior. Leather, Chrome and Aluminium are the materials of choice inside with white leather adorning the seats and other surfaces.
Although original, the alloy wheels displayed on the car are a bit of a let down for the Traveller concept, slightly too closed and bland, they may work with the silver body colour, imagine it in red.
MINI Coupé Concept
The MINI Coupé Concept first went on display at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The concept is designed to preview the coupe model due to join the expanding MINI line up.
Exterior
From all angles the Coupe Concept has unmistakable MINI styling elements, from the round headlights and trademark grille, to the extended wheel arches and distinctive taillights. The only section of the car which is not instantly recognizable as belonging to a MINI is the glass house with its steeply raked windscreen and the curvaceous roofline.
The MINI Coupe Concept is a strict two seater, and with a lightweight construction and the legendary MINI chassis the vehicle's dynamics should match expectations.
Drivetrain
The MINI Coupe Concept is built to accommodate the 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged power unit borrowed from the MINI John Cooper Works. This powerplant develops 211 hp and a peak torque of 260 Nm (192 lb-ft). By using the Overboost function this can be increased to 280 Nm (206 lb-ft) for a short while. Despite the potent drivetrain the MINI Coup Concept follows the BMW Group's EfficientDynamics development strategy which aims to increase driving pleasure, while lowering emissions.
Interior
Wide-opening doors give the driver and passenger unhindered and easy access to the interior, where they are met with a pair of sports seats with deep lateral support. The three-spoke leather sports steering wheel features multifunction buttons for controlling audio and communication systems. Other controls are arranged in an ergenomic manner on the dash. The Tachometer is mounted behind the steering wheel, while the speedometer is part of the central instrument in the upper section of the dashboard. This circular instrument well known as the Center Speedo also houses the audio system as well as the optional entertainment and navigation functions.
MINI Coupe Concept dimensions:
Length - 3,714 millimetres (146.2")
Width - 1,683 millimetres (66.3")
Height - 1,356 millimetres (53.4")
Luggage capacity - 250 litres (8.8 cu ft)