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Our spy photographers have captured Mini’s forthcoming SUV being tested ahead of launch in 2010.
We’ve already seen the car as the Crossman concept at the Paris show, but these are the best pictures of a production version.
It’s clear that this is going to be the biggest car to wear a Mini badge so far, likely to be more than 4.0 metres in length.
>> See more pics of the Mini Cross
The Paris show car was badged as the Mini Crossman, but BMW insiders say the production car will be sold as the Mini Cross.
The finished car will also lose most of the Paris show concept’s more outlandish details, including the sliding ‘parallelogram’ hinges of its rear doors.
But it’s possible that the production version will keep the concept’s wind-down tailgate windows, which make it easier to carry longer loads.
Although the Mini Cross is almost as big as BMW’s forthcoming X1 compact SUV, the two cars will not share mechanical components.
Instead the Cross will use a developed version of the platform and powertrains already offered in the existing Mini and Mini Clubman.
The production Mini Cross will be built in Austria by Magna Steyr, which builds European versions of the current BMW X3.
Autocar has also learned that a lower, less aggressively styled, two-wheel-drive variant will be launched shortly after the 4x4 version.
Mike Duff
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