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 CrossThe 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.
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Re: Spied: Mini Cross
Totally agree with you Hilton - always respected the ability of the New Mini but never got over the direction BMW went in - had they actually looked at what the original intended, instead of what it became, they might have come up with something a bit more special.
BMW need to move on - be inventive, be brilliant, be daring. Anybody remember the drawings in Autocar that Rover proposed for a new Mini before Munich took them over? Something akin to what an A Class/A2 became.After that, the BMW take on it was a major disappointment.
For me, a Mini has got to be space efficient; with the accent on the efficient. That is BMW's biggest failure with the new range. It's time for an Issigonis moment.
Re: Spied: Mini Cross
Are you sure it is a Mini, it looks like a camouflaged black cab.
Re: Spied: Mini Cross
Having Joined MINI in 2001 to Launch the car within a dealership I was immensly proud to be a part of the MINI brand . I cant help agreeing with the majority of the comments left here today, MINI has for sure lost its path, I understand the first generation of new MINI had its faults but the cars soul has been lost along the way and this creation only goes to prove this. I have as a matter of interest recently moved across to BMW.