Motor
07-07-2010, 12:57 PM
Rendered: The Mini Minivan That Could Be Headed Our Way (http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/07/rendered-the-mini-minivan-that-could-be-headed-our-way.html)
What's next for Mini? Could it be getting even bigger? Well, maybe not bigger, but roomier. That's the idea behind the rumored space concept that could arrive in the next few years.
Now that the Mini Countryman has paved the way for larger, more utilitarian versions of the standard coupe, the company is considering something along the lines of a mini-minivan. Don't worry: there will be no sliding doors or swiveling seats.
Instead, the space concept would most likely ride on the same chassis as the Countryman, but punch out all the interior dimensions to their limits. The result would be a vanlike silhouette and extra space for passengers and cargo.
An executive at Mini recently revealed that the Countryman chassis has the flexibility to add a few inches of wheelbase, so the space concept could benefit from a slightly larger footprint. A third row isn't likely, but extra cargo room and adjustable rear seats could be one way to make the space concept a little more useful than the Countryman.
http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/assets_c/2010/07/mini-spaceconcept-1600-thumb-717x477.jpg
Cute.
What's next for Mini? Could it be getting even bigger? Well, maybe not bigger, but roomier. That's the idea behind the rumored space concept that could arrive in the next few years.
Now that the Mini Countryman has paved the way for larger, more utilitarian versions of the standard coupe, the company is considering something along the lines of a mini-minivan. Don't worry: there will be no sliding doors or swiveling seats.
Instead, the space concept would most likely ride on the same chassis as the Countryman, but punch out all the interior dimensions to their limits. The result would be a vanlike silhouette and extra space for passengers and cargo.
An executive at Mini recently revealed that the Countryman chassis has the flexibility to add a few inches of wheelbase, so the space concept could benefit from a slightly larger footprint. A third row isn't likely, but extra cargo room and adjustable rear seats could be one way to make the space concept a little more useful than the Countryman.
http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/assets_c/2010/07/mini-spaceconcept-1600-thumb-717x477.jpg
Cute.