Wednesday 16th December 2009

Mini Beachcomber Concept Unveiled

Moke-inspired show car hints at Mini's new SUV

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This is the Mini Beachcomber concept, due to be revealed at the Detroit show next month.

"The Mini Beachcomber Concept," says Mini, "projects the principle of the Mini Moke into the 21st century. The rustic (we like that) appearance of the car and its consistent concept of consciously reducing the body components and interior to a minimum clearly follow the tradition of the radically open Mini Moke back in the 1960s".

Unlike the rugged but determinedly two-wheel-drive 1964 Moke, the Beachcomber Concept is four-wheel drive. It's fitted with Mini's new ALL4 4x4 system, making it the first 'official' all-wheel-drive Mini since Alec Issigonis came up with a twin-engined Mini Moke prototype in 1963 called the Twini.

That is the first clue to the real purpose of the Beachcomber. When you take away the wacky colours and trims, remove the knobbly tyres, and add a set of conventional doors to the sides and a roof, what you come up with is the best clue yet to the Mini SUV that's due towards the end of 2010.

That car is likely to be called the Countryman, and will be significantly chunkier than the Clubman, but still a good deal smaller than the current crop of 'compact' SUVs. Think of it as somewhere between a Ford Fusion and a Ford Kuga in size and you're probably somewhere close

Getting back to the Beachcomber concept, Mini says that reinforced A-pillars and equally strong D-pillars mean that the doorless and largely roofless car's rollover safety "meets the highest demands made of an open car, the stable frame on the passenger cell able to withstand even extreme situations".

Even so, don't expect the production version of the Mini SUV to incorporate Beachcomber-style removable doors; the high costs involved in getting such a structure to pass stringent crash tests would almost certainly prohibit that.

[SimonSaid]

Oh, dear.

'Moke-inspired' or 'joke-inspired'...?

Edited by SimonSaid on Wednesday 16th December 11:30

[A1GOY]

That is truly, truly vile. Stop it, MINI.

[louismchuge]

oh dear

[patmahe]

About as far from the original Mini and Moke as you can get. By all means build it if you think it will sell (sadly I think it will) but don't dilute the Mini brand and history by using evocative names, call it something else.

As for the car itself, I am not a fan.

[hooperpride]

That is truly hideous, just why?

[[AJ]]

PH said:

Mini Beachcomber Concept

Lets hope it stays that way.

[BBS-LM]

DAM, I was hoping for the MINI MOON-COMBER CONCEPT?

[Mini1275]

Disgrace to the mini name all of these concepts are

[drewcole81]

The Mini died in 2001...

since then there hasn't been anything that lives up to the name... and this lastest joke is shocking.

[soad]

Looks horrid that, no thanks.

[Leicesterdave]

That is bad. Truly repulsive. MINI, stick to what you do best FWD small cars. Just build them with more power!!

[SimonSaid]

drewcole81 said:

The Mini died in 2001...

since then there hasn't been anything that lives up to the name... and this lastest joke is shocking.

Possibly why values for 'proper' minis are sky-high at the moment. Want.

[PhilipAlfa]

I quite like it

OK, so it's nothing to do with the real Mini, but I do admire the way that BMW have developed the MINI brand. In a sea of bland cars at least the MINI and it's derivatives stand out, plus they actually drive really well - surely that has to be applauded?

[A.S.H]

BANK (Insert fingers into mouth and pull cheeks as far as they will go before you say it)

[Mini1275]

SimonSaid said:

drewcole81 said:

The Mini died in 2001...

since then there hasn't been anything that lives up to the name... and this lastest joke is shocking.

Possibly why values for 'proper' minis small BMW's are sky-high at the moment. Want.

^^^EFA:
BMW fked up the mini years ago. Alec Issigonis would be turning in his grave .

Edited by Mini1275 on Wednesday 16th December 11:51

[gavzdc5445]

wow....quiet morning at Pistonheads today I see...that is vulgar

[isetta 300]

I quite like it - these pics dont do it any justice. I think its aimed at west coast america not blighty

[vz-r_dave]

The pathetic thing is that those who likes this will look at a Suzuki equivalent and say that its st and that it looks ugly.

Its a joke of a car and only a tt would drive it.

[loomx]

... Speechless

[Bruniep]

Please will somebody take the designers outside and give them a damn good thrashing. With any luck they'll cover it back up again cos it's making my head hurt.