Mini Beachcomber Concept, 2010
The MINI Beachcomber Concept crosses borders, enters new dimensions of driving pleasure, and wins over additional target groups by expanding the model range and the creativity of MINI design. MINI demonstrates its potential for additional product lineup growth and further enhanced driving pleasure with the MINI Beachcomber Concept.
The MINI Beachcomber Concept is a four-seater concept car designed for maximum driving pleasure, incorporating key features of the new MINI and combining them with the vision of a radically open body concept.
The new all-wheel drive system, ALL4, and a flexible interior make the MINI Beachcomber Concept ideal for a spontaneous and active experience. It is designed without doors or a conventional roof, and all other body elements that could limit the intensity of the occupants' encounter with their surrounding world. This allows the driver and up to three passengers to connect with their surroundings - whether cruising through town, enjoying rough tracks in the mountains, or breezing along the beach. The vehicle's space concept, partnered with a modern drivetrain technology, ensures a highly emotional driving experience.
The MINI Beachcomber Concept combines all-wheel drive, cutting-edge suspension technology, and an elevated seating position. Generous spring travel and extra-large light-alloy wheels raise the entire car to a higher level. Access to the front and rear seats is convenient thanks to the open doorways. The entry cutouts extend all the way down to the seat bottoms, allowing the driver and all passengers to get in and out in one smooth and flowing process.
The driver and passengers will enjoy everyday motoring conditions - simply because the MINI Beachcomber Concept retains its unmistakable character in all conditions. In the event of bad weather, drivers can either use the soft roof or the lightweight door and roof elements, all of which fit easily and can be installed within a few minutes.
MINI enters new terrain - with a fourth model and a complete range of innovative ideas for future.
Based on the MINI crossover vehicle that will be launched later this year in markets outside of North America, the MINI Beachcomber Concept is a symbol of the brand values packaged in a new, radical style.
The Unique, typical of MINI, and with a great role model from way back when.
The MINI Beachcomber Concept now takes the basic principles of the Mini Moke into the 21st century. The rustic appearance of the car, and its concept of consciously reducing the body components and interior to a minimum clearly follow the tradition of the radically open Mini Moke of the 1960s. This is further accentuated by design cues that are strongly inspired by the original Mini Moke, and is enhanced by various striking details such as the characteristic radiator grille.
Even ALL4 all-wheel drive can be seen in a role model from the past. A prototype Mini Moke developed by Alec Issigonis in 1963 had two engines and an early ALL4 system. On this test car, appropriately referred to as the "Twini," the front and rear wheels were each driven by a four-cylinder from the Mini range of engines.
Versatile, modern, and safe at all times.
The MINI Beachcomber Concept offers a wide range of technology and features for driving pleasure in the 21st century. The premium manufacturer touches in the areas of design, drivetrain, safety and production technology bring together the undiluted character of a concept car with a wide range of possibilities in the real world.
The MINI Beachcomber Concept vehicle's stable body structure incorporates clearly defined load paths and deformation units, which absorb impact energy in the event of a collision. The vehicle's rollover safety also meets the highest demands made of an open car and it is able to withstand even extreme situations. The frame on the passenger cell is formed by substantially reinforced A-pillars, and the D-pillar bar is complete with an integrated lateral support element at the rear of the car. It is made of high-strength steel for maximum stiffness. This additional safety component is finished in body color, and reinforces the commitment to safety.
Extreme variability for all kinds of activities, weather and road conditions.
Individual rear seats adjust forward and back to offer the passengers a supreme standard of grand touring comfort tailored to their individual requirements. The rear seat backrests fold down completely to allow appropriate adjustment of interior space for all needs. In practice, this means that the driver and passengers are able to conveniently stow even bulky sports equipment such as mountain bikes or wakeboards securely held in position by special fastening systems.
When opening, the MINI Beachcomber Concept is also able to carry extra-long objects, such as surfboards, with ease. Fastened firmly to the lateral support, surfboards fit conveniently into the car, sticking out at the top on the way to the beach.
Flexible protection from wind and weather: soft roof or hardtop inserts.
The MINI Beachcomber Concept is built for the sunny side of life and is simply perfect for spontaneous action. Through its optimum flexibility, the car is able to meet many different requirements, naturally coping with any sudden change in outdoor conditions.
The soft roof offers convenient and effective protection from rain and weather, and comes off the body completely and folds up into a compact unit. Whenever required, the roof may be drawn over the car within a few minutes, like a tonneau cover on a boat, fastening conveniently on the windshield frame, the rear panel and the side openings.
The removable door elements maintain their defined position through their firm connection to the opening points and the A- and D-pillars. They are transparent at the top to provide good visibility to the outside. The rear element is held firmly in position through its contact to the left door element, the rear body panel at the right, and the loading sill.
The removable hardtop is connected to the windscreen frame at the front and rests in special mounts on the rollover crossbar. Precisely arranged connections joining the hardtop with the side and rear elements keep the entire structure extremely strong and stable, with the appropriate connection being unfastened in each case when opening a door.
Typical MINI design, re-interpreted and concentrating on the essential.
Short overhangs front and rear as well as the wide wheel stance on the MINI Beachcomber Concept bear the overall look of the brand. Here again, the new model comes with characteristic MINI design features at the front, side and rear that are re-interpreted on the new model. The extra-wide body frame encompasses the wheel arches and extends down to the road, emphasizing the robust flair and character of this all-wheel-drive concept study. And thanks to greater ground clearance, the advantage of short front and rear overhangs can be seen even more on rough terrain, allowing a particularly large ramp angle for even the toughest requirements.
The entire front section of the car is angled towards the road. The engine compartment lid is powerfully chiseled, and the powerdome, with its integrated air insert, symbolizes the outstanding performance of the turbocharged engine within the car.
The hexagon radiator grille, again typical of MINI, comes with contour lines carried over directly from the front look of the Mini Moke. With its vertical position, three robust crossbars and additional integrated headlights, the radiator grille gives the MINI Beachcomber Concept a particularly powerful and convincing presence.
The 3-dimensional headlight units integrated into the engine compartment lid, as a new interpretation of a characteristic design feature, also boast a striking look. Accentuated by the classy chrome frame, the headlights follow the contours of the engine compartment lid and wheel arches, again confirming the increase in stature and spaciousness over the MINI models available so far. A large air intake at the bottom and foglamps moved far to the outside round off the front view of the car, again in that unique style so typical of MINI.
Side view: new combination of robust strength and lightweight look.
Extending far into the side of the car, the headlights additionally emphasize the short front overhang. The powerfully designed wheel arches on the MINI Beachcomber Concept boast large 17-inch light-alloy wheels and off-road tires with a rough tread.
The graphic look of the rear end is formed by the asymmetric design of the luggage compartment, the door element on the left and the storage case fitted on the outside, which symbolizes the superior versatility of the car. Meanwhile, the open section on the left emphasizes the lightness and spontaneous functionality of the entire concept.
The interior: sophisticated, versatile, robust, and full of character.
The interior design of the MINI Beachcomber Concept focuses on maximum driving pleasure in the great outdoors. Extra features added to the car, as well as appropriate and conscious reduction to the minimum versus the existing models in the MINI range, serve to focus on the essential. The Center Speedo is in the typical MINI design, comprising the usual display for navigation and audio functions.
The MINI Beachcomber Concept being intended primarily for driving in the open air, the number of air vents has been reduced in the interest of additional loudspeakers on the HiFi system as well as special instruments for off-road motoring. The additional instruments are spherical in shape, reminiscent of the displays in the cockpit of an aircraft.
A liquid-sprung compass fitted to the left of the steering wheel tells the driver whether he is going the right way and moving in the right direction. Another special instrument to the right of the steering wheel presents an artificial horizon, showing the angle of the car around its longitudinal and transverse axis.
Contoured seats and an additional handle on the front passenger side optimize driving pleasure on rough terrain. Open-pore footmats allow a good view of the floorpan, and characterize the robust ambience of the car. The stitching seams on the seats are matched specifically to this concept car.
The Center Rail with new features: everything the sportsman needs at your disposal at all times.
The Center Rail that was presented in the MINI Crossover Concept plays a particularly important role in the new concept model. Extending from the instrument panel all the way to the luggage compartment, this fastening rail connects the front seats with the rear, emphasizing the common driving experience enjoyed by the occupants.
The special fastening system developed for MINI enables the driver and passengers to place individual elements and components on the Center Rail, such as external music players and other devices, armrests for the front and rear seats, storage boxes, shelves and holders of all kinds.
The MINI Center Rail comes complete with an integrated cable duct allowing the user to connect a mobile phone or MP3 player in any position to the car's entertainment system by means of a holder fastened to the rail. Another option is to connect additional sources of light, a cooling box, a laptop or a GPS tracker safely and securely to the Center Rail, each with their own power supply.
The range of holders has been further extended especially for the MINI Beachcomber Concept, now including a stopwatch specially made for the new model, a bottle holder, a compact meal box as well as a case for cycling and swimming glasses, clearly reflecting the sporting character of this concept car and simply ideal for the triathlete.
