The MINI Beachcomber: Moke for the Modern Age

[Joey D]

World Premier: MINI Beachcomber Concept

As reported last week, MINI will be bringing a Moke like concept to the Detroit Autoshow potentially foreshadowing an upcoming production version as well as the forthcoming MINI Countryman crossover (in fact what we see below is basically the Countryman taken to the extreme). Today we get our first look at the car with an official release and a slew of sketches and renderings from MINI Design.

Official Release: MINI crosses borders, enters new dimensions of driving pleasure, and wins over additional target groups.

Once again, MINI achieves all this by consistently expanding the model range and through the unconventional creativity of MINI design. Just a few months prior to the launch of the brand’s fourth model announced for autumn 2010, MINI is now demonstrating its potential for further enhancement of driving pleasure and diversity through another spectacular concept car: the concept of a brand-new type of vehicle proudly presented by MINI at the North American International Auto Show (16–24 January 2010) in Detroit.

The MINI Beachcomber Concept is a four-seater concept car designed consistently for maximum driving pleasure, taking up the enhanced options of the new MINI and combining these potentials with the vision of a radically open body concept.

Full Story Here: http://www.motoringfile.com/2009/12/15/world-premier-mini-beachcomber-concept/
Easy to Use Photo Gallery: http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/mini-beachcomber-concept-0/#2

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This almost makes me want to head down to Detroit to check it out. MINI typically comes up with some pretty cool concepts and this one is no exception. I can only assume their new crossover will look pretty much like this with doors.

 

[Northstar]

I like it, I'm also glad that they are sticking to models they at least made in the past and not just making new ones for the sake of spreading the brand.

 

[Jim Prower]

I'm split on it. On one hand, It does the heritage bit well, but...well, I dunno, there's something I just can't get to like about it. I think part of it is that it has no doors that I can see...and I'm the kind of guy who even wants them on a Wrangler.

 

[Northstar]

I'm split on it. On one hand, It does the heritage bit well, but...well, I dunno, there's something I just can't get to like about it. I think part of it is that it has no doors that I can see...and I'm the kind of guy who even wants them on a Wrangler.

I would think if it makes it to production it would have doors.

 

[homeforsummer]

I want one I'd go great alongside one of these:

And one of these:

Doors are overrated.

 

[Eric.]

And one of these?

I don't know about the Mini. It just looks odd to me, and more of a Toyota look than a Mini. I think the roofline reminds me of the FJ Cruiser.

 

[Casio]

Needs less roof to be a real Moke.

 

[J-PaP]

Needs less roof to be a real Moke.

+1 and less of a mini looking front. Mokes never looked like mini's.

 

[GTjazzabrandy]

You can see clear similarities between this and the Mini SUV in spy shots of it.

 

[homeforsummer]

+1 and less of a mini looking front. Mokes never looked like mini's.

That front end has more than a hint of Mini to me, even if it's just from the general shape and the same lights being used.

Interesting to note that the Beachcomber has a grille styled to look like the original Moke.

 

[J-PaP]

Sorry but an original moke has little resemblance to an original mini.

The beachcomber with doors, lowered and the plastic "offroad" guards removed would look exactly like a normal mini. Try removing a roof and the doors off an original mini and tell me it looks like a moke.

Admittedly you probably can never create a real modern version of the moke as it would never pass any safety standards. But to me thats just an off road mini with a nod to the moke by removing the doors and adding a moke looking grille.

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, to be fair, if it really DID look like a Moke, we'd all be accusing it of aping the Jeep Wrangler.

 

[Joey D]

But to me thats just an off road mini with a nod to the moke by removing the doors and adding a moke looking grille.

The concept isn't a Moke, just done in the spirit of the Moke.

 

[niky]

Needs less roof to be a real Moke.

+2.

Not entirely convinced by a concept that looks a lot like a stripped MINI SUV.

What it needs is less rear quarter window (or no rear quarter window) and it'd be better. Needs more rollcage, more fun, more "custom" than it has now.

 

[Northstar]

Well, to be fair, if it really DID look like a Moke, we'd all be accusing it of aping the Jeep Wrangler.

Probably.

Plus, it's not called the Moke because it's not a Moke.

 

[Moglet]

Interesting idea, but it looks deformed. It's far too busy, every single panel has too much cluttering it and it looks akward. Given how nice the Mini Coupe concept looked, I was hoping for better than this.

 

[Joey D]

Well the Coupe will be going into production, this however won't be (at least in this form) so I suppose they gave their designers free reign to do what they wanted...and we all know what happens when designs get freedom.

 

[Philly]

Really? Beachcomber? Hella badass.

 

[Joey D]

Motoring File has posted up a guide to the Beachcomber (come on it's a blog about MINI's they need something to do).

With the Beachcomber concept, MINI is not only giving us a look at a modern Moke type of vehicle but also a hint at many things to come.

Countryman Design Similarities
Yes for starters we are looking at essentially a over stylized R60 Countryman crossover. But what exactly does that mean you ask? MINI Design took a prototype R60 and literally cut into the doors (the originals are still in place as you can see the seams on the front and rear), removed the top and began re-imaging it in the guise of an off-roader. So in a sense what you’re looking at here is a modified R60 Countryman.

But let’s get more specific. The lights are spot on carry overs from production. However the bumpers and cladding on the renderings and images are new and will not be seen on the R60. Either will the off-road tires. However if you look at a few of the early sketches (especially the one below) we start to get a much better idea of how the final Countryman design will shape-up.

This similarity to the R60 carries over inside even more so save for some outlandish pattern and trim pieces. The overall design, features and shapes inside the cabin are 100% R60. One of the more interesting things to note inside is MINI’s ability to make space out of seemingly tight quarters. For instance the rear seats can be adjusted front to back giving rear passengers much greater legroom than would be available otherwise. And since this modified Clubman platform has also been widened, there’s decidedly more shoulder room than any MINI before.

WRC Connection
Earlier this year we reported on MINI’s WRC connection. With the rally heritage of the brand, there have been many internal champions of MINI returning to professional rally racing. As we reported earlier this year, this will happen with the R60. In fact if you again look at the sketch below you’ll get a glimpse (if you squint) at what that rally car will look like. The rally car will be built by the famed British racing company Prodrive making its debut sometime early this year. We expect 2011 to be it’s first full year on the circuit.

Facelifted Interior
For 2011 MINI will be refreshing their entire line-up of R56 derived cars (R55, R56, and R57) with both exterior and interior additions and we get a sneak peak at some of the upgrades with the Beachcomber concept. Notably the improved plastics seen in the center stack area will foreshadow what the R56 derived refresh will bring.

Variations on a Theme
Obviously the first variation of this concept will be the MINI Countryman scheduled to debut in Geneva in early March. However MINI is also considering creating (as you’ve probably read on MF) a non-crossover version that is closer to a Golf GTI four door in concept. The car would feature the same layout as the R60 yet lower to the ground with the faux off-roadness taken away and replaced with a more classic MINI appearance. There’s even a chance MINI’s ALL4 all wheel drive system could show up on the car.

While it’s just an internal concept at this point (designs have been created but nothing has been set in stone yet) MINI wants to leverage the engineering work done to bring the R60 to market. After-all what we’re looking at here is a bespoke platform (potentially MINI’s last that isn’t shared with another manufacturer) that cost a substantial amount of money

Key things to take away:

• This is essentially the new MINI crossover with some exotic elements.
• This is also the same platform in which the new WRC car will sit.

 

[Andrew C]

I love that even this is standard with a stick (as seen with the pictures). 👍