| Make
|
MINI |
| Model |
Beachcomber |
| Concept
year |
2010 |
| Production
year |
- |
| Engine |
- |
The MINI Beachcomber was a concept designed to give a
preview of the MINI Countryman. T
It's not hard to see that MINI got their inspiration for
the Beachcomber concept from the Mini Moke from the 60s.
Except where the Moke was extremely basic and retained
a similar layout to the original Mini, the Beachcomber
and the new 4x4 are built off an all-new platform.
The 4x4 drivetrain of the Beachcomber is not the first
one to be fitted as standard by MINI. Back in the 60s
when they were trying to sell the Moke to the military,
Mini built a few 4x4 prototypes by adding an extra engine
at the rear to drive the rear wheels. Thankfully, for
the Beachcomber concept and the new 4x4, MINI have decided
to adopt a more conventional layout!
MINI's designers have done a pretty good job of balancing
the styling between being instantly recognizable as a
MINI product, and tough enough to roll with the rest of
the 'soft-roader' competition. The body colored front
grille - which is designed to mimic the Moke's - is echoed
at the rear in the design of the spare wheel housing.
Massive side-sills along the front and rear entry points
interact with the dark body frame to add a further touch
of robustness, while the free view offered into the interior
emphasizes the lightness and agility of this concept car.
Stylised push button elements around the entry point,
like on the MINI Moke, indicate the option to fit a simple
and straightforward cover for bad weather.
According to MINI's press release the "all-wheel
drive and the variable interior give the MINI Beachcomber
Concept abilities absolutely ideal for a spontaneous and
active experience of freedom and leisure time. The potential
offered by the car's modern drivetrain technology and
space concept is used here to the greatest possible extent
to ensure a highly emotional driving experience. Hence,
the MINI Beachcomber Concept consistently does without
doors, a conventional roof and all other body elements
which might possibly limit the intensity of the occupants'
encounter with their surrounding world. This makes the
driver and up to three passengers one harmonious entity
communicating directly with their surroundings –
whether cruising through town, enjoying rough tracks in
the mountains, or breezing along the beach."
Essentially what MINI are saying is that if you want to
be a show off you can drive around with the doors and
roof removed, and that this will somehow bring you and
your surroundings into harmony. Rubbish.
However for locations where it's possible to drive around
without any weather protection, or the security of a locking
door, the open configuration would probably be quite nice.
That is until you realized you'd taken a wrong turn in
a bad neighborhood, in an expensive vehicle with no doors,
and it starts raining.
Similar and related vehicles:
MINI Roadster Concept
MINI Coupe Concept
MINI Crossover Concept
MINI Traveller
MINI Concept Geneva
MINI ACV 30
MINI Spiritual
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