Beachcomber: the new concept car from Mini

Mini has unveiled its new concept car that will be featuring at the beginning of 2010 at the North American International Auto Show (16–24 January). With the brand set to launch their fourth model since its re-launch ten years ago, Mini takes the Countryman Crossover, which goes on sale in autumn 2010, and gives it a radical look with enhanced features.

The open body concept sets the stake and is supposed to offer, according to Mini, “the ultimate expression of freedom in a car”. The Beachcomber is in some way an heir of the Mini Moke which, back in the 1960s, became the symbol of adventurous motoring in sunny coastal regions.

The Beachcomber features a newly developed all-wheel drive drivetrain, several body elements serving to make the car extra-strong and robust and an elevated seating position. The extra-large light-alloy wheels also raise to a higher level this concept car that also offers an easy access to front and rear seats thanks to the lack of doors, with the entry cutouts extending all the way down to the seat bottoms.

To protect its occupants from wind and rain the concept car is equipped with a soft-top roof, which can be completely removed from the body and stored in a container, or hardtop panels made of an extra-light plastic material, which protect the roof, the sides of the car and the rear storage compartment.

Leaving no doubts it is a genuine MINI the Beachcomber concept clearly reflects the ongoing process of MINI design and the introduction of MINI design language in a new type of vehicle.