Mini Concept Frankfurt: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 16/9/2005

Exactly 45 years after the launch of the Mini Traveller in September 1960, Mini is presenting the MINI Concept Frankfurt at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show - a design study re-interpreting the philosophy of the little Traveller from Great Britain through a new concept of "Travelling in Style" befitting the beginning of the 21st century.

The MINI concept car is home to numerous innovations both inside and outside: wide-opening doors with parallelogram kinematics characterise this very special car in the same way as its coupé-like look without a B-pillar.

The MINI Concept Frankfurt also quotes the classic Mini Traveller through its elegant Estate (wagon) design boasting a symmetrically split double door at the back as well as split rear side windows.

In its overall appearance the MINI Concept Frankfurt is sleek and smooth, while nevertheless placing the emphasis on important features such as the wheel arches, the shoulder line and the powerdome.

The fundamental idea in developing MINI Concept Frankfurt was to make loading and entering the car as simple and convenient as possible.

This is why all four doors (the driver/front passenger and rear doors) come with parallelogram kinematic joints and springs, which allows optimum access and entry into the car; the doors swivel to the side and at the same time to the front in one single movement, ensuring maximum opening space leading into the interior.

The rear sliding windows open electrically, the front section moving parallel beneath the rear half. With the windows fully open, MINI Concept Frankfurt thus provides a particularly impressive feeling of style and generosity otherwise to be found only in a coupe or a convertible.

The MINI Concept Frankfurt comes with an adjustable Cargobox within the luggage compartment with its loading cover moving out to the rear for easy and convenient access at all times. A further convenient feature is the transparent cover on the Cargobox moving up and thus serving as a partition between the passenger area and the luggage compartment. Finally, The rear section of the roof, opens up just as conveniently for easy loading.

The four-seater MINI with its extra-large luggage compartment was launched in September 1960 in the guise of the Austin Seven Countryman and the Morris Mini Traveller. The term "Traveller" alone clearly proved that this special version of the Mini was intended from the start for an active target group. Sales of the Mini Traveller from 1960 to 1982 amounted to more than 400,000 units, including a special version of the Mini Clubman as of 1969. In due time, the MINI Concept Frankfurt could even make it to production to repeat the original Mini Traveller's success.