MINI Concept Geneva

Press Release

Page 1: In Short
Page 2: Great Days
Page 3: Exterior (I)
Page 4: Exterior (II)
Page 5: Interior

Great Days in the Monte Carlo Rally

The Monte Carlo Rally: the birth of the Mini sports car legend

Dominating the Monte Carlo Rally from 1964 to 1967, Mini set the foundation for its legendary reputation as an extremely fast and above all nimble sports car. Now, commemorating the 100^th birthday of Sir Alec Issigonis, the creator of Mini, in the year 2006 and as a reminder of the outstanding victories brought home by the Mini brand some 40 years ago, MINI Concept Geneva is appearing on the scene as an up-to-date interpretation of that small British racer in its great days.

In the process the core idea of the Mini Traveller, Mini Countryman and Mini Clubman Estate is being carried forward progressively into a new model variant.

MINI Concept Geneva thus combines sporting engine power and an equally sporting ambience within the interior through its flexible and clever use of space. So apart from the Team Manager and Service Engineer, all the equipment for the toughest racing requirements fits perfectly inside the car.

Role model from the 1960s

Unusual, nimble, clever – from the very first day Mini was the ideal companion for the genuine trendsetter. Then, in the early 1960s, the particular class and style of Mini was further enhanced by sporting outdoor activities, special models allowing the enthusiast to enjoy wonderful trips to the countryside or a glorious day on the beach: the Mini Traveller, the Mini Countryman and, somewhat later, the Mini Clubman Estate, all with a longer wheelbase, a slightly higher roofline and practical rear doors were exactly the right companions at the time for this special feeling of life. They combined the unique chic of Mini with extra space, the Mini Trav­eller thus guaranteeing stylish transportation at all times and all places.

With 2006 marking the one-hundredth birthday of Sir Alec Issi­gonis, the inventor of Mini, MINI is presenting a special Concept Car at the Geneva Motor Show re-interpreting the core idea of a vehicle for the travelling enthusiast in appropriate style for the early 21^st century.

Many features are familiar, but in reality everything is new

The unique overall look of the car, its design at the front and from the side, as well as numerous design features now acknowledged as genuine icons are all typical of MINI. But the innovative features boasted by the car are equally characteristic of the MINI world – for example the wide-opening doors with intelligent parallelogram kinematics as well as the specially developed Silver metallic paintwork and the exquisite materials used inside the car. MINI Con­cept Geneva bears tribute to its forerunner also through its elegant design, the symmetrically split double door at the rear, and the split side windows for the passengers in the second row.

In all, MINI Concept Geneva excels by combining all its functions with clearly defined benefits for the user and by refining its design features to the last detail. At the same time the name alone is a commitment: MINI has its roots in an urban world, which is why every issue of the MINI International Magazine is dedicated to an exciting city.

MINI Concept Geneva, therefore, is an homage to the host city and venue of the International Motor Show.

Always different, always stylish. New surfaces and materials for MINI Concept Geneva

Satellite Silver as the car’s multi-layer exterior paintwork interacting in silver and grey, white and red leather with different surfaces and a different touch, innovative glass-fibre fabric for the inner linings on the doors and a metallic carbon look within the footwells – all this clearly shows what sporting and individual style means to MINI at the beginning of the 21^st century: an exceptional ambience and clever use of space presented authentically in the guise of MINI Concept Geneva.

This also means ample space for up to four occupants travelling in generous and luxurious style to their sporting activities and in their leisure time. New ideas for making optimum use of the space available range from the Cargobox in the luggage compartment all the way to the driver’s and front passenger’s seats “hovering� in suspended arrangement.