MINI at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. (Short Version)
MINI is celebrating a great birthday – and the party goes on. The 50th anniversary of the brand clearly leaves a powerful stamp on MINI’s appearance at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
At the MINI stand in the new Hall 11, the anniversary of the brand is the focal point in terms of both architecture and the presentation itself, MINI bridging the gap from the past into the present and from here on to the future of the brand. Visitors to the world’s No 1 car show this year will experience a journey through time beginning with the first appearance of the classic Mini back in 1959 and still far from coming to an end with the outstanding success of the current MINI model range. Because fascinating perspectives for the ongoing development of the brand still remain in the years and even decades to come.
Celebrating the world debut of the MINI Coupé Concept and the MINI Roadster Concept, MINI is presenting no less than two spectacular visions of driving pleasure in the sixth decade of the brand at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Both concepts offer a unique interpretation of the traditional values, the individual style and the innovative character of MINI, each in its own way. Both concept cars stand for concentrated driving pleasure in an extremely sporting Coupé, on the one hand, and in a Roadster both pure and elegant for extravagant open-air motoring, on the other.
Further highlights at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show being presented to the public at a car show for the first time are the anniversary MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI 50 Camden announced on the occasion of the MINI United Festival. These two likewise unique models also offer a perfect symbiosis of tradition and innovation in particularly attractive style.
The MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI 50 Camden will be built for a limited period of just one year, their exclusive status being clearly confirmed by special equipment and design features.
The broad range of new models is being rounded off by the world debut of the MINI One D, a new entry-level diesel consistently upgrading the MINI portfolio of particularly economical and efficient models.
Two unique characters, one common presentation: the Oxford Twins at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Celebrating their world debuts at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the MINI Coupé Concept and the MINI Roadster Concept are making a clear statement together as the Oxford Twins. This special characterisation of the two new models obviously refers to the production plant of the current MINI in Great Britain where, at MINI Plant Oxford so full of tradition, more than 1.5 million units of the only premium model in the small car segment have been built since production started in 2001.
The MINI Coupé Concept and the MINI Roadster Concept are based on a platform specially conceived for integrated production at MINI Plant Oxford. Indeed, this again underlines the particular identity of the two concept models, each of which stands out through its innovative character and, at the same time, offers one asset in particular: the uniqueness of a genuine MINI.
MINI Coupé Concept: a vision of concentrated driving pleasure.
The MINI Coupé Concept brings together a wide range of features for a truly sporting and ambitious style of motoring. Intentionally limiting the passenger compartment to two seats and focusing on consistent lightweight construction, the very concept of this unique car specifically addresses the demands made of a particularly dynamic and active coupé. At the same time the low roofline, a precisely defined spoiler at the rear, and further aerodynamically optimised features all serve to improve both the performance and the efficiency of the car. Both in its design and in the opportunities to use a truly powerful engine, the MINI Coupé Concept sets the ideal foundation for a compact sports car in the premium segment.
This two-seater study is conceived from the start also for the most powerful engine currently available in a MINI: Featuring the 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine carried over from the MINI John Cooper Works, the concept car is able to offer supreme performance in every respect. This four-cylinder delivers maximum output of 155 kW/211 hp and peak torque of 260 Newton-metres/192 lb-ft increasing briefly under Overboost to an even more significant 280 Newton-metres/206 lb-ft.
Exterior design: typical MINI look with individual character.
In its body design, the MINI Coupé Concept spans the entire range from the beginnings of the MINI’s history far into the future of the brand, highlighting both the unique looks of the concept and its membership in the MINI family. Through its individual and emotional design language alone, the MINI Coupé Concept also promises a particularly impressive driving experience.
This unique two-seater measures 3,714 millimetres/146.2″ in length and 1,683 millimetres/66.3″ in width. The height of the car is 1,356 millimetres/53.4″.
Through these dimensions and its athletic proportions alone, the MINI Coupé Concept at very first sight stands out as a truly compact and powerful performer for all occasions.
The unmistakable look of the front end comes straight from the four-seater MINI, well-balanced contours with large radii on the engine compartment lid, the large headlights, the homogeneous sweep of the radiator grille and the extra-wide air scoop at the bottom offering the mimicry typical of every model in the range, full of openness and sporting appeal.
The radiator grille and engine compartment lid on the MINI Coupé Concept are the same as on the MINI Cooper S. The inner section of the grille nevertheless comes with trim bars in body colour clearly distinguishing the car from all other models in the MINI family. The bonnet stripes also continue into the radiator grille, providing an additional sporting touch.
Through its lower and even more streamlined windscreen, the MINI Coupé Concept shows its striking character and unique look from the very beginning also from this perspective.
The front side panels on the concept car come straight from the MINI Convertible. Similarly, the diagonal body joint between the engine compartment lid and the surrounds of the side direction indicators reflecting the style of the MINI Cooper S and characteristic of every MINI offers a unique sign of distinction.
The well-known look of these design features forms a stylish contrast to the far lower rake of the A-pillar leading into a completely different and very innovative roofline. The glazed section of the passenger cell referred to as the greenhouse is far lower and more slender on this new model than on the regular models in the range. The MINI Coupé Concept features a low and dynamic windscreen merging softly and gently into the roof, while at the rear the roofline initially moving back above the heads of the driver and passenger in a straight line tapers out into a sturdy and muscular C-pillar.
Throughout the entire car, the roof contours show an unmistakable bridge design feature to be admired for the first time on a MINI, made up of a stable cornerstone formed by the C-pillars and the more filigree structure above the passenger cell. At the same time the side view of the MINI Coupé Concept shows a clear-cut wedge shape as if the car were constantly pushing ahead with all its muscle and power.
The rear-end design of the MINI Coupé Concept seeks to optimise the flow of air essential in terms of both driving dynamics and the efficiency of this unique two-seater. The rear spoiler with its wing profile fitted at the same level as the C-pillars makes a particularly significant contribution to the smooth flow of air at the rear of the MINI Coupé Concept and, at the same time, stands out as a genuine optical highlight. The rear window of this two-seater elegantly tapering out to the bottom of the car merges in typical coupé style into a short and low rear end with just a hint of a notchback. Again, this particular design follows the overriding objective to ensure an optimum flow of air without any turbulence or swirl possibly harming the car’s aerodynamic qualities. The spoiler right at the back of the car comes with appropriately sharp and clear-cut contours.
Impressively functional: tailgate opening up wide,
lots of luggage space.
A further highlight is the special construction of the tailgate on the MINI Coupé Concept. Intentionally doing without a rear seat bench, the body of this two-seater obviously offers additional space for all kinds of luggage. Luggage capacity, therefore, is no less than 250 litres or 8.8 cu ft.
To make optimum use of this potential, the MINI Coupé Concept comes at the rear with a large and wide-opening tailgate. Pivoting above the roof spoiler, the tailgate swings high up together with the rear window, offering convenient access to the extra-large luggage compartment behind the seats of the car. The bulkhead between the passenger and the luggage compartments, in turn, comes with a lockable opening.
The colour scheme and the choice of materials within the MINI Coupé Concept clearly symbolise the classic sportiness and unique character of the car. Like the instrument panel, the roof lining of this unique two-seater comes in black providing a calm ambience and helping the driver to concentrate on the actual driving experience. Black trim bars in conjunction with a carbon interior trim help to additionally enhance the purist look of the car.
MINI Roadster Concept: fresh ideas for an intense driving experience.
Presenting the MINI Roadster Concept, the brand once again sets a new trend for individual mobility. This is where a purist character, elegant design and fascinating driving qualities come together in the vision of an open two-seater meeting the demands of a modern and self-confident target group. Individual style, premium quality and exactly the right balance of driving pleasure and efficiency in our modern day and age give the MINI Roadster Concept its very special character, the design of the car clearly reflecting this focus on maximum driving pleasure with nothing but the sky above.
Spontaneous pleasure – the domain of the MINI Roadster Concept.
The MINI Roadster Concept offers ideal conditions for an emotional experience also on short trips, at the same time urging the connoisseur and aficionado to escape the usual congestion of city traffic.
With its intentional restriction to two seats and lightweight construction, the car from the start expresses its focus on uncompromising agility. Its stylish looks and high-class interior ambience, in turn, give this very special two-seater truly exclusive character.
Exterior design: unique proportions, expression typical of MINI.
The body design of the MINI Roadster Concept visualises the identity of the brand and its innovative power in a truly fascinating combination. The integrating factor throughout is the design language so typical of MINI, determining both the elements characteristic of the brand and the car’s innovative features. In its design the MINI Roadster Concept is refreshingly different, but nevertheless absolutely harmonious and perfectly balanced in its look so reminiscent of MINI. In a truly incomparable manner, therefore, the MINI design of this concept car offers an extroverted look in style and with genuine class.
This new two-seater measures 3,714 millimetres/146.2″ in length and 1,683 millimetres/66.3″ in width. The height of the car is 1,356 millimetres/53.4″.
Again in typical MINI style, the MINI Roadster Concept comes with extra-short body overhangs front and rear emphasising the athletic stature of the car and alluding even at a standstill to the unique handling of the MINI Roadster Concept characterised by thrilling agility and that typical feeling of go-kart motoring. The front section including the large headlights and the hexagon radiator grille is the same as on the MINI Cooper S up to the A-pillars. The entire front air dam, in turn, has been adjusted to the sporting look of the car and appears to be even wider and more striking than before. The inner area within the chrome radiator grille comes with louvers in body colour, while the bonnet stripes extending all the way into the radiator grille add a sporting touch and provide clear optical differentiation on the MINI Roadster Concept.
The low, short and dynamically raked A-pillars merge gently into the roofline of the car as long as the roof is closed. The glazed area in the passenger cell is significantly lower, slimmer and even more dynamic than on the regular production models, providing a strikingly sleek silhouette for an even more sporting and performance-oriented look.
The typical roadster character of the concept car comes out clearly when both open and closed, the waistline rising up slightly towards the rear in a linear perspective also maintained with the roof open.
The pure and open character of the car is of course most obvious and appealing with the roof down. Folding down in a compact configuration, the roof leads on to a short luggage compartment lid housing the luggage compartment separated from the passenger compartment.
The passenger compartment limited to two seats is covered – whenever required on account of wind and weather – by a high-quality soft top with the smallest possible dimensions.
With the roof closed, on the other hand, the MINI Roadster stands out clearly from the MINI Convertible through its notchback contour. The soft top opens and closes manually in a process performed very quickly and with utmost ease thanks to the compact dimensions of the roof.
Innovations in typical MINI style: rear-end design,
luggage compartment and safety concept.
The rear view of the car is characterised by innovative design features clearly originating from the design language so typical of MINI. The side panels, the rear apron and the luggage compartment lid flow together to form a harmoniously configured sculpture not only boasting that cascading style so typical of the brand, but also taking up elements of the front-end design re-interpreted here in a new and unique manner.
Increasing in width step-by-step from top to bottom, the rear structure of the car gives the MINI Roadster Concept a particularly powerful stance on the road also from this perspective.
Beneath the short rear end of this compact car so typical of a roadster in its style, the MINI Roadster Concept offers a luggage compartment unusually large and generous for a vehicle in this segment. And since the soft top of the MINI Roadster Concept moves down directly behind the seats, luggage capacity remains exactly the same with the roof both open and closed.
Another feature of modern function quite unique in a compact roadster is the through-loading from the luggage compartment to the passenger compartment, with the bulkhead featuring a lockable opening between the two sections.
The rollbar instantaneously moving up whenever required and featured for the first time on the MINI Convertible is an important highlight of the safety concept ensured from the start in developing this unique car. The single-piece aluminium bar covering the entire width of the interior and moving up whenever required under electromechanical power within 150 milliseconds interacts with the reinforced windscreen frame as an essential element of maximum occupant safety on the passenger cell.
The outstanding character of this two-seater comes out not only in the harmonious design of the exterior so typical of the brand, but also in the interior with its high quality of finish and outstanding elegance. Exclusive style and a supreme touch of quality are also borne out by the colour scheme and the choice of materials, high-class wooden trim and selected colour highlights on the door linings and seat upholstery providing a highly attractive contrast to the interior as a whole finished in discreet black.
As yet a further feature the cockpit of the MINI Roadster Concept comes with a multi-functional display able to provide a range of information according to the user’s individual choice. Positioned to the left of the rev counter, this display serves, for example, to show the driver exactly how much time he has spent on the road with the roof down, like with the Always Open Timer on the MINI Convertible, and is also able to provide further display functions typical of MINI.
