Mini Concept Frankfurt Countryman wagon


Photography: Jason Cammisa

Despite rumors that Mini's concept car at Frankfurt would be an SUV, a four-door sedan, or a roadster, it ended up being less removed from the traditional tiny two-door Mini that so many have fallen in love with. The concept, called Mini Concept Frankfurt--a name that Homer Simpson might have come up with--is still a two-door box, taking its inspiration from the Mini Countryman of the 1960s. The difference between this one and a regular Mini is that it has a longer wheelbase and a station wagon rear end. Most of the extra space goes into the rear cargo compartment, which German BMW executives showed off with an obedient twenty-five-pound pooch. Access to the back end is through vertically split rear doors, which are notable for the fact that they open independent of the taillights (see photos). Rear-seat passengers who like the wind buffeting in their faces would enjoy the sliding rear side windows.

The pearlescent show car also has a different front end with slanty Aston Martin-like headlamps. The interior is very flashy, very chrome-laden, and highly unlikely to reach production. However, we're betting that the overall layout of this car will reach production in the very near future.