First look: Mini sprouts a wagon

THE first Mini concept to appear since the three-door hatch and cabrio were launched eschews the traditional five-door body style expected by most observers.

Instead, the Mini Concept Frankfurt, as it’s been appallingly named by BMW, is a sleek two-door B-pillar-less wagon.

Revealed at this week’s Frankfurt motor show opening exactly 45 years after the original stretched Mini Traveller was launched in September 1960, the Mini estate concept features a symmetrically split tailgate and electrically operated split rear side windows.



While all the Mini hallmarks are there – including pronounced wheel arches, shoulder line and power dome – interestingly the doors feature parallelogram kinematic joints and springs.

Thus, the doors swivel to the side and at the same time to the front in a single movement, aiding access to the two rear seats and the large rear cargo space that’s liberated by the concept’s longer wheelbase.