Tomorrow’s MINI will continue to have its practical minimal footprint but offer yet more interior space and versatility. To preview some of the ideas that MINI designers are exploring, the brand used the BMW Group’s #NEXTGen event to present the MINI Vision Urbanaut concept.
The purist mono-volume design of the Vision Urbanaut gives new meaning to the ‘Creative Use of Space’ approach. In signature MINI fashion, the wheels are positioned at the outer corners of the body, with short overhangs rounding off a compact and agile appearance.
In fact, the wheels are used as visual highlights of the concept car. Finished in the colour Ocean Wave, a turquoise blue which sparks associations with the beach and the sound of the sea, the abstract Union Jack profile of the wheels reminds one of the British heritage. Their shape recalls skateboards, further highlighting the car’s nimbleness and non-conformist MINI twist.
Evolution of MINI design elements
The front end represents a clear evolution of two time-honoured MINI design icons – the headlights and radiator grille. Positioned under a milled aluminium structure with slotted openings, the headlights are only visible when switched on. Thanks to their multicolour dynamic matrix design they can display different multi-coloured graphics, which creates a new form of communication between the car and the outside world.
The enclosed grille itself is octagonal in shape, representing an evolution of the traditional hexagonal form. Since the Vision Urbanaut does not have a combustion engine requiring cooling air, the grille assumes a new function as an ‘intelligence panel’ for automated driving.
As with the headlights, multicolour dynamic matrix rear lights behind milled aluminium covers. The distinctive, convex surfaces also pay homage to previous MINIs and the classic Mini. One small detail – the contour of the rear windows – references the form of the front grille and underscores the car’s stylistic consistency.
The windows show a pattern in body colour, fading in a gradient from bottom to top. This creates a harmonious transition from the vehicle body to the windows and roof. The pattern also provides a certain amount of privacy without having to darken the windows; the interior remains bright.
Designed from inside out
As an innovative space concept, the Vision Urbanaut was designed from the inside out. The designers created the spacious interior experience before developing the exterior, using floor plans, pieces of furniture plus wooden scale models to provide an indication of size. Over the course of the project, augmented reality was employed to create a digital model, which was then systematically optimised.
Unusually tall for a MINI, but only 4.46 metres in length, the Vision Urbanaut provides an interior space that can be used in many different ways and offers a whole new ease of movement inside the car.
The interior thus provides the ideal environment in which to go on a journey but is also the aim of the journey. Having arrived at the chosen destination, it can transform into a living room in just a few simple steps. Occupants enter the innovative cabin through a large sliding door in the side of the car. The cutting-edge slide and swivel mechanism is the ideal design for urban driving conditions where space is at a premium. There are no other doors on the driver’s side or front passenger side.
Extremely variable layout
An extremely variable 4-seat layout provides the basis for the bright interior. The two front seats are designed to rotate, while the backrests for the generously sized seat surface in the rear can be folded manually (left rear seat) and turned around (right rear seat).
When the car is stationary, the dashboard lowers and the driver’s area becomes a comfortable seating corner – the ‘daybed’. Added to which, the windscreen can be opened upwards when stationary to create a kind of ‘Street Balcony’.
The darker environs of the cabin’s rear section provide a quieter space – the Cosy Corner. This area invites passengers to enjoy some time to themselves. With the door open, it is even possible to sit on the floor. A small integrated table is the car’s centre point, a place where passengers can interact.
The MINI Token is the centrepiece of the Vision Urbanaut’s experience worlds. It is roughly the same size as a worry stone and activates the three preconfigured MINI moments – Chill, Wanderlust and Vibe – when placed in purpose-designed slots in the table.
MINI Moments
“MINI sees its future self primarily as an enabler of and companion for unforgettable times – what we might call ‘MINI moments’. The MINI Vision Urbanaut uses three curated MINI moments – ‘Chill’, ‘Wanderlust’ and ‘Vibe’ – to present a wide range of possible usage scenarios,” said Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design.
“The Chill moment, for example, invites you to catch a breath and pause in the here and now. The car becomes a kind of retreat, a haven where you can relax – or work with full concentration – during a journey. Wanderlust is the only MINI moment where the MINI Vision Urbanaut is being driven or driving with automated driving functions. The Vibe moment puts time with other people at centre stage – in every way,” he explained.
The exterior and interior change to reflect the MINI moment at hand. Even the wheels, transparent and illuminated from the inside, change their appearance according to the selected MINI moment.
All-electric powertrain, of course
Nothing is mentioned of the powertrain but, as would be expected, it is a pure electric drive which would use the BMW Group’s advanced technologies in electrified powertrains. Given more mention is the Vision Urbanaut’s responsible use of resources. As well as maximum space within a small footprint and the all-electric drive system, the Vision Urbanaut is committed to a responsible approach to materials. This is achieved not only by reducing the number of components in the exterior and interior design, but also by enabling dual functions such as the dashboard/daybed.
In addition to the use of recyclates, this also means ensuring that the design is free of chrome and leather while using recycled materials. The dominant material in the interior is knitted textile, and the use of cork on the steering wheel and sections of the floor adds a special touch thanks to its natural feel, and ensures an authentically pleasant interior climate.
