Making its world premiere at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October, the MINI Crossover design study previews the British firm’s first ever 4x4 SUV that’s due in early 2010. The fourth body variant of the MINI after the classic two-door hatch, the convertible and the estate-like Clubman, adopts the same retro look as the other versions enhanced with a more gaudy chromed grille, large sweptback headlights that look like they were startled by their own appearance and the typical for crossover models, protective body cladding.

The Crossover is not only the first all-wheel-drive MINI but it’s also the first model in the range to measure more than 4 meters in length. And at 1,830mm / 72.0" wide and 1,598mm / 62.9" high, it is bigger all round than the Clubman (3,950mm in length). The Crossover’s 2606mm / 102.6"wheelbase is also 59mm / 2.3’’ longer, thus promising to offer more interior space. -Continued

Continuing the dim-witted door theme of the Clubman, MINI’s designers have equipped the Crossver with a single, side-hinged door at the back while passengers get two normal doors on the right side of the vehicle and tow asymmetric doors on the driver’s side with the rear left-hand door sliding out and back, just like your typical delivery van. Hopefully, MINI will get it right on the production version…

Inside the Crossover features a four seat layout with adjustable rear seats that can slide by 130mm or 5.1" fore-and-aft. So depending on individual requirements, the rear seats offer either extra legroom or additional storage capacity in the rear compartment.

A further highlight of the interior is the ‘Center Globe’ that replaces the conventional instrument panel. Equipped with laser projection technology, the multi-function display serves to control all major entertainment, telecommunication and navigation functions, providing the speedometer function around its outer circumference

Although MINI hasn't announced any technical details on the Crossover, expect the production version to be offered with the same range of diesel and gasoline engines as its hatchback counterparts.

Via: Jalopnik , Source: MINI