wikedgolf
09-19-2005, 11:58 AM
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2005 Frankfurt Motor Show: Mini Traveller Photo Gallery
The stretched Mini
By Editors of Motor Trend
Photography by the Manufacturer
Motor Trend, September 2005
Exactly 45 years after Mini launched the original Traveller model, the wraps were taken off a modern interpretation of the stretched Mini theme. The core idea was to enhance the basic Mini Cooper package by improving ingress/egress, passenger space, and cargo room, while preserving the iconic appearance and distinct, road-hugging manners. Large side doors with parallelogram kinematic joints and springs allow for easy access to both the front and rear seats with a 63-inch opening. The side-hinged rear doors (in place of a liftgate) also possess the mechanical magic, allowing them to open wide. The open spirit continues with a massive sunroof that extends almost the full length of the car, and flush side glass that makes for a clean, hardtop appearance without a traditional B-pillar. To take full advantage of the newfound rear space, the Traveller features a sliding cargo box to make it a cinch to load the so-called “Concept Frankfurt.†The Traveller, as it should be known as, uses a supercharged Cooper S powerplant. As Mini seeks to add model variants with the upcoming Cooper redesign, this is one old favorite body style that could expand both the wheelbase and appeal of this addictive product line.
------------------------------------
Travelling in Style.
Exactly 45 years after the launch of the Mini Traveller in September 1960, MINI is presenting the MINI Concept Frankfurt at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show – a design study re-interpreting the philosophy of the little Traveller
from Great Britain through a new concept of “Travelling in Style†befitting the beginning of the 21st century.
In its overall look and appearance, this concept car with numerous design features in the meantime acknowledged as genuine icons is typical of MINI all the way. And numerous innovations both inside and outside are equally typical of the brand: Wide-opening doors with parallelogram kinematics characterise this very special car in the same way as its coupé-like look without a B-pillar, the new silver metallic paintwork and exquisite materials within the interior.
The MINI Concept Frankfurt also quotes the classic Mini Traveller also through its elegant Estate design boasting a symmetrically split double door at the back as well as split rear side windows.
Coupé-Like Appearance.
In its overall appearance the MINI Concept Frankfurt is sleek and smooth, while nevertheless placing the emphasis on important features such as the wheel arches, the shoulder line and the powerdome. So the MINI Concept Frankfurt makes a clear visual statement – this is a car full of class, muscle, and elegance all in one.
The Overall Concept – Clever MINI Style All the Way.
The fundamental idea in developing MINI Concept Frankfurt was to make loading and entering the car as simple and convenient as possible. This is why all four doors (the driver/front passenger and rear doors) come with
parallelogram kinematic joints and springs: To allow optimum access and entry into the car, the doors swivel to the side and at the same time to the front
in one single movement, ensuring maximum opening space leading into the interior. The rear sliding windows open electrically, the front section moving parallel beneath the rear half. With the windows fully open, MINI Concept Frankfurt thus provides a particularly impressive feeling of style and generosity otherwise to be found only in a coupé and convertible. And thanks to the
long wheelbase, the two rear seats are easy to reach while at the same time the exterior of the car offers a particularly dynamic and sporting impression.
MINI Concept Frankfurt.
The Joy of Travelling – Now in the Early 21st Century.
Unusual, agile, clever – from the very beginning Mini was the ideal companion for the genuine trendsetter. And ever since the early ’60s, sporting outdoor activities, the opportunity to drive out to the country together with friends, and the joy of travelling became an increasingly important highlight of modern
life. So with its extended wheelbase, the slightly rising roofline, and practical
rear doors, the Mini Traveller was exactly the right companion combining
the unique style of the chic Mini with extra space and practical value to ensure superior joy of travelling at all times.
Precisely 45 years after the launch of the Mini Traveller in September 1960, MINI is presenting the MINI Concept Frankfurt at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, a design study re-interpreting the fundamental philosophy of the nimble little Traveller from Great Britain in the most emotional style of the early 21st century. And indeed, while many features of the car appear familiar, the truth is that everything is new: The unique overall look of the car is typical of MINI
all the way, with its characteristic front end, side view and numerous design features already widely lauded as genuine icons.
Various innovations both inside and outside are also typical of MINI, for example the wide-opening doors with their intelligent parallelogram kinematics as well as the coupé-like look of the car without a B-pillar. A further highlight of the Mini Concept Frankfurt is the new Silver Metallic paintwork further enhanced by exquisite materials inside the car. And last but certainly not least, Mini Concept Frankfurt pays tribute to its forefather inter alia through its elegant Estate design featuring a symmetrically split double door at the rear as well as split side windows for the passengers sitting in the second row.
A major feature of MINI Concept Frankfurt is that all the functions presented serve a specific purpose, with all design highlights being refined to the last detail. Indeed, even the very name of the car has a special meaning, the roots of MINI lying in an urban lifestyle and with every issue of the MINI International Magazine being dedicated precisely for this reason to an exciting, fast-moving city in our modern world. At the same time Mini Concept Frankfurt is
an homage to the host and venue of the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the prototype of the new MINI was presented to a small group of journalists
for the first time back in 1997.
Typical in Design, but New in Every Inch.
MINI Concept Frankfurt Exterior.Unmistakable: MINI All the Way.
Just one look is sufficient: Just like the “regular†model, the Concept Version of the MINI is “as small as possible and as big as necessaryâ€.
And particularly this was the special challenge facing the MINI Design Team, with MINI Concept Frankfurt being a truly unique car all the way from
its characteristic hexagon grille to the very functional split-door rear end.
MINI Concept Frankfurt naturally boasts numerous highlights which have made MINI design a genuine hallmark in the course of many years and
decades: These include the straight shoulder and roof lines with the shoulder line rising up gently to the rear to give the car the exciting wedge shape
of a genuine MINI further accentuated especially on this model by the extra length of the car.
The wheels positioned far to the outside, the very wide (more than 160 cm
or 63.0´´ long) driver and front passenger doors relative to the overall length of the car, and the characteristic joints around the side direction indicators
all bear out the enhanced, upgraded design language so characteristic of
MINI Concept Frankfurt.
The diagonal joint between the side direction indicator and the side door is a genuine icon which has developed consistently over the years, originating from the welding seam of the classic MINI. The glazed window line extending all round the car and the omission of a B-pillar creates the impression of
a “free-standing†roof again characterising the Concept Car just like the door handles typical of MINI.
2005 Frankfurt Motor Show: Mini Traveller Photo Gallery
The stretched Mini
By Editors of Motor Trend
Photography by the Manufacturer
Motor Trend, September 2005
Exactly 45 years after Mini launched the original Traveller model, the wraps were taken off a modern interpretation of the stretched Mini theme. The core idea was to enhance the basic Mini Cooper package by improving ingress/egress, passenger space, and cargo room, while preserving the iconic appearance and distinct, road-hugging manners. Large side doors with parallelogram kinematic joints and springs allow for easy access to both the front and rear seats with a 63-inch opening. The side-hinged rear doors (in place of a liftgate) also possess the mechanical magic, allowing them to open wide. The open spirit continues with a massive sunroof that extends almost the full length of the car, and flush side glass that makes for a clean, hardtop appearance without a traditional B-pillar. To take full advantage of the newfound rear space, the Traveller features a sliding cargo box to make it a cinch to load the so-called “Concept Frankfurt.†The Traveller, as it should be known as, uses a supercharged Cooper S powerplant. As Mini seeks to add model variants with the upcoming Cooper redesign, this is one old favorite body style that could expand both the wheelbase and appeal of this addictive product line.
------------------------------------
Travelling in Style.
Exactly 45 years after the launch of the Mini Traveller in September 1960, MINI is presenting the MINI Concept Frankfurt at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show – a design study re-interpreting the philosophy of the little Traveller
from Great Britain through a new concept of “Travelling in Style†befitting the beginning of the 21st century.
In its overall look and appearance, this concept car with numerous design features in the meantime acknowledged as genuine icons is typical of MINI all the way. And numerous innovations both inside and outside are equally typical of the brand: Wide-opening doors with parallelogram kinematics characterise this very special car in the same way as its coupé-like look without a B-pillar, the new silver metallic paintwork and exquisite materials within the interior.
The MINI Concept Frankfurt also quotes the classic Mini Traveller also through its elegant Estate design boasting a symmetrically split double door at the back as well as split rear side windows.
Coupé-Like Appearance.
In its overall appearance the MINI Concept Frankfurt is sleek and smooth, while nevertheless placing the emphasis on important features such as the wheel arches, the shoulder line and the powerdome. So the MINI Concept Frankfurt makes a clear visual statement – this is a car full of class, muscle, and elegance all in one.
The Overall Concept – Clever MINI Style All the Way.
The fundamental idea in developing MINI Concept Frankfurt was to make loading and entering the car as simple and convenient as possible. This is why all four doors (the driver/front passenger and rear doors) come with
parallelogram kinematic joints and springs: To allow optimum access and entry into the car, the doors swivel to the side and at the same time to the front
in one single movement, ensuring maximum opening space leading into the interior. The rear sliding windows open electrically, the front section moving parallel beneath the rear half. With the windows fully open, MINI Concept Frankfurt thus provides a particularly impressive feeling of style and generosity otherwise to be found only in a coupé and convertible. And thanks to the
long wheelbase, the two rear seats are easy to reach while at the same time the exterior of the car offers a particularly dynamic and sporting impression.
MINI Concept Frankfurt.
The Joy of Travelling – Now in the Early 21st Century.
Unusual, agile, clever – from the very beginning Mini was the ideal companion for the genuine trendsetter. And ever since the early ’60s, sporting outdoor activities, the opportunity to drive out to the country together with friends, and the joy of travelling became an increasingly important highlight of modern
life. So with its extended wheelbase, the slightly rising roofline, and practical
rear doors, the Mini Traveller was exactly the right companion combining
the unique style of the chic Mini with extra space and practical value to ensure superior joy of travelling at all times.
Precisely 45 years after the launch of the Mini Traveller in September 1960, MINI is presenting the MINI Concept Frankfurt at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, a design study re-interpreting the fundamental philosophy of the nimble little Traveller from Great Britain in the most emotional style of the early 21st century. And indeed, while many features of the car appear familiar, the truth is that everything is new: The unique overall look of the car is typical of MINI
all the way, with its characteristic front end, side view and numerous design features already widely lauded as genuine icons.
Various innovations both inside and outside are also typical of MINI, for example the wide-opening doors with their intelligent parallelogram kinematics as well as the coupé-like look of the car without a B-pillar. A further highlight of the Mini Concept Frankfurt is the new Silver Metallic paintwork further enhanced by exquisite materials inside the car. And last but certainly not least, Mini Concept Frankfurt pays tribute to its forefather inter alia through its elegant Estate design featuring a symmetrically split double door at the rear as well as split side windows for the passengers sitting in the second row.
A major feature of MINI Concept Frankfurt is that all the functions presented serve a specific purpose, with all design highlights being refined to the last detail. Indeed, even the very name of the car has a special meaning, the roots of MINI lying in an urban lifestyle and with every issue of the MINI International Magazine being dedicated precisely for this reason to an exciting, fast-moving city in our modern world. At the same time Mini Concept Frankfurt is
an homage to the host and venue of the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the prototype of the new MINI was presented to a small group of journalists
for the first time back in 1997.
Typical in Design, but New in Every Inch.
MINI Concept Frankfurt Exterior.Unmistakable: MINI All the Way.
Just one look is sufficient: Just like the “regular†model, the Concept Version of the MINI is “as small as possible and as big as necessaryâ€.
And particularly this was the special challenge facing the MINI Design Team, with MINI Concept Frankfurt being a truly unique car all the way from
its characteristic hexagon grille to the very functional split-door rear end.
MINI Concept Frankfurt naturally boasts numerous highlights which have made MINI design a genuine hallmark in the course of many years and
decades: These include the straight shoulder and roof lines with the shoulder line rising up gently to the rear to give the car the exciting wedge shape
of a genuine MINI further accentuated especially on this model by the extra length of the car.
The wheels positioned far to the outside, the very wide (more than 160 cm
or 63.0´´ long) driver and front passenger doors relative to the overall length of the car, and the characteristic joints around the side direction indicators
all bear out the enhanced, upgraded design language so characteristic of
MINI Concept Frankfurt.
The diagonal joint between the side direction indicator and the side door is a genuine icon which has developed consistently over the years, originating from the welding seam of the classic MINI. The glazed window line extending all round the car and the omission of a B-pillar creates the impression of
a “free-standing†roof again characterising the Concept Car just like the door handles typical of MINI.