Mini says the door-less and roof-less Beachcomber Concept, which made its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show, “offers driving pleasure in its purest form, concentrating on the essential elements required for genuine joy of individual mobility.” The 158-in.-long dune-buggy-like vehicle harks back to the Mini Moke from the 1960s.
With extra suspension travel, 17-in. alloy wheels wrapped with aggressive off-road tires, short overhangs, a wide stance and all-wheel drive, the 4-seat Beachcomber Concept is designed primarily for scampering around sandy beaches on a warm summer’s day. Should that perfect day in the sun turn threatening, the Beachcomber Concept can be protected from weather via a soft-top, or with plastic inserts for the roof, sides and rear.
Inside, extra speakers replace unneeded air vents, and there’s also a liquid-sprung compass. The individual rear seats are adjustable fore and aft, the seatbacks of which can be folded to allow for extra cargo. The Beachcomber Concept also features a Center Rail, as seen in the Mini Crossover Concept at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, allowing for convenient storage and connectivity to all manner of music players and telephones for passengers.
And that spare tire on the back? It’s not a spare at all. Since the Mini Beachcomber Concept uses run-flat tires, the spare-tire-like case is actually an extra storage locker.
Could production become a reality? Quite possibly, as Mini admits the Beachcomber Concept is a variation of the upcoming Mini crossover, which itself has yet to be officially revealed in production form—it’s likely due at the Geneva Auto Show this March, with sales following later this year in non-North American markets. We’re told to expect even more variations of the Mini theme in the future.
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