2009 Mini Beachcomber concept

2009 Mini Beachcomber concept

Imagine a beach with endless miles of crisp sand, the water washing up on to the show and you cruising down this sunny paradise in a MINI all-wheel-drive with doors off and the music blaring. Seems like a dream, but MINI wants to depart from the tarmac stricken scene a normal MINI Cooper has to cope with and open the doors to wilds of the beach with their new MINI Beachcomber Concept.

2010 MINI Beachcomber Concept

2010 MINI Beachcomber Concept

2010 MINI Beachcomber Concept

2010 MINI Beachcomber Concept

The Beachcomber is set to makes its debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. We can see it now, sand, a beach party theme and the Beachcomber concept smack dab in the middle of the Detroit Auto Show; it is sure to make a scene. The MINI Beachcomber Concepts is rooted in the 1960s MINI Moke and lesser know MINI Twini Concept. The MINI Moke was originally designed for sale to the British Military, but it’s lack of power and ground clearance prevented it from being successful. The other drawback was that it was only two-wheel drive; enter the Twini Concept. The Twini Concept was a MINI Moke with two engines and transmissions; one in the front and one in the rear. As you might have guessed, this didn’t help the ground clearance issues and so the vehicle didn’t move beyond the prototype stage. Most of these vehicles were sold to tropical island destinations as tourist beach roamers.

Today’s version, the MINI Beachcomber, is supposed to be a little more sophisticated with run-flat tires, plastic inserts for the sides, roof and rear of the vehicle and even a storable folding soft top. It is shown with special instruments for off-road adventures and extra loudspeakers for your tunes. This concept isn’t all functionality though; it also has a touch of rugged style with plastic appointments that have a special “dry earth” grain and trim with magnetic paint, a first for MINI.

Since it is a concept, there aren’t any details yet about the powertrain or the likelihood for production in the future. Maybe it is about time to upgrade the beach cruisers of O.C. and the tropics of Barbados with a modern beach blaster. Stay tuned for more information as we get it here at AllSmallCars.com.

 

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