Spy Shots: Production MINI Crossover spotted!
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/spyphotos/" rel="tag">Spy Photos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossovers/CUVs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mini/" rel="tag">MINI</a></p><a href="http://www.nextautos.com/spy-shot-first-ever-look-production-mini-crossover?gid=11738&nid=2 9791#gallery-11738"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/mini_ute_crop.jpg" /></a>Beneath all that ridiculous (though pretty darn effective) yellow and black paisley camouflage sits the new MINI Crossover. First shown in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/02/paris-2008-mini-crossover-concept/">concept form</a> at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/paris-motor-show/">Paris Motor Show</a>, at 162-inches long, the new MINI CUV is quite a bit larger than its other older stablemates. At what point is a MINI not so mini any more? This could be it, as the spy photographers point out that it appears larger than the BMW 1-Series that shares a number of parts with. Lost in the translation from show car to test mule are the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mini-crossover-concept/1029079/">unique doors</a>, which appear to have been replaced with a standard, run-of-the-mill four door body style. The rear hatch also opens from the top instead of sideways like on the concept, though it's been taped-up to appear like the barn-door style portals from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/Clubman/">Clubman</a>. The whole shebang's been lifted a bit and all four wheels are driven. Expect both gasoline and diesel four-bangers under the pointy-snouted hood.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.nextautos.com/spy-shot-first-ever-look-production-mini-crossover?gid=11738&nid=2 9790#gallery-11738">NextAutos.com</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.nextautos.com/spy-shot-first-ever-look-production-mini-crossover?gid=11738&nid=2 9790#gallery-11738>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/17/spy-shots-production-mini-crossover-spotted/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1345318/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/17/spy-shots-production-mini-crossover-spotted/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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