Mini Beachcomber Concept gets green light for production
By Andrew C., 27 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
Mini Beachcomber Concept
When the Moke a.k.a. Beachcomber Concept was revealed at the Detroit Motor Show in January, it was such a hit that MINI really had no other choice but to make it go into production. The Moke was intended to show off the new Countryman crossover but the stripped-down Beachcomber made such a big splash at the Detroit show. Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, Head of brand management, said that MINI was overwhelmed by the public's reaction and so they proceeded to figure out a business basis.
He also said that the Beachcomber was based on the road-ready version of the Countryman. However, the doors and roof panels were dropped in homage to the Moke, the historic Mini-based version of the classic beach buggy. For all-weather durability, its four individual seats are wrapped in wetsuit material. The rear-mounted spare wheel holder also serves as a lockable storage box. When there is bad weather, a fabric tonneau can be attached to the car but for more long-term rain protection, the car also has lightweight, removable plastic door and roof panels.
The Beachcomber has a metal, body-colored grille similar to the Moke (which is made from 1964 to 1993). But the Beachcomber has been given driving lights. When compared to the Countryman, the Beachcomber actually has higher ground clearance, which enhances off-road ability. The model also has chunky tires and the new ALL4 four-wheel-drive system, which is likely to be offered as standard. The Beachcomber doesn't have many competitors in the markets. Only one name actually comes to mind the permanently open-topped Smart Crossblade.
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