01 Mar 06
Following on from the Traveller-style Frankfurt, Tokyo and Detroit show cars, the Mini Concept Geneva is mechanically and structurally similar, with its vertically-split rear doors and wide-opening side doors. However, this version of the Traveller concept has been themed to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Sir Alec Issigonis, creator of the original Mini, and the Mini's success in the Monte Carlo Rally in the mid-60s.
The rally theme is reflected in the Concept's cabin, said to be able to carry 'all the equipment for the toughest racing requirements' apart from the team manager and service engineer. It is finished in multi-layered silver and grey metallic paint on the outside, with red detailing, and grey, white and red leather/Alcantara upholstery inside. New touches include a glass fibre fabric for the door linings, and a metallic carbon-look finish for the footwells.
A one-piece hexagonal grille fits between headlights integrated into the front-hinged bonnet. The bonnet again bears an additional air intake scoop, hinting at the supercharged Cooper S powertrain. The wheel design is also new, with 10-spoke hubs in white, grey and red. Matt neoprene is used again for the wheel arches and door handles for a sense of tactility.
Like the Frankfurt, Tokyo and Detroit show cars, this one has frameless split side windows, giving access to the cargo area without having to open the doors. A cargo box is fitted in the luggage compartment, which can be swivelled up to serve as a partition between the loadspace and passenger area. The load-bay floor can be pulled out to create a 'tray' for loading heavy objects, such as rally team toolboxes. A Sports Utility Box, as seen in Detroit, is also fitted to each rear side window, slotting into place over the opening mechanism. Further storage space is freed up within the car by attaching the spare wheel to the roof, via a grab bar which doubles as a spoiler. The roof also hosts searchlights.
The Concept Geneva's front seats are mounted directly onto the central console to give a 'suspended' effect, also allowing for more rear foot room for passengers. The seats are bucket-style shells, with motorised folding and rotation for easy access to the rear. The rear compartment demonstrates the longer wheelbase and increased cabin dimensions of the Mk2 Mini, and its improved versatility, with individually flat-folding seats.
Neat touches include the cupholders, which are formed when the chrome surrounds of the side air vents are folded down - not only does this save space in the dashboard, it means that you can keep cold drinks chilled in front of the air conditioning, or keep hot drinks warm. The dash also features a rotating central speedometer, which can display digital data for the sat nav, audio system and other functions, or can be turned around to show analogue gauges for oil temperature, coolant temperature and so on. A steering wheel spoke can accommodate a stopwatch or tripmaster device.
Most striking, however, is an interface-type element described as a 'little genius' on the central console, which integrates the controls for ignition and functions such as air conditioning, seat settings and audio controls. It's effectively i-Drive, Mini-style.
