BMW’s MINI division will use the Paris Motor Show to unveil its “Crossover Concept” — a thinly veiled preview of the forthcoming Crossman utility vehicle. Expected to share components with the compact BMW X1, the vehicle will enter production in the next 12 to 18 months as a 2011 model.


Despite a strong family resemblance, the Crossman will actually ride on a unique platform. The new architecture was needed to accomodate the Crossman’s all-wheel drive system and higher ride height. As noted, the basic chassis and most components will be shared with the BMW X1, though the models won’t have any visual similarity.

Compared to the standard Cooper, the Crossamn will ride 8cm (just over 3 inches) higher and will measure in at over four meters (157 inches). A 102.6 inch wheelbase and 72 inch width make the crossover larger than any previous MINI. Power will come from the same engines found in the Cooper and Cooper S.

Unlike the long-wheelbase Clubman, the Crossman has two doors on each side, rather than one on the right and two on the left. In concept guise, this MINI has a sliding door on the driver’s side, and a regular one on the passenger’s side. We suspect both sides will have regular doors come production, but anything’s possible.

While the X1 will be built in America, the Crossman will be assembled by Austria’s Magna Steyr. Both models will be sold in the U.S., but it remains unclear if their diesel versions will make the trek across the Atlantic. However, with CAFE regulations that much closer around the turn of the decade, it remains a distinct possibility that the U.S. could see an oil burning option.

Official photos and details will be released in a few months but we have a few bits and pieces to finally reveal. For one we’ve confirmed (for the 3rd time now) that MINI will name the R60 “Countryman”. For those who have been following MotoringFile for awhile this shouldn’t be news, but another high-level confirmation was worth a mention.

However what is news is that MINI will be branding the new all-wheel drive system that comes optional on the Countryman. Like Audi does with Quattro and BMW does with Xdrive, MINI wants to create a sub-brand that will be recognizable with consumers. Therefore the system will launch with the name “All4″ tied to it.

While marketing is getting underway on the new MINI, pre-production is lagging behind. First off the X3 is still being produced. And as BMW’s most profitable vehicle per unit, they are very sensitive to the time it will take to stop production in Austria and start production of the new X3 in the US. So the Countryman is certainly a secondary thought as compared to an already established vehicle like the X3.
But that hasn’t stopped Magna Steyr from starting the hiring process at the Austria plant. Once X3 production ceases, new candidates have been selected and trained (along with the rest of the staff) production should commence. However the specific time when that will happen remains a little foggy other than to say early 2010.

All this leads us to believe that MINI may well push back the launch of the R60 to the Geneva Motor Show in early March rather than show it in Detroit in early January. If that’s the case we’d also guess that the debut R55/R56/R57 refresh will also fall back a few months.