It may be an oxymoron, but that won’t stop the Mini SUV from hitting the road. We first saw the Crossover Concept last September at the Paris Auto Show, now the production version should make its debut one year later Frankfurt Motor Show (Paris and Frankfurt alternate years for holding a show in September.)
The production crossover will get the same 1.6-liter engine as the rest of the mini line up, and the horsepower will differ between the Cooper and Copper S models. Mini said there are no plans for a John Cooper Works edition, but if more power is needed, a very JCW-like twin-turbocharged version of the Mini engine may become available.
This Mini will start out with front-wheel drive, but will soon offer a version of corporate parent BMW’s X-Drive four-wheel drive system. The crossover wants to be a capable off roader, which means the transmission may be geared for low range capabilities. This may work with the diesel engine available in the Europe, but it could leave the gas-only U.S. version feeling overworked.
Posted on 02.2.2009