MINI Vision Urbanaut concept teased

Just hours before its world debut at midnight tonight (AEST), MINI has revealed this teaser image of its radical new idea for the people-mover of the future.

Dubbed the MINI Vision Urbanaut, the bubble-shaped urban mobility concept looks like no other MINI and no other people-mover, except perhaps for the classic Fiat 600 Multipla.

“Time to make it your space. Get ready for a new vision of urban mobility for MINI,” said the small-car brand via its social media channels today.

“When MINI presents the ‘MINI Vision Urbanaut’ at 14:00 [CET] on 17.11.2020 at #NEXTGen, the brand will exclusively unveil its totally new vision of space. There’s something to be excited about.”

No other details have been announced, but the one-box passenger car concept is likely to be compact – or at least no bigger than the MINI Clubman wagon or Countryman SUV.

Even more radical than the BMW iX electric SUV and BMW Motorrad Definition CE 04 scooter revealed last week, the MINI Urbanaut heralds a new wave of EVs from MINI.

The BMW-owned British brand’s battery-electric push started this year with the MINI Electric (Cooper SE hatch), which will be followed by an all-new small electric SUV potentially called the Paceman, a larger new Countryman SUV and a smaller replacement for the current MINI hatch.

MINI has said these three models will be its core products going forward, at the expense of the MINI Clubman and Convertible, so it’s not yet clear where the egg-shaped Urbanite fits in to those plans.