MINI wagon showin' the door

MINI's worst kept secret, the subject of a number of show cars and the BMW-owned brand's so-called 'third model', has been caught in winter testing.

The longer-wheelbase MINI wagon was photographed largely undisguised undergoing cold-climate testing in northern Scandinavia.

Featuring the front bodywork of the new R56 Series Cooper, the wagon boasts the centre-split barn-style rear doors that appeared in the 2006 Detroit (click

It's not known, however, whether the concept cars' parallelogram hinge mechanisms have made it to production.

What does appear to have been used is an asymmetric 'third' door which allows better access to the cabin and rear seats. Clearly visible on this left-hand drive prototype is the kerbside-only Mazda RX-8 style pairing. There is no such door nor 'C+-pillar' on the driver's side of the car.

It's not known whether MINI will build 'handed' versions of the car. We'd suggest that given the importance of the UK market to MINI, it is likely right-hand drive cars will get a left-oriented door set, however.

The car's lines are traditionally MINI although the longer car does appear to have lost some of the visual appeal of the three-door original. The prototype also appears to be concealing some form of roof luggage mounting system.

Some pundits are already calling the car the MINI Traveller, but in truth the badge has not been officially announced. We won't be surprised if that's the name MINI chooses, however, given its historical context.

The move would also leave 'Clubman' free for use on a new, sportier MINI down the track.

Though the car photographed appears to be a naturally-aspirated Cooper variant, expect a hotter Cooper S Traveller to also hit the market when the car is debuted -- probably at the Frankfurt Show in September this year.

with Carparazzi