Crossman Revealed


January 22, 2009

What you see here are the latest available photos of Mini's Crossman Sports Activity Vehicle ? an illustration (above) and spy shots (below) snapped just last week.

Aside from looking like a jacked-up Clubman with big wheels and tires ? which is essentially what this spied vehicle is ? the Crossman is expected to have four normal doors, all front-hinged, unlike the Clubman which has a rear-hinged door to the back seats.

Overall style will be unmistakably Mini but with unique off-road-inspired bits such as roof rails (clearly visible in these photos), and bigger bold front and rear fascias, perhaps even with skid plates.

Mechanically, the Crossman differs from the Clubman by a slightly wider track, raised suspension, larger wheels and tires, and ? of course ? a four-wheel-drive system.

It may be too early to speculate on engine power but the Crossman could get Mini's current duo of 1.6-liter four-cylinders, which put out 120 horsepower in the Cooper and 175 horsepower in the turbocharged Cooper S.

The Crossman will be built in Austria by Magna Steyr, a BMW partner that has previously built the X3 SAV.

Mini's first SAV is expected on the market in 2010. Count on Autobahn Report to publish all the latest news and photos as they become available.

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