Mini presents Vision Urbanaut as future mobility space
Tony Verhelle
Posted On November 18, 2020
The Mini Vision Urbanaut wants to be more than a vehicle. It wants to be a home and a meeting place also when it’s not moving /Mini
The Mini brand is presenting the Vision Urbanaut, an all-new interpretation of a vision of space. This digital vision vehicle offers a lot of interior space and versatility but still on a minimal footprint.
“The Mini brand has always stood for ‘Clever Use of Space’. In the Mini Vision Urbanaut, we extend private space far into the public realm, creating completely new and enriching experiences,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design.
The Vision vehicle uses the three so-called Mini moments ( ‘Chill’, ‘Wanderlust’, and ‘Vibe’) to showcase a wide range of usage scenarios that extend well beyond actual driving.
The Chill moment turns the car into a kind of retreat, where you can relax or work with full concentration during a journey. Wanderlust is the ‘driving moment’, in which the driver can choose to utilize automated driving functions or take the wheel himself. Vibe puts time with other people at center stage; the car opens up to the maximum.
Interior
The interior of the Mini Vision Urbanaut provides the ideal environment in which to go on a journey and the aim of the journey. Having arrived at the chosen destination, it can change into a living room in just a few simple steps.
When the car is stationary, the driver’s area transforms into a comfortable seating corner. The dashboard can be lowered and turned into a ‘daybed’. The windscreen can be opened upward to create what Mini calls a ‘Street Balcony’, to enhance interaction with the car’s surroundings.
The familiar Mini circular instrument panel is integrated into the table in the center of the car. It brings information to the area where people meet and makes it visible to all.
Exterior
The mono-volume design maximizes interior space and gives new meaning to the brand’s signature ‘Creative Use of Space’ approach. The front end represents a clear evolution of two classic Mini design icons, the headlights and the radiator grille.
The matrix design of the headlights and rear lights displays different multi-colored graphics to suit each moment. It also provides a new form of communication between the car and the outside world.
Regarding the wheels, Mini speaks of ‘skateboard wheels’, finished in color Ocean Wave. They represent another way in which the car communicates with its surroundings. Transparent and illuminated from the inside, they vary their appearance according to the Mini moment the vehicle is put in.
Sustainable
The Mini Vision Urbanaut is opened using a smart device. In keeping with its status as a mobility option of the future, anyone can access it within a defined circle of family and friends.
Playlists, audiobooks, and podcasts to suit the occasion can be explored. A personal journey planner displays tips and points of interest (POI) tailored to the individual.
The vehicle wants to give a responsible approach to resources. It uses recycled materials, and this also meant creating a chrome- and leather-free vehicle. The dominant material in the interior is knitted textile. An all-electric drive system powers the car.
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