Munich, Germany

“The MINI brand has always stood for ‘Clever Use of Space’,” states Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.

“In the Mini Vision Urbanaut, we extend private space far into the public realm, creating completely new and enriching experiences.”

Last November, BMW’ MINI unveiled a funky, futuristic EV concept known as the ‘Vision Urbanaut.’

Effectively a next-level passenger van with a modular, space-maximizing interior, the little pod-shaped vehicle was quite unlike anything we’d ever seen from the automotive industry, real or digital.

And now the BMW Group is set to unveil a physical model of the vehicle which will allow audiences to engage more extensively with the spatial concept and sustainable materials at work.

Designed by van Hooydonk and his team at BMW Group Design, the MINI Vision Urbanaut is a vision vehicle that makes the most of a small footprint.

In a world in which the boundaries between work and leisure, nature and architecture, and real and digital worlds are becoming increasingly blurred, the car’s creative spacious concept shows what individual mobility of the future could look like.

The MINI Vision Urbanaut is a MINI the likes of which we have never seen before, and yet, it is immediately identifiable as a MINI.

Designed as a MINI with e-drive and the ability to employ automated driving, it has many new facets and capabilities.

The versatile interior layout provides the basis for various cosy seating arrangements.

At the same time, the MINI Vision Urbanaut offers three MINI moments – “Chill,” “Wanderlust,” and “Vibe”—to present a wide range of possible usage scenarios. The exterior and interior change to reflect the MINI moment at hand and set the stage for an all-encompassing experience—including sounds, scent, ambient light and a whole light orchestration on the exterior.

The interior of the MINI Vision Urbanaut features a high proportion of recycled materials and the materials used are almost exclusively renewable and recyclable.

The dominant material in the interior are textiles made from recycled materials (including wool, polyester and Tencel) which blend coziness and quality with softness and comfort.

The designers also paid extra attention to solutions composed of a single type of material—what are known as “mono-materials”.

These are easy to recycle further down the line and can be turned into new products.

The use of renewable and recyclable cork on the steering wheel and sections of the floor adds a special touch thanks to its natural feel, and ensures an authentically pleasant interior climate.

All in all, the materials concept for the MINI Vision Urbanaut highlights the extremely high levels of visual and haptic quality that a sustainably designed interior can offer.

The exterior of the MINI vision car reinterprets iconic design features, such as the headlights and radiator grille, and adds new elements never before seen on a MINI, including the illuminated wheels, which are reminiscent of skateboard wheels.

All this makes the MINI Vision Urbanaut nonconformist and idiosyncratic.

Totally new and, for this very reason, typically MINI.

Overall, it stays pretty true to its pixel-based counterpart, with a single sliding door, extensive glass paneling, and illuminated wheels all making the jump to the real world.

The interior, too, is remarkably similar, eschewing a traditional seating arrangement in favor of a circular, almost lounge-like setup.

What’s more, the concept actually features what MINI is calling its “MINI moments” or customizable ambiance modes complete with their own lighting, scent, and sounds.

And while it might not have a working electric drivetrain just yet, the Vision Urbanaut does make extensive use of recycled materials, something that MINI says will be a part of the next-gen lineup.

“At MINI, we see it as our responsibility to preserve and develop the unique characteristics of our brand over the upcoming years and those further ahead,” explains Bernd Körber, Head of MINI.

“With our eyes fixed on the future, we have developed an idea, with the MINI Vision Urbanaut, of how we can take the MINI attributes—as here, with the focus on the ‘Clever Use of Space’—into the future of mobility and interpret them in a typically MINI way. It brings the user’s personal space into the car and opens up various possibilities for them, from creating an urban oasis to experiencing freedom in the ‘Wanderlust’ moment.”

“The MINI Vision Urbanaut represents our image of how MINI’s ‘Clever Use of Space’ could provide an answer to the needs of future cities and lifestyles.”

Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design adds: “At MINI Design we believe that the best way to understand the overall concept behind the MINI Vision Urbanaut is to experience it.”

“The feeling of space and the innovative materials are just asking to be explored.”

“That is why it was very important for us from the outset to also make a physical model of the MINI Vision Urbanaut.”

“And now that moment has come. We have planned and built every aspect of the model—which allows people to experience all of the facets of the MINI Vision Urbanaut—at our MINI Design Studio in Munich.”

BMW MIMI Vision Urbanaut
Designers: BMW Group Design
Manufacturer: BMW AG