The digital vision of the MINI brand offers more interior space and versatility than ever before, but still on a minimal footprint.

The interior design

The designers created the interior before developing the exterior, using floor plans, pieces of furniture plus wooden scale models to provide an indication of size. Over the course of the project, augmented reality was employed to create a digital model, which was then systematically optimized. Unusually tall for a MINI, but only 4.46 m in length, the MINI Vision Urbanaut provides an interior space that can be used in different ways and offers ease of movement inside the car.

One space, a multitude of possibilities

Arrived at the chosen destination, it can transform into a living room in just a few steps. Occupants enter the cabin through a large sliding door on the side of the car. There are no other doors on the driver’s side or front passenger side.

Driver’s area

A flexible four-seat layout provides the basis for the interior. The two front seats are designed to rotate, while the backrests for the seat surface in the rear can be folded manually (left rear seat) and turned around (right rear seat). When the car is stationary, the dashboard lowers and the driver’s area becomes a seating corner – the “daybed”. Added to this, the windscreen can be opened upwards when stationary to create a kind of Street Balcony.

The darker environs of the cabin’s rear section provide another space – the Cosy Corner. A textile covered “Loop” extends over the seat bench and features the option of LED backlighting. Between Cosy Corner and the driver’s area is the open central section of the car.

User interface

The user interface solutions allow conventional controls such as switches or buttons to be omitted. This creates a minimalist experience while maintaining full connectivity. The circular instrument is now positioned in the middle of the car – the new centre of the action – and brings information to the place where people meet.