MINI Vision Urbanaut – a living room on wheels

As part of the BMW Group’s digital event #NEXTGen, MINI presents the Vision Urbanaut – a design study showcasing how future urban mobility can look like focusing on the aspect of space. With the Vision Urbanaut, MINI gives us an insight into the brand's future.
In sum the Vision Urbanaut is a living room on electric wheels with autonomous driving function. In order to create as much space as possible, MINI decided for a body variant, which is quite uncommon for the brand – a van with a length of 4.46 m. The vision car was designed from the inside out – starting with the spacious interior experience before developing the exterior. The interior is designed in that way it can be used for various purposes. Driving is only a secondary function or as MINI calls it moment. The Vision Urbanaut offers three ‘moments’: Chill, Vibe and Wanderlust for to present these different usage scenarios. Being in the Chill moment invites you to catch a breath and pause while the car becomes a kind of retreat. Wanderlust is the only moment, where the MINI Vision Urban is being driven or driving with automated driving functions while the moment Vibe puts time with other people at centre stage.

"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." – Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design

The Vision Urbanaut is only equipped with sliding doors where passengers entry the car. A flexible four-seat layout provides the basis for the bright interior. The MINI Vision Urbanaut is particularly versatile in the front area. When the car is stationary, the dashboard lowers and the driver’s area becomes a comfortable seating corner – the ‘daybed’. The windscreen can be opened upwards, that’s what MINI calls ‘Street Balcony’. There is also no normal rear seat bench – it’s the ‘Cosy Corner’, an area where the passengers can enjoy some time for themselves. However it can also be converted into a two-seater with fold-out upholstery elements. In the middle of the vehicle there is a small table with a plant signifying the car’s new centre point – the place where passengers meet, face and engage with one another.

Integrated in the table is also a holder for the MINI ‘Token’ replacing the vehicle key. Besides the Token can also be used to control the three previously described operating modes. For example in the ‘Vibe’ mode, the car turns into a little party zone as you can control your preferred ambient lighting, fragrance music and so on.

With the MINI Vision Urbanaut, the brand commits itself to a responsible use of resources. This is being achieved with an electric drive system and the use of sustainable and recycled materials like recyclates. Not only the number of components in the exterior and interior design is being reduced, also a dual functionality is being introduced such as the dashboard/daybed.

If you are interested in even more information about the MINI Vision Urbanaut, watch the video of the world premiere with Oliver Heimler, design chef of MINI.

Pictures: BMW Group
Text: Britta Reineke