Automotive

Mini presents Superleggera Vision electric roadster concept at Salon Privé

Mini presents Superleggera Vision electric roadster concept at Salon Privé
The Mini Superleggera Vision is a new electric concept roadster
The Mini Superleggera Vision is a new electric concept roadster
View 26 Images
The Mini Superleggera Vision is a new electric concept roadster
1/26
The Mini Superleggera Vision is a new electric concept roadster
It has a fin at the rear
2/26
It has a fin at the rear
Its dashboard is made from one piece of aluminum
3/26
Its dashboard is made from one piece of aluminum
It has Union Jack brake lights
4/26
It has Union Jack brake lights
Its body was shaped by Touring Superleggera
5/26
Its body was shaped by Touring Superleggera
It has a classic roadster shape
6/26
It has a classic roadster shape
It is aimed at mixing British heritage with Italian style
7/26
It is aimed at mixing British heritage with Italian style
A closer view of its rear fin
8/26
A closer view of its rear fin
It has sand-colored interior styling
9/26
It has sand-colored interior styling
Its exterior paint finish is Como Blue
10/26
Its exterior paint finish is Como Blue
It has classic round Mini headlights
11/26
It has classic round Mini headlights
It has aluminum internal styling
12/26
It has aluminum internal styling
Some of the Mini Superleggera Vision's curved lines
13/26
Some of the Mini Superleggera Vision's curved lines
It has a wide wheel-base
14/26
It has a wide wheel-base
A close view of its leather seats
15/26
A close view of its leather seats
It has a minimalist dashboard
16/26
It has a minimalist dashboard
The Mini logo on its interior
17/26
The Mini logo on its interior
The Mini Superleggera Vision has its fuel cap about the front-left wheel
18/26
The Mini Superleggera Vision has its fuel cap about the front-left wheel
It has uniquely-styled wheels
19/26
It has uniquely-styled wheels
It has a simple speedometer behind the steering wheel
20/26
It has a simple speedometer behind the steering wheel
A top view of the Mini Superleggera Vision
21/26
A top view of the Mini Superleggera Vision
It has a minimalist design
22/26
It has a minimalist design
It has classic Mini stripes embossed into the bonnet
23/26
It has classic Mini stripes embossed into the bonnet
It has few gaps in the body, having been made from large sheets of metal
24/26
It has few gaps in the body, having been made from large sheets of metal
It uses aluminum and black chrome as styling highlights
25/26
It uses aluminum and black chrome as styling highlights
The Mini Superleggera Vision is being shown at the Salon Privé motorshow
26/26
The Mini Superleggera Vision is being shown at the Salon Privé motorshow
View gallery - 26 images

The Mini is an iconic car and has been through countless guises since its launch in 1959. Its Superleggera Vision concept gives the marque a sporty and environmentally sound lease of life. Mini has provided some more details about the car and is showing it off at the UK's Salon Privé motorshow.

Quite asides from the variety of different Mini production models there have been over the years, there have been a host of Mini concepts. Last year, the company showed off three different camping concepts and, more recently, the Paceman Adventure pickup concept.

The Mini Superleggera Vision, first unveiled in May, sees the car stretched lengthways into a classic roadster shape. The body is designed to be lightweight and is shaped from aluminum by Touring Superleggera. Meanwhile, the car retains aspects the traditional Mini styling, such as circular headlights, a hexagonal grille and bonnet stripes that, in this case, are embossed into the bonnet.

It has classic Mini stripes embossed into the bonnet
It has classic Mini stripes embossed into the bonnet

Internally, the dashboard is formed from one piece of aluminum. Instruments and dials are kept to a minimum, with a simple speedometer in front of the steering wheel and a rounded touch-screen display centered on the dash that provides information such as satellite navigation and the time.

There are no details available at present about the Superleggera Vision's power output or speed, but BMW (Mini's parent company) tells Gizmag that the car is 4,167 mm (164 in) long, 1,964 mm (77 in) wide excluding mirrors and 1,209 mm (48 in) in height. It sits on 19-in wheels.

It is runs using BMW's eDrive system, which uses a lithium-ion battery to power an electric motor. Intelligent management is used to ensure efficiency, and a cooling system is used to keep the battery at its optimal operating temperature.

The Superleggera Vision is being shown at the Salon Privé motorshow this week.

The video below provides an introduction to the Mini Superleggera Vision.

Source: Mini

MINI Superleggera™ Vision | See It Live

View gallery - 26 images
6 comments
6 comments
Bob Flint
Nice little summer bullet, AWD, range?
Quite the face full for the passenger,... airbag?
The Skud
Yes - BUT does it have even half-way decent range, power and recharge times???? It is no good making a roadster that is good for only one pass down the coast road, or that takes 12-18 hours before the run home again. That recharge time might be a good excuse for you and the girl to stay overnight at the Hotel De Luxe, but will soon get passe.
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is really cool looking, IMO. I think it could compete with the Mazda MX-5 (Miata).
Bob Stuart
You can't really invoke any continuity of "Mini" development between Issigonis' '59 masterpiece and the styling exercise at BMW. The brand had been abandoned for decades, and the successors are all in a heavier weight class.
Cyndysub
The mini would have been a good car in america but the one they sent over here was pussed out for the yuppies and idiot crowd of consumers.
bergamot69
I agree with Bob Stuart.
Although however divorced this car is from the original Issigonis design, this car is so beautiful that it begs to be built- whether conventionally powered or otherwise.
I'd be very surprised if they will do so- since it will shame their current MINI lineup as being over-contrived, ugly, and bloated.