The wraps are officially...

The wraps are officially off MINIтЂ™s new 4x4 this week. Tipped to bear the name Crossman, the SUV is targeted at buyers downsizing from bigger, full-blown off-roaders. And just like the current Clubman before it, the new Crossman is packed with challenging concepts.

These include an unusual rear door layout, with a conventionally hinged door at the passenger side and a sliding rear door opposite. The driverтЂ™s side B-pillar has been dropped, too, giving the beefed-up MINI even more practicality. Inside, the Crossman has four individual seats тЂ“ all of which tilt and slide.

To distinguish the model from larger SUVs, MINI is calling the car in these official images an SAV, or sports activity vehicle.

But itтЂ™s not without controversy, as the machineтЂ™s new face will no doubt spark debate among MINI enthusiasts. As you can see, the brandтЂ™s trademark circular headlights have been ditched in favour of a pair of unique lamps, raked upwards towards the windscreen.

Plenty of ground clearance and jacked-up suspension provide the newcomer with a тЂ�MINI on stiltsтЂ™ look. But unlike many rivals, the Crossman will deliver on the promise of its appearance тЂ“ the tough 4x4 drivetrain will make it a capable off-road machine. The model unveiled this week has a number of pure concept features, too, many of which will disappear from the 2010 production cars. These include a three-dimensional MINI Centre Globe display.

The groundbreaking Globe, which sits in place of the central speedometer, employs a laser projector to display full-colour 3D images to the driver. But it can be separated into two тЂ�hemispheresтЂ™ тЂ“ allowing the front passenger to surf the Internet without getting in the way of essential driver information, for example.

The Crossman, which will be called the Crossover Concept when it debuts at next monthтЂ™s Paris Motor Show, also takes keyless go systems to the next level. MINI has introduced the Keyball, which rolls towards the driver when placed in the Centre Globe. They then simply press it to start the car.

Versatility

Easily the most practical feature is the clever centre rail, which extends the entire length of the car from front to back. By allowing occupants in the front and rear to affix and remove various attachments тЂ“ such as iPod docks and cup-holders тЂ“ it adds a dash of versatility to the new model.

The SAV is officially a design study at the moment, but in an exclusive interview with Auto Express, MINI chief designer Gert Hildebrand тЂ“ the man responsible for the CrossoverтЂ™s styling тЂ“ confirmed тЂњthis kind of car will go into productionтЂќ.

Hildebrand said the design is a тЂњpre-communication that MINI could do these thingsтЂќ, paving the way for the brand to pioneer a shift in direction for future cars. However, he stopped short at confirming whether the headlamps will go further than this machine.

тЂњIn a concept car you always use different design languages to try things for the future. It has its own message, its own values,тЂќ he explained. And the Crossman isnтЂ™t only spearheading a new design direction for MINI; itтЂ™s also targeting a completely new customer base. According to Hildebrand, this will be the first MINI bought as a householdтЂ™s main family car. тЂњItтЂ™s a bigger MINI for people who have only one vehicle,тЂќ he said. тЂњItтЂ™s for customers who need four-wheel drive тЂ“ people with Range Rovers and BMW X5s.тЂќ

So, even though the Crossman is the first MINI to measure more than four metres in length, it could become the acceptable face of the SUV. тЂњSmall will be the name of the game in the future,тЂќ he told us. тЂњThis is a very politically correct 4x4.тЂќ

That appears to be the message from parent firm BMW, too тЂ“ as Auto Express has learned that the Crossman will form the basis of a new blue propeller model. This is expected to wear the X1 badge, and offer the blend of rugged ability and desirability found on the X3, X5 and `X6 in a far smaller package. However, the BMWтЂ™s design will be much more conservative than the new MINIтЂ™s.

The X1 is scheduled to debut at a major motor show next year тЂ“ by which time the Crossman will already have made a big impression. And when the wraps come off the MINI on the stands in the French capital next month, with its blend of retro cool, rugged ability and desirability, it might just strike another nail into the coffin of the 4x4 as we know it!