MINI Traveller

The Traveller Returns...

This spy-shot video footage of the new MINI 'estate' indicate that the much-loved Traveller may be on the way back

Company bosses were being a bit coy about a production future for the MINI Concept, which was unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show last year. But these pictures clearly show a disguised prototype of a MINI estate out testing - this isn't something car companies do for fun, so we'll take this as confirmation that a modern-day interpretation of the classic Mini Traveller is on the way, possibly as early as 2007.

A MINI estate will address two of the most pointed criticisms of the MINI, namely lack of rear passenger and boot space. As the new MINI will be an extra 80mm long, this next-generation platform would certainly stretch to an estate. This prototype differs from the MINI Concept showcar in that it appears to have small rear 'suicide' doors similar to those on, for example, the Mazda RX-8.

Look closely at the profile shots and you'll see a 'shutline' a few inches forward of the fuel filler. There also appears to be something interesting going on with the estate's roof, which may sport dual, parallel sunroofs with an interior console in between, a design element that features on new models such as Vauxhall's Zafira.