Overview of the Urbanaut concept // Photography: Mini
What if Mini released a 100% electric 7-seater van in the years to come? The British brand is advancing on the Urbanaut concept, a model that could compete with Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz.
Mini advances on its futuristic van
Unveiled virtually in 2020, the Urbanaut concept came to life. We can say that Mini’s transition to the crossover segment has been quite successful for the brand used to small cars. So why not a van? This 100% electric model has 7 seats. It could well mark another important step for Mini in its transition to electric.
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Mini boss Stefanie Wurst told CarExpert what “ the brand is exploring many possibilities for its future models. The Urbanaut concept is perhaps the most promising “. There is a little air with the new Staria minivan from Hyundai (available only in thermal version). But the brand seems above all to bet on the interior of the vehicle.
Overview of the Urbanaut concept // Photography: Mini
The Urbanaut concept aims to be disruptive
With a modular layout and adaptable rows of seats, this future model is clearly positioned in the ID.Buzz segment: a pleasure van, designed for going on vacation with the family. As Stefanie Wurst points out, the only constraint for Mini is to offer models that do not ” cannibalize the BMW range “. The German brand does not yet have a van like this. This may be the perfect opportunity for Mini to make a name for itself in this segment.
The Urbanaut concept could allow the British brand to enter the 7-seater market for the first time. With this futuristic vehicle, Mini wants to establish itself in the urban and intelligent mobility market. A new model for the company to explore and perhaps the same success as with its two now cult models: the Clubman and the Countryman.
Author’s opinion
What a great idea and what a pleasure to see Mini looking into a project like this. There is a market for the 100% electric van and the British brand can find a place. Since the Covid period, the practice of the van has become more democratic in Europe. It’s the right time to launch a 100% electric 7-seater like this one. I’m a particular fan of the Urbanaut’s design. That popping up windshield is just amazing. The interior seems cozy and we imagine ourselves well inside. We feel that it is a pleasure model, designed for the journey of the holidays or the weekend. Now, it remains to be seen if Mini will go to the end of the project as Volkswagen did by reviving its famous Combi.
