The Getaway Cars: MINI unveils three new overnight solutions for the weekend warrior.

The Getaway Cars: MINI unveils three new overnight solutions for the weekend warrior.

The trio each reflect different aspects of the rise in popularity of  camping and festivals, creating a choice of premium home-from-home  options for the enthusiastic traveller. The MINI Clubvan Camper is the world’s smallest luxury camper van,  packed with practical solutions that make it ideal accommodation for  an individual on a weekend away. The MINI […]

By Herman Moolman21 July 20134 min read

The trio each reflect different aspects of the rise in popularity of  camping and festivals, creating a choice of premium home-from-home  options for the enthusiastic traveller.

  • The MINI Clubvan Camper is the world’s smallest luxury camper van,  packed with practical solutions that make it ideal accommodation for  an individual on a weekend away.
  • The MINI Cowley is a compact yet comfortable caravan for two  people, equipped with a twin-ring gas stove, fridge and sink.
  • The MINI Countryman ALL4 Camp with its innovative roof-top tent is  the getaway car for an adventurous couple, evoking images of African  safari and expedition vehicles.

Road Trip

All three models have been styled with MINI’s much-loved design cues  to the fore. They display the character and fun personality which  motorists have come to associate with MINI, and which have made the  brand such a global success.

The cars have been developed around the ‘maximum touring pleasure  with minimal footprint’ philosophy, and illustrate the principle of  creative space utilisation for which MINI is renowned.

They have been created as concept vehicles to showcase the depth of  the MINI range, as well as the creativity and skill within the  company’s design and engineering staff. There are no plans to offer  them as production vehicles at this stage.

The MINI Clubvan Camper: good things come in small packages

The freedom of the open road, a dynamic driving experience and  everything you need with you – the MINI Clubvan Camper has it all.

It’s arguably the world’s smallest luxury camper van, a MINI Clubvan  which has been transformed into a versatile home on wheels. Behind the  solid side windows there is a spacious sleeping berth for one person,  plus a small, extendible kitchenette complete with propane stove and  chest fridge.

On-board facilities includes the MINI Navigation Portable XL sat-nav,  which will help drivers find their way to the most remote spots. If  the weather is unkind a television can provide entertainment and  chilly mornings can be made more comfortable thanks to an auxiliary heater.

A particular highlight is the Clubvan Camper’s roof. The small glass  panel can be opened for ventilation or star-gazing, while the storage  rack above means owners can travel with equipment for outdoor pursuits.

Hygiene is always a key part of any weekend away and MINI’s ingenious  design engineers have even got that covered. The Camper’s generous  specification also includes an integrated hand-held shower, with a  water tank housed underneath the load floor.

The MINI Cowley: a new style benchmark in compact towing

The pleasure that millions of caravanners around the world enjoy is  the ability to stop and stay anyway in comfort and safety. Now it’s  possible to do that MINI-style with the Cowley caravan.

The compact tourer has been named after the historic factory – today  known as Plant Oxford – which is home to much of the current MINI  range. It was also where the classic BMC/Austin Mini was built and is  this year celebrating a centenary of car manufacturing.

The Cowley caravan is a luxurious overnight solution and all the mod  cons are fitted, including two comfortable sleeping berths, a  twin-burner gas stove and a water tank complete with pump and sink  facility. A solar module charges the on-board battery and there’s a  230-volt connection to power the fridge, TV/DVD and audio equipment.

Styled with typical MINI flair, the teardrop-shaped trailer is a  genuine head-turner. In silhouette it’s reminiscent of the curved  lines of the MINI panels, and the doors have sliding windows on both  sides – a standard feature in the classic Mini up to 1969. The  sumptuously trimmed veehicle is only 12 centimetres wider than a MINI  Clubman including exterior mirrors and weighs just under 300 kg.

With exceptional manoeuvrability, the MINI Cowley ensures that the  hallmark MINI driving fun can still be enjoyed while towing,  irrespective of the distance travelled.

The MINI Countryman ALL4 Camp: safari-style accommodation for    the adventurous spirit

Finding overnight accommodation can be a real headache, especially  for drivers who have taken a spontaneous trip to a festival or beach.  But there’s no need to worry about finding the perfect place to bed  down when travelling in this MINI. Even when completely off the beaten  track, all the owner has to do is head upstairs.

The innovative roof-top tent is showcased above a MINI Countryman  which, thanks to its intelligent all-wheel drive system ALL4, is  well-suited to travelling over rough terrain. But this simple and  practical sleeping solution can easily be mounted on a MINI or MINI  Clubman. The upper half of the tent is simply folded out of its  storage box. Plump up the pillows and two occupants are ready to  relax, then wake up to a perfect view of the ocean, mountain or valley.

How about an early morning ride out to buy breakfast? It’s easily  done because a mountain bike can be easily transported on the  specially fitted bicycle rack.

The roof-top tent quickly folds away into its box when it’s not  needed. The exterior has been painted in Absolute Black metallic with  white stripes to match the car beneath.

Comments

Sign in to comment.Sign in

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

MINI SPORT PACK ADDS STYLE & BOOSTS RESIDUAL VALUE
9
0
ArticleFebruary 5, 2015

MINI SPORT PACK ADDS STYLE & BOOSTS RESIDUAL VALUE

Sports suspension, bonnet stripes, roof spoiler, aero body kit – the MINI Sport Pack packs plenty of punch Sport Pack brings exclusive styling accessories to New MINI Hatch Specifying Sport Pack can add up to 25% to residual values* Pack is available now, priced from £3,300 on MINI Cooper S Sportiness is in MINI’s DNA, […]

MINI Canada Olympic Team
4
0
ArticleFebruary 4, 2014

MINI Canada Olympic Team

Richmond Hill. MINI Canada Aftersales and Toronto creative agency Richmond Day have launched a 60-second Olympics-themed online spot in which a group of to perform a unique rendition of the Canadian features a musical track that was created using only the sounds emitted by the MINI vehicles a melange of MINI horns, doors closing, electronics, […]

MINI USA Names United States Paralympic Team as Charitable Partner for MINI TAKES THE STATES 2012
6
7,066
ArticleApril 4, 2012

MINI USA Names United States Paralympic Team as Charitable Partner for MINI TAKES THE STATES 2012

A Minimum of $10,000 from MTTS Registration Fee Proceeds Will Be Donated Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 3, 2012… In January,MINI USA  announced initial plans for MINI TAKES THE STATES (MTTS) 2012, and  today the company is proud to name the United States Paralympic Team  as the charitable partner for this year’s MTTS rally. A […]

Let it snow! MINI
1
28,476
ArticleFebruary 20, 2012

Let it snow! MINI

Let it snow! MINI supports the Burton European Open for the second year. MINI presents its Creative Use of Space Award to the most creative snowboarders and shape crews. Munich/Laax. From 25 February to 3 March 2012 the  best snowboarders on the planet will meet up for the 13th time at the  Burton European Open […]

Gold medallist learns to drive in her MINI as she prepares for London 2012
1
14,760
ArticleJanuary 26, 2012

Gold medallist learns to drive in her MINI as she prepares for London 2012

EXTRAORDINARY ELLIE DRIVEN TO BE THE BEST Double Paralympic gold medallist, Ellie Simmonds MBE, has added to her preparations for London 2012 by learning to drive in her specially adapted MINI One Hatch which she received as part of MINI’s commitment to be the biggest fan of ParalympicsGB and TeamGB.

MINI Countryman E Extends Electric Range to 307 Miles, Now with Full Government Grant
72
1
ArticleJanuary 28, 2026

MINI Countryman E Extends Electric Range to 307 Miles, Now with Full Government Grant

The MINI Countryman E has taken another bold step forward in the electric mobility revolution. Building on its 2023 debut as the first all-electric MINI Countryman, the third-generation model now delivers a single-charge range of up to 307 miles (WLTP*), offering customers unprecedented versatility without compromise. For the MINI Countryman SE ALL4, the improved range […]

MINI Cooper Electric Crowned Safest City Car at Euro NCAP 2025
58
0
ArticleJanuary 15, 2026

MINI Cooper Electric Crowned Safest City Car at Euro NCAP 2025

The fully electric MINI Cooper continues to set benchmarks in safety and innovation, earning the prestigious “Best in Class for Safest City & Supermini of the Year 2025” at the Euro NCAP awards. This recognition follows the model’s 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests earlier this year, cementing MINI’s reputation for uncompromising safety […]

MINI Drives Record Growth in 2025 as Every Third Vehicle Sold Goes Electric
30
0
ArticleJanuary 12, 2026

MINI Drives Record Growth in 2025 as Every Third Vehicle Sold Goes Electric

Munich – MINI has concluded 2025 with a resounding success, achieving a total of 288,290 vehicle deliveries, marking a 17.7% increase over the previous year. Notably, the brand has accelerated its leadership in electrification, delivering over 100,000 fully electric vehicles (BEVs) – meaning every third MINI sold worldwide is now electric. Markets such as the […]

MINI John Cooper Works Convertible Named The Sunday Times Car of the Year 2025
30
0
ArticleOctober 3, 2025

MINI John Cooper Works Convertible Named The Sunday Times Car of the Year 2025

The MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible has been crowned The Sunday Times Car of the Year 2025, cementing its reputation as one of the most engaging and playful performance cars on the market today. Launched earlier this year, the JCW Convertible has impressed critics and enthusiasts alike with its lively driving dynamics. Nick Rufford, […]

MINI JCW x Deus Ex Machina: Two worlds. Two cars. Singular enthusiasm
52
0
ArticleSeptember 3, 2025

MINI JCW x Deus Ex Machina: Two worlds. Two cars. Singular enthusiasm

MINI presents, in collaboration with lifestyle brand, Deus Ex Machina, two exclusive one-off John Cooper Works cars. Celebrating MINI’s storied racing history, the two cars represent a shared enthusiasm for motorsport and customisation, each built with distinct design, function and creative innovation at their core. Munich. With deep respect for craftsmanship, culture, and the communities that […]

MINI Celebrates Racing Legacy with 1960s-Inspired ‘JCW Electrical’ Experience at Goodwood Revival 2025
41
0
ArticleSeptember 1, 2025

MINI Celebrates Racing Legacy with 1960s-Inspired ‘JCW Electrical’ Experience at Goodwood Revival 2025

MINI is set to make a memorable return to the Goodwood Revival 2025 with a stand that blends heritage and innovation in true MINI style. Taking place from 12–14 September at the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit, the brand will unveil its nostalgic ‘JCW Electrical’ stand inside the Earls Court Motor Show, designed as a 1960s-inspired […]

Austin Minis to Make Historic Debut in 1950s St. Mary’s Trophy at Goodwood Revival
14
0
ArticleAugust 28, 2025

Austin Minis to Make Historic Debut in 1950s St. Mary’s Trophy at Goodwood Revival

Salisbury, England – 28 August 2025 – For the first time in history, the classic Mini will line up on the 1950s grid of the famous St. Mary’s Trophy race at the Goodwood Revival. Traditionally dominated by lumbering American V8s and a host of pre-1960 saloon cars, the iconic little Austin will finally get its […]