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1,707 views Dec 21, 2011

MINI Rocketman Concept

HI-RES GALLERY: MINI Rocketman Concept

MINI’s Rocketman concept is an odd homage to the brand’s minicar roots. While other MINIs, like the Countryman SUV, have stretched in both dimensions and weight, the Rocketman concept returns to what the original MINI was intended to be: a diminutive car ideal for urban environments.

Everything about the Rocketman makes it perfect for city dwellers. The car’s 11-foot length means you can park it (almost) anywhere, while the articulating doors make loading passengers or cargo in tight environs easier. Even the quirky 3+1 seating, designed for a driver and two passengers (or three, on short trips) is all most urbanites will need on a regular basis.

We’ve heard rumors that the car will see production before, with one even pegging the car’s rollout in 2014. Those rumors are flying again, thanks to a conversation between Inside Line and MINI’s head of design, Anders Warming.

Warming told Inside Line that a production version of the Rocketman “is on my Christmas list,” before calling the concept a car to “claim the true heritage of the brand.” The designer sees the Rocketman as a necessary step in increasing the appeal of the MINI brand, since it would likely enter the product lineup at a price below the Cooper hatchback.

While the Rocketman may very well be the next vehicle to carry the MINI badge, don’t expect big changes in the Cooper hatchback any time soon. Warming sees MINI as defined by the Cooper, which, in his words, will “remain at the center of the brand.”