Mini Superleggera sets its sights on Mazda Miata

Custom concept roadster from Mini could put the British back in the affordable sports-car game

The Mini Superleggera Vision concept could be a potent Mazda MX-5 Miata fighter. Photo by Mini.

Meet the Mini Superleggera Vision, Mini's biggest hint yet that it plans to push ahead with development of a uniquely styled roadster to rival the Mazda MX-5. The racy new concept was co-created by Italian design and coach building house Touring Superleggera.

The new two-seat Mini concept is set to make its world premiere at this weekend's Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este on the shores of Lake Como in Italy alongside parent company BMW's Vision Future Luxury concept, as recently revealed at the Beijing motor show, and Rolls-Royce's new Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed.

Described as blending contemporary Britishness with traditional Italian design flair, the Superleggera Vision points to a new open-top Mini model conceived as an indirect replacement for the company's existing roadster and coupe models.

The new roadster is expected to crown a future range of Mini models -- all based on common underpinnings. Buyers may get a choice of either front- or four-wheel drive and a variety of three- or four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and a secret new electric drivetrain that insiders suggest is a development of that used by the BMW i3.

 Mini
Craftsmen at Touring Superleggera built the Mini roadster's coachwork.

In turning to Touring Superleggera for its latest concept, Mini continues a long tradition linking parent company BMW with Italian design and coach building companies. In recent years it has tapped the expertise of Zagato, Pininfarina and Bertone in the creation of various concepts for the Concorso d'Eleganza.

The new Mini was conceived, created and produced in a project between its Munich-based design department and Touring Superleggera's coachbuilding works in Milan. The former led the styling of the low-slung two-seater, while the latter undertook its traditional hand-shaped metal-sheet construction.

“The Superleggera perpetuates what the classic Mini started 55 years ago: reduction to the essentials. Its minimalistic design embodies the dynamic essence of an automobile. It combines the past and future with traditional coachwork craftsmanship and modern styling,” says Anders Warming, head of Mini design.

While hinting at a new dedicated roadster model in the mold of the Mazda MX-5, the Superleggera Vision also establishes themes Warming intends to use to progress the company's existing design language. Future models will require a more contemporary appearance without abandoning the retro approach that has driven the company's styling since the British car maker was relaunched under BMW control in 2001.

Many classic Mini design cues have been carried over from the third-generation of the modern day hatchback, including the hexagonal shaped grille, oval shaped headlamps, hood stripes (as contours rather than mere decals) and multispoke wheels. They are combined with a series of traditional styling touches found on a long history of Touring Superleggera designed and produced models.

 Mini
A simple interior design moves the Mini Vision away from current production Mini models.

Longer and wider than the existing Mini roadster, the Superleggera Vision boasts classic roadster proportions with a long (by Mini standards) nose, cabin set well-back within the wheelbase and a rear end with minimal overhang.

Overall, the body of the new car is more heavily structured than that of existing Mini models. Prominent elements include a contoured hood, heavily flared wheel arches, defined shoulder, distinct style line running the complete length of the flanks and a chopped tail.

Among the more flamboyant touches are a carbon fiber splitter up front, frameless wraparound windscreen, tail fin attached to the trunk deck and underside of the rear bumper as well as tail lamps designed to resemble the Union Jack. Large wheel houses and 19-inch multi-spoke wheels styled to resemble the original Minilite rims wear 225/45 R19 Pirelli P-Zero tires.

Mini has provided the Superleggera Vision with a relatively simple interior that aims to capture the essence of classic coachwork construction. It uses a single untreated sheet of aluminum for the rounded dashboard fascia and large centrally mounted monitor that harks back to the instrument panel used on the original Mini. Bars in the doors also pay homage to Mini's British roots by joining the tail lamps in resembling the British flag.

Preferring to focus on the design and materials of its latest concept, Mini has revealed little about the Superleggera Vision's mechanical package, suggesting only that it is electrically powered.