MINI Vision Urbanaut Gallery

MINI's latest concept car doesn't look much like a MINI, but that's entirely by design. While the automaker has been known for its compact city runabouts, the MINI Vision Urbanaut upends that by allowing the interior to take the lead. MINI designers started out by envisaging what the cabin of the future might look like when self-driving technology and electrification are the norm.

So, the four-seat interior is designed to be flexible. Outfitted in recycled and sustainable materials, the seats rotate and fold, with the MINI Vision Urbanaut as much a mobile lounge as it is a way to get from A to B. A MINI Token control object, and various tchotchkes intended to symbolize trips, are used to program different moods for the car and load up roadtrips.

Outside, there's a new interpretation of the MINI fascia, with multi-color headlamps hidden behind slotted panels, and a milled metal grille with an octagonal shape. A huge sliding side-door makes getting in and out easier, while the windshield can lift up for maximum airiness when parked. No production plans, unsurprisingly, but we'll be looking out for design cues from the MINI Vision Urbanaut in real MINI cars over the next few years.