Mini’s Vision Urbanaut Anticipates Looming Smart Car Future

Mini’s Vision Urbanaut Anticipates Looming Smart Car Future

Published: July 8, 2021 | By: American Luxury Staff

Late last year, Mini unveiled its Vision Urbanaut, a look at the near future of life on the road. Green inside and out, the Urbanaut concept’s glassy, versatile cabin made for a compelling look at an autonomous driving experience: a place of space and light, with a couple of potted plants—or facsimiles—as a soothing presence, the Urbanaut made the impression of a small, mobile living space.

Not unusual in an autonomous concept, but the Urbanaut is an especially loungey approach to selling grid transport as free time. In the months that have elapsed since the introduction, Mini has expanded on the design, making it still more livable while honing it closer to a production version. This summer, the company revealed the Vision Urbanaut in 2.0 guise, and in the flesh.

The second-phase concept keeps key features—including the greenhouse roof and the fold-out windshield—but increases the percentage of sustainable materials, and changes the cabin layout a little. Still no word on range or powertrain details, though.

Mini isn’t the only automaker working on an autonomous minivan. U.S. startup Canoo and the VW Group have been working along similar lines. All companies are promoting personal-ownership and fleet use cases.

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