Those that know about motorbikes will be aware that the R nineT is one of the newest additions to BMW's two-wheel range and, more importantly, its first official scrambler bike in its 90+ year history.
Under the leadership of Federico Izzo, the head of MINI in Italy, a design team has taken all of the elements that make a scrambler a scrambler in terms of both performance and promise — i.e., that sense of freedom and adventure — and translated them to the MINI.
That means highlighting, through design or engineering, the car's all-terrain capabilities and practicality for those with extreme lifestyle demands.
So as well as four-wheel drive, the car sits on bigger, knobbly off-road tyres. The front and rear have been beefed up to take knocks and scratches, the suspension has been raised and wheel arches covered in a protective grey molding. There are even two rally-style spot lamps added to the front that are actually replicas of the R nineT's own headlamp design.
The grey exterior paint, specific to this model has been given a clever opaque tint so that its finish sits somewhere between metallic and matte. The final exterior touches are Scrambler badges plus a gloss metal roof rack and black gloss treatment for the alloy wheels.
Inside, the car feels remarkably plush yet hardwearing thanks to seats and surfaces being treated to generous helpings of tan nappa leather and Alcantara. There's a suede-effect headliner and even the luggage area is carpeted.
This might seem unusual for a car designed for heading into the great wide open where mud, splashes and spills tend to end up inside as well as outside the car. But if the compartment weren't perfectly soft and plush, owners' expensive leather luggage could well slide about and potentially get damaged or scratched.
