The Mini Crossover Concept that will debut in Paris at the auto show in October has supplied some hints at the "sports activity vehicle" the company plans for the second quarter of 2010 as well as showcasing playful, innovative tech features.

Although specific mechanical details have been sparse, the crossover concepts is an all-wheel drive vehicle, Mini's first AWD. External details include an exaggerated grille and headlights. The body offers high ground clearance and a rugged appearance thanks to black rocker panels and moldings on the wheel arches. The more aggressive styling is suggestive of the "sports" look of Minis yet to come.

The concepts is more than 4,000 mm long and has four doors. The door behind the driver slides for better access to the rear and the single unit tailgate opens sideways. Additionally the tailgate features a frameless, retractable glass. Mini envisions the increased access as allowing the vehicle to carry equipment including skis, snowboards and surfboards.

Inside, look for a three-dimensional globe centered in the dashboard with touch-activated controls for communications, entertainment and navigation. Additional access to these controls is provided via a trackball on the steering wheel or through a keyboard that slides out of the dash in front of the passenger. The display can be divided into independent halves so that the driver can access navigation functions while the passenger surfs the Internet.