This is the Mini Crossover Concept – a four-wheel-drive Mini which will make its world debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

The stunning Mini Crossover Concept is a ‘design study’ to test public reaction to a fourth Mini model in the range, to add to the Mini hatchback (including the hot Mini John Cooper Works), Mini Convertible and new Mini Clubman.

And if the Mini Crossover Concept is successful, Mini’s BMW bosses will roll out a production version “for the future”.

View images of the Mini Crossover Concept

Mini has not announced engine details, but we’d expect variants of the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and the super-frugal 110bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine, which emits just 104g/km of carbon dioxide and returns 72.4mpg.

Mini cleanest in the UK

The 4x4 Mini Crossover Concept is being billed as the “4x4x4x4” – it features four-wheel-drive, four doors, four single seats and measures four metres in length.

The Crossover also features a unique rear door setup – the driver’s side rear door slides open along the outside of the car “for convenient access and loading”, and has a frameless window when open.

This backwards-opening door also swivels to one side to load up longer items.

The four-wheel-drive Mini houses four full-sized seats which can be adjusted individually, and are linked visually by the new Mini “Centre Rail”, which extends from the front dashboard through the middle of the car down to the rear.

View images of the Mini Crossover Concept

And the dashboard houses a new display and control ‘globe’ – a three dimensional model Earth which hosts the entertainment, communication and satellite navigation functions.

We’ll be reporting on the 2008 Paris Motor Show which kicks off in October, so check back for more details.

Check out the 200bhp Mini John Cooper Works in action: