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It seems that Mini is wasting no time in getting its miniature 4x4 ready for the consumer market, with this first ever test mule being spotted just two weeks after the company debuted its Crossover concept at the Paris Motor Show. Crossover, Crossman, and Maxi are all names that have been ascribed to the Mini Ute so far, though the actual name of the car is still unknown.

We do know that the fourth Mini model will use some sort of all-wheel-drive system, will have four conventional doors, and will not make use of a Clubman style split tailgate door…no matter what it looks like in these photographs. Our spy shooter has it on good authority that those doors are just mockups, meant to slightly mislead, and that the real car will offer a more traditional lift back.

The scale of the car is a bit difficult to tell from this photo set, but we’re assured the Mini crossover is in fact quite a bit bigger than BMW’s current 1-Series. Have a look for yourself in the gallery above or read the photographer’s own notes below.

Mini Maxi??

The Mini Crossover concept was shown at the Paris Car Show earlier this month, but now we managed to snap the real car while out on its first steps out in the wild.

For this model you could say that the number four is important, it’s the fourth different body from Mini, it has four conventional doors, it has four-wheel drive and will have four seats. Engines will of course be both diesel and petrol, and yes, you guessed it, they will all be four cylinder. 

The biggest visual changes to the concept are the conventional rear doors and the conventional trunk door, even if it’s camouflaged to look like its split like we know it from the Mini Clubman.

This Mini also looks really big compared to the BMW 1 series standing in front of it so if the people over at the marketing department choose to name this new baby Maxi, it’s ok.

Whatever name they choose, we will know that before 2010, that’s when this new Mini 4x4 is expected to be unveiled.