One of the stars of the show in LA this year is the MINI Superleggera Concept. It has been years since MINI has delivered an exciting concept that appeals far beyond its loyal community and MINI’s Chief Designer Anders Warming shows us what the company has in store for the future.

Described as blending contemporary Britishness with traditional Italian design flair, the MINI Superleggera Vision is heavily rumored to point to a new open-top MINI model that aims to be more successful than the current MINI Roadster.

The new roadster is also rumored to hint at future MINI design and even uses an electric drivetrain that insiders suggest is a development of that used by the BMW i3.

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How To Build the MINI Superleggera Concept

The new MINI concept was conceived, created and produced in a project between its Munich-based design department and Touring Superleggera’s coach building works in Milan. The former led the styling of the low slung two seater, while the latter undertook its traditional hand shaped metal sheet construction.

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Many classic MINI design cues have been carried over, including a hexagonal shaped grille, oval shaped headlamps, bonnet stripes and multi-spoke wheels. They are combined with a series of traditional styling touches found on a long history of Touring Superleggera models.

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The Superleggera Vision boasts classic roadster proportions with a long probing nose, cabin set well back within the wheelbase and a rear end with minimal overhang.

MINI has yet to say if the car was approved for production, but using common sense, if indeed gets approved, a market launch will be at least three years away.

Here is a photo gallery from the show courtesy of John Hietter.