Mini’s long-held plans to take on the Mazda MX-5 with a uniquely styled roadster model have taken a decisive step towards production reality with the unveiling a stunning two seat concept created in co-operation with legendary Italian design and coach building house Touring Superleggera.

Called the Mini Superleggera Vision, the new one-off Mini is set to make its world premiere at this weekend’s Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como in Italy alongside parent company BMW’s Vision Future Luxury and Rolls-Royce’s Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed.

Described as blending modern Britishness with traditional Italian design flair, the Superleggera Vision points heavily to a new open-top Mini model conceived as an indirect replacement for the company’s existing roadster and coupe models.

The new roadster is expected to crown a future range of Mini models – all based on common underpinnings offering the choice of either front- or four-wheel drive and powered by a variety of three- or four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and a secret new electric drivetrain that insiders suggest is a development of that used by BMW’s innovative i3.

In turning to Touring Superleggera for its latest concept, Mini continues a long tradition linking parent company BMW with a long line of tradition steeped Italian design and coach building companies. In recent years it has tapped the expertise of Zagato, Pininfarina and Bertone in the creation of various concepts for the Concorso d’Eleganza.

The new Mini 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.

“The Superleggera perpetuates what the classic Mini started 55 years ago: reduction to the essentials. Its minimalistic design embodies the dynamic essence of an automobile. It combines the past and future with traditional coachwork craftsmanship and modern styling,” says Anders Warming, head of Mini design.

As well as hinting to a new dedicated roadster model in the mould of the Mazda MX-5, the Superleggera Vision also establishes themes Mini design boss, Anders Warming, intends to use to progress the company’s existing design language to give future models a more contemporary appearance without abandoning the retro approach that has driven the company’s styling since the British car maker was re-launched under BMW control in 2001.

Many classic Mini design cues have been carried over from the third-generation of the modern day hatchback, including the hexagonal shaped grille, oval shaped headlamps, bonnet stripes (as contours rather than mere decals) and multi-spoke wheels. They are combined with a series of traditional styling touches found on a long history of Touring Superleggera designed and produced models.