After the initial introduction of the MINI E and with the year long trial about to get underway , There is always the underlying question of well the MINI-E is unpractical for it's needs there is no rear space for passengers , nor a reasonable storage area. Enter the next phase of the MINI E programme MINI E = mc2. which translates as MINI E = mc(MINI Clubman) Phase 2. The MINI E Clubman will offer a respite from the conventional MINI E with an intact passenger cabin and a solar roof for additional power. The MINI E Clubman would still offer the same Battery and motor as the current MINI E but will be more flexible so that families and fleets could participate in the next stage of the MINI E field trial. Then there will be the next MINI member - known as the MINIi ( i being for Project i) is a conventional city mobility vehicle expected to join the MINI family , The idea for a fourth brand is not compatible in the current economic climate. Whereas Project i will filter into BMW's product line. There will not be a BMW badged MCV as the BMW range will only start from the 1er only. The solution has been under BMW's nose the whole time ie the MINI Brand. The new MINi is a typical mega city vehicle concept it is small , electric powered but offers an interesting respite from a traditional MINI . MINi is in the vein of a Toyota IQish concept . To see out the highly successful R56 model, There is a planned MINI Speedster based on the R56 but with a different rear end offers an affordable open sports car for the MINI Brand. A fabric roof will keep the weight down as BMW want this MINI to offer a very exciting typical MINI drive although turned up to 11. MINI SpaceBox will be the only five door MINI With the MINI-X being a seperate entity. MINI SpaceBox is aimed at the family who do not want four wheel drive but would like a feature of usable utility in a MINI. We tested the four wheel drive MINI Concept with consumer groups and found that although seen as a viable option the MINI-X would not be enough for some who crave a MINI with room for a family and extra utility. A 5dr of a typical MINI would be a compromise not worth taking. To show some excitement here it has to be an entirely new concept. MINI cannot be too brand specific ie Sedans , Tourings etc or rational MINI has to offer concepts that offer the fun of the brands logic. And not completely conventional concepts. MINI should always be about a constant theme as the marketing embodes the lifestyle and culture as well as mobility and future projects will always be unexpected concepts .
Uhm, pretty much every board member here said it was best to make it a Mini when this city car 'project i' was announced. So this is a completely logical choice by BMW. So the Mini family will grow to four members: the regular Mini/Clubman/cabrio, the Crossover, the roadster/coupé and Project i
Still no GP Well, our 2009 R56 Cooper S is going in for (yet another) warranty repair next week but we still love the car to bits!
I wonder how heavy that SUV will be. BMW are really pushing the boundaries of niche and are putting potential consumers in a trance. Hunting for a four seater Mini is going to be a nightmare and a bowl of compromises. Clubman: More spacious than Mini but the front passenger seat still has to be tilted forward is someone is to get inside the back. In other words, the headache that comes with a strict two door car is still there. Spacebox: 5 proper doors but the car is bulkier than what it needs to be, high ground clearance not needed and there will be excess weight making fuel consumption suffer. So one has to basically settle for something very distant from a simple four door car. Big loss in opportunity in making money.
Clubman is just a classic MINI with a backpack - and additional suicide-door on one side. Kinda MINI Shooting Brake. A funky MINI. Crossman will be a crossover-SAV - an AWD MINI. With 5 doors. While SpaceBox will be a proper 5dr MINI - a substitute for MINI Wagon. Same case in 1er case - 1er GT instead of 1er Touring, + a dedicated AWD vehicle in the family: the X1.
Wow EnI you´ve made me confuse now. I thought 1er GT will be a sportier 3dr 1er instead of a Touring variant.
Alas, they can all go to... well... you know where. I guess this is symptomatic for the current direction of BMW AG; go bananas with the SUV/MPV stuff and leave the driving enthusiast longing for an Audi.
I understand that the SS (hate that name) and Tii models will, essentially, be to us enthusiasts what M used to be. Correct?
M is heading more towards high-performance luxury (since this segment has much more potential) buyers: meaning bigger & more expensive models with top-end engines. Supersport / tii models will be more racing oriented - perhaps not as hardcore as M in performance but more affordable. Kind a revival of 2002tii spirit. Think of 135i coupe with all the possible Performance parts + Performance Power pack (326HP / 450Nm) + some extras. Yet a dedicated model -with some special design features.
I think this is wise (provided the right options are available) and from a buyer point-of-view, very temptning. As a matter of fact, that sound very much like what M used to be all about. I really don't care that much about M going all AMG, as long as BMW still has something on offer for those of us who still enjoy the thrill of driving...
really not? what is with the rumoured "MINI John Cooper F1 50th Anniversary Edition"? not as extreme as the r53 gp but with the pedigree of the cooper forumula 1 cars from the late 50ies and strictly limited. are there any infos around here?
There are a couple of 50:th anniversary editions but they are only different from the ordinary models in terms of colours and wheels, a bit lite the Checkmate and Sidewalk editions. Camden and Mayfair are the names and they are Silver White and Hot Chocolate.
that's nothing new. these "anniversary packages" will be shown at MINI united and are available from Frankfurt Motor Show on. i am really talking about a third really special edition. any idea?
