German Car Forum

It never was.



No surprises indeed - since since the twins are cabrio-based models. The "other" model is MINI Roadster, of course.

Agreed, 100% predictable and obvious. Still great to have it confirmed already.

The day MINI make a "Concept" that isn't at least an outline of a future model I'll... I'll hold that thought incase it comes back to bite me!

^ You better

That's fine if you want a small car, my thing is why pay that much for it?

That was my only issue.

A matter of attitude, I think. Over here, small cars are very common and we are used to the thaught of them not being given us for free. Furthermore, there is a public notion that big is bad, that gives the manufacturers a golden opportunity to sell their small cars at a premium... and i the same time, you get close to the same equipment and comfort in a small car today so the only real difference is the price of the raw materials... ok, that was a stretch, but not that much.

Are there even small domestic cars in the US?

Lol...Of course they are. It might just be our way of thinking (some of us). When someone is in the market for a small car, they usually want something cheap. It's that unwritten rule that small - cheap / large -expensive.

Yes, they people here will pay big money for a C-class just to be in the Mercedes-Benz family. Even when Smart came over here some people were expecting it to be $10k and under. Yes, the MPG benefit paid off and got them a few sales. Then you have some people who say, I can't even fit my stuff in that thing so why should I pay that much.

A while back when I was getting my MBA, I sold cars on the side (Toyota) and it was amazing how dramatic people got when they saw a Yaris for $16k. It was like they threw up in their mouth. I always got the response of "I might as well get a Corolla or used Camry for that price". Then there are a few that brought it because they wanted a small car and didn't even car about the price. A lot of people I knew there eventually went to other dealerships and encountered the same problem from Nissan, Honda and even Acura. Of course the guy I knew at Mercedes-benz never had a problem with a C-class customer though.

I guess it's all a matter of Luxury cars vs. Basic models. I rarely see a Mini over here and even Beetles are hard to spot. Then of course families are usually bigger over here as well, which is why there is so much growth (or was) in the SUV market.

But I guess in the end it's up to the buyer. I understand BMW/Mini reasoning for selling it at that price (good business sense). Just from my social surroundings, I would never pay that much for a small car. On the other hand if people want to pay it then so be it.

The last decade has really brought luxury to the smaller car. They are even reasonably safe nowadays.

By the way, here in Stockholm, there are probably about 20 MINIs for every New Beetle... I actually had to check the VW website to see if they still sell the damned thing... (they do).

Well the VW Beetle is pretty much dead over here. I have more of a chance catch a Bugatti Veyron on the highway doing 250mph then see a Beetle. Seems like they got stuck and have no clue what to do.

Intentionally BMW looked for a third manufacturer either via a renowned coach building company that would be ideal for production or a sharing exchange in which another manufacturer who was in talks for co-operation with BMW already has a manufacturing base in the UK.

BMW have now decided to go it alone with the MINI Coupe and Roadster.

I believe I read somewhere that the New Beetle is going to be replaced by a new model in 2012....???


That's probably because the coupé and roadster share 80% of the same stuff as the regular Mini, making them updates of existing models, and not brand new? Easier to do that yourself, and more cost effective...

Are you sure? That model should have been replaced in the early 1940's..

We should ask Phaeton! But I read it somewhere in the VW section...

Hoping there will be an "S" version and an optional A/T. Otherwise I'll have to cross this car off my list of potential "next wheels".

I think we can pretty much count on that...

I would personally love a JCW with MT.

Repost?

BMW Confirms MINI Coupe Concept For Production



Fans of the Mini brand will soon get another vehicle to love, as today MINI's UK arm has confirmed that two new models, one of which is the MINI Coupe, will soon be headed to production. Both the Coupe and a yet-to-be-named model, both to be exhibited for the first time at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, will be built in the next few years.

"I think bringing these two new models to Oxford is a great sign to the Oxford area, to all the workers here at the plant, that the future for Mini and for this operation is very bright indeed," Graham Biggs, corporate communications manager for BMW UK, told the BBC.

The news came along with plans to hire an additional 1,000 workers to help build the new models. Whether the second model will be the still-secretive MINI Roadster we got a peek at last week, or the nearly-finished MINI Crossover (nee Crossman), is still not clear.

With its sleek looks and even smaller size - there is no back seat in the Coupe concept - the new car certainly fits with the 'MINI' moniker.
MINI had previously said it would ultimately be the public and press reaction to the concept that would guide Mini's plans on the matter, with its unveiling in Frankfurt and a possible U.S. showing at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December being the touchstones for that reaction. It seems the early reaction was so strong that MINI went ahead and made the decision to build it even before revealing it live.

Adding another pair of models to the Cooper/Convertible/Clubman range would move Mini closer to offering a full range of vehicles. Recent reports say the crossover won't be coming until 2010 at the earliest, meaning both the Coupe and whichever model that comes with it are still likely at least a year, and possibly as many as three years distant.


Source: BMW Confirms MINI Coupe Concept For Production - MotorAuthority