Mini Rocketman Concept Car
- Thread starter SCOTT27
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Rainer271
Kraftwagen König
MINI Rocketman production model back on the agenda as entry-level model
New-Look MINI Rocketman Concept for London 2012 Olympics
Won't be UKL-based
British media is reporting MINI is planning a production version of the Rocketman concept but not before 2016.
With each new generation, the MINI departed from the meaning of its moniker and now it has reached a point where the BMW-owned company actually wants a smaller model. However, this is where the problems begin as the UKL platform isn't suitable for such a small car so MINI has to resort to collaborating with another manufacturer willing to lend a smaller chassis.
The Rocketman concept shown two years ago received positive feedback and now MINI's head of design says the company is still interested in a city car but "won't reveal anything more [to the world] until [a viable design] is ready." However, he did hint a production Rocketman is still being considered and work is being made for an entry-level model.
Since BMW has teamed up with Toyota for several projects, it is believed MINI's small car will be based on the Toyota iQ, with an estimated starting price of £11,500 ($18,700 or €14,500) and a launch date no sooner than 2016.
Source: autoexpress.co.uk
New-Look MINI Rocketman Concept for London 2012 Olympics
Won't be UKL-based
British media is reporting MINI is planning a production version of the Rocketman concept but not before 2016.
With each new generation, the MINI departed from the meaning of its moniker and now it has reached a point where the BMW-owned company actually wants a smaller model. However, this is where the problems begin as the UKL platform isn't suitable for such a small car so MINI has to resort to collaborating with another manufacturer willing to lend a smaller chassis.
The Rocketman concept shown two years ago received positive feedback and now MINI's head of design says the company is still interested in a city car but "won't reveal anything more [to the world] until [a viable design] is ready." However, he did hint a production Rocketman is still being considered and work is being made for an entry-level model.
Since BMW has teamed up with Toyota for several projects, it is believed MINI's small car will be based on the Toyota iQ, with an estimated starting price of £11,500 ($18,700 or €14,500) and a launch date no sooner than 2016.
Source: autoexpress.co.uk
Porsche Guy
Kraftkurve King
Good news because the new Mini is anything but small.
The Cygnet?
Rainer271
Kraftwagen König
MINI Minor reportedly set for late 2018 release
To be 3450mm long
British media is reporting a new MINI Minor will be out towards the end of 2018 or early 2019.
The BMW-owned company has expressed its desire for a new true MINI since late 2013 but they can't build it on the UKL platform so they are trying to team up with another automaker. One viable candidate is Toyota as a report from last month indicates BMW is in discussions with the Japanese marque to co-develop an entry-level hatchback which will likely take the shape of a MINI Minor.
According to CAR, the model will be out late 2018 / early 2019 and should be just 3450mm long which is roughly the same as the new Smart ForFour. The report goes on to specify the base model will start at €12,500 whereas the fully-loaded version will be approximately €13,500.
As far as the styling is concerned, early sketches are allegedly depicting a mashup between the Paceman and Rocketman concept, with the MINI Minor getting a special roof with a double bubble rear section. The car should also have a trapezoidal grille and Union Jack taillights.
Toyota's version will allegedly revive the Starlet moniker dropped in 1999 and the model is believed to act as a replacement of the iQ.
Source: carmagazine.co.uk
To be 3450mm long
British media is reporting a new MINI Minor will be out towards the end of 2018 or early 2019.
The BMW-owned company has expressed its desire for a new true MINI since late 2013 but they can't build it on the UKL platform so they are trying to team up with another automaker. One viable candidate is Toyota as a report from last month indicates BMW is in discussions with the Japanese marque to co-develop an entry-level hatchback which will likely take the shape of a MINI Minor.
According to CAR, the model will be out late 2018 / early 2019 and should be just 3450mm long which is roughly the same as the new Smart ForFour. The report goes on to specify the base model will start at €12,500 whereas the fully-loaded version will be approximately €13,500.
As far as the styling is concerned, early sketches are allegedly depicting a mashup between the Paceman and Rocketman concept, with the MINI Minor getting a special roof with a double bubble rear section. The car should also have a trapezoidal grille and Union Jack taillights.
Toyota's version will allegedly revive the Starlet moniker dropped in 1999 and the model is believed to act as a replacement of the iQ.
Source: carmagazine.co.uk
EnI
Piston Pioneer
As per latest reports BMW are close to revive Rocketman - as collaboration with Chinese carmaker Great Wall (with which BMW signed an agreement to produce electric MINIs in China).
Mind BMW needs something small, urban, nimble, cheap ... especially for its own (and other as well) car-sharing service ... i3 is too expensive for that & not mainstream enough, while the upcoming MINI E is a half-baked & compromised product based on current MINI 3dr hatch.
Next gen BEV MINIs will be based on BMW's much more BEV friendly FAAR WE architecture, sharing parts & even platforms with BMW branded vehicles. The plan is also to get Daimler on board for FAAR WE (or it's evolution FAAR WWE) - so some parts sharing (thus purchasing ... eg of battery cells) could be utilised , and possibly production facilities could be shared (vehicle assembly facilities or even battery pack assembly plants ... or even battery cell production facilities in the future)!
BMW AG already got JLR on-board for eDrive drivetrain co-developing, co-producing & co-using ... as well power- and drivetrains for ICEVs & PHEVs. Instantly adding a volume of 600k JLR units to its own 2.5 million units - better utilising economies of scale, lowering R&D, purchasing & production costs.
Mind BMW needs something small, urban, nimble, cheap ... especially for its own (and other as well) car-sharing service ... i3 is too expensive for that & not mainstream enough, while the upcoming MINI E is a half-baked & compromised product based on current MINI 3dr hatch.
Next gen BEV MINIs will be based on BMW's much more BEV friendly FAAR WE architecture, sharing parts & even platforms with BMW branded vehicles. The plan is also to get Daimler on board for FAAR WE (or it's evolution FAAR WWE) - so some parts sharing (thus purchasing ... eg of battery cells) could be utilised , and possibly production facilities could be shared (vehicle assembly facilities or even battery pack assembly plants ... or even battery cell production facilities in the future)!
BMW AG already got JLR on-board for eDrive drivetrain co-developing, co-producing & co-using ... as well power- and drivetrains for ICEVs & PHEVs. Instantly adding a volume of 600k JLR units to its own 2.5 million units - better utilising economies of scale, lowering R&D, purchasing & production costs.
CrunchSlaughtered
RPM Ruler
SCOTT27
Lap Time Luminary
I am happy to hear Rocketman is finally moving forward after being stuck in the tunnel for too long. It certainly has been an interesting gestation period almost on a par with the X7.
It would be interesting to see how the cars design will progress especially as that almost 10 years old Concept still looks fresh and visually interesting over say the Countryman.
Launching as Electric only is a no-brainer.
However I remember the original strategy included a pocket rocket then -3 cylinder Cooper S. I hope they still plan to include.
It would be interesting to see how the cars design will progress especially as that almost 10 years old Concept still looks fresh and visually interesting over say the Countryman.
Launching as Electric only is a no-brainer.
However I remember the original strategy included a pocket rocket then -3 cylinder Cooper S. I hope they still plan to include.
EnI
Piston Pioneer
Yes, and no.
True, it's neither FAAR nor FARR WE based. But it's not based on Great Wall current platform either, but a on the evolved one co-developed / co-enhanced by BMW. So, there will be some quite some BMW expertise, know-how & tech in there ... regarding eDrive etc ... Mostly stuff from i3 and MINI E but further developed ... yet independently of FAAR / FAAR WE. And Great Wall are more than happy to use all that know-how (an "reproduce" it lately on their own if needed ... as Chinese usually do ... "improve on things" ...).
There's also any idea to implement some enhanced eDrive solutions from Rocketman into i3 as well sometimes down the line - if ts life-cycle is much prolonged. i3 is still a halo product for BMW - so it is i8, which can get successor in M Next - based car, as M branded model. While i3 is planned to be retired / cancelled with no direct successor in the future.
Oh, MINI Rocketman will be made exclusively in China by Great Wall though ... for worldwide delivery. It is expected to be extremely profitable (unless there's US-China trade war triggered) & cheap to made ... so it could be priced very competitively while still generating huge profit margins. If there's no trade war ...
EnI
Piston Pioneer
As said: main targets are intercity car-sharing services (primarily BMW's own) ... small, nimble, swift ... Eg. electric smart For2s are very popular in same areas! Btw, G08 iX3 will also be made exclusively in China for worldwide delivery ... incl. USA.
Mind CLAR WE / FAAR WE production starts with iNext ... and then other new CLAR-WE and FAAR-WE based BMW BEVs will be assembled elsewhere (Germany, USA, Mexico, SAR, Hungary etc). Battery cell delivery is a problem right now - right now the only big enough battery cell capacity by CATL is in China. CATL's German factory will be ready by 2021 for i4 and iNEXT, coming with 5th Gen battery cells (iX3 is coming with 4th Gen batteries - but with 5th Gen eDrive unit though).
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MINI
Mini (stylized as MINI) is a British automotive brand founded in 1969, owned by German BMW since 2000,
and used by them for a range of small cars assembled in the United Kingdom, Austria, and the Netherlands.
The word Mini has been used in car model names since 1959, and in 1969 it became a brand in its own right
when the name "Mini" replaced the separate "Austin Mini" and "Morris Mini" car model names.
Official website: MINI
Official website: MINI
