Even if gas is $5 a gallon...people will still drive them.

The issue at that time will be, "I can afford something you can't"

 

I own both a 08 Suburban and 07 mini. I could never fit my wife, 3 kids, and 2 dogs into the mini. The suburban does that quite nicely. The sub also can tow 7800 lbs. My mini is for me and my 160mi r/t commute. I love my mini but my wife loves her sub. Each vehicle has its own purpose. If she is driving alone, she will tend to drive my 03 focus. Better gas mileage. I have squeezed the wife and kids into the focus but do not recommend it. Dogs are a no go when wife and kids are in though. Mini is mini. If the mini brand wants to try a new concept, go ahead. The cooper is still the cooper and that is what I bought. I saw the clubman at the autoshow and it isn't for me. It may be the thing for others. As long as mini keeps the traditional styling across the models, they can make a mini dumptruck. I will gladly wave at it while passing construction projects in my cooper. If the SAV falls flat on its face, then it does. The cooper is still the cooper.

 

Most recent press release on the "SAV":

BMW Confirms MINI SUV Production Details

Sections: Official News, R60 (Colorado) Dec 5th, 2007 </B></B>


Official BMW Group Press Release: The new MINI Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) will be built by Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz, Austria. The vehicle concept, devised by MINI Design and BMW Group engineers, has been entrusted to Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik for series development and for later production.
The cooperation with Magna Steyr is an efficient way for BMW Group to ensure the planned profitable growth through new model launches set out in the company’s strategic alignment.
By outsourcing production of the MINI SAV, BMW Group is able to increase flexibility within its own production network. This allows the lead plant for MINI production in Oxford to fully direct its midterm capacity of 260,000 units towards meeting demand for the three core models MINI, MINI Convertible and MINI Clubman. It is this outsourcing of MINI SAV production that makes the extension of the MINI family possible. Frank-Peter Arndt, Head of Production and Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, explains the advantages: “By using Magna Steyr for production, we are able to give our own Production Network some breathing space to respond fully to market needs. This solution will also allow us to bring the MINI SAV to the market as quickly as possible.”
Magna Steyr is an experienced partner of BMW Group, having already produced the highly successful BMW X3. Speaking about the new contract, Siegfried Wolf, co-CEO of Magna International, sees this as a “huge recognition of the work that Magna Steyr has achieved so far through its partnership with BMW Group. Above all, I’m delighted for our employees, as this will allow us to set another milestone in our long-running and successful cooperation with BMW Group. As we have done before, we will work on this vehicle programme with our fullest commitment to ensure that we meet BMW Group’s high expectations.”
As with all partnerships, BMW Group itself will be steering all aspects concerning the brand and the concept of the MINI SAV project. Thus, the majority of the drive train development will be realised by BMW. In addition, BMW Group will design the supply contracts with the suppliers whilst Magna will be responsible for call-offs during series production. The MINI designers will ensure that the vehicle will be a true MINI.
Further details about the product and production will be communicated prior to the vehicle’s market launch.

 

Geez, you guys make it sound like they're building Ford a replacement for the Excursion or something to compete with a Hummer. A SUV doesn't have to be a tank on wheels ... frankly I'm having a really hard time picturing anything with a Mini tag on it coming close to falling into the category of "behemoth".

It's not like the idea is new ground for the Mini brand; seems like a logical expansion to me. The Cooper is already smallest 4-seater on American roads; no doubt, the Monte will end up being the smallest sport ute. And the most fuel-efficient and funnest one, too. It might not out-sell expectations like the new Coopers did, but I'll bet dollars to donuts it'll do well.

 

A MINI SUV just seems kind of pointless, because there are so many SUV's out there of various sizes already. I guess if Porsche can make one why not MINI. It does seem to be the popular style of vehicle with many smaller families. I guess MINI wants a slice of that pie. Its just that I thought the clubman was made for that purpose and BMW sold off the rover group so it wouldn't have any internal competition with the X3 and X5 series.

 

From what I gather it will be more like a raised AWD Clubman. Actually, not a bad idea.

 

Which is Sly-speak to say the market consists of fat Americans and we can capitalize profits by producing on their shores.... <laughter> American's are so ignorant.

Was not the classic Mini the minimalist approach to the automobile? So what is a "true" MINI?

 

Check this out...

 

I do agree that the idea of a MINI SUV is very...un-MINI...

but THAT is adorable, and if they feel they have to do it for whatever reason, I sure hope that's what it comes out looking like!

 

+1

 

It sits up too high, and I won't be able to see traffic around it.

Survey says... SUCKS!

 

LOL. I think with it sitting up high, it would still be lower than most traffic around it. But, I would like to see it next to a "real" car just to see. Anyway, I think an AWD MINI with a rear drive bias would be great. If it didn't come with rattles.

 

uhhhh...it is an SUV concept. I think it would look silly sitting low.

 

I have to admitt to feeling a bit torn on this issue. I have both my MINI and an Altima. It isn't always feasible to drive the MINI, and it sure is nice when kiddo has her own door, and it would be nice to be able to haul more than myself and more than one adult from my family. We're all tall, and when we are grown, we don't fit in the back seat... So, for me, the MINI is essentially a two seater or the back is an emergency third seat or cargo space, which means that I have to keep another car for a family mover.

So, what would be better for MINI? Wouldn't it be better for them if my other vehicle was also made by MINI? I know the clubman is aimed at my segment, but it isn't quite for me. And of course, there are many people that trading into a MINI SAV from a surburban or other monster SUV would still be following the MINI philosophy.

Additionally, if they have more product to sell, maybe they'll open another dealership or two. I'd love to not have to drive over 3 hours just to get to the dealership.

It is hard to see them go other directions though. The small suv/sav/crossover market looks to be the next big thing; I can't blame them for wanting a slice of that pie.

 

Okay, Maybe. But I feel the need to say Stop It, what are they thinking, Enhanced Versatility, Raised Ride Height, Wider Trach, if they keep this up what's next the MINI Town Car it's smaller then an H1 but bigger then my 67 Austin Mini . Just look what Ford did to the T-Bird it started out as a neat sports type car & metamorphose into a land yacht. Stop it already.:impatient

 

Are those driving lights imbedded in the grill?

 

For Sale, 2005 MINI Cooper S, 79,000 fun filled miles, worn brakes, worn tires, lots of go-fast goodies, call Max on .......

Reason for sale - owner wishing to disassociate himself from the latest abuse of the MINI brand.

Seriously that 'thing' is somewhere between 'oh my goodness' what a mess and 'I think I am going to puke....'.

In all of my motoring miles I have had more than 2 people in my car on maybe three occasions, I have folded the seats down maybe twenty times - the most significant 'hauling' was a flat screen TV and a christmas tree...

I really did not buy it to haul anything other than myself and, on occasions, my wife and some camera gear.

SUV's are in my opinion a marketing 'thing', there is almost nothing that an SUV does that a van or a truck would not do way better and in general a sedan or (heaven forbid) a wagon will do the exact same things in more safety.

The 'Clubman' I understand - I do not like it, I think it is ugly from almost every angle and the added space is simply not needed by me, but building a MINI-like SUV/SAV is pure and simple marketing.....

Add me to the list of detractors......

 

But wouldn't it be better if they get more market share by introducing more models than by making out MINIs themselves larger and larger? Aren't more models better than our MINIs being land-yaghtized? And let's face it, they are going to be bigger than Coopers. Not much option otherwise.

 

Looks like a 4 door, AWD MINI to me. You like it, great. You don't, great. I hardly see where it's an affront to mini-dom, especially given all the variants the original was know for, including panel trucks.

 

Honestly I am struggling with the R56, I have driven one a number of times and even got the the edge of ordering one, but backed out as I am simply not sure I can live with the looks.

To me they (BMW) got it right first time, then improved on it in 2004/5, every subsequent move seems to get more an more flawed in multiple directions.

The R56 is faster than my 2k5 MCS, it is quieter too and the seats are more comfortable, but it is not as much fun, you have to really work hard to go fast in the old model, the new one is really a baby BMW, fast is effortless and quiet and comfortable.

But the old one pops and bangs and whines and scrabbles, sure the R56 is miles away, but I have a perma-grin.

This to me is the MINI experience, it is similar to the Mini experience I had 25 years ago when I had a Mini 1275GT, loads of fun in a small package.

Now the Clubman is longer and heavier and way uglier than the R56, I expect a better ride and more space.

the SUV will (probably) be longer, wider, taller - again plush ride, less sporting pretensions.

Brand dilution my friends and I dislike it.

 

I agree - I don't mind the Clubman or the prospective cross-over sport-ute MINI, because it's not as if I'll ever be forced to buy one.

The more models, the better, as far as I'm concerned. I'd really like to see a smaller two-seat version of the cabrio - more of an MGB type of car.

And who knows? Depending on how well the Smart does in the US, MINI might even release something closer in size to the Classic Mini as competition.

 

If they do that, I hope they put the passenger seat facing backwards, just to preserve the "quirkiness" (referring to the Smart, not the classic mini).

 

Aye, but in this case size matters I'm sorry to say it's a MINI ie Something much smaller or shorter than other members of it's class, 2 Small:miniature <minicar>

 

Well, looking at it, it looks reasonably smallish. Until I have one in front of me, I cannot make a judgement on if it is smaller than anything else in the class or not. So, that much remains to be seen.

Unfortunately and fortunately, there is but one constant in the world and that is that things change. MINI cannot sit around and become stagnant, they'd die a slow death. People complained about the "real MINI experience" described by MaxN, and they "fixed" it.

 

i thought this was going to be the mini moke?