I found this browsing Autoblog today and thought it was interesting. It looks as if BMW is developing an actual BMW based on the MINI platform.

Original Article:
http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/b...a-new-minicar/

Autoblog Article:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/18/b...-own-mini-car/

I question how much truth there is behind this because as the Autoblog article states, this could certainly canibalize MINI sales.

 

I could see it being another MINI offering but it seems a bad idea to compete with your own product. BMW has enjoyed strong MINI sales with little to no discounts, why mess with that. Sure the production at Oxford is not huge but BMW has never been a major volume producer. The 1 series is due very soon which doesn't leave them a lower # for a new sub-compact series other than 0 but it would fit the philosphy and marketing of MINI well and they have been open about expanding the MINI brand. I believe that Europe is getting the auto stop/start function in late 07 on the 08's in an effort to reduce CO2 and increase MPG, rumored to arrive here as well, maybe a little later.

 

I'ts probably a good idea for the folks that just dont like the look of the MINI.

 

Are there actually people who don't like the look of the MINI? Who?

 

 

Blind people.

 

There are some real sicko's out there!

 

I work with some one who doesn't like the MINI! Unbelievable...I think I need to find a new job.

 

Hehe. In my office, I caught some grief when I showed up with Romi one day.

Things like, "When did ya come outta the closet Skuz?" or "Only **** or girls drive those things." And so on.

That was a couple of months ago. One the more prominent villifiers walked into my office and goes in a hushed tone, "Hey Skuz,...uh.,...how does it drive?".

There are those who measure thier manhood by how many socks they can stuff into thier pants, who will never admit a Mini is cool.

 

I had someone tell me he thought it was a chick car. Didn't bother me since I'm female but I didn't agree with him. One of the reasons I got it was I liked the look of the cars when I was in Europe a couple of years ago - fast but economical - in space and gas. All the men drive small cars there. American men need to work on evolving a little more.

 

I am a geek therefore I don't need a car to prove my manhood, I just need the best computer avaialble on the market.

 

When I got some teasing on my MCS I replied," you know how people say that those who drive Hummer's, etc. are overcompensating for shortcomings? "Yeah" was the reply. "Well if I am driving a car called a MINI, then what would that say about me???"

I was actually suprised by how much the gear heads already know and admired the MCS, especially when I told it puts out 10-10.5 lbs boost stock.