Mini concept to blast off at Geneva

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/cars/m...neva-1.1030994

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/cars/m...ures-1.1031095

 

Very Nice
El Tiger

 

first car since the r56 i'm interested in.

 

There are 48 of pictures at Autoblog.
Here is the article http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/m...-geneva-debut/
Here is the gallery http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mini-rocketman-concept/

 

Nope, not for me.

 

the concept mini is very interesting and refreshing. i hope to see some of the ideas in future mini

 

Thats fancy. I like

 

The double hinge doors are cool.

 

Some of the ideas are cool, but as a whole, nah.

Actually, I think what ruins it for me are those tail lights. Oh, and the 'instrument panel.' Concept designers never seem to get the interior right.

 

A smaller MINI is a very good thing, imo.

 

What an embarassment!

 

I agree 100%, a smaller Mini is a good thing. I think that there is a lot to like about the concept. The styling (except for the tails lights) is very Mini. The size itself would lend the car to be receptive to many small, fuel efficient powerplants that would still allow some "edgieness" while still providing good acceleration/performance . Let's face it, gasoline isn't going to get cheaper.

I LOVE the roof concept. My only problem with that would be the glare and heat that might be associated with it. Ya gotta start somewhere when doing these concepts, I like where they started.

 

Ah man you got to it first! I was just checking it out today and wanted to post about it.
Ill agree i love the roof and the idea of the rear opening, The tail lights were not the greatest i thought, they looked like handle bars you grab on to.
the idea, very modern Electric style but i think it still retains Mini status.
A great idea i wonder what the finished product will look like... that is if there ever will be a rocketman.

 

True enough...especially in the U.S.! I wonder if MINI is cleverly posturing themselves in the U.S. market to pounce if sales of the Scion iQ, or the Mercedes-managed Smart, or gas prices conspire to make such a smaller MINI viable. We will be getting used to seeing smaller cars than the current MINI on the roads since the iQ will join the Smart later this year. A micro/city car with MINI driving dynamics would be killer!!!

Second point....and I know this is a concept car and designers are required to showcase their most cutting edge stuff...but I have come to loathe BMWs
tendency to overcomplicate things. As a driver, it can become a bit of an overwhelming distraction, especially in a city car. Dial it in so engagement with the road is first...that's my vote anyway.

 

very interesting . . with that lighting, the Rocketman could be straight out of Tron

 

If it came with a Quorra, I'd buy two!

 

My first reaction was 'Yuck.' Then I read the article a bit, and it's actually growing on me. I remember that the first Countryman concepts were pretty ugly too, but it all got smoothed out for the production model.

 

agreed!

sidenote that is the name of my mini. lol

 

I wonder if they are planning a rear curtain airbag like is used on the iQ.

 

funny!

 

Here's a link to the news story with official press release photos, video and links.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...n-concept.html

With the timing of this one can't help but wonder how much is going to carry into the 3rd Generation MINI. A bit of insight is offered in the MF article here http://www.motoringfile.com/2011/02/...an/#more-15492 but I'm really more interested to see which way we actually go, more than specualtion.

 

The tendency these days is to go with bigger and bigger wheels. I'd like to see this car with smaller wheels, a la the original classic Minis, maybe 10 or 12 inches.

 

Smaller=Better
Tail Lamps are Horrible!!
94 mpg wtf is this a hybrid?

 

3 cyl turbo-Diesel? That might be tune-able...

 

I think it looks pretty unique! I also dislike the taillights but It is very sexy! The double hinged doors are very smart.