I just saw this article this morning on MiniMania. Has anyone else heard about Mini phasing out the R56?


a MINI by SAAB?
"Saab is lining up an audacious bid to buy the rights to the outgoing BMW Mini platform, according to sources.
The struggling Swedish car maker is keen to secure the rights to a small-car platform that would allow it to compete in the booming market for premium compact cars, defined by the Mini itself and new models such as the Audi A1.
After securing a deal to buy Mini’s 1.6-litre turbo engine, Saab bosses are said to have their eye on the current Mini platform. BMW will begin to phase out the current Mini R56-generation platform in late 2012, when the all-new Mini 3, codenamed F56, is launched."

http://new.minimania.com/web/Display...n/ArticleV.cfm

 

 

And my R50 becomes more of a collectible!

 

That makes no sense to me.

 

I can only find blog posts about it, so maybe it's BS.

 

Last I read production was totally shut down at Saab for money reasons. Sounds like last gasp attempt to save a dying company.

 

I understand from reading Motoringfile that the next Mini will be a 2013 model available in the Fall of 2012. It will be on some kind of shared platform with the BMW 1 series and will be designated the F56

 

Well whatever happens, let’s just hope BMW doesn't stray too far from the original "new" MINI design. The reason MINI has been so successful for BMW is because you can look at our cars and at least see some hint of the original Mini's. If they go too far away from this style, then we'll be saying goodbye to MINI for good.

As for Saab, it looks like they are dead, but if BMW does sell them anything, it will be the motor and maybe the undercarriage, but they would never allow them to use the body design.