After reading another thread titled, " If you could have a MINI in ANY color...", I began to wonder, how does BMW/MINI choose what exterior colors to offer from year to year for the MINI?

Anybody out there have any idea how this process takes place?

I wonder if they logon to NAM and surreptitiously gather data on how we think the MINI should be painted?

 

Some sort of marketing focus group using people that would probably never own a Mini. For the past couple of years, they've had the worse color selection, and I doubt they come in here to find answers, after all; they've already gotten our money.

 

Gromit is right about the focus groups. For 2006, they used a focus group composed of severely depressed mental patients and asked them to choose colors to match their mood at the time.

This explains the loss of the fun bright colors like Liquid Yellow, Purple Haze, Solar Red, and Electric Blue.

When a majority of the focus group said that they felt like JCW crap, MINI decided to offer Royal Grey.

Fortunately, one of the mental patients was really angry at the time and picked Chili Red as the only bright and fun color that could stay.

 

And Liquid Yellow was discontinued because it reminded some patient of an unfortunate bed-time accident!

 

oh, and no offense intended to severely depressed mental patients or Royal Grey owners. . .

 

Some colors will always exist such a CR (tradition) or some kind of black. As to the rest, its pretty obvious. ... The poor sellers are dropped.

As to how they pick out new colors? They actually have some monkeys throwing color swatches down a set of stairs. Those that land at the bottom of the stairs are chosen.

 

Seriously though; they do try to predict color trends years in advance. I'm currently working with interior colors slated for 2009 (for the big 3, not MINI!)

 

I think they ask Honda.

 

color selection does suck. im glad they drop the M&M colors though.

 

Well, apparently a MINI exec. overheard me telling my SO about the awful macaroni & cheese colored VW Beetle I saw, and how much I absolutely disdained it, and decided that should be a new color option for the MINI.

 

Yes Chows, it seems that traditional sports car colours are Red, White & Black (with the occasional yellow or blue thrown in). I do not fault companies for dropping poor sellers. Makes business sense to me!


--- You crack me up!


You know Squirlz, it would seem only logical to me that BMW/MINI would wish to garner some data from people who are really into the MINI culture.

This is your grassroots response... If it plays well in MINI-Land then chances are good that it will play well to the general public (remember before the MINI we were the general public we are now a more informed and enthusiastic buying public).

I daresay that they would be wise to gather as much data as possible and give the buyer want they want rather than what they think they want.

 

Severely depressed monkeys in an asylum?

 

Oh, it's no so awful Batgirl, is it? Truthfully though, looking at it makes me hungry for some mac & cheese!

I know that the Mellow Yellow for the R56 has been lampooned left and right but you know, it's really not that bad a color. Kind of looks like the color "Millenium Yellow" that was/is available on the Corvette.

At least it is a bright color, unlike some of the more subdued selections on tap for 2007. Reproductions (pics) on the forum and the 'net of the MINI (R56) may not do it justice due to varying levels of color quality from screen to screen. Guess we will just have to wait and see... :impatient

 

All negetivity aside, I actually like some of the '06 colours. My Hyper Blue is one of my favorites. Pepper White is nice as well. Although the Orange on the cabio takes some...getting used to.

 

As an owner of a BMW Z3 I find it odd how BMW is so reticent to offer some interesting colors on the MINI, given what they've done over the years on the Z3:











And last and most certainly least, "Urban Green"

 

urban green...i like it. not on that car but its a nice color.

 

So how about Velvet Red???

 

MINIUSA, if you're listening, just give us a bunch of NON-metallic, racing heritage colors.

Metallic is done, over done, charcoaled to a crisp.

 

Are you listening BMW/MINI? Well are you!

What a novel idea... Racing heritage (i.e. non-metallic National Racing) colors!

How about some of these for starters:

1) A true British Racing Green
2) French Racing Blue
3) Italian Racing Red
4) Belgian Racing Yellow
5) USA Racing White

 

And have them by '08 please!!!!

 

Not to forget McLaren Orange, Tyrrell Blue, Porsche Silver, John Weyer Blue, and maybe Copersucar Yellow!

 

Just in case MINI is watching these forums, I'll repeat my idea for MINI car colors.

MINI should partner with Crayola and offer us the entire 64 box of crayon colors. Let us mix and match body and roof with any color from the box!

 

AMEN Brothers & Sisters!

Can I have a big AMEN from the congregation?

 

Ahh, Gromit, your taste is impeccable and you're a fan of road racing!

Nice colors and deserving of being included! I enthusiastically approve!

I believe that you're onto something big here Yucca!

Maybe somebody should whisper (or maybe yell ) in BMW/MINIs ear and really let them in on a great idea! Anybody know how to inform the movers & shakers in Munich about this?

 

BRILLIANT! I would be first in line!