A Mini SUV, What's everyone think???

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080109....-and-rendering

 

Still has the distinctive Cooper shape. Looks pretty tough, though I don't think I would take it 4wheeling. Would you?

 

Crosses a line where I would never have an interest, personally.

We have a SUV as my wife's daily driver, have a built 4x4 to do 4+ rated off-road trails, ride a 10.5 sec capable 1/4 mile motorcycle.

Our Mini Cooper S gets to stay in the garage until I want to take it out & enjoy motoring (it's specific purpose) & unique capabilities in the twisties!

Come on MOTD 2008!

 

Personally I could see it being useful in many situations, but I also think it goes against what a lot of MINI owners stand for.

 

I'm going to have to fall in that category. I was offended when Porche and BMW made their SUVs and will be dissappointed in BMW/MINI when this product launches.

MINIs are not sedans and they are certainly not SUVs; I got a MINI because it is unlike anything else on the road. When this happens the MINI name will be a sellout to the gas guzzling SUV crowd. :blech: So much for being unique or special. Here BMW gets to prove that they don't care as much for the proud history of our cars as they care for profits on sellout products. Grr. In ten years the MINIs will look like every other car on the road because some stupid test group thinks that they should look like everyone else.

That's the long way of saying that this makes me sad.

 

I guess I think of MINI as more of a brand and Cooper as more of a model. If you use VW as an analogy, the Beetle would be the Cooper equivalent - the flagship and original that started the company. Now look at VW and all the models they have. I can envision MINI having many models in the future - some I will like and some I will not. There will however only ever be one MINI Cooper.
I guess that's why I get a kick out of some that are so adamantly opposed to the Clubman. What the heck, just another model. More models usually mean a company is healthy and profitable so that is good.

 

I don't understand this metality, it doesn't hurt MINI in any way to bring new variations of the product into the marketplace, if anything it widens the appeal.

I'm not looking for an offroad vehicle, but I think an all wheel drive Clubman would be a great choice for an everyday all weather capable car, especially here in the snowbelt.

I'd love to see them make a pickup truck off the Clubman as well.

How this hurts MINI as a brand is beyond me...........why someone would be "offended" that a manufacturer sees an opportunity in the market and goes after it is also hard for me to understand.......

 

Why can't they just make an all wheel drive model like the 2 dr model we have today?

Better all around performance in wet, dry and snow...less gas mileage however. That is one of the reasons why I still consider the Audi or Subaru today as viable vehicles for me to drive especially the S4 or the WRX STI.

 

While I admit I dislike the idea of having anything other than a 2-door Cooper produced by MINI, the heritage of the company was not limited to only Coopers in the past. They already made a Jeep-esque vehicle called the Moke. They even produced trucks and I believe vans, too.

MINI is a brand, not a specific model. If they are going to continue to be profitable, which is the point of the business, they have no choice but to grow the brand.

 

<shrugs> I'm a purist I suppose. Why ruin a good thing?

Sure it can be viewed the other way, but with every normal reaction you must also have someone with an extreme reaction. It's a law of nature I'm pretty sure.

I suppose that the biggest problem I have is when car companies want to not make cars. Especially when we're talking about performance cars. Lets take an extreme example. Would you guys be excited or dubious about a Lamborghini SUV? Personally, I think it's the the most rediculous idea to ever be spoken. If I wanted a truck or a SUV I'll go to a company that has been making them sucessfully for a long time. {for the record, I hear it's supposed to happen, click me for a pic.}

I rather like the (for lack of a better term) society or community that comes with a MINI cooper. The more folks that get involved, the less healthy our community will become. How often do you see Ford Taurus rallies, eh? They're too standard and boring for people to care about them in a significant way. We've got a good thing going, and there are a ton of great owners already. I feel that the further we get from our roots, the less special the cars become and the more oblique our reason for gathering together. Not to say that we'll forget why we liked the cars, merely that new owners won't care because of how commonplace they are.

The good news is that I'm allowed to have my opinion; though as the old addage tells us, they're not always good.

 

I don't think it is all bad. For one, a nice 4 wheel drive MINI done tastefully can only enhance the brand.

You mention community, I can see a 4wd on our mountain runs. I might even think of buying one of these for the Mrs., since she loves here Jeep so much. I would really love to bring her to the MINI side of things.

Now a 4wd in a vert, no I don't think so.

 

I'd buy one. Smaller than most SAV's, and some style character. For a family that does not have kids, only dogs, something like this might be perfect. Most SAV's are too big, having something smaller will be refreshing.

 

Yes, the dog factor. I can see two Goldens or Labs in a 4wd MINI. We just need a way to have them change the inside felt so it does not grab all the dog hair.

 

I agree with Japic.

First comes the car, and 'our' mini has been an icon and a classic and easily distinguished amongst cars for a few decades - with only few body and preformance improvements (all in the name of progress and style - thanks BMW) ... then comes the station wagon, then comes the sports utility vehicle, then comes the truck, then comes obscurity.

BMW already has an SUV, so it makes sense they'd delve into that arena, but my vote is: Hands-off the Mini.

I hope consumers out there will be of like-mindedness and choose an SUV with a proven record, the same reason we probably bought our Mini's ... they got it 'right'.

My 2 cents.

 

they already have done that...it is called "leather"

 

TFT, I have leatherette, I'm talking on the back of the rear seats and the fluff in the boot.

Hey, you want to do a custom interior for me. You have the machine right?

Don

 

Maybe, I do have a machine. Depends on what you want and how much is involved I still have to dig into mine and practice on that first, but I might be interested in helping.

 

I was jerkin your chain a little bit.

You have not finished your new interior? No time?

 

nope, no time, things have been busy at work, I have been doing more than weekends, and the holidays really got me behind with house stuff....soooo, I hope to start in the next week or so, either that or after I get back from Jamaica in February.

but seriously, I might be able to help you with some small stuff on your interior if you want...like headliner and pillar stuff if you want to darken up the interior, etc.

 

Not sure I want to darken up my interior, perhaps cover the back side of my back seats so they don't attract the hair of the dogs. But I can do that with a pet-mat from various sources.

I do thank you for the offer, but I know your full interior redo is going to keep you very busy.

I'm still thinking the the 4wd MINI would be a nice option. I would love to see it built on the Coupe versus the Clubman, but either would be interesting and fun.

 

Don, totally can help you cover the back of the seats, that would actually be pretty easy, I believe.

Do you really think the coupe would be more functional as AWD version? I think if they made it just big enough for 4 doors, easier ingress/egress (if those are words, hehe), that would be a better sell for super small families, or just married couples that have pets or want to haul some travel gear. Something smaller than the X3, Rav4, CRV, etc. With enough ground clearance to get me through the snow, but low enough to still be fun to drive in a spirited manner, much like the X3 is, and enough power to haul butt...a turbo powerplant like the new Acura SAV would be cool too, IMHO.

 

No the Coupe as 4WD would be more fun and tossable. The Clubman would be the better platform allowing more versatility, for the reasons you noted.

I guess we will see when they come out with the model, which I'm sure they will. In the meantime I probably need to look at the a new something for my wife's 04 Jeep. Always shopping for a car since I'm addicted to car shopping.

We shall see what develops on the seat covering front, get yours done first.

 

I don't see the problem with the Crossman. In fact, I'll probably get one when they come out. If MINI wants to diversify and make more money, then more power to them. Historically, Mini built pickups, vans, and station wagons, so why are people hating on them now especially when it's just going to be a lengthened Clubman chassis with a nice awd system under it. At least MINI isn't trying to bring back useless (even though I love them) brands like Wolseley and Riley.

 

My MA told me that the Crossman will be based on the BMW X6. I don't know if he knows what he is talking about but I want one. It will do everything I want it to do. Right now, I'm averaging a little over 40 mpg on my Clubman so I hope this micro SUV will do its SUV duties with similar fuel savings. I hear in some places in California right now, gas is well over $5.00. Scary stuff guys!

 

Everything I've read has said X1...