Here are some concept art of what might be here sooner then later.




And here is the article in Motortrend

 

but fugly.

JPS

 

What the? Isn't the MINI already a 'roadster'? What makes it one... having only two seats?!

 

Two seats and no top. I agree with Jonathan, fugly!

 

The Roadster will have a convertible top, Mototrend nor Autoweek knew if it would be a soft top or a slick hard top as of the articles today. A roadster is normally a two seater also. I think it is slick and cool looking. Sort of like the original concept art for the Convertible before it came out.

 

No thanks. Has lost touch with its MINIness.

 

I tend to agree. It probably would look okay on it's own.....but as a MINI?? Doesn't exactly read that way.

 

Is this thread about the Clubman? I could have sworn I heard those same exact comments before the Clubbie came out.
I've learned my lesson and will withhold judgment until I see one in person.

 

^^^^ +1

 

They should have revived the Triumph Marquee, used the MINI platform and changed the styling to make a retro Triumph. Having said that, it isnt offensive to me but I would like to see it in person.

 

I kinda think it doesn't look much like a MINI either... but I bet it would be fun as hell to drive.

 

Another note, this is Motortrend's artist vision of what they thought it MIGHT look like, this is not from MINI, so we have to wait till the Frankfurt Auto show (Sept 17-27) to see the real one.

 

As a MG, Triumph and MINI owner, I agree that they should have revived Triumph for this one but I like it and will be strongly thinking about getting one.

bob g
NAMGBR MG2009 MGs in Breckenridge - Chairman
Colorado English Motoring Conclave - Board of Directors
1966 OEW MGB
1966 OEW MGB-GT
1973 Green Mallard MGB (supercharged)
1976 Inca Yellow TR-6
2009 Laser Blue MINI Cooper S

 

True....but then the Clubman was such a big part of Mini heritage, it was hard to ever deny that configuration. Yet, still the comments came.

We always have been waiting to see if this will happen...I hope it does someday.

Agreed.....I have everyconfidence that, should MINI decide to go forward with it, it'll be super!!!

Very good to know....I was wondering if this was released by MINI in advance of the Frankfurt Auto Show. If this is only specualtive, almost not worth forming an opinion.

 

Don't like it. If that's supposed to be some form of MINI evolution then I will go to creationism.

 

I know!! However, with the SAV coming down the pipe, I guess MINI is trying to expand the brand to avoid the kind of stagnation (and market limitations?) that came about several times with the classic. Sometimes I wonder if they are trying to do too much too fast...and how much of this is ill-considered. Is an SAV needed??? 4WD, yes, but is a whole other package for that required or could it go into existing MINI models?? Is a roadster needed? Maybe yes, since the Z2 has been scrapped, although I would rather see the Z2 happen and leave the MINI alone from a roadster perspective. What about the MINI E? Very clever yes, but is the technology practical considering the loss of the entire rear seat?? Would it not be simpler to make the existing Cooper D available over here?? For expansion purposes, maybe the special editions (performance and otherwise) are the way to go, but then those probably don't do much to bring folks into the MINI fold (new customers/more money).

Well, in the end, I don't know squat about running a car company and if MINI/BMW sees this as the way to go, I have no objection. It all seems a bit frantic and disconnected to me, though. You can create a monster. Yet, maybe this is how new developments/experimentation takes place. It's their money/product to develop....but I was/am quite pleased with the more subtle refinements seen in R56, especially significant bump-up the fuel efficiency and torque capabilities of the Cooper. I'm still a coupe guy....and these evolutions are what gladly moved me from MINI #1 into MINI #2.

 

To revive Triumph, BMW would have to buy the rights, like they did with MINI.

 

Blu
They already own the Triumph brand. They owned all of British Leyland brands but sold Land Rover to Ford and Rover & MG to the Phoenix Group which has since gone bankrupt and been sold to the Chinese. The only exception is Austin-Healey, They own Austin but the Healey family own the rights to the Healey name.

bob g
MG2009 MGs in Breckenridge - Chairman
Colorado English Motoring Conclave - Board of Directors
1966 OEW MGB
1966 OEW MGB-GT
1973 Green Mallard MGB (supercharged)
1976 Inca Yellow TR-6
2009 Laser Blue MINI Cooper S

 

I don't think it looks bad at all...
As a matter of fact if they offered a engine package that would include a Supercharger version I would definitely buy one.

 

So, why is that guy's hair standing up?

 

He mixed his Rogaine with Viagra? ;P

 

Looks like the first model Audi TT

 

That's what I was thinking also.

 

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee too !!

Sweet.

I'd be on that in a heartbeat.

 

WOW! That looks awesome!!