http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakin...ory150041.html

'Cheaper' Mini on its way

German car giant BMW is planning to replace its successful British-built Mini with a new, cheaper-to-make model.

The company, which makes the Mini at Cowley near Oxford, has drawn up plans for a version of the car with a less ambitious design, according to a report.

The Munich-based car maker has decided the high specification of the Mini and its relatively low market price has limited its profitability, the report in the Sunday Times said.

The new model, which will not be available for at least three to four years, will have cheaper components and will be offered with a wider range of body types including a five-door estate.

BMW’s Mini, based on Austin’s original classic, has had significant success since the company launched it just under three years ago.


The company sold 176,000 of the cars last year – 22% up on 2002 – and expects to sell about 180,000 this year. The Mini is sold in 73 countries, with prices ranging from just over £10,000 (€14,982) to more than £14,000 (€20,974).

BMW declined to give profit figures for the Mini, but a spokeswoman said the company expected the current range to make a “positive contribution to the group’s bottom line”.

She confirmed that the group plans to build a new range, which is likely to be available in different styles.

There may be a limited amount of extra investment at Cowley, which employs 4,500, to handle extra volumes, she said.

But the spokeswoman said it was too early to give further details on the new car, adding: “We’re still some years away from going into production.”

 

The BMW motto: Make the worst cars out of the cheapest possible products and market it to sell at premium prices.

 

So.... that's not a joke?

Is that by any chance timed with their release of the 1 series stateside? Bring all the MINI owners into "real" Bimmers and court yet another demographic?

 

OmToast, always needing more!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004250427,00.html
BMW has announced it is to replace the new Mini after only three years with a model that is cheaper to build.

The German manufacturer feels the high cost of parts and its relatively low price — from £10,000 to £14,000 — are cutting into their profits.

The new model, to be built in Oxford, will include a five-door estate version.

 

Well... the new laminated cardboard door panels and exhaust tips made from hollowed out eggplants will at least be easier to replace with aftermarket bits.


Bah humbug!

 

If they turn it into a generic econobox, they are in for a real uphill battle. I believe the MINIs design is the ONLY reason that it sells. It is not the quickest or most powerful car on the road. It does not get the best gas mileage. It is not the most reliable car around. The price is not at all competitive. And BMW's warranty is the worst in the industry. If they believe that they can compete with Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Toyota, Scion, and Honda, they are crazy. BMW has carved their own nich in the compact car market that really has no competition except for cars that are twice the price - TT, Boxter, etc. To change the formula and enter an oversaturated market would be suicide. Since they insist on capitalizing on the Minis of the past when it is convenient, maybe they should look at mistakes made in the past, SUCH AS THE CLUBMAN. There is no way I would "upgrade" to a 1 series. If I wanted a BMW I would buy the 7 Series but I detest the company and would never buy anything with the BMW badge. I bought the MINI because it captured the spirit of the original, despite being owned by a crappy company. I just hope they continue with their parts when the current model is phased out and the new meets its inevitible doom. If they cannot make a profit on the current model, they never will.

_________________
MINIs - Better than Prozak but without the side effects.

 

I for one don't believe a word of it! Car companies know years in advance what product they are going to put out and where they project the line to go. So, why would they put all the effort into the convertible when they were already planning to "dumb down" the entire Mini line?! I'll believe this when i see it! While i definitely put my Mini on the same pedestal as the Miata, it would be akin to Mazda "dumbing down" the Miata after it had been out for only a few years. Granted, the Mini has sold no where near as well as the Miata, but it sure seems to be doing well. This whole idea just doesn't seem to make much business sense on their part. But that's just my humble opinion!

 

I thought that was already planned? They were gonna start using peugot engines which were cheaper and stuff? This sounds pretty bad if true...but you know how believable things are 3 years before their time

From what i've heard, the 1 series isnt making it over to the states

 

Ok as long as it looks like this...[img]null[/img]

 

>>Ok as long as it looks like this...[img]null[/img]

That is a real nice looking Mini.

"Granted, the Mini has sold no where near as well as the Miata, but it sure seems to be doing well."

That is because they are not making as many MINIs as they did Miatas.

Earl

 

If they're grumpy about lower sales, perhaps they shouldn't put such a strangle-hold on production in order to keep the car's "boutique" appeal. But then, I think if they deliberately shunned that appeal, they'd go the way of the way of the new Beetle and they'd REALLY end up grumpy.

I'm going to plug up my ears and hope that rg is right.

Weren't there rumors about a roadster in 2007 or so? I'll choose to believe that one, instead.

 

I think they needed to launch the AT version of the S from
the beginning.

I don't consider my car cheap either... over $27.5k i paid and
there are other with JCW that paid waay more.

I gues its hard to sell small cars like this when most people
think small cars are suppose to be ecno-cheap (like Scions, Kia's,
Hyundai's). some people just don't get it.

 

>>I think they needed to launch the AT version of the S from
>>the beginning.
>>
>>I don't consider my car cheap either... over $27.5k i paid and
>>there are other with JCW that paid waay more.
>>
>>I gues its hard to sell small cars like this when most people
>>think small cars are suppose to be ecno-cheap (like Scions, Kia's,
>>Hyundai's). some people just don't get it.
>>
>>In my mind Poco is a sports car,not an econo car

 

"I gues its hard to sell small cars like this when most people
think small cars are suppose to be ecno-cheap (like Scions, Kia's,
Hyundai's). some people just don't get it."

Hard to sell? Where?

Extreme price gouging and long waiting lists are still the norm in California!

 

Hey, a cheaper MINI just makes our cars worth more down the line right? I mean look at the VW Beetle, the market is so saturated they're not worth any more than the next VW.

 

"Hey, a cheaper MINI just makes our cars worth more down the line right? I mean look at the VW Beetle, the market is so saturated they're not worth any more than the next VW."

Unless the new model is an absolute flop and BMW abandons the parts market for them.

 

I think it you go away from the strength of the MINI and build the car cheaper you'd loose those who feel they are getting a premium small sporty hatchback.

You'd start to compete against the Mazda 3, Ford Focus, Honda Civic etc. which is a very tough market to do well in.

Part of the success of the MINI is it's low supply and high demand because it isn't just another econobox with flashy wheels.

When you build a car that is cheaper the profit margin shrinks and you have to go with higher volume to make up for it. This floods the market and further cheapens the car. Still, I don't think the US market is all that wild yet for a cheap little car otherwise we'd be seeing alot more KIAs. KIAs have a low price, great warranty and no personality.
Drop in a turbo or supercharger and beef up the suspension and add light wheels and maybe it would be OK.

 

>>Hard to sell? Where?
>>Extreme price gouging and long waiting lists are still the norm in California!


Im talking about the general American public. We Mini owners are discriminating
people looking for these small cars, particulary the mini. You aren't from a general
crowd, are you? If so, you're driving the wrong car.

_________________
03MCS IB/B: 123, Aero, R90, SSR Comps, Milltek, Pilo Intake, UNIChip, H-Sport, Alta Swaybar...

 

I agree with theWrkncacnter, if they dummy down the Mini ours will definately be woth more on the used car market, so bring'em on!

 

Well there are many ways to cheapen the base price
NOT STANDARD ,,,power windows,doors a/c ,in Canada the cold package is standard,but we pay for it ,they all come here with it.Don't offer that many options.K.I.S.S. works
Hope this is route they are taking,not moving away from the base platform.

 

I think the article is pretty vague....cheapening the car how? By the number of welds it receives during assembly? By the number of screws it gets? By the quality of the interior plastics?

There are millions of ways to cut costs on a car, yet without affecting much of it in the way it feels and looks.

Prime examples of this...the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. 2 of the best selling family vanilla sedans in the market that get cheapened to produce and market on each new generation. These cars still sell briskly in the American market and yet they have cheaper less complex parts to assemble in comparison to previous models and yet look and feel the same.

If you look at the interior of a 1989 Honda Accord and a 2004 Honda Accord, you'll be surprised as to how much more nicer the interior assembly quality and materials used in the old car versus the new one, but yet these difference may be subtle for the great majority of customers to notice.


I think everyone is taking this article way out of context (If it is true). Don't worry our MINis will not be turned into Pintos or Yugos!

 

i almost puked when i red this.....

then i swallowed it and smiled at the thought of mine being worth soooo much more.

 

I'll believe it when I see it.

BMW has no plans to bring the first of the 1 series to the US market (the m-coupe looking Z4 hatch hybrid seen in R&T), but there might be a wagon-esk version to come over in the future.

 

I think it is possible that they may cheapen the Mini, I think some of the interior bits (like leather and some plastics) are already a bit cheap. But the components (engine, transmission, suspension, structure) are excellent...

Perhaps they may just offer a de-contented Mini Cooper, perhaps crank windows, manual locks, things like that...

 

I shudder to think about this as the future. Remember how Mercedes was always the "quality" benchmark? Then they go and increase profits by downgrading the parts and materials... NOW look at where they are. Profits are up, satisfaction and reliability are down. Hmmmm... Mini reliability is not so great now... imagine what it will be like AFTER that!