i am waiting.....but not for the 07 turbo. i'll probably get one of the last production 06 cars. i have a turbo now, i'm done with turbo lag for fun cars.

 

Wait, superchargers whine..turbos whoosh

 

I remember the old corrado was supercharged but veedub went to the six later on. Then it just bailed on the car all together!

 

1 series is not supposed to come to NA anymore. Ii'd be surprised if MINI went with a cheaper car. If that was so, why would they be adding costly options like the LSD to the current car? Obviously that doesn't decrease complexity or allow for cost savings to the consumer? The car sells well enough now why change their whole philosophy to making cheaper cars that don't perform as well? The car is built around the hype of their performance which can be attested to in all of the magazine reviews. I don't think it would bode well for the company if the new headlines read "MINI not as good as the last one.." Just my 2 cents...

 

I think the idea is that the next gen. MINI will be cheaper for them to manufacture but will certainly cost more for the consumer as is usual for a new model launch. They may offset some of their manufacturing costs by offering a less extensive options list, for example (hope not). I thought it was pretty much common-knowledge that the next gen will be turbocharged rather than supercharged and will be dimensionally larger....possibly so they can compete in WRC (but that's total conjecture; I think). Turbo engines are not necessarily (very) lag prone, some generate close to their peak torque from as low as 1850 rpm.

 

This is a BIG can of worms.

Why did MINI change the strut valving? Because MINI doesnt sell all their cars to enthusiasts, thats why. There is a market for people who like the size or the styling but dont care for the bumpy ride or the price.

Cost savings are found in decreasing the complexity of the standard design. For example: Headlights not mounted to the hood allow the hood to require less structural strength and the struts that support it to be smaller, lighter, and cheaper. Assembly becomes easier because the hood is now easily moved and doesnt require robotic assistance to locate it. Its win, win, win for BMW to cheapen this car.

As for options like a $500 LSD, options are almost entirely profit. Cheapening the car has nothing to do with options. Options are where they make most of their money.

Because they're leaving dollars on the table by not filling all of their demand. A simpler, cheaper, car that they can crank out faster allows them to sell more, make more profit, etc.

What if the headlines read "Cheaper MINI appeals to more buyers" or "MINI Profits UP 40%" Its all relative to your needs. With companies like Scion picking up the quirky small car orders that MINI can't fill, they dont have a choice.

Overall I see the next gen mini as being a more traditionally designed/built vehicle while retaining a lot of the characteristics of the current model.

--
Cheese

 

A five door Mini would hardly be Mini. But i have read speculations as to a length increase for it to be possibly entered into the wonderful world of WRC. But those are speculations. There have also been secret talks of a 4wd Mini.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...light=4wd+mini

 

I understood that the MINI One would not make to the US. Can't see much that cheapening the overall lineup would help the car's image- I would think that would even drive away current owners- particularly since it looks so much like the "S" with its painted grill... Besides, original sales for the One in Europe were pretty dim. With a $17K base cost, (and no back seat), BMW perhaps should accept that the MC would never be a true "mass market" car as the original was. Reducing costs is one thing, but if the customer perceives a decline in quality, (or the industry writers take that position), then the car will be irretrievably changed in the minds of its current owners, (who I personally believe, are to a degree at least, attracted to the car because it is a "premium" brand), and who will then eventually just trade out of the brand when their cars age...

 

I'm under the impression that such a MINI would be a bigger MINI, and heavier at that....

Many enthusiasts think that our new MINIs are already too big, for what a Mini was. And at over a foot longer for WRC, it will be hard to call it a MINI with a straight face. While gas mileage will suffer with such a transformation, even more important to some is that it will not be the small, light-weight nimble car that has been its trademark. I'm not sure I'd want such sacrifices or compromises simply to have a larger engine. If I wanted a larger tubo'd 3,000+ pound ride, I would choose from one of the several out there that are available now...

The current 1.6 liter is proving to be a tank of an engine when it comes taking modifications. If this newer lighter engine is like many other alloy types, it might not be able to take the abuse that many of our current cast iron blocks see.

For the sake of the nameplate, I hope MINI doesn't follow-through with making her bigger. I just saw my buddies Mazda 3 5-door yesterday, and it weighs nearly what an MCS weighs...

I got my MCS because it's a slalom king, first and foremost. I firmly believe that the fun-factor that we hear so much about is for that reason. For the type of car this is, I too see more value in a SC, as opposed to a turbo. With M7 and Randy Webb working jointly on a twinscrew SC, I feel that is the ultimate solution, along with an LSD .

Waiting is fine, for sure. Just know what you want, and what will be offered .

 

A foot longer? I agree, that is NO MINI. Surely it would spell the beginning of the end for this brand...

 

Back to turbos for a sec-What about the electronic spooled turbo? I dont know if this ever saw production or not, but it was susposed to eliminate all turbo lag. Plus, I have read articles on cars that have susposively "no" lag, and I dont think the author is overly exited. What if the electronic spooled turbo is out by '07? Super guys go turbo?

 

To be in WRC, a mininum length of 4m is required, if I'm not mistaken. The MINI would need 13 more inches... I've heard a few say that newer MINIs, with this future engine will be a few inches bigger, and with WRC-enticement, a few more gets them to 4 meters. There has been talk...

There's waiting for the unknown, and that unknown might not be more desirable, at least for what many want in a MINI. I'm guessing that those who want the new engine do so because of the added power of more displacement and the turbo. With more weight due to its increased size, the weight to hp ratio might not make that much difference, if at all.

The current MCS already has a twincharger aftermkt option (addition of a turbo), and with a weight well under 3,000 pounds, small and light does have its positives. I bet MINI can keep her the same size and do a turbo if they are so inclined. Talk of AWD is interesting, but that would add at least a couple hundred more pounds, and probably more. There are some big decisions to be made...

Huge hp applications seem to favor turbos; they are not parasitic like SCs. But for a FWD ride, how much is enough? Balance, particulary in these cars is so important. If 275hp is deemed to the be limit to maintain drivability, I feel that the proper SC is the way to do so. It should (I'm not certain) be able to do this with significantly less boost (better on the engine). I say this because the twincharger gets these numbers with 20 lbs of boost. Also, turbos generally make for higher under-hood temps, which is not ideal. I too have read that today's turbos spool faster. But, a SC, especially something like a twinscrew, will get into boost quicker, and with that be more responsive when one wants it...

A few tuners have shared that these current MINIs might be the ones to covet. Time will tell, of course...

 

Thats good to hear...I still love my 02 and would never give it up. I really hope they last as long as the classic minis did

 

We are eagerly waiting for a 5-door MINI "Traveller" or "Clubman" estate. So for the "experts" here, do you think that a classic Mini Traveller Esate wagon, or a Mini panel van, or a Mini Moke or even a Mini pickup is "less" Mini than the original 2 door variant??

Care to explain that one???

 

Great thread - and great info :smile:

I plan at the moment to keep GBMINI till the new model design comes out; but we are certain to know lots more about it as time gets closer so there is always an option to order a "final old version" if the new version looks bad.
Personally I don't believe BMW/MINI will have put so much effort into this new product to screw it up any time soon - every other change so far that people have posted "oh no - bad news" has turned out to be not bad and I trust that will be the case for the new model too.
However, I am very tempted by the better gear ratios on the '05 - and those new Xenons are cool too

 

As I have said before, the smart money is on waiting for the 2034 Mini - the hybrid electric/peanut oil engine is supposed to put out 500 BHP and get 60 MPG! And the stasis field brakes are supposed to be the best ever made. Why just wait until 2007 - those Prince engines are at best a temporary measure until the real thing comes along. I figure that by the time I am 107, they will have this whole automobile thing halfway figured out! Remember, reward postponed is reward postponed!

 

But remember - we are at least driving and enjoying our current MINIs today

 

The problem is MINI isn't having any problems filling orders, there is still a one year wait at the dealership near me, and there is no wait at the Scion dealership. MINI has always marketed itself as a premium brand, I would be surprised to see that change. I believe there may be a 4 door MINI that could be the larger MINI everyone is talking about, and perhaps that would be the one used for rally competition. And as the others have eluded to, we won't know til it comes out.

It seems like people are already getting nostalgic about the current car. God those were the good ol' days.

 

that was the word over the summer but last month there was an intvw (Fortune, I think) w/ a BMW board member that now says it will come to the US once the larger engines are avail.

 

While turbo's do have their upsides, I'm not sure how well they'd fit into he MINI. Electric spooled turbos, I assume, are driven from the battery so they can spool quickly but I'm not sure the demands on the electrical system. I know over in the Honda Insight forums, there's a thread about an electically spooled supercharger. It should be the same principle. As for TC's that don't have lag, well if it's small enough, it won't have noticeable lag. A porsche 911 with a single huge TC will take off quite good even without the TC. Then it finally kicks in and you find yourself flying. Putting a TC on a MINI would be like driving a Cooper until the TC spools. Then it would be like driving a MCS Works. The debate is endless but the MINI is a car for curves and an SC is probably the best choice for that style of driving.

 

Couldn't find an "expert" so I'll have to do

I think the answer is yes...if you are comparing the sportsworthyness of the wagon variants to the 2-doors...especially classic Cooper Ss.

That said...on practicallity grounds an estate MINI could be kind of cool.

Not loving the idea that the best and "purest" version of the car is getting larger in '07. Think I'll take especially good care of my 03

What's next...an automatic transmission?

 

Oh, Joe! This post of yours is a HOOT! Thanks so much for the giggles!

Clover

 

I'm with you on this one.The longer we wait,the more advanced the tech.
But with BMWs track record of paying fines for not lowering MPG,to meet demands for performance,2034 seems a bit early for a hybrid MINI.
But a turbocharged MINI would make sense for me.Flat open roads,sweeping curves,no real need to go to WOT to pass,as I can see on coming traffic for days.
We have a saying here,You can watch your dog run away for days
My extended warrenty,95 K miles,should be coming up around when the new 07's hit the roads,will decide then.
They better make BRG jobs though,as they are the only ones with race built into the paint

 

And thank YOU for using "HOOT" and "the giggles" in the same post

 

I think in certain parts of the country there is no wait for the Mini either. There might not be a wait for Scions locally but they don't seem to have a problem selling cars in the U.S. They have already sold close to 80k this year and may reach the high 90's by the end of the year. They are a lot cheaper and have lower performance(except the TC) then the mini so I don't know if they would be considered competition.