In the February "Automobile" magazine is a spread of new Mini models possible coming our way.

1. Crossover SUV
2. Hi-Top Wagon
3. Extended Wheel Base (Traveller)
4. New Moke
5. Speedster

Everything but the Moke seems a viable option according to the article. I may p-off a few purists, but for me, I would love to park a Speedster next to my MCS.

The floor is now open for discussion.....

 

I hope not.

 

They should leave it alone. It's perfect now.

 

Call me crazy...."Your Crazy!!"


But I want a All Wheel Drive Mini.

 

I had an old 850 Mini wagon that was very cool....sign me up for the all-wheel drive as well. Call it the gadget freak's MINI. Hey, if I have a watch that tracks my running by GPS, I can have an all wheel drive MINI......just because

 

Mini, with some success, pulled of all kinds of variations back in the day...but that was then. Things have changed and unless there's a radical swing (for some reason) to smaller cars for every kind of use (not likely to happen), I'll bet many of these variants will be non-starters for most folks here in the US. I mean, most folks here BARELY get MINIs at all much less a Moke.

 

Most of those pics are months old and the only real options will either be a traditional 5-door or a possible MC with rear suicide-style rear doors like the Mazda RX8 or the possibility that those rear doors might slide-open like a minature-mini-van.

I would guess that either one of those two options would appear a year after the launch of the new 3-door mini in early 2007.

 

Crossover SUV? - I'd have to shoot someone at MINI

 

hmm hope not.
I would have to ask why... an suv?!?!... could be a sign of the end of the world.

 

I saw an article of a MINI truck out there somewhere!!!!????? Can't remember where though !

 

A friend of mine showed me this article a few weeks back, more specifically, the red one with the rounded top. He thought it would be cool it they did that.</br>Personally, I LOVE the MINI's look. Its unique, that's SO much of why the MINI is SO cool! Why make it look like all the other cars out there? I just don't get it. Honestly, I would be perfectly happy if they NEVER changed the look, just make the engine components more powerful and lighter...haha.

 

The one with no doors looks pretty cool though.

 

i'll take a mini wagon

 

The crossover SUV looks like it's something from Spy Kids 4D

Honestly other than a stretched MINI that gives more cargo room these "new" ideas are hardly an improvement.

I'd rather see a few more changes in the speedster other than loosing the rear seat. A lower and wider stance, more aggressive suspension, all wheel drive, wider 18x8" wheels, customizable interior, and heads up display.

 

All those are already built buy someone else, i.e. the speedster looks an awful lot like a Miata.

Let's leave all this for others trying to appeal to the "typical" car buyer, BMW has other divisions to screw with, if they need market share.

Leave the MINI alone.

 

The January issue of the British magazine "Car" has a two-pager on future MINIs. They claim the most likely variant is the Clubman, which is a three-door with a longer wheelbase and either a clamshell or side-hinged rear doors. They discuss the Traveller as another variant, that one with five doors. For me, if you're going to make a stretched version, the five-door makes more sense--not that I'd particularly want either for myself.

They call the Moke a "ludicrously long shot" because of potential safety issues, and the Coupe and Speedster as "near production ready" with the marketing people trying to decide to do it.

This is the one I'd like: The Monte Carlo, a "hardcore sports version with high-performance engine". Car generally gets things right so I hope this is a real possibility.

Along with this is discussion of the MINI Mk II, with the usual stuff about the new engine, non-clamshell hood, and nicer interior materials. That, obviously, is the least speculative.

Mark

 

Here are my predictions:

1. Crossover SUV - won't happen
2. Hi-Top Wagon - very doubtful.
3. Extended Wheel Base (Traveller) - should happen with the R56
4. New Moke - won't happen. In fact a few months ago Mr Houghton-Berry himself (head of MINI production) emailed sales managers across the UK to specifically say there is no substance to the a story from AutoExpress regarding a new Moke.
5. Speedster - could happen with the R56

 

Although there's historical precedence for a traveller version (and for that matter, a Mini Moke), the thought of a Mini-based SUV is making me sick. I'm going to take a drive now and calm down.

Seriously though, it's bad enough that this SUV-thing has already corrupted the likes of Porsche - I hope that MINIUSA doesn't forget what got them here in the first place.

On a different, though related note, a firm in California built a one-off Mini limo which was on the show tour. Are there others out there? My daughter is approaching her first prom shortly and refuses (to her credit) to be seen in a "traditional" limo like her friends want - unless it's a MINI! Bet you can't guess what she wants as her first car.

 

classic minis came in flat bed, pick up, AND van variants.If then, why not now.My Morris Minor traveller (woody!) was the *****.Wish like hell I had it now

 

MINI Crossover SUV?

I think Infiniti has already come up with the concept for that...

 

I welcome the thought.. not being afraid of change is what got us the new mini..that's crossover SUV looks like fun and I like the space age thing they have going on....I want my current mini to always be what it is...but to be able to go to one car company and know what I am getting...the fun and quality that is mini but now with more altunatives...like the crossover!! what fun...now I can go out in the desert and off road...but in a mini....

 

I voted for the SUV cross over,not because I want a bigger car,or a 4 door.
I would just like to see something with a bit more ground clearence for winter driving.I don't want or need AWD,FWD has always worked for me,owned many.
I know many folks get MINIs to mod,get max HP,live where twisties on asphalt are the norm and auto cross and race.All the power to you,and I like to hear your stories,but in my case I want a car that is fun to drive,does not need me to void the warrenty to do what I want it to do,and will clear some snow.
Don't get me wrong,It is fun having snow fly up over the bonnet while plowing through 6 or more inches of itBut moving ankle deep snow with the front of the car is getting old.
Don't bother telling me this is the wrong car for my needs,I know what I need,and I NEED A MINI

 

The only variation I would ever want to see of my current car, an '05 MCS, is one that would be just long enough to meet FIA specifications for WRC. If what I've heard is true the current MINI is 1.3 feet too short. If MINI could meet the length requirement without altering wheel base and handling and implement Getrag's 4 wheel drive design at the same time that would be great, throwing in a 2 liter motor and twin charging it wouldn't hurt either. Maybe add a little to the bumpers and an inch or two of boot space. This as a variant trim level above the "S" would be righteously cool. Maybe call it a MINI Cooper S Rally International and base it at $24,400. I'd buy that.

 

WRC ??

 

I'd love to see the Speedster.