http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102232

 

Get your "MINI" now, while you still can! At least that's my opinion... And while we shouldn't judge on appearance just yet, I still don't find any of these photos aesthetically pleasing...

 

The MINI in the first pic of this article still has camo mask on it. We wont know how it will look until one of the big auto shows (SEMA, Tokyo Auto show) next year. I still think there will be changes to it, the designers like to have fun with us.

 

As Gabe of Motoringfile.com states these are the same spy photos everyone has been showing for a year. Not very accurate. I agree with Turbogeo that we're being toyed with.

 

I know someone who says they attended a MINI marketing focus group a few weeks back. They had styling bucks and interior bucks for them to look at, sit in, give feedback. This person said she was not impressed; in fact didn't see anything that made her feel it was improved, rather just changed. Her comments regarding the interior was that unlike the current car's 50's retro inspired look, the new one was 70's retro. Disco anyone?

Hope her interpretation isn't accurate. On the other hand, the designer responsible for our MINIs is long gone (to Ferrari) and replaced by the BMW corporate design teams. So, who knows what we'll really see.

 

My biggest concern is the size increase, thus my mentioning of "MINI" in quotes. The appearance, as I alluded, is bound to change much over time. But, what does seem more and more concrete is that our MINI continues to grow still more . People marvel at the space inside of our "small" cars already. I just don't get the desire to make something longer and most likely heavier. It is certainly not Mini-esque... It's unique attributes get lost even more... Just my 2 pennies...

 

A lot of other cars have grown recently, too, but not in weight. I can't remember which ones I'm thinking of off the top of my head, but several cars are using lighter weight materials to actually cut weight while expanding the car.

I'm jazzed because this means we might finally have a MINI WRC and maybe even a MINI "Cosworth RS"!! WOO HOO!

 

We would need about 13 more inches to qualify for WRC. One could hardly call such a ride a Mini/MINI...

And if that's the plan, awd must be considered as well, and that's certainly going to add a couple hundred pounds. And I'm sure it can be made competitive... But I could care less as she evolves into just another turbo, awd choice pushing 3,000+ pounds. Her quick-transitioning slalom prowess that really makes the car so fun is bound to suffer along the way...

There's no doubt that cars can be made bigger without adding weight. That said, with the same ingenuity, they can be made smaller while losing much (weight). The Mini/MINI has been about being small and nimble. If keeping with the legacy that made the car unique is deemed important, they are going the wrong way...

 

I wouldn't worry too much. As Gabe from MotoringFile has said many times, while there will be an extended-wheelbase MINI of some sort, the MINI that we all have now will only grow externally by a few millimeters.

-Paul!

 

The problem is, a few millimeters here, a few millimeters there, and eventually it's not a MINI anymore.BMW (or any carmaker) doesn't seem capable of updating a car without making it longer, wider, taller, heavier, thinking that that's what consumers want. What they don't seem to realize is that the MINI does not adhere to that formula. It is as appealing as it is because of its small size. They've already increased it's size by what - 50%? - over its predecessor, can't they leave it at that?!

 

I agree, they are messing with success. Until there are numerous dealers with lots full of MINI's they can't sell, why go making changes? If you want to improve the engines and make them all turbos, fine. If there are other features or things they want to do to try to enhance performance, that's cool, too. But the exterior should be basically left untouched, IMHO.

 

it is funny when car companies make changes just for the sake of change. it isn't like you see them all over right now and are getting sick of the look. also, it isn't like they aren't selling like hotcakes.

i'd say it would be nice for them to create some variants, but leave this one alone. make a longer model and a roadster model or whatever, but leave this one.

 

I agree completely, you can add my 2 cents to the penny pile. When does a MINI cease emulating the original spirit of the mini, and start to become more of a MINI/Passat?

I've always said that my main reasons for owning a MINI were the fun-to-drive factor and the unique character of the car. When they made the first changes from the '02/'03 models, I wondered if those minor changes would be improvments. It turns out to be almost a wash. The unique character of the car hasn't been lost, but I miss the original "harsh" handling of the '02's and early '03's. On the plus side, I love the gearing of the '05's. But the '07 model is a major change... a longer wheelbase, different front end, new engine, and the list goes on.

I can only wonder if the fun-to-drive factor will increase enought to off-set what I see as a loss in the character of the car?

 

maybe this will help with the why questions...... some of the changes are very stupid but there's a slighty reason to them... always is.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/03/..._mini_revealed

 

When the current MINI was announced a Mini friend, his wife, and other Mini owners were very concerned. It had been so long since I owned an Austin Mini I forgot how small it was. But when I learned how much bigger the new MINI was going to be my concern was added to the ballyhoo. I lamented how big Honda models grew since inception and dismissed the new MINI as yet another clone with a nostalgic badge.

My friend and other classic Mini owners were allowed to test drive the new MINI prior to introduction. He reported that it exceeded anything he could imagine. He wanted to buy 2. I, who had not seen it, remained skeptical. Then it began to appear on the streets and loved it. Later, when I saw a classic Mini I almost did not recognize it. It looked so boxy, so flimsy and so, well, tiny! Did I used to squeeze into that?

I was wrong about the current MINI. It's wonderful. I was also wrong about the current Porsche Carrera versus the air-cooled version. The current one is a much better car all around--more capable performance while delivering better fuel economy. So it may be premature to accuse BMW of fattening up its golden goose.