If memory serves me right, there was a feature article in European Car a month or two ago about aftermarket mods for MINIs. The article mentioned an upcoming MINI RS in passing. I re-read the article a couple times in case I missed something, but there wasn't any further description of what the RS was, nor when it would be available. I'm afraid to get my hopes up for this rumor, but the idea is very intriguing! If MINI could sell it for under $ 30K, I'd be VERY interested.

 

I made the sales manager at mini put me on the waiting list even though he is not sure if it is a reality...just the same I had him sign his business card that I was # 2 on the list just in case it is a reality. I asked him who then would be # 1 and he said him, that it beat investing in the stock market, laugh!

 

Miniblues,
I did the same thing...
I went to my dealer a while back & asked if he would put me 1st on the list for the cooper works mcs....
Then...with this new rumor.....
I went back and asked him to put me 1st on the list for the Cooper RS.....

Fanatic...I think not !!!!!

Peace,
D

 

>>Ditto, baby! Ditto! Sign me up! MINI-who?

 

200+ AWD MINI rumor went around for awhile last year at this time. It seemed somewhat legit back then and I feel compelled to take it seriously again this time round.

However considering I have a Cooper and don't care as much about the second 0-60 dif as others I'm less compelled to sign up on a list for what will be a car with some interesting engineering trade-offs. I'd be very intrigued in how they deal with the weight issue and if it creates a car more dull in steering response and suspension feel.

>>I've just found out from a media insider friend that the end of 2003, MINI will introduce the Cooper RS (Rally Sport) model, which will have all-wheel drive and about 220Hp from a further tweaked 1.6L 4-in-line supercharged engine. No word on styling, suspension, or pricing. Apparently the advertising will begin mid-summer, and production at the end of the year, as an '04 model. This will be about six months prior to the introduction of the 1-series BMW, a 2005 model.

 

I chatted with the guys at Motor City MINI; they knew about the Cooper RS even before I did!!!!

 

This will be about six months prior to the introduction of the 1-series BMW, a 2005 model.

What's the story on the 1-series...any links, I know BMW is tryig to position it between the mini and the 3 series....I haven't even seen a picture or heard performance possibilities.....is there really a niche market between the mini and the 3 series for bimmer??

d-mini-ero...what you gonna do with both a works and a RS, .....double the pleasure, laugh !

 

Called my dealer on Friday. Talked to different people. They know nothing. I even tried to get on a wait-list for it. Still nothing...

 

The placement of the 1er is rather flexible, as is any BMW model. The MINI ranges from 16.5 to 27k, depending on factory options. A 3er starts at 27.8k and can get up to 66k with an //M3 'vert. I envision the 1-series to start about 22k and can option it up thru 35k, nicely overlapping the MINI and the 3er. What I know so far about the 1-series, it will have only 4-cylinder engines, even the //M version in a few years (think E30 //M3). My guess is the horsepowers will be between MINI and 3er too. Base 1er will be about MCS's 163Hp area, with //M1 a touch north of 330's 225Hp. Since the Cooper RS will be awd, I imagine there will be a 116xi and 118xi also. I don't expect the 1-series to have the current diesel 4-cylinders like in europe.

cheers,
Ryan

 

>>I've just found out from a media insider friend that the end of 2003, MINI will introduce the Cooper RS (Rally Sport) model, which will have all-wheel drive and about 220Hp from a further tweaked 1.6L 4-in-line supercharged engine. <<

The RS is simply a badge if anything....

It's about as real as a production M// Cooper

There is barely any room for reconfiguration.

They would have to remove the rear seat or half it...

The interior would be as small as the Audi TT, the rear end would have LIMITED cargo space, the whole setup would be EXTREMELY expensive, and if they had this problem solved, it would have made a debute at one of the North American Auto Shows, or even had paperwork on it....

So the most we can expect is a boosted S, with a tighter supercharger and a new Emblem.....

It really seems Outrageous...

Good Luck!

_________________

 

>>While this sounds REALLY nice, let's think about it for a second. What would MINI have to do to get the rear drive parts in the MINI.
>>
>>Here is my list so far:
>>
>>-drive shaft could go where the exhaust pipe is now but what do they do with the exhaust routing? Side pipes ! Yeah, that's it.
>>-the battery (assuming that this car would still be supercharged) may have to be relocated. Not sure about this one. But something tells me that this may have to happen. Maybe they go to a single muffler system and put the battery off to one side where one of the mufflers on the MCS are now.
>>-What about the suspension mounting points. I think I remember the rear struts probably being in the way of any half shaft. Any thing else in the way?
>>
>>Sounds cool! Unfortunately, sounds expensive!
>>
>>What about a rear engine racing MINI. That would be ultra cool. Who needs rear seats anyways?!?!?!!!!!

Don't forget a center differential. I was wondering the same thing - where are they going to fit all that extra stuff needed for awd?!?
BMW made AWD e30's (325iX) in the late 80's and early 90's - I owned an '89 for a short while. They had problems with the automatic trannies and the front suspensions did not last long as they were "modified" (stripped down) to make room for the front drive axles. I wouldn't trust the longevity of an awd mini...even if they did figure out a way to cram all the extra components in their.

 

>> What I know so far about the 1-series, it will have only 4-cylinder engines, even the //M version in a few years (think E30 //M3). >>
>>cheers,
>>Ryan
The E30//M3 had a straight six, not a four cylinder.

 

Are you going to argue with Turner Motorsport?

Astro: the E30//M3 really is a 4-cylinder, sorry to rain on your party.

Turner says 4banger

 

Just thinking about the possibility does make you a little weak in the knees. There are a lot of logistical issues to be accounted for as some of you have already begun mentioning.

I don't claim to be a gear-head, but let me throw out some ideas:

As for the comments regarding older BMW AWD implementations, they are selling xi models now... I tend to think someone would have mentioned it already if there were glaring issues with their newer implementations.

Also, you've got to think that BMW wants to get the MINI into WRC. AWD seems like a natural choice there anymore. If past trends from other race team technology hold true - what they develop for racing, consumers will have before long.

I was also wondering if these kinds of major adaptions would be planned around the new engine under joint development with Peugot/Citroen? I gather that BMW didn't have a heavy-hand in developing the Pentagon - but they may with the new engine.

Mostly just thinking out loud. You gurus can "discuss amongst yourselves."

 

>>Are you going to argue with Turner Motorsport?
>>
>>Astro: the E30//M3 really is a 4-cylinder, sorry to rain on your party.
>>
>>Turner says 4banger

No party over here to rain on. I stand corrected, the E30 M3 was 2/3 of a 3.5 liter in line 6. Sorry for spreading misinformation! :smile: I am surprised they chose to put an M badge on a 4 cylinder car when straight sixes were available. I'm no Bimmer expert...I'm sure they had their reasons.

I will stand by my comment on reliability - I would not trust awd in a production mini! I'm not saying it wouldn't be cool, because it would! I'm not saying Mini won't produce it to conform with the homolgation requirements of WRC, it sounds like they will. I'm not saying that the WRC Mini won't be successful - it very likely will. All I'm saying is selling a awd car this small with 220 hp it will be easy to break drivetrain components. Just wait until the Mitsubishi Evo hits the U.S. shores and people start drag racing them, or take a look at the Subaru WRX boards - people are busting first and second gears on 5 speeds with alarming frequency by not knowing how to shift. That much power to weight on a awd set up requires a certain degree of "mechanical sympathy" if you know what I'm saying! ) it was ready for it's third center differential and was running on a rebuilt slush box. It had virtually all of it's front suspension components replaced and it was next to impossible keeping the thing in alignment for more than a week or two.

 

>>I will stand by my comment on reliability - I would not trust awd in a production mini!
>>

After reading more detail on your thoughts here, I think I agree with you. :smile:


>>"As for the comments regarding older BMW AWD implementations, they are selling xi models now... I tend to think someone would have mentioned it already if there were glaring issues with their newer implementations."
>>My point was, their first try at it had some significant problems. At 82K miles, my '89 325iX was on a rebuilt motor (a SIX cylinder! ) it was ready for it's third center differential and was running on a rebuilt slush box. It had virtually all of it's front suspension components replaced and it was next to impossible keeping the thing in alignment for more than a week or two.

All I can say to that is - ouch. )

 

Astro, I understand your concerns about first generation AWD implimentation; however I have a feeling BMW has a much better gameplan laid out for the lifespan of the MINI, and has designed AWD as part of the platform. Since the RS will be introduced only 2.5 years after the platform introduction, I have no reservation saying that they must've already had the AWD concept executed before production even started early '02. BMW (and any other manufacturer) has MUCH more calculating and simulation capabilities than the "dark ages" of only a few years ago. The E30-xi cars were an afterthought retrofit, and the reliability showed through (as your experience proves).

Bottom line: new tech=MINI
old tech=E38 and older
I believe no worries about reliablility of the RS, or any MINI models upcoming. It's not the 80's anymore

 

>>BMW (and any other manufacturer) has MUCH more calculating and simulation capabilities than the "dark ages" of only a few years ago. The E30-xi cars were an afterthought retrofit, and the reliability showed through (as your experience proves).
>>
>>Bottom line: new tech=MINI
>> old tech=E38 and older
>>I believe no worries about reliablility of the RS, or any MINI models upcoming. It's not the 80's anymore

I cannot argue with that, but I am not ashamed to admit I still like 80's music! (oh man I'm getting old). Hmm, let's see...the 325iX was introduced in '88 I think. I bought a Macintosh SE in '89 that came with the optional 40MB hard drive (2 800kb floppy drives were standard). I believe that computer had about 12MHz of processing speed and 512 bytes of RAM. A salesman told me that I had more computing power than I would EVER need!
Yeah, there's a slight chance that auto makers are getting better at simulating and designing drivetrains!