"This next version will go on sale in 2006/2007 and will be longer, wider & taller in a bid to give it more cabin room & a better boot."

Read this tidbit on Gabe's site, and I have to say that it disturbs me. (Very nice site, by the way!) I'm not sure what the source is, how reliable, credible, etc., but...

This is exactly what I was afraid of happening with the MINI. BMW bringing it to the US market and creating a big buzz with something truly different, and then slooooowly fattening it up to coincide with declining sales, in order to get people into the car who are more stylistically squeamish or utilitarian.

Sure, if you make it two feet longer and four inches wider, you end up with a more spacious interior and better storage in the boot, but at what point does the MINI cease to be a MINI? I doubt that very many of us would prefer to be driving something that's styled like a MINI, but which is actually as big as an Impreza wagon or Civic hatch, and which STARTS at 21k for a cooper and 25k for an S. A huge part of what makes this car so interesting and fun to drive, and such a revolutionary phenomenon, is its small size.

I know that a lot of people would argue that this leap has already been taken by increasing the size of the car so drastically from the classic Mini, but do we really need to continue the trend?

Most models tend to beef up in size and price over time. The Civic of today sure looks bigger the the Accord of 1984, and the Accord seems to have grown to be as big as a Buick. I don't think that the MINI should fall into this bigger=better trap.

Hopefully the changes in store aren't as drastic as I'm imagining, but it still doesn't sound promising. An inch or two in length wouldn't kill it, but I think a foot would. And I don't understand what would be gained from making the car taller!

_________________
2003 Red/White Cooper - Brookline, MA

 

Gotta agree! leave it where it is! When BMC took the concept to the Maxi, it failed .... here's hoping BMW doesn't do the same ...

 

Yeah, I wasn't expecting the MINI to be Mini in size, but even in this form, it still isn't very mini

 

>>"This next version will go on sale in 2006/2007 and will be longer, wider & taller in a bid to give it more cabin room & a better boot."
>>


That sounds like a quote from a UK car magazine that I have at home, about future variants of the MINI. In the article they mentioned 3 new variants. A Speedster, the Cabrio, and lastly the "Traveller" type variant. The quote in question, is in regard to this last variant, and may come with 4 doors. I think the idea is to bring in a larger size vehicle, in the same idea as the old Classic "Mini Traveller". It would probably have a bigger market in Europe, but I would love to see it make it over here, and wouldnt mind having one myself. Actually, if they could make it 4wd as well, that would be cool! maybe even with a tent? Just kidding.

Matt

 

Well, look on the bright side. If they fatten up the MINI in future production years, ours will be just that much cooler! On a practical level, I don't much care what they do in the future, as I've already got one, and it's not ever going to get any bigger.

 

I'm sure MINI will put out "larger" vehicles. But remember, we're driving just one MINI model - the Cooper. I'm sure the Cooper will hang around at the same size while they add a slightly larger MINI. Their plan is to have several car models like other car manufacturers. I'm sure they'll keep the Cooper the same - maybe just a face-lift every few years and maybe some new engine options or more standard horsepower. But rest assured, there WILL BE other MINIs in the not so distant future.

 

Ditto! I was looking at some Hondas the other day and noted their upsizing over the last few years. I don't like it, personally, but then I've always prefered small cars. I do like the way MINI has taken the small car and added state-of-the-art safety, traction, and other amenities...that was long overdue! Still, this "bigger is better" trend is so firmly entrenched its not hard to imagine its influence over auto makers. (sigh)

 

BMW's top dogs have made it clear that MINI's success as a standalone brand over the next few years will greatly depend in the ability to bring out different variants of the current BMW MINI. MINI can not survive in the long run by just offering one body style. BMW intends to introduce different body styles such as Cabriolets, roadsters, wagons and possibly a 5 door hatchback or small pickup truck.

Classic Mini owners criticize the BMW MINI because it is too big. Our MINI is the shortest car in North American roads but by all other accounts (Width and height) it matches or surpasses most cars in its 'class', specially when it comes to width.

The current MK platform is wonderful and offers good amounts of interior room while offering a very nicely and tossable sized exterior wrapper. I personally see no problem if MINI wishes to expand its market core by making variants aimed at families or individuals still wanting a small, finely crafted car with distinctive styling, handling, performance, safety in a small package with an added hint of practicality.

I would love to see a MINI "traveller" wagon. For those of you that haven't seen the concept photos, the wagon will have 6 doors. The rear doors are "suicide" opening doors and instead of a hatch, the car will have dual rear "dutch" doors. That to me is super distinctive, tastefully done and very practical to boot.

For those of us in the planning stages to start a family of those already with kids will certainly appreciate a MINI wagon. I personally refuse to drive a mundane sedan, Minivan or SUV. A MINI wagon would fit the bill perfectly with all the attributes that make today's MINI such a winner with added practicality.

The MINI will never be bigger than a compact car in future variants (Upcoming MINI MK2 platform is rumored to be roughly the size of today's VW Golf hatchback, probably smaller).


So whether you like it or not, you'll see the MINI taking in different market missions and shapes for years to come.

 

It's not the different shapes (wagon, cabrio, pickup, whatever) that bother me. I don't happen to like any of them very much, but they don't bother me. What bothers me is overall, brand-wide dimensions increasing. In other words, a bigger Cooper model to base all of those variants off of. I don't think it's necessary or prudent, unless the goal is, in fact, to sell as many cars as possible and saturate the market a la the VW New Beetle.

 

>>Classic Mini owners criticize the BMW MINI because it is too big. Our MINI is the shortest car in North American roads but by all other accounts (Width and height) it matches or surpasses most cars in its 'class', specially when it comes to width.
>>
>>The current MK platform is wonderful and offers good amounts of interior room while offering a very nicely and tossable sized exterior wrapper. I personally see no problem if MINI wishes to expand its market core by making variants aimed at families or individuals still wanting a small, finely crafted car with distinctive styling, handling, performance, safety in a small package with an added hint of practicality.
>>
>>I would love to see a MINI "traveller" wagon. For those of you that haven't seen the concept photos, the wagon will have 6 doors. The rear doors are "suicide" opening doors and instead of a hatch, the car will have dual rear "dutch" doors. That to me is super distinctive, tastefully done and very practical to boot.
>>
>>


... as the former owner of a Mini Traveller, I'm counting the days 'till I can get a New one ... the original was one foot longer than the saloon but in all other respects was the same size - same front end, same cross sectional area ... I'm just hoping the 'Variants' don't vary too much ...

 

>>It's not the different shapes (wagon, cabrio, pickup, whatever) that bother me. I don't happen to like any of them very much, but they don't bother me. What bothers me is overall, brand-wide dimensions increasing. In other words, a bigger Cooper model to base all of those variants off of. I don't think it's necessary or prudent, unless the goal is, in fact, to sell as many cars as possible and saturate the market a la the VW New Beetle.


I have no idea what their strategy will be over the next few years. I don't know whether BMW intends MINI to stay as a "boutique" brand or a more agressive player in the Premium small car market.

I personally doubt very much that BMW will repeat the same mistakes made by VW and Chrysler (Beetle & PT Cruiser respectively) by saturating the market and degrading resale residuals. Face it, car like the MINI have a great following but are not the most favored among the "average" American auto consumer. Americans always equate big with better, it is part of our culture.

As long as MINI keeps a healthy production quota of 20K to 35K units for the US market, we should be fine. And again, I don't think the MINI is going to grow beyond the size of a regular compact car, so don't think that our friends in Bavaria are thinking of launching MINIs to compete with Lincoln Town Cars.

The market dictates what products fail and succeed and the MINI will not be immune from that influence.

 

This is the quote on my site from bmw2002.co.uk:

"This next version will go on sale in 2006/2007 and will be longer, wider & taller in a bid to give it more cabin room & a better boot.

It may also get more doors too - but with a twist. BMW designers are toying with the idea of rear sliding doors like those on the forthcoming Peugeot 107. Access to the boot could be via two individual doors opening outwards like the old Mini Traveller. Power will come from all-new four cylinder petrol engines, the result of a joint venture between BMW & Peugeot-Citroen. The move will ensure that BMW can ditch the current 1.6litre Chrysler engine now supplied by arch-rival Mercedes-Benz."

Traditionally they have been really pretty reliable in terms of future information. They tend to get their info from a number of sources.

I would imagine that the next generation MINI will indeed be a larger car to some degree. Whether it is just the standard inch or two here and there or something more significant is the question. I was hoping that this information was referring to the 4 door version that will be coming out instead of the basic 2 door MINI.

I think we know for certain is that we'll see a lot more MINIs on the road in the next 5-10 years.

 

>>This is the quote on my site from bmw2002.co.uk:
>>
>>"This next version will go on sale in 2006/2007 and will be longer, wider & taller in a bid to give it more cabin room & a better boot.
>>
>>It may also get more doors too - but with a twist. BMW designers are toying with the idea of rear sliding doors like those on the forthcoming Peugeot 107. Access to the boot could be via two individual doors opening outwards like the old Mini Traveller. Power will come from all-new four cylinder petrol engines, the result of a joint venture between BMW & Peugeot-Citroen. The move will ensure that BMW can ditch the current 1.6litre Chrysler engine now supplied by arch-rival Mercedes-Benz."
>>
>>Traditionally they have been really pretty reliable in terms of future information. They tend to get their info from a number of sources.
>>
>>I would imagine that the next generation MINI will indeed be a larger car to some degree. Whether it is just the standard inch or two here and there or something more significant is the question. I was hoping that this information was referring to the 4 door version that will be coming out instead of the basic 2 door MINI.
>>
>>I think we know for certain is that we'll see a lot more MINIs on the road in the next 5-10 years.


And the irony of it, is that the very unfairly criticized 1.6L Tritec engine has just been selected among the top ten engines for 2003 per Wards Automotive.

 

"Longer, wider & taller." Does size matter. Of course. Give me small,
narrower and lower. Much better for getting in and out of tight spots
in a hurry. Oh....are we talking about the Mini????

 

i really hope they dont upsize much, i like smaller cars, and even my 240SX Hatch is still a bit big for my tastes

 

Hopefully BMW will be listening to owners of the current car when they're determining the final shape of the next generation MINI. Considering what they came up with initially I expect nothing less than excellence.

 

 

2Minis wrote:

>>"Longer, wider & taller." Does size matter. Of course. Give me small,
>>narrower and lower. Much better for getting in and out of tight spots
>>in a hurry. Oh....are we talking about the Mini???? <<

 

>>"I don't think it's necessary or prudent, unless the goal is, in fact, to sell as many cars as possible and saturate the market a la the VW New Beetle."
**************
Hellooooooooooo! They are a car company! OF COURSE THAT'S THEIR GOAL! Sell as many cars as they can.

But if anybody is concerned about uniqueness take comfort in the fact that you own the first or second production year. Maybe, like the 1964 1/2 or 1965 Mustang it will be the first in a very successful line and is far more valuable today (in pristine condition) than it was almost 40 years ago. But if you notice that car went from small, sporty and fun to a big lumbering pig and then back to its small roots. You can be sure that unless the MINI ONE, Cooper or S sells like the Classic then it will be changed, at least cosmeticly.

Not as drasticly as the Mustang, the Classic VW Beetle got bigger too (Super Beetle.) But VW has other offerings too (Golf, etc.) So why wouldn't MINI keep the Cooper as its core model and develop others too? I for one can't wait for other models. My biggest challenge will be convincing my wife to let me keep my first model year "S" too.

 

I say let BMW bloat the darn MINI up if they want. It will just make ours more precious.

 

Here's a rendering of a Club Van that was actually done by MINI a year or so ago:

 

Yeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww MINI SUV !!!!!

 

I used to have a Classic Mini panel van. the front end looked exactly like any other Mini, the rear end was basically a big empty box. The rear end was raised a little (to allow extra weight to be loaded I expect) and the car was about 10% lighter than the sedan. Just as much fun to drive as the sedan, only you could take 10 people with you (if they were reasonably friendly). Of course, I once drove a classic Mini sedan with 10 people in it about 20 feet. Much less comfortable than the van.

 

... the Van was the same size as the Countryman/Traveller ... but without windows or seats! mine was olive drab green - pretty funky ...
... but I did get 7 & 8 in the sedan a couple of times - college kids going to concerts and such make them pretty willing to do anything ...