Mountain Biker!

 

I'd like to find out the overall size of the Traveller. I remember early MINI ad campaigns against SUV's. If this concept is larger than the "PT", it seems quite hypocritical. Even if "PT" size, its still a "Cross-Over." Cool concept but not what Sir Issigonis would ever concieve. Kind of ironic it seems.

 

My thoughts exactly... I mean, if you want a wagon then why buy a Mini?

 

I'd be shocked, amazed, agog, and aghast if the Traveller were nearly as big as a PT Cruiser . I don't get that impression at all...pics are deceiving, imo. What concerns me more is that the Traveller be stylized like a normal MINI and not as over-the-top as the concept cars presently making the circuit under the Traveller name. Frankly, I'm not worried about that too much either.

 

If I could have my MINI and a slightly-bigger-but-doesn't-look-too-much-different-from-the-MINI-I-have-now Traveller, all my needs would be met and I would be one happy gal!

 

heh, thanks

Thing is, for me as soon as the Mini becomes normal car size/length (like a Golf, A3, etc) it loses much of its advantage over the competition - the wheelbase is not only one of the reasons it handles so well but the reason it parks so well too (and the size also works with the design; I'm not liking the looks of the prototype). Once I'm in the market for a reg size car I'd prob be looking at rear wheel or all wheel drive with the corresponding increase in horsepower to support the added size & weight.

 

I think if they go that way (larger) they should go the other way as well....gimme a real two-seater!

 

That is why it may be nice if there were different "size choices" as in the regular, and the traveler, so that you can pick which one you would like without affecting anyone else.

 

The Traveller won't even be as long as an Audi A3


I believe the figure being thrown around is that the Traveller will be about 9 to 10" longer than the COOPER.

Currently the MC is 143" (24" from the front to the center of the front axel, a 97" wheelbase, and 21" behind the center of the rear axel).

If we assume the extra 9-10" of the traveller is split equally between the wheelbase and the overhang, that would take the Traveller to 153" in length (24" front overhang, and 103" wheelbase, with 26" to the rear of the center of the rear axel)

The A3 is 169" long and has a 101" wheelbase. The front and rear overhangs appear to be pretty evenly split (roughly 34" each).

Wheelbase wise the A3 and the traveller would be pretty close, but the A3 would still be about 18" longer (roughly 10" of that length being in the extra length of the front of the car and then another 8" or so in extra length to the rear of the rear wheels).

So, the Traveller and the A3 would have roughly the same passenger room, but the A3 would have 8" or so more length to the rear cargo area (the Boot area in the MINI).

 

Okay, one of the cars I hastily picked was a bad example - more like the Golf then, among other "normal" size cars. 9" longer or 19" longer then the current car is pretty much the same to me - as long as it prevents me from parking in the Mini size spaces I can currently just about manage it might as well be as long as an A3 Then the added weight, needed hp boost etc also come into the picture.

The design is a whole other issue...

 

Can't say I'm swayed by the concept vehicle's funky paint scheme, looks a bit too bland for my tastes. But I'll hold off until I see some real production car spy photos and not some car show mock up. I have faith in BMW pulling off another coup with the '07s.

And as for the M-Coupe (Z3 iteration) well that is one helluva wierd ride, it being about the only car I'd trade my MCS for.

 

then some extra room for getting the kid in and out of the car seat would sure be welcome. I'd understand getting pissed if they cancelled the current one to make this, but they're just brining Mini style and flavor to a larger market. That's good, and you don't have to buy one if you don't want to.

Look at the Porsche SUV, lots of enthusiasts don't like it, but it's bringing in oodles of money for Porsche. That way the traditionalists can get all the flavors of what is close to the same car, all subsidized by the profit from the ugly step child! Everyone wins...

Matt

 

I'm more impressed after seeing it in person than I was from pictures. It's still a small car (definitely a lot smaller than a PT Cruiser) and it has some nice details. It also has some rather odd ones but concept cars, even rather mildly-disguised production cars like this one, usually have some wacky stuff. At least it doesn't have a picnic table like the Tokyo version. I was prepared not to like it very much but I was pretty impressed.

 

I understand the wish to widen the market, and I'm certainly not pissed off in any way, I was just saying that the idea as it is understood now does not go over for me. I just hope they don't ruin it for me or other city dwellers by making all of the models bigger and losing the practicality of the car's small size. I also hope the handling isn't made worse by designing the chassis to be used as the basis of the multiple platforms vs the stand alone it currently is.

 

I just don't understand the don't change a thing attitude. If that had held the day, our car never would have been built. Look at one next to an original Mini, and it's a Sherman tank by comparison.

I look forward to the traveller, and I hope a Moke, and one like the 67 Pickup shown on another thread. Why limit our fun to those that only want a two door 4 seater? Two seat club car? Sure, add that to the list.

Adding new variants ensures the health of our marque, not the end of it.

Viva la difference!

Matt

 

Welp, I never said don't change a thing. The other iterations of the Classic Mini were diminutive at least though, still tiny tiny little things. I have no doubt that the marque will continue with BMW behind it, I just hope the trend to make all cars get bigger and fatter with every new redesign doesn't happen, and that great sporty nimble nature isn't watered down along the way.

 

All this sounds EXACTLY like all the threads that came out when the news that the 07 was going to be changed came out.....

Matt

 

P. U.

 

I hope that MINIs stay mini. To get much larger will be a huge (no pun intended) disappointment to me and, I'm sure, to many others. I'd love to see a little MINI pick-up and a new MINI Moke. I think from what we are seeing of the concept versions of the Traveller, that it lacks the refinement of the first generation of the new MINIs. Hopefully, the final model will have the finesse and spunk of our MINIs.

 

Come on people this is only a "CONCEPT VEHICLE" not a production vehicle, the likely hood that it stays the same as the concept is pretty remote. None of the fancy seats, doors will see the light of day...

The size issue....
The Mini is about 120 inches total length. The original Mini traveler is 130 inches long.
So if you look at the length increase from old to new about 2 foot, the "MINI Traveler" should grow the same to 154 inches in length . This is about the length they have it, at the moment with this concept....

JMHO and 2 cents

 

As are all of our posts above, Scott! I still hope that MINIs remain small....or they won't be mini...you know?

 

Here is a video of the traveller concept

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=108858

 

I also like the Mcoupe...... "Moskito" has one...... Herbert tells me the coupe really out performs the Z

I like the "Traveler".....throw in AWD and I believe I might order one..... I also like the A3 and would love a 3.0 with AWD

 

I love it! Shame on you all the naysayers "If you want a bigger car get something else, blah, blah, blah" BAH! to you!

We want more space, 5 doors and a COOL looking wagon, but we still want a MINI. I refuse to buy a SUV, Minivan or any other bland looking, overweight, etc, etc automotive appliance.

The whining in here reminds me of the time before the MINI Convertible was launched and the Automatic Cooper S.

Just a bunch of crybabies!

Live and let live!

 

I like the way the front seats move out of the way.