I think I have convinced my wife to get out of the minivan and into a Traveller when it comes out. Any new word on the first travellers in the USA? Any new word on engines, options, etc. for the Traveller since the last info on concepts and that BMW would bring the Traveller to the US?

We will probably be a two MINI family within two years. Still have to have a big pickup for hauling stuff.

 

What's your favorite feature of the new model? I like the rear doors, and I don't know if they're still planning on it or not, but I originally saw that the front seats would swivel to face outward in order for easy entrance for the front and rear folks. And I like the horizontal sliding rear window!

 

It sounds like the rear doors are one feature that will remain from the concept. The front seats swivel to accomidate passengers is very appealing too. To me the overall increased size is appealing becuase we can use it more as a family car because of it. I hope features like AWD, Turbo (largest size available) engine, and possibly options like DVD player would be great with the added room for kids in the back seat but not at the expense of the responsiveness we have with our MINI's now.

It just seems to me that all information stopped resently about the Traveller, I hope the trickle of info starts again as a lead in of introducing the model in the US.

 

From the last information that was posted, I believe the Traveller is planned as a 2008... That means that you probably won't see any here in the US much before September 2007 at the earliest. Although given what the latest release information on the MY 2007 seems to be indicating, it's possible that we might not see Travellers in the US until after the start of 2008...

In all honesty, I wouldn't expect to see any real useful information regarding a US launch of the traveller for at least another year...

 

One thing is for sure...I don't like how much the bonnet appears to be 'flattened out' in the new models. To me, that is one of the coolest features of my MCS - all the curves and angles on the bonnet!

 

We ran our Spring rallye and I was told in conversations that the 2007 will still probably have the Supercahrged engines at first and switch over to the Turbos and the Traveller will probably be out in Dec 2007 to the US.

Anyone heard anything different?

 

Since there's been nothing on MotoringFile to indicate that the engine changes will be phased in (and changing an engine mid-model year is a pretty substantial change) I've got to ask... Who's your source? Although either way that stuff about the engine is pretty hard to believe...

 

Was surfing the net for all things Mini and stumbled across this German website that has a cool video of the Mini Concept car being built, I assume it's the traveller.

Click on the link below
then Click "Making of" - Mini Concept Frankfurt (3:30Min.)
Then click FILM STARTEN

http://www.mini.de/de/de/mini_cv/ind...ge/content.jsp


under games they have some cool commercials too!

 

The info just came up in discusions no source was mentioned just rumor. I thought it sounded like somethingn hard to believe and would not influense any decisions I would make about the MINI however it was offered as problems that have occured with the new engine that has been found from testing and no other information. There is no confirmation of any of this info just part of a conversation we had between MINI owners. I would like to find out when the Traveller is looking to be released.

 

Regarding the supercharged engines, this is highly doubtful unless they keep the current motor going for those. It seems unfeasible to go through the trouble of setting up superchargers onto the new motor design only to switch to turbo less than a year later.

 

Great question. I too am curious about this upcoming model. I would not mind seeing some sort of rear door, similar to what the saturn coupe had. I am also hoping that they offer a JCW package for this model as well. My timeframe for purchasing a new MINI is spring of 08, so it looks like that model should be available by then or at least not long after.

 

Clubman will not be availble until Spring 2008.

 

Looks like they're seriously testing the car now.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/autoexp...traveller.html

 

Awesome video footage.

 

Here's a comment from someone who works at the MINI plant.


Billy Nov 28th, 2006 Link
Funny you should mention it!
There was an initial hand built R55 which BMW had disassembled and us re-build! But in the last 6-8 weeks I think there’ve been 8 fresh brand new ones including two today (28/11/06) in that rather interesting shade of black.
They do look ver nice when finished, especially in Sparkling Silver or Royal Grey - Just imagine you chop an R56 behind the front doors…..whack on about two feet of sheet metal….a suicide door on the RIGHT hand side (reguardless of drive hand)and two barn stylie doors on the back….chrome handles of course! Oh and FYI - the rear lights are built into the body of the car, and the doors close over the top, much like the Clubman concepts.