The classic Mini was produced from 1959-2000 by comapnies such as BMC, British Leyland, Austin Rover, MG Rover, Innoceti and Authi. The Mark I from 1959-1967. The Mark II from 1967-1969. The Mark III from 1970-2000.

At the end of production in 2000, the Mini had a leangth of 3.05 meters (or 120 inches), a width of 1.4 meters (55.1 inches) and a height of 1.35 meters (53.1 inches).

Upon it's return two year later, the new MINI had a leangth of 3.63 meters (143 inches), a width of 1.69 meters (66.5 inches) and a height of 1.41 meters (55.4 inches).

After a 5 year run, the R56 has now grown in leangth to 3.7 meters (145.7 inches), shrunk in width to 1.68 meters (66.1 inches) and grown in height by a hairline 1.41 meters (55.5 inches).

It took a few years for classic Mini owners to accept the dramatic change in looks and growth. Some unfortunatly, never would. Who could blame them? The car had ballooned up to be over 1/3 again the size of the car produced only two years earlier and looked only vaugely like the car it proceeded. It took some time, but the new MINI was eventually welcomed by a good majority of classic Mini owners in clubs, at events and even on forums. Many classic owners even went as far as to purchase the new MINI for themselves.

I for one hope that as the R56 starts hitting the street in numbers, showing up in clubs and slicing & dicing on the track with it's older kin, that a 2-inch growth in leangth and a 1-inch increase in hood-to-beltline will fade into a distant memory. If the classic Mini owners could do it, well... it's is a MINI after all.

 

 

I do believe that you'll get your wish...no problem.

 

Of course, all this will happen. And there will be, among all the people at these events, those who will remain happy with their pre-'07s.

Zip

 

Yup!! Why, folks still freak out whenever a classic Mini shows up at a MINI event! I mean, let's face it, R50 is (arguably) vastly superior in just about every way (reliability, safety, amenities) to the classic...but folks still love them and so do we!!

 

With good reason! As they are spectacular cars.

 

Not to diminish your overall point but that 2m 80" length seemed amazing so I checked it... The original Mini was about 10 ft. or 3.05m http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini

 

Yep, you're right. Sorry. I wrote down the wheelbase by mistake.

 

These numbers will get really interesting when the Clubman appears.

dean.

 

Well, then you'll have to take them in context of the classic clubman (L 3.4m), to the R56, then to the Clubman.

My guess however, is that it will be easier for people to rationalize away the increased size of the Clubman, since it will be viewed more as a "sportwagon" or "MINI SUV" of sorts... so the increase in size will match the functional purpose of the car: More storage for longer trips or somewhere to throw that stroller for those MINIphiles with younger childeren.

 

That WP page was great. There were some photos there I had not seen before.

Zip

 

Given the long history of efforts to update the Mini...we're quite lucky it got done so well, R50, 52, 53, 56, and soon 55. The reality of the whole thing is that it had to be done, or pass into oblivion. Back in '02 I could scarcely believe MINIs were introduced for sale in the U.S. again after so many years. That they've done so well is amazing. I think the foreseeable future is very bright for the MINI. Just wait til 2009!!!

 

143/120 = 1.19166 or under 20% longer or 1/5, not over 1/3 longer
66.5/55.1 = 1.2069 or 20.5% wider or 1/5, also not over 1/3 wider
55.4/53.1 = 1.0433 or 4% taller (personal experience challenges this one; what' wrong with this math, should be greater difference?)

That said your point about the size difference being huge is well taken, but I think the triumphant stat the MINI adopted over the Mini was mass. The fact that only two years separated the cars is missing the point that they shared nothing but their soul and inspiration in common (and some overall geometry. I think the differences between the R56 and R50/R53 will be lost on all but MINI zeolots over the years.
But ask a classic Mini owner how a small child reacts when they see that car in the US. It usually sounds something like, "Look Mommy, I could drive that car. It's big enough for me!"

I'd only try to compare the MINI to the Mini by pointing out similarities not differences (which is actually contrasting them). They are less closely related to each other than a Renault LeCar is to Mini and a MINI is to a modern Honda Civic. That said the matching of classic Mini with modern MINI in club events and car shows is disputed. Personally I like them mixed , but I'm not alarmed when some classic drivers don't readily understand how modern drivers can truly relate to their cars.

 

I was thinking more atowards total volume of space occupied. Leangth x Width x Height. If it's 20% longer, AND 20% wider, that the car is at least 40% larger overall. No?

As to the rest. I would agree completely.

 

I love 64',68',72',80'90',00',05'and 07' Corvettes, and would proudly own and drive anyone of them....... PS: And have..

 

Two inches this time, three inches next time, and sooner or later you end up with a massive (and yes, very capable) boat like the current GTI. I like the car because it's small, and I don't like extra inches being added to it. Period.

Look at what's happened to the 3 series. Look at the new Jetta. These cars are enormous. Look at the Tacoma pickup. If these companies want to make bigger and bigger vehicles and brand them with the same name to keep customers, that's one thing. With MINI, all we have is this one car, and the whole point of it is that it's small.

The Clubman is a completely different model that has nothing to do with the bloating of the overall MINI line.

 

I'm so glad the Mini MINI is evolving. Otherwise I wouldn't be here cause it would be too boring seeing the same ole same ole. What would driving be like if there weren't NEW experiences to augment the old? Heck, now my car is a new old classic and I wasn't even watching the evolutionary model of fun to drive....if I had a ton of money I would just buy them all!

 

With the current GTI coming in at 165.8 inches... and the R56 coming in at 145.7 inches... assuming your gaining 3 inches per model evolution and that change comes every 4-5 years... the mini will take 6.7 model generations to catch up to the GTI. Or at minimum, 26.8 years!

I would say >25 years is on the far side of "later"... and by that time, the GTI will be the size of a minivan anyway, so a MINI the size of a current GTI will still seem very MINI, indead.

But, yes. I would have to agree in principal that a bigger car should never be the goal, or even somthing that is generally accepted during each evolution without some overriding reason or else loose that mini feeling altogether. In this instance however, I believe you can firmly blame euro-legislation for much of added girth and new shape.

It's still the smallest (and best looking) hot hatch in current production in the US.

 

A mini0 or MINI1 or MINI2 for any mood.