Racing cars which have been converted for road use never really work. It's like making a hard core adult film, and then editing it so that it can be shown in British hotels. You'd just end up with a sort of half hour close up of some bloke's sweaty face."

Jeremy Clarkson - while driving the McLaren Mercedes SLR through a tunnel

"When they debate as to what the sound of the SLK engine was akin to, the British engineers from McLaren said it sounded like a Spitfire. But the German engineers from Mercedes said "Nein! Nein! Sounds like a Messerschmitt!" They were both wrong. It sounds like the God of Thunder, gargling with nails.

Car Shipping Rates

 

I'm so sick of the MAN endexes that MINI is using. The ClubMAN, the CountryMAN, the PaceMAN, and now the RocketMAN. Seriously, what's next, the Union JackMAN!!?

 

Fatherdeth,
Been looking at it and I sure like it.

 

The car's not bad Kathy, but it just seems MINI has changed directions from it's original intent!!!

 

MINI may have varied off the path but to me the smaller approach is pretty cool.

 

Amazed at the CGI presentation!

About time MINI reverted to the original compact theme. Makes me sick to see the latest SUV offerings.

 

I agree! It'll also be nice if MINI has a good mini-sized response to the iQ and next gen Mercedes Smart which, while still probably not as good overall as a MINI, are still both small and clever. I remember shuddering when I heard the Fifth Gear guys refer to an iQ displaying similar innovations as did Issigonis' Mini. I'd much rather MINI be out there doing that.

 

They should focus on improving what Mini is all about which is a small but fun car to drive and improving the actual Mini but keep it the same size,if you want a SUV,go buy yourself a SUV there's enough out there and I hate them.
They're coming with a Coupe and a Roadster which is more the way Mini should go. If you buy a Mini it's not to drive a SUV Mini,it's not Mini anymore.
Make a Coupe that has the lines of a Porsche cayman or something like that but please keep it cute and small and even more fuel efficient,that's just my feeling and you don't have to agree.

 

they shold built it to go back to its roots

 

I find myself musing on the city car idea, and just what makes a good city car. For me, top speed or fast in general is irrelevant, but a good torquey engine would be useful, especially when entering traffic. I also find with my current ride that a small turning radius and very tight steering are a big plus for maneuvering and parking...these really trump a lot of the driving dynamics that only reveal themselves at higher-than-posted speeds. I like a more austere interior, too....I am finding that when things are toned down/less entertaining inside I am more connected to driving accurately and responsively and frankly, that is really what city driving should be all about. Of course, given the air quality issues in many cities, cleaner emissions and good fuel economy would be very important, although aerodynamic efficiency may be less so inasmuch as the car will see fewer highway miles.

I hope MINI considers all this if they build a city car...I'd rather not see just a sawed-off MINI, but something with some real thought. Although the wheels-at-the-corner is a very good thing, this concept is being picked up by lots of city car prototypes, probably more for space efficiency than anything else (as it was with the original Mini). We just do not need to be cornering on two wheels out there in city driving, but we need to be engaged in the driving task in an accurate, responsive, connected fashion.

Just a few random thoughts...

 

Looks like the green light has been given to produce this car. We'll have to wait 'til 2015 to see one in showrooms though. This'll be fun to watch!

 

All good thoughts!

S.

 

I really like the rocketman however I definitely wouldn't be complaining if they would just make more R53s

 

+1

 

That's what I thought as well. The presentation was top-notch, and if the Rocketman can do what they claim it can, it'll be a hit. 100 mpg? Wow.

But I don't think I like the name lol. "Rocketman" sounds so......Elton John-ish.

 

I don't know how I feel about the name. It sounds kind of cool I guess. The MAN extensions will probably grow stale soon, though. lol.

 

EdieMini,
I totally agree with you. Especially about the "Elton John-ish" name.

 

Word is the Rocketman will not be produced "as is" but the idea will continue on (with much additional engineering and modification) in a smaller MINI at sometime in the future, probably w/ a different name.

I am glad of this only because I think (and I believe they do, too) that MINI/BMW can do better than sawing-off an existing MINI, especially considering the cleverness of Toyota/Scion's iQ, coming in 2012.

By the time the smaller MINI arrives, cars smaller than a MINI will be more commonplace. However, that doesn't mean they will have the performance aspects that MINI might.

 

It's Official the Rocketman will not be built.
You can read about it here


http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...301309959/1247

 

*sigh*
Dammit.
What happened? BMW was all about a "response to energy crisis", such as what prompted the original mini's design. Do we need to get a little closer to the end of oil before a reasonable design emerges?

 

I am disappointed. I do not buy new cars but I would have seriously considered buying that car. The only thing that would have stopped me would have been either a truly exorbitant price or sometimes the pictures and the in person perspective do not match up and a car that looks good on film looks bad in person.

 

This is definitely not for me. The tail lights are butt ugly IMO and the charm of a MINI is the retro styling. Trying to keep some elements of the retro styling while moderning other elements just doesn't work for me. It's schizophrenic - like they couldn't decide which way to go so they went both ways. The big speedo in the MINI looks cool, but in this car it just looks BIG and out of place. Then again, to each his/her own.

 

this is a screen shot of the exhaust:

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../rocketman.jpg

obviously its a pokeball

 

Uh...... if MINI can't build an engine that doesn't burn oil, that's a REALLY stupid idea!