Reports: Get your MINI with AWD by 2008
Following earlier rumors of an off-roading MINI Colorado, reports are surfacing that parent company BMW is preparing to offer all-wheel-drive on the full MINI range by 2008. The rumors stem from this week's edition of the German weekly Auto Motor und Sport, which stated that the upcoming stretched-out MINI Traveller/Clubman will be available with all-wheel drive, but that the feature would be extended to the entire Mini range – presumably including the hard-top, convertible and Clubman models – sometime in 2008.
The reports haven't been confirmed at this point, but the idea of an all-wheel-drive MINI is making us salivate already. All the more so if BMW were to enter the MINI in rally competitions. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru Impreza WRX STi may be getting new duds, but with all-wheel-drive hatch as stylish as the MINI presents a compelling case.
[Source: Motoring File]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DC 11:45AM (2/09/2007)
Thats is an awesome option for those of us who have to deal with lots snow. Well done BMW/Mini.
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JC3 1:00PM (2/09/2007)
How fun is that gonna be.
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pd 12:45PM (2/09/2007)
This is going to need a HUGE bump in power to offset the weight increase, 230-250+ h.p. should do it.
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Scott 12:14PM (2/09/2007)
The world goes from some fun to drive but ugly as hell AWD cars, to now having a very good looking Evo, an apparently soon to be good looking WRX, and now possibly the classically cool Mini. Of course the first two have power in excess. The base Cooper with AWD probably wouldn't be a whole lot of fun. Could AWD on the S also mean bringing more power as a factory option? They must have something like that in the works after having bought up JCW.
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Steve S 1:21PM (2/09/2007)
I think the cooper works version of the new mini is something like 240hp. An AWD version with say 275hp would be good. If the MS can do it with FWD only why not MINI/BMW.
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epp_b 12:21PM (2/09/2007)
This is awesome! That would make a great year-round car!
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tikirob 12:23PM (2/09/2007)
This is a great addition and a good way to increase sales, so far they have done a good job advancing this car line.
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 12:33PM (2/09/2007)
Oh, Man. All I can say is "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!"
I So want one. That thing has got to be tossable.
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jjm3 1:31PM (2/09/2007)
Can you say ...
... our next daily driver?
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Dirtdevil 4:30PM (2/09/2007)
Is this the rumored "Mini Moke"? The latest mag from Motor Trend has speculated info about this.
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