Magna might build maxi MINI Colorado SUV
Magna is making news all over. The latest effort from the Canadian auto supplier is aimed at getting BMW to let it build a MINI SUV. The SUV will be called the "Colorado," and could be the next step in MINI's increasingly grand line. As it is, the MINI is so popular that BMW can't squeeze another car out of its MINI plant in Oxford, England, and it's still got the Clubman to deal with. Magna has excess capacity at its Steyr plant in Graz, Austria where the Chrysler 300 was built until Chrysler shifted more of its production to its Brampton, Ontario plant. The Austrian factory will also lose out on building the next generation BMW X3, whose production will shift to South Carolina, and both Chrysler and Mercedes are bringing more operations in-house. Magna Steyr built 26,400 Chryslers and 113,000 X3's last year, and is working replace those with 65,000 MINI Colorados, as well as 20,000 VW roadsters.
Thanks for the tip, Paul!
[Source: The Globe and Mail]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Avinash machado 9:52AM (7/20/2007)
I thought that Colorado name was owned by Toyota. Remember the Toyota Landcruiser Colorado.
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TBlueMax 1:01PM (7/20/2007)
Chevy has their Colorado pick-up truck already in the US
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Jonathan Hicks 10:03AM (7/20/2007)
It should not be called Colorado in North America because Chevy uses the name for its midsize pickup truck here.
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Jonathan Hicks 10:03AM (7/20/2007)
That's True, Avinash machado. But that was not sold in North America and Toyota dropped the name.
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Rene Curry 10:31AM (7/20/2007)
If "Mini" gets too focused on growth and creating something for everyone they will end up shooting themselves in the foot.
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1337 10:32AM (7/20/2007)
1) How is this an SUV? It doesn't look much bigger than a Mini.
2) The front end looks like a mixture of Aston Martin and 1980s Ford F-150. Ugh.
3) WTF? The X3 is built alongside Chryslers. Damn BMW for outsourcing to these guys.
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Heidi 10:49AM (7/20/2007)
Yeah that's what I thought. I thought that Colorado name was owned by Toyota. Remember the Toyota Landcruiser Colorado. When did chevy come out with this mid sized truck? It resembles the s-10. I like the new colorado, but a lot of people I have talked to do not like it. Speaking of Chevys, I want one of these corvettes bad. Check out the chevy's on this website.
http://www.maniacraffle.com
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iamhoff 12:00PM (7/20/2007)
GM came out with the Chevy Colorado pickup as a replacement for the S-10 in 2004 or 2005. GM thought they could get away with somewhat better mileage figures by offering a 4 cyl and a 5 cyl engine, instead of using the excellent 4.2L I-6 that they installed in the Trailblazer SUV. They are now getting around to simply installing the 5.3L V8. The Colorado is also used as the platform for the Hummer H3.
Calebe 6:31PM (7/20/2007)
NOOoooooo!!!!!
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psarhjinian 12:37PM (7/20/2007)
Mini needs an SUV like Porsche or Lamborghini do.
Oh, wait...
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shiznannigan 2:33PM (7/20/2007)
Is this Mini "SUV" going to have an AWD/4WD system? If so, I would be on the waiting list now if I could, as I'm moving to Alaska early next year. A very small vehicle with awd capability would be awesome.
That said... what the hell are those things covering the rear windows?
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Don 3:33PM (7/20/2007)
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
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ebm14 7:05PM (7/20/2007)
I was unaware that the firm was owned by a Canadian company. The illustration is an outdated one already since more production like illustrations have been floating around the internet. Sad to see the X3 leaving Austria, but would be interesting to see how Austrian craftsmen ship translates to the Mini. AWD in a Mini is a dream come true and lets hope the price for this little baby falls within the realm of affordability. I am loving this brand very much!!!!
Check it out:
http://bp2.blogger.com/_XEEIzU0UA1M/RqAjnIWcLpI/AAAAAAAACLc/hoM9pMwGm-A/s1600-h/001.jpg
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tbirdkatz 5:10PM (7/23/2007)
An SUV/CUV with real personality and that might actually be fun to drive? Keep the price down and Mini won't be able to make enough of em. Most people who drive SUVs don't really need large gas guzzlers, they just want to be able to easy load and unload larger objects and feel safer on the road. Why drive a Trailblazer which gets 15 mpg when you can have an equally as capable CUV which gets 20-22mpg? I don't see a whole lot of people using their 4wd SUVs for serius off road use, they just want to conquer things like snow, sleet, and ice. The Mini SUV sounds like a fun alternative to big bulky SUVs or dull, boring crossovers such as the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tuscon, or Chevy Equinox.
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Master of Play 4:51PM (8/23/2007)
Mini Suv , 4x4, less than 164" length, 8.3" ground clearance, more than 35 mpg, would be my ideal vehicle. My 1983 Honda Civic had all that except 4x4 and squareback. If it ran on Hydrogen, it would not contribute to global warming. I hear GE has just found a way to produce Hydrogen for fuel cells in a cost efficient manner. Make this a fuel cell vehicle, lots and lots of all kinds of air bags, able to jump the snow row left by the snow plow, with traction control, stability control, ABS, and it would be PERFECT.
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