Most convincing rendering yet: MINI SUV
Sure, the title is oxymoronic, but it's just a matter of time before MINI unveils its beefed-up 'ute. CAR put its crack team of 3D modeling wizards on the job to show what a mud-plugging MINI could look like, and surprising, it's not all that bad.While the design stays true to MINI's traditional cues, the larger front fascia, ribbed roofline and increased ride height gives the 4x4 a more rugged appearance. It all seems plausible, but the extra set of doors remain complete theoretical since MINI still hasn't released any specifics. Power is supposedly provided by the Cooper S' 175 hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four cylinder, but if the SUV/CUV packs on the pounds, the forced induction mill might not be able to provide the necessary get-up-and-go. A diesel is likely to be available and it's rumored that Getrag has been tapped to provide the transmission and all-wheel-drive system.
The 'ute is expected to be unveiled sometime next year, but it's name is still open to speculation. However, CAR quizzed a MINI manager who assured them that it wouldn't go by the name "Crossman." Good call.
[Source: CAR]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
f3rg 8:05PM (2/01/2008)
Sort of pointless to have a Mini be anything but a tiny car. What next, the Mini Small Business Jet?
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TriShield 8:13PM (2/01/2008)
Pointless to who exactly? All the people being buried in snow right now from the Midwest to the Northeast?
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FmhR 8:27PM (2/01/2008)
My wife drives a Mini and we live in the Midwest, it's amazing how great it performs on the snow. No need for a Mini SUV!!
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BartMack 9:25PM (2/01/2008)
I'm a huge fan of the R53, but the second gen just leaves me cold. I had hoped they would pursue a roadster/speedster variant, but it seems all of BMW has gone wagon-mad now.
Then there was that cruel, cruel rumor about resurrecting Triumph...
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DKB_SATX 10:10AM (2/02/2008)
Would that it were true... but instead, BMW has gone jacked-up ill-proportioned "crossover" crazy, not "wagon mad." They do still have 2 proper wagons in the US, the 5 and 3 Touring models. Good luck FINDING one of those, most dealers don't stock them, and the one in San Antonio declined to even ORDER one for a friend, who now drives a nice A4 Avant and has nasty things to say about the BMW Center in San Antonio, TX.
ugg.tryptophan 10:35PM (2/01/2008)
has two doors too many to be a MINI
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S1500 1:05AM (2/02/2008)
I sat inside a 2nd gen MINI and pondered why they had to make so many changes just to the interior alone. The goofy-shaped radio console seemed unnecessary, and make s a bit difficult to stuff in your own deck. To me, the 1st gen interior did its function just perfectly.
And why would they leave the air intake on the S? IIRC, it's not used like the supercharger did.
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tankd0g 1:36AM (2/02/2008)
Just what the snow bound north easterner needs, a 2004 Rav4 at double the price that looks like a Mini.
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Mattias 2:08AM (2/02/2008)
It is already confirmed that there is a new engine family in the work that is based on PSAs W-block (DW and EW family). These I4s with 1.8 to 2.2l are currently used in Citroen C4 and up and Peugeots 3 series and up. BMW would not have gotten involved in this new engine family if they did not have a use for it.
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Snark 9:24AM (2/02/2008)
Hate to break it to you, but if your logic held water in the real world, nobody'd buy anything but a Trabant.
For everybody jabbering about how pointless this is, I guarantee you there's a market for this vehicle. Speaking for myself, I'm an ecologist who spends a lot of time banging around in Utah and Arizona hiking and backpacking. I could use a SUV but don't want to suck gas and have no need for a huge vehicle. I guarantee you that when it comes time to replace my AWD Pontiac Vibe, this will be on the list of cars to look at. Believe it or not, there are plenty of people who want a small, efficient vehicle with a little ground clearance and AWD.
And for everybody saying it's too big to be a Mini, it's still no bigger than a Clubman.
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MikeInNC 9:47AM (2/02/2008)
Snark: Very good point. All these experts combined auto industry experience wouldn't make a thimble overflow.
And for precisely the facts that you just wrote, this vehicle will likely be a solid seller.
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rgseidl 9:57AM (2/02/2008)
I thought this was going to be called the Mini Colorado.
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steve 11:10AM (2/02/2008)
best mpg 4x4?
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empower 11:43AM (2/02/2008)
Very true. That is why all automobile companies spend millions of dollars on researching new markets and niches. There have to be countless hours of surveys and public feedback for ta manufacturer to take such a step. Granted there have been bloopers like the current Benz R-class, but nothing ventured nothing gained.
The latest success story of recent times is the Porsche Cayenne. porsche got torched for moving away from their primary forte and developing something that looks like a gigantic Tapir, but the numbers speak for themselves. They sell 40K units annually and they have far exceeded their initial expectations of 20K units for the first year.
Nothing that a good dose of brand marketing wont do for you.....
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adrian 5:01PM (2/02/2008)
There maybe a market for a MINI SUV, until they hear the price, because let's face it, the starting costs for a MINI is not cheap. For me, the price of these cars goes against the principal of what the original MINI stood for, affordable motoring in a small classless package.
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chrisdavis 7:49PM (2/02/2008)
I'm interested in what the other cars on your list would be. I would assume an Impreza Outback Sport and Forester would be two of them.
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peterwhitelaw.bt 8:07PM (2/02/2008)
Anyone else notice that Bruce Willis appears to be driving
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Rocketboy 11:00AM (2/03/2008)
Enough of these "This is what someone who has no relation to the project or the company is guessing what it looks like" posts. You might as well start posting 'news' stories by 'psychics'. THERE'S NO POINT.
And AGAIN, to the naysayers who think that x model of MINI is going to ruin the brand, look at the history of the classic Mini. There have ALWAYS been variants. Not to mention that the MINI is so far removed from the origonal vision of the Mini that it's not even funny. Remember, that Mini only had official race sponsorship for a few years, untill it was thought that it was a waste for a low-budget 'people's car' to be on the racetrack. Privateers FTW!
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jpatz38 1:39PM (2/03/2008)
I've always been a bug MINI fan, but no matter how hard I try, I am having a hard time liking this idea.
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jpatz38 1:40PM (2/03/2008)
I meant "a big MINI fan"
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