Paris Preview: MINI SAV 5-door coming, FWD variant planned
by Damon Lavrinc on Jul 2nd 2008 at 10:57AM 
After nearly three years of rumors and speculation, the new jacked-up MINI SAV will finally make its debut, according to Autocar. The Brit pub is reporting that the MINI 'ute is bound for Paris, with an on-sale date sometime in 2010 and sporting a five-door design.Questions still remain about what platform the new all-wheel-drive model will be based on, with sources suggesting it will either be based around the Clubman's architecture, making use of a new upper-body structure, or the current Cooper's chassis, using the front end and employing a new floorpan to accommodate the AWD system and new seating positions. Regardless of what's underpinning the SAV, MINI has to justify the R&D, so if the biggie-sized MINI proves successful, there's a possibility that a front-wheel-drive variant will be offered on the same chassis, oxymoronically dubbed the MINI "Maxi."
Production is expected to begin late next year at Magna's factory in Graz, which currently produces the X3. And with BMW shifting production of its entry-level SUV to the U.S. sometime next year, MINI will have the manufacturing capacity to bring its sales over the 340,000 mark.
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sjc 11:09AM (7/02/2008)
Mini's on a roll. The Clubman can come across as silly, but just look at the sales stats. (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/01/by-the-numbers-june-2008-not-that-bad-edition/)
It's an amazing thing to receive performance hand-in-hand with fuel efficiency, as pointed out by AutoEnergy's fuel comparo of the Clubman S and Civic Si (http://autoenergy.blogspot.com/2008/07/honda-civic-si-vs-mini-cooper-s-clubman.html) But at what point - semi-seriously - does Mini name a vehicle the Maxi?
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txdesign 11:10AM (7/02/2008)
As a current 03 Cooper S owner I am disappointed in the direction Mini is taking, primarily in size. Put the current gen Cooper next to a GTI and the size difference is not that great. At what point will the Mini be just a small car? I am hoping for the Alfa MiTo.
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adrian 6:46PM (7/02/2008)
A limited special production of a MINI GT with a Turbo 1.4 150 bhp engine would be nice. It would be a great reminder of the original 1970's 1275 GT.
Joce03 7:34PM (7/02/2008)
I agree. The last thing the world needs is an other SUV (or SAV - its all the same), especially from MINI. A Mini SUV... isn't that an oxymoron?
AntBee 11:22AM (7/02/2008)
Let's hope this is the last derivative of this car. It's really getting tiresome with the MINI this and the MINI that; I think I'm just jealous 'cause I don't/can't have one or two... I should work on that!
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Jon 11:33AM (7/02/2008)
this looks much much better than the previous speculation renderings from like a year ago...
i hope they don't bring over ANY part of the clubman's rear end onto this.
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styleguy 11:31AM (7/02/2008)
This'll either look really good, or really generic and vague. Let's hope they do good with this model.
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martin 11:43AM (7/02/2008)
any MINI other than the hatch and cabrio is just a rubbish idea, the clubman looks awful and has a stupid rear door and i can see them using the same rear end on this. the MINI is getting a bit old looking now too, its looked essentially the same for 8 years and i must see about 40 of them a day, they used to look different, now they are as dull as the "new" beetle
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tuna 1:54PM (7/02/2008)
You've never seen the original clubman have you?
Kaptain75329 11:47AM (7/02/2008)
geezus.
Even small cars that sell on being small are getting bigger.
Damn this sucks.
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Kaptain75329 11:48AM (7/02/2008)
geezus.
Even small cars that sell on being small are getting bigger.
Damn this sucks.
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BigTeebo 12:02PM (7/02/2008)
The MINI brand is becoming diluted like ASUS's EEE brand.
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MajorGeek 12:15PM (7/02/2008)
Mini is turning into what all the other car companies are, following the cash trail. Can't blame them as a company, can hate them for it as a brand we all know and love. I mean, who hates the mini?? Just about no one.
I can see the board room meeting.
"Sales are way up"
"Lets make it longer"
"Sales are way up"
"Add 2 more doors!"
"Sales are way up"
"Take 5 door, cut off 2 and call it a pickup"
Then gas goes down, or people adjust to gas prices and stop buying these things.
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indymcsc 12:55PM (7/02/2008)
Gas isn't going down.
MikeInNC 12:47PM (7/02/2008)
Not a big fan of the rear of the Clubman but it's definitely on my short list when my lease is up in December mainly b/c it handles great, doesn't carry the run-of-the-mill stink of 'econobox' and gets great mileage. My only drawback is the lack of two rear doors (we have a kid). I can't begrudge MINI for capitalizing on a good platform. Don't be shocked if a Moke model makes it to production if gas prices keep rising.
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Rocketboy 12:55PM (7/02/2008)
Average anti-MINI variant comment:
"THE MINI HAS ALWAYS BEEN MINI WHINE WHINE WHINE""
Reality:
The classic Mini has always had variants, from luxury style Mini's to cube vans. Mini also had a Jeep style SUV, the Mini Moke.
The Mini was also never about performance and handling. The great handling that the Mini was known for was an after-effect of using ultra-cheap suspension. Factory backed racing ended soon after it started.
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chopper 2:00PM (7/02/2008)
God I hope they change the name (or at least drop the i on Maxi) for America.
Who wants to roll in the Mini Tampon?
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bakka 1:37PM (7/02/2008)
This is the reason BMW cannot meet the CAFE standards.
AWD and more weight. WTF!!
It is a small car. leave it as one.
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OOMPH! 5:16PM (7/02/2008)
gee..i think they are cute as hell!! and i for one like the unique charm the Clubman has..INCLUDING the rear door(s)..i dont like the naff side door though.the only thing ive never been crazy about the Mini is the stupid dashboard.other than that,its my favourite BMW .
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Rocketboy 11:15AM (7/07/2008)
If it wasn't for the giant speedo, there's no way it could be called a MINI.