Mini Roadster leaks out ahead of Frankfurt debut
Mini kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration with a birthday party in Nice, France where a select group of journalists were give an glimpse at Mini's plans for Frankfurt and beyond.Matt Davis from Inside Line was in attendance and snapped a shot (right) of the Mini Roadster concept ahead of its Frankfurt Motor Show debut, and plugged some of the automaker's execs for information on Mini's plan for the future.
Aside from the Mini Coupe and Roadster, which will reportedly, "be produced for the 2011 model year and both will be available on all our world markets," the Mini Crossover has been delayed as the automaker rethinks its brand position. However, the 'ute is still supposedly a go and will be revealed in early 2010 (we're thinking Detroit) and likely go on sale late next year.
There's also rumors of a possible tie-up between BMW and a yet-to-be-named Japanese automaker (IL lists Toyota as the likely partner), although details on the deal are scarce... at best. And, of course, there's continued speculation surrounding the future of BMW's super-subcompact range, with a Mini-based Isetta revival that could arrive within the next two years. For now, it's merely conjecture, but at the Frankfurt show next month, we should have a clearer indication of what direction Mini will take in the coming years.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
woodycarsite.blogspot.com 2:44PM (8/28/2009)
What are you talking about?
I heard that they were suppose to show the crossover very soon!
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pkop[p[kpk[k[k[k[k 2:58PM (8/28/2009)
So we've already seen the actual car and now we're suppose get excited about a mobile phone picture of a car that looks like a new power wheels toy?
Anyway... the crossover is a bust for one simple reason. Its going to be too expensive! Minis already are WAY over priced. Half a car for twice the price? Insane. Typical german/BMW answer. Over priced, over complicated, etc. K.I.S.S. BMW and keep the price down - you might sell some cars that way. Well sell some to people who AREN'T starbucks drinking liberal idiots who worship Obama blindly.
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MikeofLA 3:23PM (8/28/2009)
The Mini Starts at about $19,000 and will out perform all of it's compeition in that price bracket. As you add options the price goes up obviously, but they offer things that other makers don't, and when they do, they stay about on point with the prices. Once you get into a John Cooper Works, then you're talking mid $30s but that would be about on par with say, a Mugen Civic, which was about $30,000 and still wouldn't perform as nicely as a JCW Mini as a daily driver or a track car.
I think people just blindly bash on BMW and Mini without getting their facts straight...
txdesign 3:43PM (8/28/2009)
You know you don't have to be a liberal to drive a small car. Unlike Americans, the rest of the world does not buy cars by the pound. Many people just want something small with a little bit of style and performance, something the Mini has in spades.
BTW, have you compared resale values for used Minis with say Chevy Cobalts/Ford Focus lately?
David 4:22PM (8/28/2009)
How is the MINI Cooper that we already have "half a car"? You are such a moron and you have no idea what you're talking about. What's a Hummer? A car and a half? What is your criterion for defining a "whole car"?
How is $18K too expensive? You can't get a Hyundai Sonata for that price, or much else, and comparing standard equipment, you certainly can't get any similarly-equipped Honda Fit or similar at that price or any other, and all would be 500% more boring to drive.
David 4:30PM (8/28/2009)
TXDesign, I'll help him on that score.
My 2005 MINI Cooper is still listing on KBB for $14,500. One of our 2006 or 2007 Fords from work recently got only $5000 on trade-in.
David 4:34PM (8/28/2009)
2007 Ford Focus sedan (TWICE AS BIG AS A HATCHBACK LOL, and 2 years newer), with the same mileage as my MINI Cooper, gets $8000 in private sale, or nearly half what my 4 year old MINI could command today.
spyker 2:57PM (8/28/2009)
The crossover is delayed! Thanks god. That roadster looks sweet. Maybe even cooler than the coupe.
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sad 3:00PM (8/28/2009)
Is it really that hard to imagine the coupe (an actual car and not a blurry cell phone picture) without a roof or is it just a slow news day at autoblog?
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Nuieve 3:36PM (8/28/2009)
I don't want to use my imagination, I want to see actual pictures of new cars, especially the very first pics. And showing them is what sites like autoblog are for. If you have problem with it, go f... yourself.
Tom 3:34PM (8/28/2009)
Is it just me or does anyone else find the roadster a little
redundant when there is already a convertible? You've made the
windshield lower and lost a couple of seats? Big deal.
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txdesign 3:44PM (8/28/2009)
I agree. Will they really keep both models in the lineup with such minor differences?
David 4:23PM (8/28/2009)
BIG TIME! It's a stupid idea, with ZERO appeal for this current MINI Cooper owner.
Name: 3:41PM (8/28/2009)
This is what the Mini convertible SHOULD be, but if they are going to charge even more than the $36K quoted for the coupe in the earlier aticle...they are insane. $10,000 worth of insane. Less car for more money? Must be new math...
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Tom 3:56PM (8/28/2009)
To be fair, though, it wouldn't be quite $10K because I think the new cars are essentially JCW Minis.
WoodysCarSite.blogspot.com 5:01PM (8/28/2009)
too expensive.
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Taglane 4:43PM (8/28/2009)
god I wish they would use a new front end design...
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travisty 5:02PM (8/28/2009)
Totally want the coupe, but would rather it was just the normal MCS (and priced accordingly). I'm not about to pay low 30s for the JCW, and I'm not about to pay low 30s for the Coupe either...
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