Comments on: The Next MINI Caught Cold Weather Testing

By: CA

CA — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 02:48:03 +0000

Take this for what it is worth. I understand that there is not a new body built for the new MINI. It only exists in drawings right now. There is still a lot of time for a body and frame to be built. We still don't know if MINI will offer other styles yet.

Hang in a let's see what happens.

By: johnsocal

johnsocal — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 22:05:16 +0000

While the 7 series doesn't do it for me, I do like the 5 series.

While everyone gets so negative when they see testing-mules of the next-gen Mini, I'm willing to bet that it will look pretty good and wont deviate to far from todays design.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:39:59 +0000

FYI – The 7 sieres rear wasn’t revised in it’s second year. In fact it went the normal 4 years (as all BMWs do) before being revised in 2006. During that time it has become the most successful selling 7 series ever.

By: NAHMME

NAHMME — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:37:35 +0000

BMW has done some doozies in the design area! That ugly looking back end on that high priced Bimmer. Only lasted one year and they revised it to make it look like part of the car. Heaven forbid if they bungle the MINI to look like everything else on the road.

There used to be a time when as a young child, I could tell you exactly the make, model, year, etc. of every car on the road in the US. No more! They all look the same, whether they're Japanese, German, US, or any other country.

Could be because Ford, Chrysler, and big old GM own bits and pieces of every car on the road!

My wife has a Pontiac Aztek, which will be deleted from production because of its ugly look, that the Prius copied the rear of!

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 05:44:13 +0000

I don't think it's quite Audi big!

By: allan MICHAEL

allan MICHAEL — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 05:09:37 +0000

....the 2007 has a strange resemblence to the new Audi and VW fronts...?!...

so big.

By: johnsocal

johnsocal — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 03:19:16 +0000

It looks like the next-gen MC would get a 140HP turbo with a six speed and the MC CVT would only have 115HP like the current car.

I would think if the standard next-gen MC has a 6-speed 140HP turbo I would suspect that it would be more expensive then the current MC.

Who knows maybe the next-gen MC CVT might become the cheapest car in the lineup priced @ $19,995.00 and positioned as the affordable commuter as the 6-speed 140HP MC moves up market to help offset the cost associated with the declining US Dollar vs. Euro.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 02:08:00 +0000

According to “The MINI Gets a Prince” does that mean that we may see the current generation MC get a hp bump up to 140 and a 6 speed transmission in 2006? I’m assuming that would also mark the arrival of the new engine.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:57:12 +0000

I could be wrong but that's just my educateed guess from all the info I've seen. I've read several places that the next gen MINI won't even debut at an autoshow until '07.

Then there's this bit of info that has been proven very reliable over the past year: The MINI Gets a Prince.

By: johnsocal

johnsocal — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:33:22 +0000

Gabe- You are most likely right but I got the idea from all the articles and rumors floating around that the next-gen Mini would most likely start production in late 06 and we would see them in the US around March/April 2007.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:07:43 +0000

I'm thinking the earliest we'd see this in the US would be late 2007 as a 2008 model.

By: steve

steve — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:06:16 +0000

that bigger grille does remind me of the Aston Martin Vanquish lol

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:01:16 +0000

and when is this supposed to come out? for the 2007′s? so in like a year?

By: DCE

DCE — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 22:30:06 +0000

The grill kind of reminds me of an Aston-Martin. Not a bad upgrade. LOL

By: RB

RB — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:28:02 +0000

Straight on The grill looks very original Mini. The rest I'll wait on.

Nice to see some less vile comments.

Holland...one of my favorite countries...that is in summer, daughter lives in Hilversum.

+++RB

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 18:26:08 +0000

Glad you liked it, Ian! I love an opportunity to flex my Dutch. The culture is so funny that there are always some funny translations to be had. ;)

By: nfo

nfo — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 17:56:53 +0000

i’m feeling it!!! i really like the way the front end looks much more like the classic! can’t wait to see shots of it from other angles..

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 16:13:21 +0000

Wow, that front end will blind people if they chrome out both grills!

Overall, much better than shown in the previous spy shots.

-Erik

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 15:01:12 +0000

Mike, Thanks for the translation – enjoyed the “hotcakes” aside ;)

By: DUCTTAPE

DUCTTAPE — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 12:38:00 +0000

It does look a tad massive to me. I don't follow them, so I am not sure exactly which model, but this reminds me of a Chrysler.

It is sort of sad that one sees a Japanese car on the road and it looks very similar to a German car. At least the Swedes try to retain distinctive styling (although Saab is, for all intents and purposes, American, and it now looks like lowest common denominator material.)

What happened to a car pulling in the driveway and any old idiot could tell what it was?

I enjoy the distinct shape of MINI today. I realize, as said above, that probably only the grill is 'real' as it is functional, but it doesn't really work for me.

My 02c.