AWD MINI in the Press Again

Sections: In the Press May 21st, 2005 20 Comments

As most readers of MotoringFile know, last year Getrag built and tested an all-wheel drive system that works within the limited space provided by the current MINI’s chassis. Since then there have been several persistent rumors that the next generation MINI (debuting as a 2007 model) will eventually offer AWD MINI sometime during it’s life-cycle. According to a couple of the rumors I’ve heard, it would seem the next MINI’s chassis has been developed with an eye towards eventually incorporating more than just front wheel drive.

Well it seems AutoExpress has finally picked up the story (never too late!) and is running an almost laughable one paragraph teaser in their latest edition. Here’s an excerpt:

A four-wheel-drive MINI has been developed by German transmission firm Getrag – and the system will appear on production cars in 2007. Called the Twinster, the technology turns a front-drive chassis into 4WD by adding new components.

[ MINI's Gripping Tale ] AutoExpress

Now for those that want some actual info on the AWD system itself, check out these previous MotoringFile stories:

[ Getrag Tests All-Wheel Drive MINI ] MF

[ More Info on the All-Wheel Drive MINI ] MF

Written By: Gabe

Mario

I hope we will see it on the new MINI!
http://stuffjesusdigs.typepad.com/ Webb

I love my 03 “S”. Only thing I find lacking is my (endless?) desire for more traction. I go back and forth between adding an LSD to mine and getting a new one with LSD.

If an AWD MINI is really on the horizon I can certainly see waiting for that!
Brian C. Shearon

For $500 it was easily the most attractive option I added to my MINI S convertible…being able to divert the power to 2 wheels instead of just one makes all the difference in the world. Can only imagine taking that to AWD territory.
http://www.outmotoring.com Aaron Cornaby

I spoke to some folks at Getrag USA and from what I gathered there were 3 working AWD MINI’s in the UK and they were finalizing on in the USA on their Charlotte facility and it was nearing completion…should be a killer!

They did not say much about the relationship with MINI, but had noted that MINI had been keeping their ears to the ground so to speak…if they do a AWD I would assume it would only happen with Getrag and noone else, so it seems that if they can get it to work that MINI would most likely bite…

One thing that he said was that since MINI is not having ANY problems selling existing product coming out of a factory that is already maxed out they were less likely to need to add options like AWD…… If the hotcakes are selling before you can make them, why add blueberries?
Bart

Twinster -? lol …
Allan

Would you prefer an AWD or RWD?

I really would like a RWD over AWD..
Paul C.

Somebody tell me who might sell a retrofit kit :) Maybe I should laugh but everything else seems retrofittable so what the heck, why not an AWD system??!!

I wish they didn’t make the car bigger, this is the biggest thing I’m not too happy about with this 07 onward Mini. I like the idea of AWD but I would like it more in my Mini, the current body size!
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Allan – while that might be fun, it’s just not going to happen. BMW = rwd performance / MINI = fwd performance (and possibbly awd). I can promise you that BMW won’t allow MINI into rwd due to brand concerns.
http://users.adelphia.net/~rocketboy/index.html Rocketboy

So, according to Auto Express, the only thing needed to convert a FWD MINI to a RWD MINI is ‘New Components’? I can’t wait for their hard hitting report on what color the sky is. :)
RB

Was there ever any pixs showing the back wheel set up?

Actually I’m more concerned about the loss of the multi-link rear suspension on the newer models that I have read about, even though AWD would be sweet.

MINI??????????RWD?????ONLY???????Other than Drifting why would anybody………….never mind.
ChristopherW

RWD MINI = http://www.notgonnahappen.com

Why would BMW release a car to compete with the 1-series? A front-biased AWD system I can see, but never a RWD powertrain.
http://stuffjesusdigs.typepad.com/ Webb

“If the hotcakes are selling before you can make them, why add blueberries?”

I wouldn’t bat an eye at the extra $500 for LSD. If MINI added the option for AWD, it wouldn’t change the number of MINIs they sell, but it would certainly change the price paid for some of those MINIs.

For my driving, JCW is of little value because most of my driving is stop and go. If I had the option for all 4 tires pushing the power to the road (instead of 1 tire on my 03′ now) I would certainly be much more interested in JCW (or at least a Dinan boost kit).

Realistically, an AWD MINI means that I’ve be hapily paying thousands of dollars (JCW + AWD) more for my new MINI.
cj

MCS JWC/AWD via EUROPEAN DELIVERY!

Then MINI will have finally gotten it right! Till then I will drive the ’02. COME ON MINI!!
michael Boice

A sub 2,800lb, 240hp, FWD, JCW might be a lot of fun…I’m in! Where do I sign up?
greg

Michael. I’m with you. Especially on the 240hp. Do you know something we don’t?
dgszweda

How realistic is this? It is a great concept, but will BMW really make this? I have to agree with the posts above. For what purpose! They sell more than they can make now. Not sure how this would even fit into their product strategy. It will raise the cost of the car, increase the weight,lower the power because of increased drivetrain loss. BMW has no experience with AWD performance cars for the street, so this would be a whole new arena, and one that is much different than their current X5 and X3 offerings. There would be quite a bit of build up on so many levels for what would really be a niche market. Why is it niche? Because most people would not notice a big difference and they probably would not want to pay a higher price (VW still has R32′s on the lot even though they were limited to 5,000 and the VW boards were crawling with posts about how super spectacular awesome it would be for VW to bring over the R32. When VW did, they couldn’t even sell them all). The big 4WD sellers (WRX/EVO/R32) are not just selling because they have AWD, but also because of the extreme cheap tuning available for them. None of which Mini has.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to have one, but I don’t believe Mini would be able to justify it from either the money spent or how it fits into their product lines. I think it is just a tantalizing story that came out, that everyone has exploded into giving it a bigger life than it probably really has.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

BMW has no experience with AWD performance cars for the street

Actually BMW has been making AWD cars since the late 80′s (starting with the E30 3 series). The current xDrive system is actually quite nice. That said BMW doesn’t use AWD as a performance option for BMWs. They don’t see the point considering BMWs start with 50/50 weight distribution and RWD. They figure – why add 200lbs of weight to a vehicle that has an almost perfect drivetrain to begin with. I personally don’t see the point either on a car such as a BMW.

That said on a car like the MINI, it does make a bit more sense.
http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~empson Jack07734

Here is something to think about. An AWD and bigger MINI will be legal to run as a WRC rally car.

Cheers, Jack
Derek

And that, Jack, is what I think it’s all about.

Just in time for the third or fourth year of the next body style “to keep it fresh”….

Derek
http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~empson Jack07734

And who here wouldn’t love the sight of a MINI kicking some Focus butt.

Cheers, Jack

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