It gives current mini owners an even better reason for their next car to be a mini… a new variety of models to choose from.

:)

Considering what BMW and Audi are charging to get into their 325s and A4s, respectively, I think 25K is “cheap” for luxo.

My question though is do you think these will appeal to a broader range of buyers?

Outside the four-door, I don’t imagine a lot of purchases of the other models from outside those that already love MINI.

I could be totally wrong though…

I have a suggestion – How about using some _blank targets for those links?

Oh, dear God, please no! :-) Seriously, I hate those. I always manage to work around it, and curse sites that use them. Let the user decide how many windows to open!

In case you all don’t know, Audi has brought out the A3 in the U.S. A low-priced five-door hatch

The base price on an ’06 A3 is $24,700, plus destination of another $720. That’s not “cheap”, in my opinion.

I agree with the assessment that BMW is considered a luxury brand in the US. I think I read somewhere that they’re as common as muck in Germany and the EU? The implication is that they’ve got more caché here than abroad and we pay for it, and the MINI’s sort of a “cheap premium” car. As such, I don’t think it would help their image to bring over the ONE. In the UK, a MINI ONE is 10,995 pounds, and the Cooper is 12,395. If the ratio between the two were maintained, the ONE would have to sell for around $15k here, which is mighty cheap, and I’m not sure they could do it. In my opinion, they’d be entering into a cost-driven market, and competing with cars like the Toyota ECHO, Chevy Aveo, and those are both about $10,000. I don’t think folks looking for those cars care too much about “driving enjoyment”…

The target tag violates XHTML Strict too might I mention… although this site is XHTML Transitional.

:D just my two cents.

Yes, you folks in the USA miss out on not only the MINI diesel but also the basic Mini One model. Why? Because MINI USA calls the shots about what you folks can buy. MINI Cooper and S are premium sports models and target a different demographic group. The same reason BMW USA doesn’t have a 4 cylinder 3 series or the 1 series in your marketplace.

I also believe MINI has a Mini One in England and other European Countries (and not in the USA) has to do with Car Insurance costs (for the buyer/owner). According to articles I’ve read in “GoMini” the Mini One has only 75 bhp and insurance costs are lower. I don’t think a Mini One would have lower insurance costs in the US. Maybe some states but not in most, atleast in IMO

I’m not sure buyers in the USA would want a 75hp Mini.

Point is, I think the luxo brands are willing to try the low-priced offerings again.

With the new line of engines, the 115, 140 and 170 hp engines, MINI could call the 115 the One, the 140 the Cooper and the 170 the Cooper S. It might work.

I can speak to this. The reason the US Market doesn’t have the One or the 4-cylinder BMW is because it impacts the sales of the other models and tarnishes the image of BMW in the US Market.

By this I mean, for example. The 318ti that BMW brought out years ago as a “low price Bimmer” to attract that younger market actually hurt the brand image of BMW as a luxury car marque. Making a low-buck car in the US market for a “high price” car line affects the overall brand image.

I know I know.. some will scream foul to this but it is true. Ask Cadillac about the Catera.

…those of us at work with locked systems and have no choice… ;-)

A 5-door Clubman with a diesel would be an interesting car to see.

Does it not also have to do with the fact that our(American) diesel is not as clean as eurodiesel?

Surprsingly no. US diesel will soon be cleaner than Euro fuel due to new standards. The bigger issue is actually particulate emmissions and the ultra low standards imposed by a few US states.

Cheers.

Cheers

Gabe, I was wondering if you’ve heard any further rumors or otherwise about a diesel MINI in the U.S. market.

Actually I talked with a MINI exec about this a few weeks ago. The main issue with the current MINI diesel in the US is the output of a specific chemical (for the life of me I can’t remember which one) and the low tolerances for such discharges in some states – notably California.

However he did mention that as soon as the issue is overcome (potentially with a new engine?) that they would seriously look at bringing the MINI diesel to the US.

Unfortunately they only have a picture of the MINI MK. II on their website. The other pictures were only in the Magazine edition (which I have).

If you can read German maybe someone will want to read the article. I’ll post the link to the website (and article).

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/d/76535