The Rumored Lightweight MCS: Part 3

Sections: MF Feature | Rumor Sep 15th, 2005 19 Comments

mini Paul Mullet from MINI2 has now confirmed some of what we reported last week on the rumored Limited Edition Lightweight Cooper S. First off it would appear that MINI will indeed be potentially partnering with the Bertone Group in Italy for much of the final production. While the car was a no show at Frankfurt this week, it seems poised to be shown off at MINI United event scheduled for late October in Misano Italy (as we had originally expected). Here’s an excerpt from the MINI2 article:

Behind the dramatic unveiling of the Frankfurt Concept car, MINI have officially told MINI2 that they are indeed in talks with Bertone in Italy about producing just such a vehicle. The project, if it should happen, will be limited in numbers, but is expected to be available to major global MINI markets.

While the somewhat cagey official comments could go no further than confirming talks were underway, a MINI representative did confirm that the BMW “CSL” name would not be carried over the MINI, as has always been the case the MINI brand would very much being treated on it’s own merits. The car would carry special branding, but there’s no official comment on what name(s) the car could carry. It also seems MINI have learnt from BMWs experience with light weight vehicles, and are keen to strike a reasonable balance between cutting weight, and increasing costs.

You can read the entire MINI2 article here:

[ Could the Cat Almost be Out of the Bag? ] MINI2

You can also re-read our previous MCS Lightweight articles below:

[ The Rumored Lightweight MCS: Part 2 ] MotoringFIle

[ The Rumored Lightweight MCS: Part 1 ] MotoringFIle

Written By: Gabe

JAG

I will get one in a snap, I think this is the way MINI should have taken, a la Elise. Improve on the product, make it lighter, faster without getting bigger nad fatter. Hope they bring it here
http://bravo5.org/blog blalor

indeed be potentially partnering

That sounds like a “definitely maybe”. :-)
http://bravo5.org/blog blalor

bah. linebreak, please.
BelowRadar

I’m DEFINITELY interested. I guess price will be the major issue. I’m not paying 30k for a Cooper S. But with only 2000-3000 being made for “major global MINI markets”, what can one do about reserving a car or getting on a list? The dealers won’t even know what we are talking about. “Lightweight Mini, what…haven’t heard about it.”
John

The big question is: will this compromise the safety of the MINI in such a way that the US is not part of the “major global MINI market”? If I can get one, I want one!
NOdabs

“I guess price will be the major issue. I’m not paying 30k for a Cooper S.”

You better believe that if this car is produced, and by some RARE chance makes the states… it will be more than 30k (a plain JCW MINI puts you near that figure).
skip

Once you order JCW from factory the way it has to be configured you will spend 30k if your car has metalic paint.. That does not included mark up they charge in California. I bet this car if it makes the states will have a 6k to 10k mark up on top of the increased price..If you have to ask the price you got no business buying. This will be a poor man’s M3
JAG

I guess price wise it has to be in the range of the R32 if not a Lotus starts getting more attractive
nervous

you have to bet that this will come-in $40k+… not for me – but, I’d love to see it happen. It would be sooo tuff!!!
http://www.cardomain.com/id/martinmcfly rednwhitecooper

i doubt any of the public will ever see them. probably limited to buyers with racing teams and special ways of getting these cars thru the factory.
johnsocal

Im willing to bet the JCW package will be much cheaper in the next-gen Mini since the next-gen Mini is designed with multiple motor options from the get-go.

They have to keep the factory JCW package around $6,300 on the current car to keep all those who bought it via dealer installation happy so they wont piss off their loyal fans.

However the next-gen is a different story and I wouldnt be surprised if a base JCW mini sold for only a $3,500 premium over the MCS. So maybe a AWD option could be priced @ $2000 and both JCW and AWD on the next-gen car will be cheaper then the JCW on the current car.
O(=^=)O Capn

I’m sorry, maybe I’m missing the point as to why they would have to outsource this. why can’t the just lighten up the car in house?
http://www.blokspeed.net Eelke

Fitting in a small series like this in the normal production process isn’t going to be a trivial task. There are probably going to be several important differences between this car and any other car in the production process (for example, this car will presumably have different, lightweight panels; a part where normally all cars have exactly the same panel, so the process will not be ready to distinguish between different kinds of parts for different cars).

Companies like Bertone are specialised in production of small numbers. I’m no production process specialist, but they stay in business, so apperently there is a market for it. Quite possibly, BMW will pull partially built cars off the production line and ship them to Italy, to get them finished with all the special components.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

I’m sorry, maybe I’m missing the point as to why they would have to outsource this. why can’t the just lighten up the car in house?

One of the main reasons is that the Oxford Plant is at maximum capacity right now. To build a small series of special edition cars full of different materials (that require different processes) would probably be very difficult.
Jack

Will this MINI have different panels (i.e., something aerokit like) or will it appear identical in outward appearance to an Oxford produced MINI except for some badging differences?
isellem

i really really want this car to come out but i think i am the biggest skeptic of this car… i don’t know how bmw/mini is going to produce a car with a carbon fiber hood (a rumor i heard that could be mistaken) and all of these lightweight pannels and make it pass all of the european pedistrian safety standards and us crash tests and still make the car marketable pricewise… i would imagine MINI would have to apply for lienancy from the governments to allow a low volume car to be sold without testing… i dont know their are so many things about this project that make me skeptical… yet if it actually became available i would be first in line so as long as the weight savings were substantial…
BelowRadar

MSRP for a Cooper S is a little over 20k. There is no way to position this model with a STARTING price of 30k+, because after options, dealer mark-ups, etc., the car will come in over 40k in some places. That’s why the JCW package has to be an option, not standard. I highly doubt Bertone is going to start doing JCW installs, anyway.

This car has to start at less than 30k or there are a crapload of other better, faster, more desirable cars out there. I think the comment about the R32 is worth discussing. Although a different direction mechanically, the limited edition R32 is a race-tuned factory GTI in the same spirit of the rumored lightweight Mini. With its 9k mark-up you get 70 more horsepower, AWD, race seats, 18″ wheels, an aluminum trim interior, and a load of other extras. I mean, considering the rumored lightweight Mini will have the same engine and the same drivetrain as the standard S, I really don’t see the 9k+ price tag being justified (once again, I am talking starting MSRP…not final price). In my opinion, MSRP for this new Cooper S should probably be around 25k (sans the JCW).

I’m sure there are a handful of people willing to pay 40k for “a poor man’s M3″. Meanwhile, there are real e36 M3′s available for less than half that price…I guess that’s an impoverished man’s M3?
http://whitemaleconsumer.com Zeke Wright

“major global MINI markets”

“a reasonable balance between cutting weight, and increasing costs.”

Argh, the suspense!
Siddhartha

Lighter side panels and no safety glass? It won’t be available in the US unless there are some major changes in the US safety requirements.

Only 2000 units? Wow, just think of the bids when a cherry 2007 MINI XL (eXtra Light) rolls across the auction floor at Pebble in 20 years!

Maybe it will be available for motorsports only.

As for the Italian coachwork, Pininfarina and Bertone are world famous coachbuilders for striking low production automobiles. It would be like giving the MINI a really cool Armani suit. Inside the suit would be the same BMW/MINI built auto. Nothing to worry about.

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