The Rumored Lightweight MCS: Part 6

Avitor Oct 17th, 2005 Link

It’s funny, I was just talking to my Motoring Advisor this past Saturday – and he mentioned how accurate MotoringFile always is on stuff like this…

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John Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Gabe -

Will the lightweight MCS be based on the current platform or the 2007 platform?

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JFS Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Any info on US availability? Tx.

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Larkin Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Hmmmm….If it is based on the current mini, Maybe its a good thing I’m not ordering my 06′ until Feb or March :). It would be sweet to own a lightweight for sure!

-Larkin

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Josh Wardell Oct 17th, 2005 Link

I assume that CF hood photo is not official right?

One benefit of an OEM or JCW CF hood becoming available is it may bring down the price and make the aftermarket ones affordable.

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Gabe Oct 17th, 2005 Link

The pic of the CF hood is in no-way official. In fact it’s kind of an inside joke :-)

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Gabe Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Will the lightweight MCS be based on the current platform or the 2007 platform?

This will be the swan-song for the current platform.

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Allan Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Can’t wait to see piccies. Only dream of buying one. I wonder how many of these bad boys will be sold to non-enthusiats.

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minimc Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Now all we need to know is any of these puppies will make it across the pond.

I’ve been telling my MINI salesperson for MONTHS… Put me on the for sure list… etc.

To this point I get the same answer: There is no official information or order code available at this time… We don’t know if it will be made, let alone available in North America… :>(

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GMINI Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Is this now not the Confirmed Lightweight MCS: Part 1? ;)

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Gabe Oct 17th, 2005 Link

When I see the official press release I’ll change the title ;-)

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pkc Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Sorry to say that I don’t think that the LMC is going to make it here. This thing doesn’t pencil for Miniusa.

2000 cars x 20.08% market share = 402 cars for the US market.

The guys in NJ are not going to certify this thing for 402 cars ~ CSL.

I’m really hoping that I’m wrong but I hate to see you guys getting yourselves so worked up and ending up with a real bad case of blue balls.

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tanya Oct 17th, 2005 Link

If it does make it here, this thing will be unbelievably expensive. Given the extortion we are seeing on the 06 factory JCW kit, I cringe to think what they would charge for this.

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Brent Oct 17th, 2005 Link

As I said a month ago, my Motoring Advisor at Classic Mini stated it was in fact planned, and they had recieved confirmation that they were receiving 4 (I was #3 on the waiting list).

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Gabe Oct 17th, 2005 Link

If it does make it here, this thing will be unbelievably expensive.

Check out Part 4 for thoughts on US availability and pricing.

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tanya Oct 17th, 2005 Link

So the rumors have it starting at $36k. A base S is $20k. Ay carramba!

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Gabe Oct 17th, 2005 Link

So the rumors have it starting at $36k. A base S is $20k. Ay carramba!

Not sure what rumors you’ve heard but I was speculating that it would be starting around or just above 30k.

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minicoopermike Oct 17th, 2005 Link

I’ve been in touch with the MAs and regional MINIUSA managers from Classic MINI as well as from my dealer here in Virginia. Nothing has been confirmed yet :(.

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Chris Oct 17th, 2005 Link

If this sells in the US, I predict it’ll be like the M3 Lightweight – meaning it won’t depreciate at all. Making it well worth the money.

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tanya Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Gabe: Not sure what rumors you’ve heard but I was speculating that it would be starting around or just above 30k.

Sorry – I just did a straight Euro conversion from the article quoted in Update #4. I think you’re assuming US prices will be a lot lower, which they might. Given that you can’t get a factory JCW car for less than $28k, $30k would be relatively reasonable for this one, assuming it has comparable performance bits. It will be interesting to see what kind of wheels they spec.

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Gabe Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Sorry – I just did a straight Euro conversion from the article quoted in Update #4. I think you’re assuming US prices will be a lot lower, which they might.

US pricing of European cars is usually quite a bit lower than a straight conversion. Take a look at the base price of the Cooper S in the UK for an example.

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tanya Oct 17th, 2005 Link

We can only hope!

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Greg W Oct 17th, 2005 Link

I heard a comment from someone saying that the lightweight bonnet has been available from Japan for some months, and that this and other components were being used in Japan already. Anyone else read or heard this?

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CraigE Oct 17th, 2005 Link

US prices are usualy less than European prices. This is usualy attributed to large differences in taxes. The VAT among others. This can have a huge effect on prices.

I’m not going to hold my breath for a lightweight MINI here in the US. Crash saftey regulations being what they are here. The costs of the crash tests here would be prohibitive for such a relatively low priced, low volume version.

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DHB Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Besides the economics cited earlier by pkc, before it can be sold (to us as a street car by a manufacturer) in the US it must be certified.

While not impossible I doubt that a special light weight edition will sufficiently crash worthy to be certified here. If the engine is modified (to a higher output) it too will require certification testing.

Both testing programs would be expensive – adding more development overhead to the pricing equation.

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johnsocal Oct 17th, 2005 Link

Car manufacturers can sometimes get a ‘pass’ on certain costly certifications if the sales volume is low within a limited amount of time. So its possible that MINI could get a special edition lightweight model in the US without too many hurdles.

Lotus was able to get a ‘pass’ on the Elise/Exige in the US since it will only be available here for only a few years and its annual sales volume is very low.

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GMINI Oct 18th, 2005 Link

zI was wondering how the Lotus Elise related, johnsocal. Thanks. Thanks especially for the extra helping of hope, there. (kinda hope the model WON’T be available so I WON’T have to sell my soul.)

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O(=^=)O Capn Oct 18th, 2005 Link

lol

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tanya Oct 18th, 2005 Link

If they “delete” the rear seat, I’m on the next flight to Munchen with a suitcase full of whoop ass.

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petecrosby Oct 19th, 2005 Link

Someone over on NAM reported their dealership was taking deposits for the lightweight cars.

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Gabe Oct 19th, 2005 Link

Someone over on NAM reported their dealership was taking deposits for the lightweight cars.

Some dealerships have been taking deposits for months while others have policies against doing so until the car is officially announced.

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