The Rumored Lightweight MCS: Part 6

Sections: MF Feature | Rumor Oct 17th, 2005 31 Comments

mini

MINI will officially debut the new MCS Lightweight sometime next week according to a recent press release and language posted on the MINI United website. As we had predicted a few months back, MINI is planning on introducing the car at the MINI United event in Misano Italy (Oct. 28-30). In fact we may see official info and press photos even earlier.

It’s been said before but it’s probably worth saying again, expect this car to be very different from all other special editions released by MINI thus far. This will be the real deal and it should be something very special indeed.

Related:

[ The Rumored Lighweight MCS: Part 5 ] MotoringFile

[ The Rumored Lighweight MCS: Part 4 ] MotoringFile

[ The Rumored Lightweight MCS Part 3 ] MotoringFile

[ The Rumored Lightweight MCS Part 2 ] MotoringFile

[ The Latest on the Rumored Lightweight MCS ] MotoringFile

Written By: Gabe

Avitor

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…
John

Gabe -

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

Any info on US availability? Tx.
Larkin

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
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/ Josh Wardell

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.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

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

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

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

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.
minimc

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… :>(
http://www.nemini.org GMINI

Is this now not the Confirmed Lightweight MCS: Part 1? ;)
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

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

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.
tanya

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.
Brent

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).
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

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

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

So the rumors have it starting at $36k. A base S is $20k. Ay carramba!
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

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.
minicoopermike

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 :(.
Chris

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.
tanya

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.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

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.
tanya

We can only hope!
Greg W

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?
CraigE

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.
DHB

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.
johnsocal

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.
http://www.nemini.org GMINI

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.)
O(=^=)O Capn

lol
tanya

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

Someone over on NAM reported their dealership was taking deposits for the lightweight cars.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

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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