MINI Concept Travelling into Production

Sections: Official News | R55 (Clubman) | R56 (Hatch) Jan 10th, 2006 22 Comments

More on the production confirmation from MINI USA Press:

New MINI derivative confirmed for production at Detroit Motor Show.
A production car based on the MINI Concept Traveller has been confirmed today as the latest model to join the MINI range. A production vehicle will be on the road within the next three years. Dr Michael Ganal, member of the Board of Management responsible for sales and marketing, made the announcement at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

Inspired by the positive feedback for the MINI Concept Traveller at the Frankfurt and Tokyo motorshows in 2005, the new MINI will be a modern interpretation of the classic Mini Traveller and Countryman versions of the 1960s.

It will offer increased interior space and functionality, as well as all the typical MINI characteristics, especially the driving fun and opportunities for personalisation. The car will be modelled on the concept but the final design for series production is still to be defined.

Each version of the Traveller has displayed creative new technology, as well as bringing country-specific themes to appeal to the local tastes of different motorshow audiences. MINI Concept Detroit is based on a winter sports theme designed in the colours of the United States of America flag. The roof rack and boot has convenient fixings for carrying snowboards, skis and mountain bikes.

MINI is now in its fifth year since launch and for the first time it has sold over 200,000 vehicles in one year. Representing an 8.7 per cent increase over 2004, MINI sold 200,400 cars in over 70 countries. Over 700,000 MINIs have been sold worldwide since 2001.

The USA has been one of the major successes for the car. The classic Mini was only on sale there for a short time in the 1960s and sold approximately 10,000 over that period. Since the new MINI went on sale in March 2002 each year has seen a year-on-year growth and 2005 set another record. 40,820 MINIs were sold in the US, an increase of 13 per cent over 2004, enabling the USA to hold its ranking as the second biggest market for the MINI after the UK. The UK sold 44,780 MINIs in 2005.

MINI USA Press

Written By: Gabe

giacomo

I’m going to the LA Auto Show on Wednesday. It pisses me off that the Traveller will not be there! I guess since Detroit and our show are so close that may be the reason. Detroit….do they even make cars there anymore? LA is the car capitol of the USA and maybe the world, not only for capacity of units bought but has the BEST automotive design school at ACCD/P!

I feel better now. Detroit, just stating facts not meant to be a slam.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

LA is just not that big of a show compared to Detroit and Chicago at the moment. And the auto industry saves the big guns for the big shows. The biggest in terms of industry clout are probably Geneva, Frankfurt and Detroit.

New York and Chicago are quickly gaining and Detroit and with LA moving to November next year it could give them an opportunity to bring in more debuts.

Chicago is actually the largest autoshow in the US but it is more consumer rather than industry focused.
Stevo

I am off to Detroit this weekend! Can’t wait to see the concept in person. I am a bit disappointed that the production timeline is listed as within 3 years. There are definitely test mules running around ;) so I thought we’d see it at dealers sooner!

Anyone who has the means to get to the Detroit Show should. It is truly amazing and does not compare to LA and NY as I have been to all three.
giacomo

I know all that, but I gotta ask myself why not…is it the LA show folk are not taking care of business or should I saw kissing the asses of the auto execs? Is it a geographical issue? Maybe the attendance isn’t high enough? But low attendance, I don’t know if there is low attendance, could be because we only get the leftovers or so it seems so why bother. New York, now there’s a large car market. We have the most autos, the best weather, this time of year, it’s gotta to be maybe lack of hotels or something I don’t understand.

Thanks for all the great pics of the Traveller and all the info and last but not least a place to sound off, wether I’m right or wrong MF is great!
fdavid

GIACOMO: ArtCenter rocks!! (loved it)
Rob

Giacomo, I think you are joking but just in case you are not, GM, Ford, Chrysler, VWOA, Delphi, Visteon and many others are headquartered here.

And since the NAIAS is automotive based I guess it makes sense. Perhaps LA could host the Plastic Surgery Council meetings, or some other convention of redeeming social value.
Bartmack

Does anyone think they might offer AWD on this puppy? It sure would add to the attractiveness of the package….
CooperSAZ

I need help with this one… Please if you can…

Check out this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10774896/site/newsweek/

It is Hot Rod #6

The MINI Traveller

Did I read that correctly? The “Wow Factor” is that the MINI contains a ‘Scent generator’ that pumps aromatherapy that is synched to songs playing on the stereo?

This is interesting…
giacomo

Ah yes the usual LA LA Land comment….I’m thinking Generally Mondane, FixOrRepaidDaily and those other US auto makers could use some of our plastic surgeons. As I said It was not a slam against Detroit but about why isn’t the biggest car market being better served. And as far as my comment about making cars there well how many plants have closed, how many parts and cars are being jobbed out and so on.

Sorry if I offended anyone I’ll close my comments on this.
PhilaMini

DOes anyone know if the Traveler Concept will attend the Philly Auto Show?
Anteken

At least they still have a chance to change the “catfish” front end
HyperBlue

giacomo,

The automakers are acutely aware of where they sell the most cars. However. Most all US auto shows are organized by the local dealers associations as a method of getting the casual observer interested in their vehicles with little manufacturer involvment. The Detroit show re-branded itself a few years back into the North American International Auto Show (whew) and sought out co-operation from the major automakers and the show as it exists today is the result. It also is detrimental from a logistics standpoint that the LA show is the week prior to NAIAS (which is why LA is changing it’s date in the future). Maybe at the next LA show you’ll get the good stuff first.
Z4MINI

DOes anyone know if the Traveler Concept will attend the Philly Auto Show?

If I had to guess…no.

The first concept was the Concept Frankfurt…and it was only shown in Frankfurt. (to my knowledge)

The second concept was the Concept Tokyo…and it seems to only be shown in Tokyo.

The latest rendition is called the Concept Detroit, so I am guessing it will only be shown at Detroit.
giacomo

Anteken, Now that makes sense thanks.
Sam

So – if it were to come to DC would it be Concept Pork?
http://www.blokspeed.net Eelke

On a different note, does anyone else see Mini finally re-entering rallying, with AWD in the works, and a longer wheelbase Mini (which, if I am informed correctly, is the reason they are not currently rallying the current model, because its wheelbase is too short for WRC regulations)?
Ian

“but has the BEST automotive design school at ACCD/P!”

Since when could the USA design cars, you have to come to europe to find car design, just have a look at the Bugati Veyron. And of course the New Mini.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

oh man.
giacomo

The Veyron is one UGLY car, IMHO. Anybody who thinks the front end of that thing is nice…..well what can I say.

Frank Stevens…….ACCD/P.

It happens to be one of the best schools in the world, not only my opinion but many, many others. I agree that most of US cars are crap but that doesn’t mean ACCD/P is crap. A lot of the worlds car manu’s send their designers there. When I was attending, there were students from all over the world, Japan, China, Korea, France, Espana, Holland Ect. Also, not all “Euro” cars are so sweet. Some are damn well ugly.

Maybe you should check to see if your gun is loaded before you fire!
christine

I have been waiting for a new version of the Traveller since I bought my MINI in early 2002. I think that the package in Detroit is a bit too much makeup (ski box on the outside). But maybe they will debut the “Surf” package next year at the LA Auto Show. I would find that mighty entertaining.
Pingback: MotoringFile » Archive » MINI Concept Detroit: Press Introduction
cct1

Here is a link to the video (You’ll need to scroll down to the “More Video” section, then click on Mini Concept Interview. Nice shots of the car’s exterior and interior–I really dislike the headlights, but otherwise it’s an interesting idea:

http://autoshow.msn.com/as/video.aspx?xml=streaming&shw=autoshow2006&GT1=7648

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