Next Generation MINI Production Timeline

Sections: R55 (Clubman) | R56 (Hatch) | R57 (Conv.) Aug 8th, 2006 36 Comments

“When is the R56 and/or R55 going to be available?” It’s a question we hear constantly these days from folks with deposits burning a hole in their pockets. We’ve answered it a few times on the site but, with the help of some new information, we can shed a bit more light on the topic. According to our sources, here’s a list of rough US market release dates for MINI over the next several years. Expect European and UK dates to be similar, if not a few months before.

MINI Coupe (R56) / February 2007 (11.06 in Euope & UK)
MINI Extended Wheelbase (R55) / Spring 2008
MINI Convertible (R57) / Spring 2009
?? (R58) / Nothing is green-lit yet but it could be rather “interesting”.

Written By: Gabe

Fritz Chili

…and for the European market? Could you give us also informations thereabout, Gabe? (I know there are many MF-readers in Europe:) ) Greets.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦and for the European market? Could you give us also informations thereabout, Gabe? (I know there are many MF-readers in Europe:) )

I wish I could be more specific for the European market but this is all the info I have at the moment.
Fritz Chili

Thanks for the answer in Cooper S-peed. Some voices say the R56 will be available November 2006 in Europe. I hope so.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Oh sorry – yes the R56 will be available in November in Europe and the UK. I thought you were asking about the other models.
Fritz Chili

Fine! I’m looking forward to a testdrive in November!
Jon

Excellent news Gabe.

Fritz I will be interested when the time comes around in the views that the European mini people have after their initial test drives. Hope you and others share your feedback on it at the time.

Gabe a quick question. When your speaking about the R58 are you speaking about the more advanced tuner JCW that was spoken about in the article More Power for ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“08 JCW MCS? I have already placed another down payment for the gaurenteed first spot for such a car if/when it comes available.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

When your speaking about the R58 are you speaking about the more advanced tuner JCW that was spoken about in the article More Power for ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“08 JCW MCS?

No. The R58 (if it is built) will be another model entirely. The JCW MCS doesn’t warrant it’s own model code.
Fritz Chili

In german “Autobild” different possible variants were already illustrated: - Mini two-seat Spider with flat windscreen - Mini SUV (4WD) (without warranty)
Jon

Ok Gabe, makes good sense I suppose. If we already have a Coupe,Extended wheelbase and a convertable I begin to worry about where they will decide to move to from there. Just hope we don’t see a mini based SUV, i.e. a Micro utility vehicle is the last thing I ever want to see. I have faith though that mini will make good choices, more often than not previously they have done a decent job.
Jon

What is wrong with a micro utility vehicle???
Roger

I don’t understand — perhaps I needed to pay more attention during all this rollout buildup — according to this timeline the next-gen convertible won’t be available until 2009. Does that mean no Cabrios at all between now and then, or that the MINI convertible will continue to be built with the current engine, dashboard, etc. until that cut-over time?
http://miniclub.ie owen

I’d love a MINI SUV. 250Bhp, 4 Wheel Drive, Bull Bars, Spots, I’d have to own a standard R56 too, but hey, it’d be fun.
Dave

Roger: the current generation cabrio will continue to be produced on the existing platform, with the existing enginer/interior until the replacement is available on the new platform in 2009.
Jon

My problem with any form of a Suv mini is it compleatly counters every thing that a mini stands for, since when is large is in charge? Adding another stinking suv to the road is the last thing that we need, and the small platform suv market is already flooded. I also have the great fear that a suv mini would look way to much like a PT cruiser. Mini is supposed to be a niche market car, just would really hate to see them play to this market.
Frank

I am still dissapointed by the fact that MINI is making us R55 future owners wait another year and a half before we can drop a deposit on a Traveller.

I still don’t understand the delay behind the R55. Our baby boy is coming in November so this means we will have to wait another 12-15 months before we can have a MINI with rear door(s).

BMW, don’t keep on delaying the R55 this far!!!!!!!!!!
Frank

Jon, I think you have a misunderstanding of the R55 MINI. I don’t understand why some people insist on keep calling it a “SUV” when in reality is just a small station wagon (Estate as they are called in the UK)just like the original BMC Traveller/Countryman Mini of the 1960′s.

The prototype pics so far posted on the R55 do not suggest any resemblance to any SUV or at the very least, MINI is not pursuing that market or intends to position the R55 as such.

Even if a future version of the R55 offers AWD, would be more akin to a present day Subaru 4WD automobile/wagon than any 4 X 4 all terrain truck based or crossover SUV.

I love the R55 because it affords a little more passenger rear seat room and more cargo room and still have the MINI package of great looks, excellent handling, fuel economy, cool factor etc.

For those of us starting a family or with children already, the R55 is a God send because us family guys will not be forced to give up our 3 door MINIs in exchange for mundane family oriented transportation devices such as 4 door sedans, Minivans or SUVs (Gasp!).
Jon

Frank don’t misunderstand me, I love the R55, just was saying that if the R58 is a SUV version I would choke. The R55 fits perfectly into the idea of being a mini and has historical basis. Just after Gabe made a mention of the future R58 type I just said that I hoped it wasn’t going to be a Suv. My wife already wants a R55 so one will eventually follow us home too. Just a tad worried that mini will run off on the suv tanget that every other manufacturer has.
Griffon

Frank,

Jon isn’t talking about the R55 when he refers to the SUV MINI, you can see this in his second post. I believe he was implying the R58 may be a SUV model.
Frank

Jon/Griffon:

My bad. Need to sleep better tonight. ;)
Seth L

How about a MINI pickup for the R58?

But yeah, that Traveller wait is going to be killer.
Fritz Chili

if I could post a picture, I could show the “possible SUV” called MINI Hunter…

can I post a link here ?
Fritz Chili

look here: http://www.autobild.de/projektor/galerie.php?artikel_id=7282&pos=0
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

That’s one of the handful of renderings done by Autobild last year. I wouldn’t look for MINI to do anything quite as dramatic if they go that route.
CoolToddHunter

Is the reason that the R57 won’t be available for two years after the R55 because BMW uses the same design team to rework the design into a cabrio? Or are there other considerations?
Ian F

A MINI-based pick-up would be cool. There is definitely a hole in the US markt for a small, fuel efficient pick-up.
Frank

Ian, that “hole” was left unfilled when the 1980′s VW Rabbit pick up left the market.
http://www.trackfaq.com MINIAK

Release date means…. what? When we can order, or when the first deliveries will happen?

Signed – Impatient in USA
TallyHo!

I hope that the SUV rumors are not true. I wish that BMW would spend their time and effort to bring back the Triumph roadster rather than developing a SUV.
Jon

I wouldn’t argu with a mini based pickup, although I would not bring one home. It does however have historical precedence as I have seen this concept with the prior mini brand.

This is what mini’s are all about to me, living in the current day and age but having a direct connection to a previous evolutionary older version.

I hope mini transcends being a niche market car, although I do enjoy seeing fellow mini’s on the road I would be very displeased to see as many of them as I do of the other mainstream auto’s. What can I say I like being a little bit of an origonal on the road. If not I would just buy a honda and blend in with the masses.
Frank

Actually, historically a Mini “SUV” did exist way back in the 1960′s… It was called the MINI Moke!
Dave Mac Mini

Right on Frank, but the Moke was more like a dune buggy than a full SUV. Still, a modern Moke would be a hoot!
Jon

The Moke really doesn’t qualify as a sport utility in my book anymore than a Jeep does. The Moke was developed to address a need in the British Army for a vehicle like a jeep. I wouldn’t mind this type of future mini product either, but the not a SUV. There isn’t any reason why mini should try to be ford, chevy, honda or any of a dozen more SUV manafactures. The idea of a luxury suv isn’t anywhere in mini’s history adn hopfully nowhere in its future.
Liam

I believe Feb 07 is when the R56 will hit Down Under as well. With any luck there might be one at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney this October.
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http://www.trackfaq.com Miniak

WooHoo, early Christmas order, and a slightly late Birthday delivery!
Aussom

The new baby boom has already started in Australia. Hopefully BMW will get their finger out and release the R55 Estate/Traveller/Countryman soon, otherwise they could miss out on the baby boom market.

I’ve noticed a lot of young families buying 4WD’s, AWD and people-mover vehicles for seating capacity with a view to keeping their vehicles for at least 5 years, forking out a lot of $$$ in the process.

Remembering that women are the main decision-makers for family cars – children need to be taxied, shopping done, go on short holidays and pets need to be ferried – which could be catered for with the R55.

Children become more expensive as they get older, so parents have less available income for purchasing the R55 as the kids grow up (probably until they leave home at least). BMW MINI may need to think very carefully about pricing to ensure that the R55 isn’t priced out of the young family market. The Grey Nomad traveller market could also be a suitable market…

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1st Gen MINI
R50: One & MC Hatch
R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt.
R53: MCS Hatch
2nd Gen MINI
R55: Clubman
R56: Hatch
R57: Convertible
R58: Coupe
R59: Roadster
R60: MINI Crossover
R61: MINI Crossover Coupe
3rd Gen MINI
F55: Clubman
F56: Hatch
F57: Convertible
F60: MINI Crossover
F62: Traveller

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