A little new flash for you this morning. The 2007 MINI, originally planned for a early December debut at the LA Autoshow, will now have it’s US coming out party at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in early January instead. It would seem that the reasoning behind this move is fairly straight-forward. For one the Detroit Autoshow has by far more press from around the world attending. It’s also more economical for MINI USA to ship and set-up the extra-large display that is seen at other major international shows like Geneva and Paris.
Expect the LA show to feature the M600 Drag-car and a number of accessory heavy 2006 MINIs.
This change of plans has no bearing on the delivery dates of the R56 MINI to the US scheduled for late January and early February.
I hope this doesn’t mean U.S. production is pushed back….my order is set to coincide with the termination of my current lease… 🙂
This is disappointing. The new date for the L.A. Auto Show was done to get more separation from Detroit to give manufacturers a good reason (earlier release) to do do their debuts in L.A.
My take is that the motivation for this change is mainly to get the U.S. press release closer to the actual arrival of the R56 at the U.S. dealerships.
Very disappointing, I was hoping to make the trip down the coast for the show to get an idea of what my MCS will look like.
Our LA Auto Show could use a bit of help. I thought their new date would be helpful in changing the shows place in the international swing of things but since we are so far from Europe this may not ever happen. I understand MINI’s decision.
I wonder how long Detroit can stay on top with their auto industry in shambles. I’m hoping GM & Ford are going to get their s#!t together but don’t really see much progress in that direction with what I’m seeing in new models. It’s sad.
This may be Detroit’s last hurrah – L.A. is much closer to the automotive pulse nowadays. Now that it’s a recognized International Show, L.A. should make a dent in the debut schedules all around.
BCNU
Rob in Dago
You guys on the west coast still have your 360 days of sunny warm weather, beaches and mountains so let the dreay old Midwest have this one! :^)
Detroit here I come!
I was hoping to see the new car in LA as well. It makes me wonder if they will be showing ’06’s in LA. While there will still be stock on dealers lots, seems a bit odd to show a car that really won’t be available.
They could always bring out the MINI Concept for one more flogging.
The company(which if you know where to look) who did the set up last year for detriot, did a great job and its much closer to them then going to L.A.
I too am disappointed that MINI is chosing this route. LA is trying very hard to make their show relavent and it just isn’t happening. Does make me wonder if the LA show will eventually become a secondary show for makers, more like the boat show is, a chance to sell product at a “special” rate.
This is a real bummer! The main reasan I am attending the December LA Auto Show is to see the ’07 MINI Cooper S. (the more exposure for the new MINI the better. They can show the car at both Los Angeles and Detroit!) I hope BMW/MINI reconsiders their decision and shows the ’07 in Los Angeles.
A good move, IMO. The Detroit show is by far the bigger media event. (That and I live much closer to Detroit.)
Mark
<blockquote>I too am disappointed that MINI is chosing this route. LA is trying very hard to make their show relavent and it just isn’t happening. Does make me wonder if the LA show will eventually become a secondary show for makers,</blockquote>
Doesn’t matter to me.
If you’re a car enthusiast, ANY auto show will get your guts growling! Yeah, we’re about the MINI but let’s give “props” to cars that deserve it!
Y’all checked out the new Honda Civic SI? A beaten ’57 Bel Air? Or how ’bout a hot 1915 Hupmobile?
Vanwall…
I’d think New York would be the replacement for Detroit. As much as I love SoCal LA is nowhere near NY/ NY in stature. San Diego, where I think you live, is a much kooler area and if I could I’d live there. Sorry we didn’t meet up at MTTS.
Josh…
Us Left Coasters do have great weather most of the time but 360… Not hardly. I found Detroit a bit scary like downtown LA.
J/C…
HUH? “A beaten ’57 Bel Air”?????
:¬-