Comments on: MINI at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show

By: 07PepperS -aka Java

07PepperS -aka Java — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 20:37:34 +0000

btw

I'm going to the Geneva in my R56 - na na na na

By: beken

beken — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:46:58 +0000

I think they should bring it to Canada. Then you folks south of us can grey market it over.

By: Ron Arnold

Ron Arnold — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:00:27 +0000

Make mine a MC Clubman D and I’ll drive over to the dealership TODAY and put some money down. That would be an incredible ride…alas. But someday, perhaps? If you think I’m joking MINI USA, call my bluff 8-)

By: Marcus

Marcus — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:55:12 +0000

I have changed from R50 to R56 and the difference is much greater than 3bhp - it has noticeably more performance in all gears. Someone on MINI2 wrote that a Swedish magazine tested a Cooper and recorded 131bhp.

I think Cooper performance is being understated slightly so there is more clear air between it and the Cooper S, so buyers are more likely to upgrade.

By: Bud

Bud — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:25:26 +0000

The D would be an extraordinary vehicle to offer state side, but regrettably we may never see it in domestic showrooms this year at least. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the positive impact of the re-emergence of VW TDI and MB Bluetec that we may very well see the D make an appearance in '08.

Even if this did materialize, I for one would still find it difficult to buy the car for the engine alone and that is

The compendium of flaws that have registered negatve in the minds of many otherwise would-be consumers will regrettably take its toll on all MINI model sales including the D. If it weren't for these significant drawbacks I'd be first in line with a deposit in hand as soon as availability was announced.

By: seb

seb — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:19:41 +0000

So we don’t get the MIINI diesel here in America … land of the five and six liter diesel engined pickup truck. Sounds like politics to me. I live in Texas where it seems 50 percent of the vehicles on the road are pickups … and 95 percent of them have nothing in the cargo bed. Most haul nothing more than groceries and kids. Heck … I am ashamed I am from Texas … much less W. When will we wake up?

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:13:58 +0000

I am a bit dissapointed with the MCÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s HP bump from 115 to 118. The MC should be in the 130-140HP stock.

Why?

The MC does just fine with 115 HP (R50) and 118 HP (R56)

There are cars that cost less than a 6-speed MC and have 15-20 more horses out of the box.

There are cars that cost less than a lightly optioned MCS and make 50 to nearly 100 hp more (WRX and Mazdaspeed3 come to mind). There are cars that cost about what a JCW equipped MCS costs and make 90 HP more (EVO/STI).

At it's core, the MINI brand (and Mini for that matter too) has not and will likely never be about being the best horsepower per dollar value. We're talking about a premium compact small car company.

By: Nextmoon

Nextmoon — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:22:55 +0000

I am a bit dissapointed with the MC’s HP bump from 115 to 118. The MC should be in the 130-140HP stock. There are cars that cost less than a 6-speed MC and have 15-20 more horses out of the box.

By: Bestever

Bestever — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:06:52 +0000

Put me on the waiting list for the D. I would love to have that good of gas mileage any day and then even the sportiness thrown in.

By: Pretzel Logic

Pretzel Logic — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:37:25 +0000

Ditto what DB said. A MINI diesel with a flat BRG would be sitting in my garage faster than you can say “Alec Issigonis.” I’m all for fast and sporty, but I’d rather have not-quite-so-fast and sporty that gets over 500 miles per tankful.

By: gmini

gmini — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:59:22 +0000

That’s my car in D form. and yep. i agree as above. a smile in the morning. so sad we’re cursed.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:59:13 +0000

it makes me wonder if there might be a small chance that we could, maybe, see this car in the states.

Unfortunately, the deck is stacked against that happening. Primarily due to the need to get a diesel engine certified for the U.S. market.

Actually, right now I believe Mercedes Blutec may be the only diesel engine certified for the U.S. market with current rules/regs in a passenger car. VW and Audi are licensing Bluetec from Mercedes and the 2008 Jetta TDI will have a Bluetec based engine.

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:13:11 +0000

The front end of the D makes me happy. I would love to see that in my garage smiling at me every morning.

By: lavardera

lavardera — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:11:29 +0000

I think I like the black grill on the M1 better than the chrome on the MC.

By: vin.

vin. — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:41:36 +0000

That was a pretty short press release.

By: gz

gz — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:21:14 +0000

No JCW stage one stuff? I thought it was to debut in Geneva.

By: DB

DB — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:20:02 +0000

The old excuse of not having enough horsepower used to be why we didn't get the MINI One -D. Now that they have Cooper-zied and brought the horsepower up (not to mention the HUGE amounts of torque), it makes me wonder if there might be a small chance that we could, maybe, see this car in the states.

Still sayin' I would drive this car in a heartbeat! Paint it flat BRG and I'd drive it quicker than that ;)