All-Wheel Drive MINI Now in Development

Sections: R60 (Countryman) Jul 9th, 2007 67 Comments

For the past year or two there has been much speculation about what MINI will do after it releases the R55 Clubman and R57 Convertible. MINI is reportedly looking to expand sales and insure long term profitability with the next addition to the line-up and the pressure is immense to get it right yet stay true to the brand. Rumors have circulated both about a MINI speedster and of course the often discussed and debated cross-over. Over the past year we’ve been told by sources that the cross-over had the inside track to production and in fact the initial design process had already begun. We can now report that these same sources have confirmed much of what we had previously reported and that forth MINI model is now in development.

Sources are telling us that the cross-over will be based off of the R55 chassis but may be both larger and have more doors. In fact it has been called a “beefier Clubman” by one source who is familiar with the product. However the R60 (or R59 – strangely both code-names have been used by sources) will be different from the Clubman in another significant way as it will also debut a new (and very efficient) four wheel drive system.

Inside we’re told to expect a different interior with new features and an updated (yet still very MINI) look and feel. Expect a ruggedness not found in any MINI product currently offered.

While MINI is still in planning stages, we’re told executives at the BMW Group are looking at production locations outside the Oxford plant – possibly Spartanburg South Carolina or even the newly opened India BMW plant. One thing is certain, Oxford won’t have the capacity (in it’s current configuration) to take on yet another model after the Convertible starts production in late 2008.

The MINI cross-over is slated for release sometime during the 2010 model year.

Note: We’ve reported previously, that the internal code name for the cross-over (or “Colorado” project as it’s called by some internally) was to be the R58. However BMW will be using either the R59 or R60 numerical code name for the vehicle as it gets closer to production. Why is it not he R58? We’re not entirely sure. However we can guess that R58 was used for another concept that either didn’t come to fruition yet or has been scrapped altogether.

Written By: Gabe

goonery

Why oh why do you guys think because its 4×4 it has to be bigger?. The Fiat Panda Sisley 4×4 was the same size and had a great AWD system for a Fiat !!, the rest of the car was a Panda and quickly fell apart, but it proved it could be done in a small package.
Bwana Yak

I’ve been using my ’06 MCS as a MINI SUV ever since I bought it, which it has managed to do quite admirably. Two kayaks and a bike on the roof rack with all the camping and kayaking gear I needed for my wife and myself to spend a weekend in the mountains, and we still had room to spare. The best part of it is that I didn’t have to sacrifice that fantastic MINI handling or any of the get-up-and-go either. We were passing Honda Elements (laboring up the mountain highways) as if they were going backwards!

The only problem was negotiating some of the roads/trails to get to the rivers for paddling. The MCS doesn’t have enough clearance to handle the seriously scary one-lane rock-slide dirt tracks chiseled into the mountainsides leading to the best whitewater put-ins.

I’m all for the beefed-up MINI. I don’t believe it will dilute the MINI brand as long as it stays true to the MINI size, handling and style, and I’ll be in line to get one as soon as they hit the market!
http://www.mat.com Fiat boss

I think it wood^nt be much pretty one. Maybe Fiat 500 made 500 rather best
MINItron

Personally I would welcome the addition of the R59/60. Having the ability of an AWD with better ground clearance, and possibly a tad more cargo space would suit me to a “T”, as a second MINI.

As it stand now I have family members back home that I could never visit if driving my MINI. I would have to park out at the end of the road and hike in. The MINI just doesn’t have the clearance necessary to negotiate their driveway. As it is, I sometimes have problems with lack of clearance on the horrible roads up here in Maine.

I would love to have a car with the soul of a MINI, but the capability to load a small table, or similar sized object, and still be able to handle rough, unpaved roads. Give it soul, give it style, give it ability, give it great mileage, and keep it MINI. That would be my advice to the design team. I would still have to have a coupe or cabrio, but if this comes out we can finally become a MINI-only family.
AN

Personally, I wish they’d just put the wings on the X3 and bring it out this year. Whoo hoo.
bling

Having both the Clubman and this ‘beefier’ Clubman sounds rather redundant. As is the Clubman isn’t all that different from the standard Mini besides being stretched out a bit with an extra tiny door. If they wanted an additional, more utilitarian, model they should have just concentrated on this one.
cct1

We might as well get around to coming up with names for this new contraption…

I think we should call it something unique, since this type of vehicle has never been done before–how about “Subaru Forester”? Oh wait, that might already be taken…

With each new model, the Mini is looking less and less Mini like. If you compare the original Mini to its wagon version, they both look like a Mini–there is no doubt about the close relationship between the two; they appear to be siblings. They both look like Minis.

With the current generation, thats not the case. The Clubman looks more like a cousin than a sibling–looking at it, the best I can say is it sort of looks like a MINI. I’m not opposed to the Clubman, but the madness should stop there. Or maybe make the Clubman four wheel drive, then concentrate elsewhere.

A beefier version of the Clubman? Not liking it. Sounds like BMW has asked BALCO for help on the project. Maybe Barry Bonds will buy one…
BobbyS

I’m with Bwana. I can put 2 people, their luggage of four days, 2 bikes, helmets, and two sets of wheels in the back of the R53 JCW. And, just because it has all wheel drive doesn’t mean you will drive better in the snow. My 17″ snows do pretty well. Ground clearance is another story – if you can put a 4″ lift on the new MINI (moke/colorado), then that would be really cool. Hey, a new JCW kit for the dirt and rocks!
http://byzet.com Ron

And I thought an AWD 3 series coupe was hard to swallow… Anyway want to take bets on how many years it’ll take the MINI Cooper to grow as long as the 3 series? The 5 series?
Nigel

Mmmm honestly none of these developments surprises me in the least. In order for MINI to survive they need to become a full line car company instead of a boutique brand made up of enthusiasts and wannabe’s. And part of that strategy calls to offer models that some of the hardcore MINI enthusiasts will find questionnable or less palatable. If some of these folks are already up in arms about the R55 Clubman, imagine the outcry when MINI releases their first ever SUV? (Which the R60 appears to be headed in that direction).

I personally don’t like some of the “rumors” and chatter coming out of the powers that be at BMW/MINI. I do not like the design/product direction the company is taking, but I see where they are coming from and what needs to be done to justify MINI as a long term business case and ultimately ensure its survival in the fierce auto industry.

-Nigel
zack

AWD is cool (except the fact that it’ll be on a not so mini MINI), but i would rather see DSG.
charlie

I want the MINI Moke Now ….that would be my next MINI purchase along with my dinan cooper”s” Now that would be a hella good time ..
Jon

Love the Moke, but this project they are talking about is a long long ways from being anything like the Moke. They are talking about a beefier Clubman with 4 doors, ie bigger/longer, with AWD which equals heavier, and finally giving it more clearance which is quite opposite of the Moke. I truly fear that what they are aiming at is a Micro SUV, which even at its lowest is going to a beefier “aka a bloated warthog” imo
http://www.lilcoopr.com Chrissy

I think the SUV/cross-over market is too diluted. There are so many on the roads that I don’t even know all their names anymore! When I hear talks about a “beefier” MINI, I’m just picturing that new Mazda thing, whatever it’s called.

I agree that they should just put AWD in the R56 and Clubman. I would support a roadster idea more because I think it fits better with the brand. I picture MINIs zooming around Europe and big cities on tight, small streets. I think that adapting to trends in the American markets that don’t really follow your brand’s initial direction will not work out as planned.

I think the way for MINI to succeed with something like this would be to come up with something SO different and SO unique that it creates it’s own niche in the market. Something to really draw people away from the countless other similar vehicles floating around. I guess I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed….
Squaregarte

Let’s face it, the market segment targeted by the Beefier Clubman are not the Mini loyalists, it’s the segment that do not read these columns.

To the loyalists, the news of an AWD beefier clubman is either neutral or a betrayal. Very few here will buy that thing, some will move away from the brand, while most will stick to the coupes. What most of the readers here want, I assume, is to have a fast, small Mini that has better handling and can handle some snow. Like an R56 S with AWD, that would be the perfect AWD car for most mini loyalists.

Having this news out and the little likelihood of ever getting an R56S with AWD, I will be moving on to a Lexus. At least they are not too big, not an SUV, with OK performance and can handle some snow.
Dr Obnxs

This is funny. Mini needs to grow the brand or it will die. Now, as most of us already bought Minis, it’s pretty obvious that the current car hit our sweet spot and a different form of it probably wouldn’t. But we arleady bought. The marque needs variety to get those that DIDN”T buy to get one.

As far as the anti-SUV thing. People need more perspective. I actually have owned SUVs, and they are basically the modern station wagon. They’re shrinking into crossovers, because that’s a better design. But I gotta say that after the second kid came out, lots of trips that would have been Mini are now MDX.

Don’t hate the brand just because they’re trying to bring to the market that which the market will buy! Sure, we could keep it a small hatch/convertible, and leave sales numbers what they are. Then Mini would turn into Lotus, selling a few niche cars (not as small volumes for sure, but you get the idea).

Matt
petsounds

Um, no. The SUV is not the modern station wagon. The modern station wagon is the Audi A4 Avant, Audi All-Road, or another brand’s take on that concept. I would wholeheartedly embrace a MINI with that design focus. The SUV is the modern-day 1970′s big boat car, whose single purpose is to cruise in a tank-like vehicle and assert their dominance and aggression over other cars on the road. You may say that it’s for the utility aspect, and some people do for that reason, but that’s the minority and more often than not people buy it to feel “safe” or empowered. And for drivers of smaller cars, it makes the roads more dangerous, not only due to their massive weight, but also because they block the view of the road ahead.

I’m not sure why anyone thinks me walking away from a brand for changing their brand philosophy is crazy. It’s called being an active consumer. Too many people just accept what they are given by companies. I speak with my wallet. If MINI follows through with production of an SUV variant, they will know that they paid a financial price for the decision by losing some of the early brand adopters.

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