White Roof Radio #231

c4 Mar 17th, 2008 Link

Guys, if I am not mistaken, the gasoline powered 1st Gen MINI ONE was rated at 90HP, not 75HP. It was the same exact normally aspirated 1.6L Tritec engine found in the Cooper model (115HP), but detuned. The Diesel or “Dooper” version of this car (MINI ONE D) had a 1.4L Toyota diesel engine that was borrowed from the European/Japan Yaris. It was fitted with the same 6-speed Getrag gearbox as the Cooper S, but with different gear ratios. The gasoline MINI ONE had the same midland gears 5-speed as the Cooper model.

Other visual differences of the ONE vs the Cooper:

Black slated grille
Body color roof (ONE models can not be ordered with contrasting roofs)
No tach on top of the steering wheel
15″ inch wheels/tires
Interior trim choices were more limted.

Jon Mar 17th, 2008 Link

Think that bringing the Mini One to the States is an obvious choice, it would also do a good job collecting a group of buyers thats are currently looking at other cars imo. I think the main reason why we haven’t seen it though is Mini/MiniUSA has tried real hard to establish the Mini as a premium brand, something that a budget car probably wouldn’t fit into.

Todd I hear what your saying about the fact that almost all cars have the “options” message. My point through this is that the way Mini is showing the Factory R56 is leading to great mis-information about this car. Also when you go across that Mini.com site you will not see any mention of the fact the aero kit is a option on any picture of the R56.

Pretty much sure that my time with the Mini brand is over. Not a great supporter of what they came up with as a factory car and the R60 pretty much tells me that Mini has chosen a path that I cannot follow.

Good show guys, and hope you kick that plague DB

c4 Mar 17th, 2008 Link

Jon, the MINI ONE, in my honest opinion, was not such an attractive proposition back in the 1st generation. But under the R56 guise, I think MINIUSA should revisit their decision to keep it off the north american market.

If they can’t offer a viable diesel option here, the ONE can fill that entry level, ultra fuel mileage conscious market segment that otherwise are attracted to a MINI, but are having a hard time justifying paying over $18K for a new base Cooper.

A new MINI ONE could be marketed in the $15K-$16K range competing head to head with decent but fairly boring offerings in that econo-hatch segment. It would give buyers thinking of a new basic VW Rabbit or Honda Fit a better choice in terms of resale value, quality, safety and fuel economy.

Todd Mar 17th, 2008 Link

c4 - I think it would be a great idea to offer the MINI One here even if it is slightly counter to the “premium brand” to offer an “economy” model. I think simply offering a lower cost entry point with better fuel economy would bring more people in to a dealership who wouldn’t normally consider a MINI and, in turn, cause some of those people to go ahead and make the step up to a Cooper or Cooper S.

With the price of gas on the rise again the MINI One could bring an even larger green colored spotlight to the brand than is already there.

Jon Mar 17th, 2008 Link

I think MiniUSA could benefit from having a lower price point car. While one would not find a home with me I think there are currently a lot of people don’t look at Mini because of the cost, and many are looking for higher mileage cars.

DB Mar 18th, 2008 Link

Guys, if I am not mistaken, the gasoline powered 1st Gen MINI ONE was rated at 90HP, not 75HP

My plague addled brain agrees. It was the MINI One -D that only had 75HP. A brief moment of confusion on my part.