MINI & Fiat Collaboration Dies While the Next Generation MINI Comes into Focus

Sections: Design | F56 Hatch | Rumor Apr 27th, 2009 27 Comments

Those worries about MINI’s being built on a Punto chassis died a quiet death recently. In its place BMW has decided to build the next MINI using a shared BMW Group components – notably from the next generation 1 Series. This combined with the increased model range from MINI will (as the plans go) give BMW the economies of scale it’s looking for with the MINI brand.

For MINI enthusiasts this should be a huge sigh of relief knowing that the next car will not have to be subject to another car manufacturers needs in any way (the backwards engine in the R56 is a good example of this). Additionally it opens the door for even more collaboration with the BMW group. Specifically don’t be surprised to see more engine sharing between the two brands. Look for JCW power-plants ending up in the next generation 1 Series (and it’s derivatives) as well as BMW diesels (and potentially small turbo four cylinders) finding their way into MINIs.

While it may not seem too earth shattering now, these decisions will shape the MINI brand more than anything else we’ve seen since the creation of the R50 around the turn of the century. Look for further details in the coming weeks and months.

+ The Future of BMW (the Z2) / BimmerFile

Written By: Gabe

Eric

Interesting that the combo photo for this article is that of a MINI E and a One Series.

Just bring back a super charger for the MINI and I’ll be very happy.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1265424479 Massimiliano Ricca

wow luckily we will not have a fiat punto chassis under our minis!!

just because the one fiat have under the punto now is probably the worst in italy…even the panda’s one is better!! lol
nickminir56

Great news! Who needs a PUNTO/500 with Mini badge?
http://pavel.tcholakov.net kay

What’s the story with the R56 engine? In what way is it compromised?

A turboed, JCW-powered 1 Series would be awesome though :)
http://www.lilcoopr.com lilcoopr

Look for…BMW diesels (and potentially small turbo four cylinders) finding their way into MINIs.

Aha! So THIS is how the MINI Diesel will come to North America!!! :D
Blainestang

Is “component sharing” a different way of saying “platform sharing” or is it implying the platform would be different, but that engines/transmissions/etc would be shared? Maybe the answer is “neither” because lines between the two are blurred.

Point being, what kind of weight gain are we going to see due to “component sharing” with the 1?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=52401286 JP Dunphy

does this mean possible RWD mini?!?!?!
engine58

we need the mini d in the states
http://Bimmerfile.com Michael

Sorry to say but I would not count on the MINI D in the short term. BMW will remain RWD/ AWD, MINI will stay FWD and gain AWD in the not so distant future.

MINI and BMW already share components, think about the MINI brakes, suspension etc.

What will happen is flexible platform sharing, not like GM/Pontiac/Olds/Chevy; which shared basically everything exactly.

What the BMW Group has in mind is architectural sharing, so while the floorplan may be the same and SOME components may be shared the underlying values of a brand are not compromised and remain different; they can share the same platform with one having the shape of a MINI with FWD (future variant), and the shape of a 1 Series and be RWD. Initial design will be more costly b/c you are essentially designing a scalable platform with three drive characteristics but it is cheaper than designing and building three separate platforms. Other systems such as engines, transmissions and the like will also be cross shared with brand specific variations- also some technology from Motarrad will see use in cars-

-M
JonPD

Wise decision by BMW, just hoping that increased body dimensions and weight gains are kept out of the equation for the Mini brand. This move makes perfect sense to me however as economies of scale are a key point to manufacturing a lower cost item. While this is not likely to drive down the cost of the retail Mini it might give Mini a little more funds to improve the materials and design of their cars.
Mini Vanilli

how about putting the 135i twin turbo into the JCW? thats a fantastic engine (although it probably wouldn’t fit). and add all wheel drive while they are at it? now that would be a powerful car!!
Lee L

Wow a 300 plus hp engine in a MINI would be insane. Somehow I think they would draw the line way prior to that.
halogenrep

Brazilian Chrysler built R53 engine rules!!
Pingback: MINI Ends Collaboration with Fiat - www.miniMINImini.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=52401286 JP Dunphy

indeed on the 335i engine in a mini… a mini that is one chip and intake away from 400whp would be amazing.. but let’s face it… mini’s are like the miata and RX8…. they’re not about the extreme power but the handling and light weight! :)
OhioR56

JP Dunphy, you’re right on the money!
Mindreader

i never thought i would hear ‘Miata’ and ‘extreme power’ in the same sentence.
alpinamike

In my own words, this is better. R&D will not suffer.
Miniadventures

Bring Back the Supercharger! Then lets do the Getrag 4WD, R53+200CC more, the new geometry, and we would have the cutest street demon on the planet.
J Ryan

In the mean time, I hope they will just put some thoughts into the mid-life refresh for the current MINI. Gutting out the dash and center stack, fixing the cold engine rattle, lower the rear apron with a new bumper, filling out the wheel wells with larger wheel/tire combo may be the much needed changes to revive the sale.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=610504117 Dylan Bland

Hi Gabe – what do you mean about the engine in the R56 being backwards? Is this somehow related to its application in the 207 gti?
greg

I wouldn’t worry about the refresh. Nothing significant will change. It’s the next generation we need to bug Mini about. I like the BMW One series however, it’s still larger than a Mini. Could we be looking at more Mini swelling? I can’t help feeling Mini has an agenda to make the brand more accessible to the masses and not to purists by making it bigger, more efficent, and “greener”. I just hope they leave the speedster with a high level of sportiness to appeal to those of us who are looking for performance vs practicality.
http://Bimmerfile.com Michael

Greg-

The refresh in typical fashion will more than likely be in the form of new lights on the outside with a few other tweaks.

The inside may very well be gutted- Much like the E60 5 series was the MINIs biggest complaint on JD Power is the interior; BMW gutted the 5 Series in the specific key complaint areas; I would not be surprised to see a new center stack in the MINI with shortcut buttons like BMW is utilizing to make using the radio etc. a bit easier.

-M
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

does this mean possible RWD mini?!?!?!

No

In the mean time, I hope they will just put some thoughts into the mid-life refresh for the current MINI. Gutting out the dash and center stack, fixing the cold engine rattle, lower the rear apron with a new bumper, filling out the wheel wells with larger wheel/tire combo may be the much needed changes to revive the sale.

We’ll have more on this very soon.

Wise decision by BMW, just hoping that increased body dimensions and weight gains are kept out of the equation for the Mini brand.

Don’t forget that BMW needs the MINI to be as light as possible to further improve the car’s efficiency and as a result the manufacturer efficiency numbers as a whole.

we need the mini d in the states

More on that soon as well.
Aaron

This is great news to me. Also looking forward to the news on the mid-cycle refresh.
greg

Hope you’re right Mike. Guess we’ll see come fall. Although, to be fair I didn’t have as big a problem with my (now gone) R56 interior as much as the exterior and then not really as much as the “feel” of the car (lack of gocartness).
DrDiff

This has to be the best news since BMW said it would build the new MINI. And it almost makes up for the loss of the super chrager.

Quite frankly, if it took the global economy dumping out the crapper to get the german overlords to wake up and see that they DO NOT NEED a partner to make the MINI, than so be it!. What good is having a partner to defray the costs of design and development if the partner goes bankrupt? BMW got burnt on this “Logic” Twice! Once by Chrysler on the BELOVED R50/53 and again by Puegeot on the LAMENTED R55/R56/R57.

However, it hdoea have a SERIOUS draw back. It means the same “Geniuses” who brought us “iDrive” and the “Dame Edna” 5 series have even more control to screw up the MINI even more. I expect more changes like the HIDEOUS R55, R56, R57 interior. And a MINI SUV! After they market the R50/R53 as the ANTI SUV! BMW once had a reputation for small and medium weight cars with decent power but since the late 90′s has gotten on the “bloated slushbox so cushy it makes an Esclade’s ride seem like a jolt waggon” band waggon.

Dean

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