MIN-i City Car Set to Debut in 2012

Sections: R?? MINI City Car Aug 19th, 2010 20 Comments

It’s almost hard to believe but MINI’s product onslaught will continue unabated after the Countryman, Coupe and Roadster launches over the next 18 months. What’s next? If you believe L’ Automobile and Auto Express it will be a shortened version of the current MINI hatch meant to go toe to toe with city cars such as the smart by 2012.

The car’s key attribute will be not only size (and less weight) but also efficiency. We expect the highly anticipated 1.5 liter 3 cylinder engine to make it’s MINI debut in the new city car. With every ounce of technology at the disposal of BMW we expect this 3 cylinder to get around 48 mpg on the highway in the US cycle.

But will it every come to the US? We expect it ultimately will thanks to the aggressive EPA averages each automaker must achieve in the coming years.

The car has several working titles and code-names. However the one we keep hearing over and over is “MIN-i”. There’s a chance it may change but don’t be surprised if we see that name in the future.

It’s worth noting that our sources are telling us the L’Automobile image (above) is quite a bit more realistic than the Auto Express image see here.

For those reading MF over the past years this news isn’t entirely new. We’ve reported on MINI working on asecret city car for a number of years. But until just this year the project was shrouded in strict secrecy. It’s only now that product plans are underway that we’re starting to hear more details.

Look for further news in the coming months.

Written By: Gabe

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1207868968 Steve Rosenblum

The image looks a bit strange, but I like the idea. That size is all I need most of the time.
Mike

I would absolutely love to see this car hit the States. I’m not parting with my current MINI, but oh what fun to have this one too! Frankly, I’m more excited about the potential of this car, with its dimensions more closely aligned with the classic Mini, than I think I am about the upcoming Coupe/Conv concept hitting production. I’ve read that a JCW model is even being discussed.
SFRedMCc

There is a much better image at: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/255991/mini_mini_jcw.html
Wayne D.

I’d be interested in this if and only if they keep the front-seat headroom, shoulder room, and leg room of the main MINI line. Toss the back seat, bring up the rear. Smaller engine and such, bring in the front.

But one of the things I love most about a MINI is that I, as a man of height and girth, fit inside one well.
Jas

Love this look…alot better than the Smart car.
KLF23

Awesome.

Hope the rendering is pretty accurate.

This will be the only thing that could get me to buy again.

I don’t need head room or shoulder room. Just give me superb handling.
MINIBro

This is really the “Smarter Car.”
CV

Cute!
Jas

the rear of the car: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4905288890_5495cf7325.jpg
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Just to be clear we so not believe the autoexpress renderings to be correct (which is why they are not in the article). Even what you see above a shot in the dark. Expect the final car to look quite a bit different.
MatthewW

Less is more! Close to the original Mini in size with MINI quality and driving excitement? I hope this is a winner: it’s just what some of us need and want.
goat

The AutoExpress rendering is a hodgepodge that will likely miss not just the bullseye but the entire dartboard. But no matter… the upcoming city car from MINI is exciting news and the specs sound great!

All the MIN-i needs to do is have a manual transmission and it will be picked on that reason alone over the Smart car here in Canada (Just to be clear: I really enjoy driving Smart cars, but the 2-second shift times of the clutchless tranny is a terrible thing to experience for any length of time.)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1650398228 Phil Derkum

Yes, I want one!
Cory

Gahhh! Somebody squash it!
Cory

Joking aside, I love the idea of a smaller Mini, and would probably buy one if done correctly. I just wish it looked closer to the classic styling. This car just looks like a weird bubble.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000710531652 Matt Richter

I think it will be a better hit in Europe, where Citi cars are more accepted. Smart car sales here are tanking massively, partly cause of price, partly cause of lack of efficiency, and partly cause of poor marketing. They sold well when gas was at almost $5 a gallon, but sales have been abysmal as of late.

I’m a big fan of efficiency, but if this maintains MINIs price premium for the segment, and if we don’t tax gas, I don’t see it a volume player in the US.

As for some of the comments, an i3 makes a shorter engine, not nessicarily a thinner one. Since it’s transverse, it will fit between the wheels better, but the jury is out how much length will be saved.

And just cause SMART did a disaster of a transmission, doesn’t mean a manumatic is a bad idea. This would be PERFECT for a CVT.

Anyway, I’ll enjoy watching this one come to market. I hope it’s a hit.

Matt
hemisedan

Many people around where I live think that the Mini Cooper is a Mini. I can’t imagine what they’d think about this Min i car. But, maybe it’s because there just arn’t that many Mini’s of any kind in our area.

We’re finally getting a Mini dealer that will open in about January, maybe December. Get this, they announced that they had been selected for the Mini Cooper francise, by the way they are located directly across the street from a BMW dealer.

So they announced on January 5th I believe that they will be the Mini Cooper dealer, and now it takes a year to get operating. Bet it affects KC and Omaha, as well as Bloomington MN’s sales. They are doing service work now, though.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=654986875 Arnaud DuprÃ©

In JCW http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/255991/mini_mini_jcw.html
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=654986875 Arnaud DuprÃ©

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/255991/mini_mini_jcw.html
Greg W

@hemisedan – there’s a whole lotta people in the world that don’t even know what a car is let alone a MINI.

These photos look like those push-pull cars you can buy a MINI dealerships.

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