There’s been some confusion recently about when the MINI Traveller will actually debut. Based on a few sources we had been reporting that it will arrive in late 2007 as an ’08 model. However some recent remarks by Dr. Michael Ganal (member of the Board of Management responsible for sales and marketing for BMW) seemingly contradicted that. While describing the new MINI Concept Detroit he made this statement:
>A similar series vehicle will be on the road within the next three years.
A quick count of the fingers brings us to 2009. So what has happened? Has MINI really pushed the debut back an extra year? What we’re hearing from sources is that the resounding answer is no. Apparently MINI is still on track for an introduction of around two years rather than three. That again would put it squarely within the late 2007 time period that we’ve been mentioning for a year now. So hang-tight Traveller fans, your car is on its way.
What I read is……….”within the next three years”……….not at the end of 3 years.
In the meantime get a conversion from Castagna Carrozerria of Milan. You can have a bigger Mini now!
From the information I have, the R56 begins full scale production in October and the R55 Clubman in around June 2007. 😉
The R56 will begin production actually in September from what I just heard today from a very reliable source but I could see it not ramping up to full production until October.
Dammm…that’s still a long wait because I am holding my Saturn with duct tape waiting for the traveller to come out.
Yeh, I have volume in September as well, but it still looks like preliminary, non-saleable build.
AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD!!!!!
<blockquote>A similar series vehicle </blockquote>
Oh I Just got that, A <em>Similar</em> vehicle, so, in other words, not this ugly pig but a stretched version of the R56! Cool!!!!!! now I’m Excited! AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD AWD!!!!! and it would be able to compete because it would fit length constraints! now I’m drooling!!!
Did any one see the Auto Sunday section of the Daily Herald (Chicago area paper)? In their Auto Biography, Mr. Dawson IV, the president of Patrick MINI, mentioned that at “the end of 2006, MINI is expected to launch a 5 door version with an extended wheel base.”
Wishful thinking perhaps?
paulr: the new model (R56) is scheduled for that timeframe, and I doubt they would allow the news of a more-space-version be snowed under by the news of an all new version. Or vice versa. These are both very important changes for Mini (both firsts, in a way), and they both deserve full attention from the media and the public, so I don’t think BMW/Mini will make both publich at or around the same time. That seems to be in accordance with what MotoringFile is saying here and contradicts your guy 🙂