MINI USA reported March sales of 3,851 automobiles, down 7 percent from the 4,127 cars sold in March 2005. Year-to-date, the division reported sales of 9,485 automobiles, 7 percent less than the 10,184 cars reported in the first quarter of 2005.
The BMW Group (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported year-to-date sales in the US of 72,588 vehicles, an 11 percent increase over the 65,536 sold in the first quarter of 2005. The BMW Group also reported an increase of 17 percent in March sales, for 28,352 vehicles over the 24,276 vehicles reported in March 2005.
Source: BMW of North America
I’m assuming model changes are the cause of both of these figures. BMW is still reaping the benefits of the re-designed 3-series, and while I don’t think many people are buying the $90,000ish M5, it is also a new addition. Gabe, or anyone, do you think the general public is aware of the MINI redesign for 2007, or has the R50/53 simply reached its saturation point?
If you dont product you dont sell.
Expect penury and decrease of sales for the coming months.
By the way, I’m french and I worry about next mini quality, I owned many peugeot (206) and I have a bad feeling about the R56 engines …
Hopefully, here, in France, we will have Diesel engine which will come from GM (ford) !
Il will buy a Mini D with US engine 🙂 Thank you guys, and good luck with your next Peugeot petrol engine MCS 🙂
elmo – actually the next generation MINI diesel will be from PSA as well: <a href="http://motoringfile.com/2005/03/28/next_generation_mini_diesel_revealed/">Next Generation MINI Diesel Revealed</a>
It also happens to power some European Fords.
Gabe, your link is not working :
<a href="http://motoringfile.com/2005/03/28/nextgenerationminidieselrevealed/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://motoringfile.com/2005/03/28/nextgenerationminidieselrevealed/</a>
Here’s the correct LINK
<a href="http://motoringfile.com/2005/03/28/next_generation_mini_diesel_revealed/#more-4120" rel="nofollow ugc">http://motoringfile.com/2005/03/28/next_generation_mini_diesel_revealed/#more-4120</a>
FYI – you have to name it something other than the URL for it to work. The link in my comment does link to the story.
Thank you.
Here is the correct link :
<a href="http://motoringfile.com/2005/03/28" rel="nofollow ugc">http://motoringfile.com/2005/03/28</a>
Its really a bad thing, I actually have a Peugeot 206 SW HDi with exactly the same engine 🙁 It’s noisy , very noisy !
Even the French Highway Police are opting out of the Peugot: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/funonwheels/03/30/subaru_police.reut/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/funonwheels/03/30/subaru_police.reut/</a>
BMW may have partnered with PSA but aren’t the MINI motors being built at the Hams Hall facility in GB?
The new MINI petrol engines were designed and engineered by BMW and will be assembled at Hamms Hall in the UK.
damn.. in france… they will have lights that flash in 5 different languages… we need that here in SOCAL.. since people don’t stop when police ask them too..
I believe that it’s the new Peugeot 207 that is getting the BMW engineered- PSA subsidized engine set for the new MINI. And the HDi in the current 206 should be a different engine from the diesel used in the current MINI which I thought was Toyota-sourced.
And you can have all the american engines you want. While some are great, generally they are low tech, low refinement pieces. Not bad, just no where near a BMW engine.
I’m looking forward to the new engine.
Wil the new diesel engine be 1.6 or 1.9 liters ?
Actually a 1.9 liter HDi fits in a 206.
I drove a 206 with 1.9Hdi and for sure it would be a dream machine in a mini.
The peugeot 207 has 2 engines :
1.6 Hdi 90cv
1.6 Hdi 110 cv FAP
5 speed gearbox
110 cv start prixe 18 500 EUR …
I guess the mini entry level diesel will start at 20 000 EUR …