MINI Considers Its Next Model
We have the MINI, MINI convertible, MINI wagon (Clubman) and soon to be MINI SUV. Since we know BMW is keen to grow the brand we have to ask ourselves, what’s next? Based on what sources are telling us, it could be a bit of a shock.
First lets take a look at the rumors from the past few years. For almost two years we’ve heard various rumors of some sort of Triumph branded roadster only to have them quashed by those in the know. Then there’s the MINI micro-car rumor that sprung recently along with talk of a new MW Issetta. However with European emissions legislation the driving force behind both of those concepts, it’s hard to really tell where they will go.
However we got some very interesting insight recently when speaking to a high level source at MINI about this very question. He mentioned that the roadster idea didn’t have a lot of backers in the company for various reasons. He then went on to leave us with this little nugget of info in the form a question: What if MINI instead produced a low-slung and sleek small coupe not unlike the ACV 30 concept car from 1997?
The ACV 30 (Anniversary Concept Vehicle 30) was originally based off of a concept (designed by the current BMW head of design Adrian Van Hooydonk) proposed as the new MINI in the mid-90s. Once it was out of the running (with Frank Stephenson’s design wining out and going on to become the R50) it was refitted and rolled out as a bit of a stop gap measure to show the public that a new MINI was indeed coming and the brand was still well alive. What it showed was that distinctive futuristic retro interior (similar to what eventually showed up in the R50) mated with a sleek, rally inspired exterior that traded some interior space for looks. Could that same formula work on a production car? Our source seemed to say the idea was at least on the table.
But one particularly noteworthy aspect of the ACV 30 is that it was mid-engined and rear-wheel drive since it was based off of the MGF roadster. While we doubt that that part of the concept would ever transfer to production (due to brand values, space efficiencies and cost), it would make for a very interesting concept.
Another thing to keep in mind – if MINI goes this route we don’t expect the eventual production car to look much like the ACV 30.
While rear engine/rwd sounds great, I think that creation is hideous.
“If you build it, they will come”
Ah, Ya agree with Robbie.
From the picture of the front, I was thinking XK120! Not quite though.
Chopped, channeled, and fast-backed. 😉 CF body panels. AWD. Two-seater, or offset three, maybe. I could see it.
I’m a player. All it needs is some modifying to make it look more like the current cars produced (A.K.A. Family Resemblance) and I think this could be start of something cool.
American Heritage Dictionary – Cite This Source – Share This
cou·pé (kÃ…ÂÃ…Â-pĒ) Pronunciation Key
n.
1. A closed four-wheel carriage with two seats inside and one outside.
2. also coupe (kÃ…ÂÃ…Âp) A closed two-door automobile.
The current MINI Hardtop is a coupe, just a 2+2 variant.
I’ve been saying this has to happen for a while now. MINI needs to release a proper British sports car. If BMW is looking for a car to go head to head with the Mazda MX-5 (they failed with the curious Z4) in roadster territory then MINI is their ticket. Give it really classic cues, RWD, wood trimmed interior, one trim level (no S! Make them all S!) and starting at 23,000. Simple, elegant and mean. It won’t be your father’s Triumph or Sprite but it will be much more reliable.
Very cool idea. Would work for me as I don’t need no stinkin’ back seat.
Hmmm, sort of an ugly Porsche Cayman… I like it. I would love to have a mid-engine, rear drive MINI. I am drooling right now over the prospect. This could be a real driver’s car!!
Seeing as the Cooper, Clubman and soon to arrive Clubman AWD all use about 90% of the same parts, no way are they going to detract so far as not to be able to do the same for the next model.
Years back, there was some roadster rumours. I thought it was a great concept. The picture showed a car very similar to an Audi TT. I think this is the way they should go.
Question: “How do you shut up the MINI purists,who are screaming,’murder’,over the upcoming MINI SUV(which will bring in a new crop of MINI fans,with money,in hand?”
Answer: “Use some of the profits,from the successful launch of the MINI SUV to build a MINI Cooper,’Coupe’,based off the hot concept MINI done years ago.”
…well…that settles that. Now,on to more pressing issues,lol.
I don’t know – are you saying a two seat coupe? Or a lower sleeker 2+2? I can’t see adding yet a third 2+2 to what they offer now. And if they go to the trouble to make a 2 seat hard top, then why not a convertible as well – the MX-5 competitor?
They have to work with the parts they have on the table now to make it worthwhile. Why not tap the 4wd bits coming on the SUV to make a rwd 2seat coupe and convert?
Seems like a no brainer, if they can keep the cost down around the Cooper and Cooper S where the Mazda is.
You know, the other new model that I think would be great would be a new mini the same size as the original mini. If the smart flys here, then why not a new mini. That would be great.
Where can one find pics of the ACV 30 vehicle?
Nevermind, apparantly that’s it above, although the description says the SUV Mule.
UGLY
A solid concept from Mini, would be interesting to see how it works out if it comes to production.
Still have to say that for me the Mini crossover is still a major deal breaker. I think Mini should be very hesitant to grow the brand to much. I adore the coupe and the clubman, but I wonder at what point the brand could dilute its offerings to a point to were the brand image is muddied. I also wonder if they should allow the Clubman to exist long enough to see if the sales figures show its drawing enough new business from outside of the Mini community before laying plans that are to solid about future growth.
I think they would still be better going after an entry market level (Cooper 1) for the states. I have never considered Mazda a direct competitor to Mini, yes the Speed 3 is quick but I would have to say that its not a luxury brand.
Ugh, no. While I’ve been screaming for a roadster for forever, I don’t want rearwheel drive. Nor do I want that monstrosity in the photo.
The MINI pickup should be next.
Cheers,
Jack
Man, I dunno…I can’t see how Mini can make a “low slung and sleek coupe” and still cash in the heritage/nostalgia card. It’d end up being something so radically different than anything that Mini/MINI has done before.
I’m all for it, but in this case I think they’d be better suited to do a sweet little 4 cylinder roadster (ala an updated Triumph TR3->TR6) and get the benefit of the “retro” surge in car design like the Mustang, GT, Challenger, et al.
That, my friends, would be fantastic. 🙂
I’m holding out for the MINI RV.
That thing looks a tol like the old “bug eyed” sprites that I use to work on @ Scotland Yard. At least from the front. The side view shows how much they went with a different path for the new MINIs. I love my ’05 and I know that I would not have looked at a MINI if it had looked like that in the Pictures.
Agreed. That picture isn’t pretty, but a lightweight two-seater, front or rear wheel drive, would be interesting.
MINI should build a 2-seat roadster. Low-slung, sleek, rear-wheel drive, with 210 HP at a minimum. This should be their sportiest model. Perhaps offer it in hard top and cabrio models, like the Audi TT.
The front of that thing is nice… the back is booty juice.
A smaller and lighter Mini and a 2 seat roadster …. where do I sign 🙂
Just another photo of it. . .
<a href="http://sync.nl/wp-content/uploads/articleimages/248.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://sync.nl/wp-content/uploads/articleimages/248.jpg</a>
Beautiful, YuccaPatrol!
I love that car!!!
Thanks
this doesn’t make any sense at all. would the 4th product be a 2-seat version of the mini? how would they market it? if it’s fwd, why would anyone buy this over the regular car? if it’s rwd, why would they not make a roadster? another way would be to make it as a pure high-performance car, but then few people would buy it, so would it be a halo car? mini doesn’t need a halo car. i liked the acv30 a lot, but putting it into production would be a stretch. a triumph roadster would make much more sense, but there’s problem w/ that as well. if it’s built based off the mini, it’d be fwd and quite small, then this wouldn’t be in keeping w/ the original triumph’s character. seems to me the only logical alternative is to bring back the mini pickup truck as the next model
When I saw that picture of the potential MINI back around 2000 that’s when I knew for sure I wanted one. The eventual design is very different, and I currently own the new model, but I still like that concept.
The MINI convertible is critised for only having limited back seat room, so is not really a 2 + 2. Making something smaller again would have to be a 2-seater only like the old British sports cars, Midget, Sprite, Spitfire, sunbeam Alpine.
I’m holding out for the…………
MINI/MCS/GP/Clubman/Colorado/Monte/Hummer/Extreme/R256
Is a smaller and sportier car really a likely direction for MINI? It seems to me all the growth in carmakers’ line-ups (MINI’s included) is by going bigger not smaller. And with the 1-Series coupe carefully positioned just above the MCS, how would a MINI 2-seater fit into BMW’s overall strategy? And how many people would buy one? There are a lot more people looking for a cute (admit it!) hatchback than there are people looking for coupes of any stripe. Would it serve MINI’s limited resources well to develop a car with such a narrow market? Personally, I would like to see their money spent on getting a diesel-powered MCS over to our shores than another model.
That acv30 goes to show that a white roof and bonnet stripes don’t make it a MINI.
Brings back shades of the good old Broadspeed GT! Cheeky! Cast mine as a “yes” vote for that one!
that is tight!
[More photos of ACV30](<a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=51122789%40N00&q=ACV30&m=tags" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=51122789%40N00&q=ACV30&m=tags</a>)
I like the idea just not the look!
Those pictures that timmee just showed are rather good. The concept looks cute, different, and simply Miniee. I could go for it, but my 05 Cooper has just the right amount of room when seats down in back and off with mate on summer vacation. Still, its better than a roadster, an SUV, and did someone mention an RV. Goodness….
Just because every other manufacturer is making their cars bigger …. why does Mini have to do the same ?
Someone in Mini needs to think outside the square like Sir Alec Issigonis did in 1959.
I for one can’t wait to see what Gordon Murray will have achieved when his T25 car is released. Google “Gordon Murray T25” and have a read.
I believe that Mini should go down this path as well and go against the current stale thinking in the car industry.
Definitely different and something that grows on you – but has BMW deviated significantly from the Mini mould? This vehicle appears to reflect a general trends towards retro sports cars completely modernised.
Personally I would prefer to see BMW invest money in a turbo diesel AWD and/or SUV version in MCS (or similar) regalia.
Why can’t they just rebuild the classic? I’d be the first in line.
I would SO be willing to create this as a custom body kit for my MCS, but would then have to kill myself as the creator of the world’s most ugly car!
<strong>Let’s play the role of a MINI product manager:</strong>
“Well… I’ve got a successful product! What can I do to expand the brand? I know… let’s make a Cabrio! Everyone loves a soft top!”
… time passes
“OK… they loved the Cabrio. Now what? Let’s make it LONGER!” and voila, the Clubman is born.
… time passes
“Well that’s another one down. I’ve alredy started destroying the ‘mini’ in MINI, so why not make it TALLER!” and the Colorado / MINI SUV is born.
… time passes
“OK… I’m running out of ideas. We did the obvious soft-top… we did longer, we did taller, maybe we can do shorter? How about wider? Narrower? Are there any other dimensions? What about time? Can we build a time-traveling MINI? Quick, someone call the engineers and get ’em working on it!”
Hopefully before much more time passes, MINI will get a grip on their product management group and smack them in the head with a copy of the MINI brand vision until they read it through carefully. While they are at it, why don’t they throw a copy of the brand vision to the MINI executives… and maybe include some balls to give ’em the strenght to tell the product management group “NO” every once in a while.
what about the MINI roadster?
I’m not a fan of the looks. (might grow on me)
but PLEASE MID-ENGINE!!!!! (as in behind the driver ahead of the rear axle) that would be awesome!!!!
We need more MID-ENGINE cars in affordable price ranges. The handling would be totally MINI too.. 😀
You can keep your new MINI SAV (sports activity vehichle) as BMW call it, it’s too big to be a MINI, the clues in the name people.
I have been privileged to see the ACV30 concept and I can tell you it is more in keeping with the MINI brand than any SAV.
MINI needs a fast two seater perhaps using the old GT badge as Cooper is being done to death.
<p>hello- they said the mid engine aspect would not transfer-</p>
<p>really now -do you really think they would make a RWD MINI??NOT BLOODY LIKELY MATE
That is fine and creates better ROI. A MINI CRX FWD 2 seater but more aero,lighter,higher performing…..and could I wish for cheaper too? Would eat one with a ladel. Veddy Veddy cool idea.</p>