MINI Crossover Spotted Again
Once again noted spy photographer Brenda Priddy (via our friends at Jalopnik and Autoweek) has spotted the MINI crossover undergoing testing. We believe this to be initial drivetrain development focusing around it’s new AWD system. While the photos are some of the best we’ve seen, there’s no new information on either website that hasn’t previously been reported here on MF. So that means all the specifics remain true to what we all know ; the crossover will be released in late 2010 as a ’11 model and will be built by Magna Steyr in Austria. It will have an optional AWD system and be both based on the X1 (BMW’s forthcoming baby crossover) and the Clubman. And while it will leverage some rugged “rally-like” cues from MINI’s past, it will not be oriented towards performance as much as the current coupe line-up.
Good morning Mini.
<a href="http://www.bimmerfile.com/2008/04/01/bmw-sales-up-and-down-for-march/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.bimmerfile.com/2008/04/01/bmw-sales-up-and-down-for-march/</a>
BMW Sports Activity Vehicles Sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles were down 41 percent for the month, to 3,884 vehicles compared to the 6,579 reported in March 2007. Year-to-date, BMW SAV sales are down 22.4 percent to 12,212 vehicles from 15,744 in 2007.
If there is one car can revive the SAV market, this is probably not it…
LOL… Jalopnik is calling it the Crossman. I still like Monte or Carlo.
<blockquote>And while it will leverage some rugged “rally-like” cues from MINI’s past, it will not be oriented towards performance as much as the current coupe line-up</blockquote>
“Crossover”??? Sounds more like “Station Wagon”. Bleachhhhhh!
personal take… i think that they should make the Mini “crossover” as performance oriented as possible! i mena come on… that’s what the point of a “crossover’s” supposed to be… car like base with utility… otherwise they’d get a wagon.. and even BMW makes wagons that shame the word… so why not sit there and say it’s a Mini Cooper XS (All-Wheel Drive S), code name Jumbo Shrimp 😛
and personally… if it was more towards sports rather than… well.. whatever else they’d do, i believe buys would still come as yet another eason to buy a mini… (however if it were up to me i’d rather just stick wtih the current line up so that the cues don’t turn into Zig- Zag-Zug-Zop …)
My guess is 29k for it.
<blockquote> if it was more towards sports rather than… well.. whatever else they’d do, i believe buys would still come as yet another eason to buy a mini…</blockquote>
‘cept the people that buy Station Wagons are the Soccer Mom crowd, that’s where the money and target is for this model.
BTW, it is Priddy, not Pritty.
Yay! Excited!
Where is all the AMVIV news?
<blockquote>‘cept the people that buy Station Wagons are the Soccer Mom crowd, that’s where the money and target is for this model.</blockquote>
Dunno about that. Subie seems to make a pretty mean Rally-Like “Wagon” in the WRX.
>‘cept the people that buy Station Wagons are the Soccer Mom crowd, that’s where the money and target is for this model.
Not a very international point of view.
…thanks for that comment gabe…
<blockquote>‘cept the people that buy Station Wagons are the Soccer Mom crowd, that’s where the money and target is for this model.
Not a very international point of view.
Huh??? Soccer is an international game, and much more popular “internationally” than in the U.S. I know we Americans think we are the center of the universe, and the rest of the world pales by comparison, but this really was meant as a Global comment. When I lived in France, “Soccer Moms” and small “Station Wagons” were everywhere – as they were when I lived in Germany, as they were when I lived in Australia. The point I was trying to make was that BMW has a product they need to build for and market to, a large group of potential buyers, in order to make lots and lots of money. Put “MINIacks on one side of the scale, and Soccer Moms on the other, and guess who is the bigger market.</blockquote>
the only point I was tring to make is that the soccer mom (the demo) doesnt really exist in the same numbers outside the us. Wagon are bought by everyone from single guys to pensioners.
Always loved the original (02-06) MINI Cooper S….always will. All this new stuff they are coming up with is ruining the MINI heritage….thats my 2 cents.
Hi Gabe:
That may have been true in the ’90s, but the term spread. When I lived in Australia in 2007, the Govt gave out a one-off election year $8,000 per child childcare allowance – saying the payments were aimed at “soccer mums”. When I lived in Paris, Renault ran a newspaper and billboard ad campaign aimed at Soccer Moms. And I agree, wagons are bought by everyone. Much more popular than the US type Minivans overseas.
Not sure how we got stuck on station wagons, this is a SUV. Still believe this move by Mini is rather bizarre especially since BMW is also planning a 1 series X development. I believe in many ways this is going to fall into the same issue thats going on with the Factory JCW and the 135i with prices being very close.
Sorry to see MINI as a sheep, instead of a leader. We need more smaller cars, we need alt-fuel cars, we need leaders, not followers of trends. Sadly, MINI is now a follower.
The Clubman and the “Crossover” (slightly bigger than a clubman with optional allwheel drive) serve to grow the brand into a profitable business.
Your beloved hatchback cannot survive on it’s own. A MINI dealer does not become a profitable business as a stand alone until it delivers 600+ cars per year.
Deal with the product line expansion or watch the brand die.
I don’t mind Mini growing the brand, but a SUV??????
Then don’t call it that. Call it a Clubman Sport AWD.
Really, you tag it with the SUV label like they’re making a Saburban competitor.
Matt
Heh! The wheels have 5 bolts. There are 4 bolts in all the other versions. This car must be huge 😀
>Heh! The wheels have 5 bolts. There are 4 bolts in all the other versions. This car must be huge 😀
As reported earlier – those are 1 series wheels. It will be based partially around the 1.
Do you guys ever get bored repeating over and over that MINI shouldn’t build any new types of cars or trucks?
Gabe thats part of what is making me wonder, since the R60 is being built partially around the 1 series it still makes me wonder how a Mini crossover will align in the market with the proposed X1 BMW is talking about. Seems like overlap though the price point will likely help define this somewhat.
Pricing will be a delicate operation.
Total agreement, think this is going to prove to be the thing to watch over the next little bit. Think BMW/Mini has already bumped into this issue with the new Factory JCW vs 135i. I am quite sure this is going to be the most expensive Mini to date (with possible exception of the factory JCW).
Would love to be a fly on the wall of the meeting where they have laid out their price point and address market to see how they are plotting on getting around this.
I am very interested in this model. The Clubman is a sweet car. This thing is going to be as good or better.
I expect this vehicle to have an MSRP of $35K (USD) or more. If it is built properly, with on/of-road capabilities (AWD standard), hill descent control (ala Land Rover) and F&R ltd. slip or some other trick traction device, it will be worth every penny. Add seating for 5 and a standard roof rack/ rail system for hauling surfboards, skis, mountain bikes, etc., and you have a real utility vehicle. Pleeeeease give us enough power/torque to turn over some truck sized tires and enough ground clearance to ford at least 18″ of water and I’ll be a happy camper. Many manufacturers are offering high performance hybrid power plants and this would be an excellent platform for MINI to show us their version. But, alas, I don’t want to get greedy.