MINI to Launch Progressive Activity Vehicle
Over the last month we’ve heard from several sources that MINI will build its own “progressive activity vehicle” based off of the R60 MINI crossover. What’s a progressive activity vehicle? In BMW speak it’s something like the 5 Series Gran Turismo Concept soon to be released as a production vehicle. The idea is simple, create a car that combines the utility of a crossover but without the faux off-road capabilities and with a sleeker profile.
Known by insiders as the MINI SpaceBox (a working title but rumors say it could be make it to make production) the new vehicle will feature a sleeker rear design that will be closer one of the original Clubman design concepts from several years back (seen above in this exclusive spy shot). It will also have a total of five doors (four normal doors with a hatch like the upcoming MINI Crossover) with the most versatility of any MINI model. The design will differ substantially from the R60 Crossover with none of the off-road elements and unique styling all around. Two other key things it will lack will be the Crossover’s all-wheel drive and the added weight that comes with the system.
As previously reported on MF, the MINI SpaceBox will help fill-out the MINI range and allow the brand to reach-out to more potential customers. It will also give MINI further cost efficiencies – key to the brand’s survival in the years ahead.
Look for more on new model in the coming weeks and months but don’t expect anything to show up on dealer lots until the 2012 model year at the earliest.
<p>Does this mean that the SpaceBox is not the Airstream trailer as previously reported, but instead the PAV?</p>
<p>Maybe they could call it the 328iT.</p>
<p>Hmmm interesting. So can this be construed as a Clubman 2.0 redux? How are they going to justify the current Clubman to buyers, when there will be a 5 door model? I see either the current Clubman going away or it being cannibalized at the showroom floor..</p>
<p>Wow, so much news about the SUV and now the PAV I wonder if Mini is working on the redesign of the 2012 Mini (remember the 3-door hatchback BMW?)?</p>
<p>how is the Clubman doing anyway? Is it meeting sales expectations?
I own one but I rarely see any others on the road in NYC.</p>
<p>April Fool’s early? It seems silly to offer slight variations on the same idea – a bigger MINI. I think the Clubman is a great car, and I’m not a hater of the R60, but this concept just doesn’t seem to bring anything new to the lineup.</p>
<p>Sounds like a wagon/4dr hatchback. I don’t get the need to kid yourself that you are inventing a new category. Stripping the faux off a crossover does not equal creating something new, but more like coming to your senses.</p>
<p>I agree Lav. I think MINI is trying to kill 2 birds with one stone here…..</p>
<p>Fending off strong criticism levied against the R60 “SUV” concept and also addressing a little dirty secret, and that is, that the Clubman is not selling as briskly as MINI had hoped for. In Europe, the Clubman is too big for most markets, expensive and not as practical as other 5 door “Super Minis” in the market. And then you have the controversial clubdoor facing the street on RHD markets. In the US, the Clubman has gotten a better market reception but others still wish for 4 full doors and a rear hatch instead of barn doors.</p>
<p>The R60 is a poseur/faux off roading wanna be vehicle that is proving to be too controversial and too expensive to justify in the MINI lineup. It also appears MINI is quietly backpedaling on the “quirky” Clubman concept and realizing that a few more inches of length, a single rear clubdoor and rear barn doors may not cut it in the long run.</p>
<p>This ladies and gentleman, could actually be an “emergency” re-design of the Clubman v2.0.</p>
<p>Nothing too amazing here, adding a second platform for the R60 has already have been announced on Motoringfile. Still humorous to think of a PAV in the Mini ranks. BMW designers have already said 5GT was designed for the old BMW drivers that have problems with the lower seating height of their cars and SUV. Guess at the end of the day I am not to surprised if this isn’t a bad April fools joke.</p>
<p>BMW doesn’t design revolutionary new markets as much as they find new monikers to call them by. Lets see they make SUVs (SAV) and PAV (crossover), yawn. Glad to know those untalented hacks from the big three who only believe that bigger is better were able to find new jobs at BMW. ;)</p>
<p>2 birds with one stone?</p>
<p>Sounds more like 2 stones for one bird…</p>
<p>It seems like an ever-so-slight variation of the R60. I’ll agree a 5-door hatch without the AWD isn’t a bad idea – but I’d rather see a 2 seat roadster variant of the coupe…</p>
<p>Me thinks BMW is revisiting the whole R60 idea…….</p>
<p>How to make the least amount of damage possible? Sell the same body without AWD, lower ground clearance, re-package it as something other than a poseur SUV and voila! Now the masses think you have an all new model and all you have lost is investment in the AWD system without having to abandon further development and production costs.</p>
<p>And…</p>
<p>If the Clubman has not met BMWs forecasts worldwide, this new model should be able to quickly take over if needed.</p>
<p>Pretty clever thinking if you ask me.</p>
<p>C4, you are in left field. You once more are building a theory around your own marginal opinions and delusions. Please don’t align yourself with me – no touching. yeech!</p>
<p>All I’m saying is I prefer a wagon/hatchback to a tall car with phony aspirations to off-roading. That BMW 5 series is nothing but a 4dr hatchback and I don’t understand why the geniuses in marketing see calling it that a liability. A so called PAV is just as phony as a crossover.</p>
<p>They should get real. We’re not fools, and all the posturing is a turn off and very un-BMW like. Since when do we have to justify making a wagon lower, faster, better handling.</p>
<p>You still owe me a hug…</p>
<p>Spacebox® is a registered trademark for a light weight prefab building system. <a href="http://www.spacebox.nl" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.spacebox.nl</a></p>
<p>Hey Lav, don’t believe for a minute you are all that. You have your own delusions of Grandeur (Some architects seem to think their $hite smells better than anyone’s elses….) :)</p>
<p>I would still like to request a <em>smaller</em> MINI, please. Enough with this idiotic supersizing.</p>
<p>Unfortunately the perceptions regarding the MINI Spacebox have seemed to fall on the negative approach by some regarding the BMW GT series.</p>
<p>With the MINI brand we have discovered and been told that customers would like the option of a five dr MINI because since they have bought their first MINI – They have progressed ,changed their lifestyle started a family etc , and they would like to stay with the MINI brand but see themselves have to move on to the more mundane choice of compact family transport.</p>
<p>It is true that the upcoming MINI-X is coming to production soon but for some the MINI-X is possibly not what they want , seeing no need for four wheel drive or a commanding driving position. Whereas MINI-X is aimed at the demograqphic who just decide to get up and go for the weekend , say they take part in competition of extreme sports to which they need another vehicle MINI-X will fit in with this kind of demographic.</p>
<p>To appease the other type of MINI or would be MINI customer we need to offer another purpose of flexibility without a 5dr dillution of the typical MINI image. We have spoken to cutomers for their requirements and they do not really want a 5dr version of the typical MINI . The Clubman which is doing exceptionally well has some adequate flexibility but in cases especially for families MINI Clubman is impractical for their requirements. But they would like more versatility and flexibility.</p>
<p>MINI Spacebox is a direction without having to go dressed as a minivan meaning it will be of typical MINI proportions and not with a van like bonnet , high van -like roof or vertical rear end. The ride height will be a few mm higher than a typical MINI but not as raised as a MINI-X. The rear of the car features a variation of the MINI Clubman with split doors although one side is larger for bulkier and larger objects with the smaller for a gymbag or grocery bag.
Traditional rear opening doors feature with recessed handles for the rear. MINI SpaceBox takes it’s name from the feeling inside – The windows are frameles but there is a very spacious cabin made evn more spacious by thinner but still strong pillars and expansive glass area when looked on side ways gives the MINI spacebox the look of the MINI floating roof, The roof can be optioned as a conventional panoramic roof with a split section for the rear passenger compartment or a full length expansion of glass to increase the feel of space.</p>
<p>The best impression of the SpaceBox Concept was in a previous edition of autocar – In which it’s appearence suggested it was not a 5dr MINI nor indeed a 5dr Clubman or a MINI interpretation of a minivan.
Typical brand values that will be seen with the upcoming MINI-X will be retained that means fun to drive and substantial and efficient engines amongst other areas recognised by customers.</p>
<p>Just because the Spacebox recognises the need for additional flexibility in the MINI family does not mean a rejection of the successful MINI formula.
A reinterpretation of the MINI GP will run out with the R56 but before that the MINI JCW will get a high powered diesel model for the european market and then also on the spotlight is a MINI based Speedster with either a clip on hardtop or a removable centre roof panel. The big news for MINI will be the MCV-i – The small electric car under development @ BMW which will not be badged as a BMW nor does the current climate suggest a fourth brand when the successful MINI brand will be this cars home, It keeps the MINI DNA but goes in a very interesting direction.</p>
<p>I was somewhat exicted about this until I read that AWD would be dropped. I am waiting for a performance AWD MINI. That is, something that is trackable but will also get you up to the mountains when the pow is happening. For now, the latest WRX is probably the closest to what I want, price considered, but I would much rather something lighter, smaller and better looking.</p>
<p>Thanks, Scott26 for all the additional info. This may be just what I’ll be looking for to replace my Scion xB in a couple of years. I don’t need AWD or a high driving position, just an everyday driver I can stash cargo and a couple of dogs in. Don’t bash it ’til you’ve seen it.</p>
<p>Im somehow hesitant to believe it, but a MINI speedster (think smart roadster but not underpowered and with a proper transmission) is the one car I am holding out for. Hopefully plans for that come into fruition soon, or else I believe when its time for my Gen1 to go it will be for the Z2</p>
<p>I think San Francisco must have more MINIs per capita than any other US city, and I’m starting to see more and more Clubmans everyday. I think there would be a lot more, but since the bottom of the whole auto market fell thru not too soon after the Clubman was introduced, it kind of put a damper on all car purchases. The Clubman’s size is at the max for me, and I would chose a regular MINI before I would go with the R60 or a SpaceBox.</p>
<p>Scott26 I for one really would have preferred any mention of the 5 series GT would have been left out of this. Hands down the 5 series GT is one of the homeliest designs I’ve seen in a very long while. I would buy a American SUV before this beast. I also admit though I am not in the geriatric age group this was developed for.</p>
<p>I look forward to seeing what comes out of the electric car. Of course a GP type of car would be interesting I don’t ever see me living with the interior of the R56. With Mini getting pulled every direction I do have a concern that Mini will end up standing for a muddy image. I do understand that if they are successful with this direction long term viability could be the result. However in many ways I would rather see the brand go the way of the dinosaur than to become just another hunk of sheet metal trudging down the street.</p>
<p>I actually have much less of a issue with the “spacebox” than I do with the R60 which still feels like pandering to the worse of the automotive industry over the last decades.</p>
<p>This is becoming all too much for me… I’m going to have a lie down because these new model designs and theories are making my head spin.
I used to think the Japanese were constantly fiddling with new models – remember when BMW models had a 7 year lifespan?</p>
<p>Here comes R65………………..</p>
<p>A reinterpretation of the MINI GP for the R56… I like it.</p>
<p>Otherwise, +1 for the Z2. If the rumors on bimmerfile are true, that is going to be the replacement for my R52.</p>
<p>The issue regarding the 5er GT has been totally understood. The 5er Gt is a new type of vehicle for BMW and is aimed at the older customer which is true but when developing this car we actually found that there is a customer base for this type of car.
Clinic testing was initiated with drivers of bigger luxury sedans telling us their requirements in regards to driving position etc.</p>
<p>We have begun special preview events for the GT in the run up to the production car unveiling @ Frankfurt, so some will get the chance to see exactly what BMW are talking about.
If the 5er GT takes off successfully as BMW anticipate it will. Then watch our competitors follow our lead as you will discover there is a customer base for this concept and even with the name Gran Turismo the car will have excellent dynamics.</p>
<p>BMW have faith in the GT Concept that although the CS based GT 7 has been placed on hiatus, A GT 3 is moving through engineering this car will be a sleeker shooting brake design of the 3er, A GT 6 will be a variation on the 6er with four doors (the rear being like Rx-8 or MINI Clubman) and the first Coupe BMW with a hatchback.
Also discussed is a GT 1 which will cover both sedan and touring models for the next 1er – BMW do not want to offer a conventional sedan or Touring due to the fact of high fleet sales (Polizei being one)regarding entry 3er sedan and Touring models in europe.</p>
<p>Scott I am not to sure about the GT really being as much at a new type of a vehicle as much as a new name for a crossover. There are other cars out there that have gone with higher ride height along with increased headroom.</p>
<p>I think my main opposition however to the GT is that Group BMW seems to design SUV after SUV (use SAV or what ever naming scheme you want). While I accept that the shared platform for the R60 is a good thing as from what I’ve been reading they need to produce 500k in order to pay for the development. Having more than one model sharing a platform makes this a bit easier.</p>
<p>I do have to wonder the logic however of pursuing what is a incredibly crowded market. It seems that BMW/Mini both have decided that the only way to be profitable is to turn out a fleet of vehicles. A case and point of this for me is the 3 series. The models range all over the place within the family to a point that all 3 series end up having their image being muddied. I do wonder once the Mini brand has a dozen models in its line up what Mini will stand for? Surely Miniature (which is the key reasoning behind the Mini name) will not be any part of it.</p>
<p>I like the 5 series GT. Of course, I am also a fan of the old SAAB 3 and 5 door 900 and 93.</p>
<p>This is all very interesting but I’m baffled by a few things… In the Ask whomever thing a few weeks back, the R56GP was a no go. Also, in the latest Wards Auto the decision on a new brand for the i-cars wasn’t closed yet. While a lot of these insights are interesting, the BMW corporation doesn’t seem to be working off of the same set of talking points…</p>
<p>Time will tell….</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>Gabe’s sentence: “It will also give MINI further cost efficiencies – key to the brand’s survival in the years ahead.” seems close to the mark. MINI seems to have priced the Clubman out of the market and there are quite a few of them (new & second hand) for sale down under at what I think are ridiculously high prices. Also the right-hand suicide door seems to be another thing that MINI failed to listen to from the RHD markets. If they offered the suicide door on both sides plus offered the Clubman at a lower price I think it could have sold a lot more (myself included).</p>
<p>thanks dude for great info</p>