MINI’s Rumored Speedster Takes Another Step Forward
The MINI Speedster rumor has taken a life of it’s own since we published our report earlier this month. Rarely have we seen so much immediate positive reaction to a proposed new MINI product as we have with the new convertible. However there is a lot more going on behind the scenes at MINI in regards to this new project. While we won’t reveal any further details until later in the year, we’d encourage you to watch this space and let your imagination run wild.
In other speedster news Autoexpress (the magazine many of love to loathe for it’s over dramatized headlines and sketchy info) has a new article on the car in this week’s issue. While MF readers won’t find any new information within the article (we released out own last week with much of what it in the issue) they will see a fairly interesting sketch which we believe isn’t far off what the speedster could look like. However it’s important to note that this is purely a sketch from someone who’s never seen even mock-ups of the car. In fact if you look at the details, Autoexpress very easily could have just created this based off of the information (and official sketch seen below) we scooped earlier this month.
<p>Looks pretty good. Suggestions: A little less chrome (esp. in lower grill), More MINI/less Boxter in the headlights, ~2200lb, offer all the Cooper trim levels w/ similar pricing to the Cabrio’s, RWD (a guy can dream, right?)</p>
<p>I’d expect a folding hard top in the boot, with all that extra space (unless they put the engine there!)</p>
<p>MINI seem more concerned with fun features than sheer power/drivability, so I wouldn’t expect too much.</p>
<p>MINI’s are already at a disadvantage in the UK, as we’ve loads of small hatchbacks to choose from, most cheaper, some faster and nearly all roomier (but none more fun). The general public can only be persuaded to buy cars that are “for enthusiasts” for so long.
I’d love a 2 litre, 250hp AWD Speedster, but in the current climate I fear it will be a standard ‘S’ setup with a few novelties bolted on.</p>
<blockquote>I’d expect a folding hard top in the boot, with all that extra space.</blockquote>
<p>I wouldn’t get my hopes up.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I’d love a 2 litre, 250hp AWD Speedster, but in the current climate I fear it will be a standard ‘S’ setup with a few novelties bolted on.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The current climate thought is a valid one. But think about it this way. In terms of investment MINI can build this on the current platform and then use the engines already developed for the R55/R56/R57 until the new model runs it’s course. The cost for creating all of this has already been spent so the ramp-up is much more feasible then something totally new. Sure an AWD screamer would be great but we have to look at this realistically and ask ourselves; would I be interested in a speedster (or something else) with the current drivetrain and more aggressive styling at a slightly higher price than an R57?</p>
<p>I will save-up for a quick, little handler when I wear-out the Clubman, but I’d rather chill in the shade than broil in the sun. Gimme a hard roof — a roof I can get past without becoming a pretzel. The old man’s back is too stiff for that!</p>
<p>Digression: I was looking at high-mpg cars without regard for anything else. The Cobalt coupe looked like a prospect. That is, until I had one cheek on the seat, and the roof smacked the side of my head. That kind of roof I can do without. And did, of course.</p>
<p>I am NOT a convertible person, but a MINI Speedster?
That’s an altogether different proposition that I am in love with.
OK, I’ll even settle for an R57 ‘vert based speedster.
Mine will have the JCW power + and suspension/brake kits, for sure. Maybe a tad bit more.
I’m saving.
Keep it up MINI – this is a good thing.</p>
<p>I wish that MINI had produced the Speedster in the first gen fold as I had so hoped they would…
The second gen just never sparked with me, and ultimately I ended up looking at Z4s (which I liked a lot) but ended up going all-out on a superb Boxster S…. Now I doubt I would ever go back to a FWD sports car, even from MINI. That said, I seriously miss all the cool people from the grassroots MINI fun-club!! (Porsche owners are either too stuffy or bent on racing, or both, and I am neither it seems)
I did have one of the nicest Pepper White ‘verts ever to breathe thru a supercharger though! I hope the guy from Atlanta that bought it from me is still enjoying it…..</p>
<p>+1 on Porsche owners. No fun. After a year in a Cayman S and no one to play with I came back to a JCW and my local club and never looked back. If Mini makes this speedster and it looks this good I have found my next car. While it seems the R56 is all about compromise to sell to the masses this is nothing but an enthusiast car so I hope Mini goes all out performance wise. That’s what’s going to sell.</p>
<p>Completely disgusting! Mini is trying to reach a much broader group that its killing the original Mini. They went five years with ONE model and did fine, or was it six years?</p>
<p>This Auto Express rendering looks very appealing, but I am afraid that VW has the jump on MINI with their Blue Sport. Now THAT is a car to get excited about!!</p>
<p>Take the chrome off the lower grille, make the headlights more Mini-like (I agree they look like Cayenne) and I also hope if it comes out, it’ll be a convertible and not a true speedster. No way would I have one of these in Texas heat if it’s not at least got a rag top. I need AC.</p>
<p>Not sure about the rear in the “I’ve never seen it, so it must look like this” drawing either. Doesn’t look Mini at all. Too much “Mini meets Solstice in Japan”. If they try to make it too muscular-looking, too “aero kit tuner look”, I’ll stay away. The Porsche 356 should be inspiration for the virtues of simplicity in design.</p>
<p>This is a great idea. I have a couple of friends who were looking at buying the MCS but preferred to spend a bit extra on different cars. One bought a Mazda MX-5 instead of the MINI because, in his words, if he was buying a low-end sports car, it had to: (a) have two seats and (b) be a convertible with a hard top (not soft top). He detracted from the MINI mainly because of these two reasons. My other friend changed his mind and bought a Volkswagen Polo GTI which had the power & performance of the MCS JCW, but a bit more responsive and with 4 doors for around the same price.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-258412" rel="nofollow">Aussom</a>: That’s funny. I’m sure the Polo GTI has only 148BHP, with 0-60 of 8.2 secs.
Hardly MCS JCW territory.
Plus the heavier engine doesn’t help handling much either. It is cheaper, I’ll give you that, but it’s for a reason…</p>
<p>I’m excited — but would be torn between this and the Z2 (especially since they will probably share at least one powerplant)… and then it’ll be a matter of FWD vs. RWD and price.</p>
<p>The Z2 seems like its a next gen platform, while this speedster is something that can be built on the current R57 workings. Somebody else can fill in the years but it seems like BMW would do the same thing they have in the past. The next Mini platform will debut on the coupe and maybe the clubman, and they will continue to build the convertible on the R57 platform and the two will overlap while the new convertible is designed. A speedster may take the last position in this rotation. If so the Z2 may come to market around the same time, or slightly before the 2nd gen speedster.</p>
<p>As an R53 JCW owner who also drives a Miata all summer (modded 2300lb NB) I have to say that a roadster’s primary (if not sole) purpose is driving feel and balance, and for that it must needs be RWD (no, not even AWD will do if we are talking ‘clean sheet ideal’ roadster layout). That means the Z2 is more interesting to me personally than the MINI speedster.</p>
<p>Still, this is the kind of upcoming MINI product to get excited about and I’m glad it’s in the pipeline!</p>
<p>The Miata will be stay several thousand cheaper, and is RWD.</p>
<p>This MINI Speedster will be a specialty-car, like all MINI’s, appealing to people who would have bought a different MINI, or possibly Euro car people who would give a speedster a try instead of a regular car.</p>
<p>Love both design drawings of the Mini Speedster and the Z2, at the end of the day I buy performance related cars so likely to just hold out for the Z2 coupe.</p>
<p>god knows it has a style that’s mixed mini and alpina Z8, with a little twist of rolls-royce in the back. which, by chance, happen to all be on my list of my favorite BMWs.</p>
<p>much, much nicer looking than the Z2.</p>
<p>and this body looks like it could be the perfect home for a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive chassis, perhaps with a certain twin-turbo 3-liter I6 stolen out of a certain nasty-fast E92 coupe, paired with a sequential manual gearbox…i’d bite.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about the cayenne headlights…</p>
<p>I think it looks slick. My beef is the lower grill.</p>
<p>Love it!</p>
<p>Just hoping Mini keeps it light. Hands down the most interesting development from Mini for me personally. To me this car screams Miata fighter.</p>
<p>Looks pretty good. Suggestions: A little less chrome (esp. in lower grill), More MINI/less Boxter in the headlights, ~2200lb, offer all the Cooper trim levels w/ similar pricing to the Cabrio’s, RWD (a guy can dream, right?)</p>
<p>Is this the R61?</p>
<p>That lower grill really caught my eye, I like it. I’m more interested in what it’ll look like with the top on.</p>
<p>Can they put the M Roadster engine in it?
Pretty please? You could take my order now.</p>
<p>I’d expect a folding hard top in the boot, with all that extra space (unless they put the engine there!)</p>
<p>MINI seem more concerned with fun features than sheer power/drivability, so I wouldn’t expect too much.</p>
<p>MINI’s are already at a disadvantage in the UK, as we’ve loads of small hatchbacks to choose from, most cheaper, some faster and nearly all roomier (but none more fun). The general public can only be persuaded to buy cars that are “for enthusiasts” for so long.
I’d love a 2 litre, 250hp AWD Speedster, but in the current climate I fear it will be a standard ‘S’ setup with a few novelties bolted on.</p>
<blockquote>I’d expect a folding hard top in the boot, with all that extra space.</blockquote>
<p>I wouldn’t get my hopes up.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I’d love a 2 litre, 250hp AWD Speedster, but in the current climate I fear it will be a standard ‘S’ setup with a few novelties bolted on.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The current climate thought is a valid one. But think about it this way. In terms of investment MINI can build this on the current platform and then use the engines already developed for the R55/R56/R57 until the new model runs it’s course. The cost for creating all of this has already been spent so the ramp-up is much more feasible then something totally new. Sure an AWD screamer would be great but we have to look at this realistically and ask ourselves; would I be interested in a speedster (or something else) with the current drivetrain and more aggressive styling at a slightly higher price than an R57?</p>
<p>If the answer is yes, start saving.</p>
<p>a ways out…can we not get the details on the ’10 refresh, yet?</p>
<p>It is a good looking concept indeed, I LOVE the color! I think that if MINI produces a car like the one shown it will be a hit.</p>
<p>Sorry for the second post but here is the link to the original article which has a nice pic of the rear of the car as well.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/235342/meet_minis_speedster.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/235342/meet_minis_speedster.html</a></p>
<p>Can you say TT</p>
<p>I think Mini is heading in the right direction by giving its customers a variety to choose from.</p>
<p>I’d like a new Lotus Elan, but the headlights and grill dont do it for me.</p>
<p>The sketch picture is much better.</p>
<p>i like the idea of headrest humps, but to me right now Pontiac sort of owns that look, and so I say no thanks.</p>
<p>Now, if they made one headrest hump behind the driver like an old Jag, then you’d be talkin, just like off center stripes…</p>
<p>I will save-up for a quick, little handler when I wear-out the Clubman, but I’d rather chill in the shade than broil in the sun. Gimme a hard roof — a roof I can get past without becoming a pretzel. The old man’s back is too stiff for that!</p>
<p>Digression: I was looking at high-mpg cars without regard for anything else. The Cobalt coupe looked like a prospect. That is, until I had one cheek on the seat, and the roof smacked the side of my head. That kind of roof I can do without. And did, of course.</p>
<p>I am NOT a convertible person, but a MINI Speedster?
That’s an altogether different proposition that I am in love with.
OK, I’ll even settle for an R57 ‘vert based speedster.
Mine will have the JCW power + and suspension/brake kits, for sure. Maybe a tad bit more.
I’m saving.
Keep it up MINI – this is a good thing.</p>
<p>So I’m guessing the Openometer will go crazy and always read “Open” since speedsters usually don’t have roofs ;)</p>
<p>Question, would this car have any roof at all?</p>
<p>I wish that MINI had produced the Speedster in the first gen fold as I had so hoped they would…
The second gen just never sparked with me, and ultimately I ended up looking at Z4s (which I liked a lot) but ended up going all-out on a superb Boxster S…. Now I doubt I would ever go back to a FWD sports car, even from MINI. That said, I seriously miss all the cool people from the grassroots MINI fun-club!! (Porsche owners are either too stuffy or bent on racing, or both, and I am neither it seems)
I did have one of the nicest Pepper White ‘verts ever to breathe thru a supercharger though! I hope the guy from Atlanta that bought it from me is still enjoying it…..</p>
<p>Me likee!</p>
<p>+1 on Porsche owners. No fun. After a year in a Cayman S and no one to play with I came back to a JCW and my local club and never looked back. If Mini makes this speedster and it looks this good I have found my next car. While it seems the R56 is all about compromise to sell to the masses this is nothing but an enthusiast car so I hope Mini goes all out performance wise. That’s what’s going to sell.</p>
<p>Now THIS is something I am excited about!!!!!!!!!!!! :)</p>
<p>Okay. Not exactly sure why my post would be deleted for saying I hope it has an M Roadster engine, but I still would love that.</p>
<p>A strong 6 cyl. would make it quite a beast. I’m not sure what’s wrong with that suggestion.</p>
<p>Completely disgusting! Mini is trying to reach a much broader group that its killing the original Mini. They went five years with ONE model and did fine, or was it six years?</p>
<p>This Auto Express rendering looks very appealing, but I am afraid that VW has the jump on MINI with their Blue Sport. Now THAT is a car to get excited about!!</p>
<p>THIS is more like it, MINI! Dump the “Colorado” or whatever you call that brutally ugly, revamped 1- series wagon and build this instead!</p>
<p>MINI Del Sol. Brilliant.</p>
<p>Take the chrome off the lower grille, make the headlights more Mini-like (I agree they look like Cayenne) and I also hope if it comes out, it’ll be a convertible and not a true speedster. No way would I have one of these in Texas heat if it’s not at least got a rag top. I need AC.</p>
<p>Not sure about the rear in the “I’ve never seen it, so it must look like this” drawing either. Doesn’t look Mini at all. Too much “Mini meets Solstice in Japan”. If they try to make it too muscular-looking, too “aero kit tuner look”, I’ll stay away. The Porsche 356 should be inspiration for the virtues of simplicity in design.</p>
<p>I like it but it reminds me of the last gen Thunderbird from the front for some reason.</p>
<p>This is a great idea. I have a couple of friends who were looking at buying the MCS but preferred to spend a bit extra on different cars. One bought a Mazda MX-5 instead of the MINI because, in his words, if he was buying a low-end sports car, it had to: (a) have two seats and (b) be a convertible with a hard top (not soft top). He detracted from the MINI mainly because of these two reasons. My other friend changed his mind and bought a Volkswagen Polo GTI which had the power & performance of the MCS JCW, but a bit more responsive and with 4 doors for around the same price.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-258412" rel="nofollow">Aussom</a>: That’s funny. I’m sure the Polo GTI has only 148BHP, with 0-60 of 8.2 secs.
Hardly MCS JCW territory.
Plus the heavier engine doesn’t help handling much either. It is cheaper, I’ll give you that, but it’s for a reason…</p>
<p>Yea, I might give up my R53 for it. Lets see what develops. I like it better then the new rag top.</p>
<p>here you go – one head rest fairing, on the drivers side only. And a JCW option for the fin.</p>
<p><a href="http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200511/1954-jaguar-d-type-1_460x0w.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200511/1954-jaguar-d-type-1_460x0w.jpg</a></p>
<p>Can I put a deposit on one right now? This is what I wanted MINI to build when I bought my 2005 MCSc!
Love It!</p>
<p>I’m excited — but would be torn between this and the Z2 (especially since they will probably share at least one powerplant)… and then it’ll be a matter of FWD vs. RWD and price.</p>
<p>Timely discussion considering this…</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bimmerfile.com/2009/04/24/the-future-of-bmw-z2/" rel="nofollow">The Future of BMW (Z2)</a> / BimmerFile</p>
<p>For poseurs only. If I am going to give up rear seats and cargo capacity, I want RWD.</p>
<p>The Z2 seems like its a next gen platform, while this speedster is something that can be built on the current R57 workings. Somebody else can fill in the years but it seems like BMW would do the same thing they have in the past. The next Mini platform will debut on the coupe and maybe the clubman, and they will continue to build the convertible on the R57 platform and the two will overlap while the new convertible is designed. A speedster may take the last position in this rotation. If so the Z2 may come to market around the same time, or slightly before the 2nd gen speedster.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-258432" rel="nofollow">lavardera</a>: Yup. Lots more details to come.</p>
<p>As an R53 JCW owner who also drives a Miata all summer (modded 2300lb NB) I have to say that a roadster’s primary (if not sole) purpose is driving feel and balance, and for that it must needs be RWD (no, not even AWD will do if we are talking ‘clean sheet ideal’ roadster layout). That means the Z2 is more interesting to me personally than the MINI speedster.</p>
<p>Still, this is the kind of upcoming MINI product to get excited about and I’m glad it’s in the pipeline!</p>
<p>Agreed, this is not a Miata competitor.</p>
<p>The Miata will be stay several thousand cheaper, and is RWD.</p>
<p>This MINI Speedster will be a specialty-car, like all MINI’s, appealing to people who would have bought a different MINI, or possibly Euro car people who would give a speedster a try instead of a regular car.</p>
<p>Love both design drawings of the Mini Speedster and the Z2, at the end of the day I buy performance related cars so likely to just hold out for the Z2 coupe.</p>
<p>Where do I sign. Less chrome on that bottom grille, thats all.</p>
<p>god knows it has a style that’s mixed mini and alpina Z8, with a little twist of rolls-royce in the back. which, by chance, happen to all be on my list of my favorite BMWs.</p>
<p>much, much nicer looking than the Z2.</p>
<p>and this body looks like it could be the perfect home for a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive chassis, perhaps with a certain twin-turbo 3-liter I6 stolen out of a certain nasty-fast E92 coupe, paired with a sequential manual gearbox…i’d bite.</p>