MINI Crossover Spotted in California

<p>Terrible.</p>

p>@Gabe&amp;hardingsan:</p

<p>Here here! I can’t imagine how disappointing it must be for Gabe and co. to see the level of comments progressively drop. Honestly I have spent less time on this site in the last few months specifically because of these types of comments. The MF community belongs to all the readers and commenters. It would be really cool if we all stepped it up a notch with either:</p>

<p>A) Reasonably thoughtful comments that contribute to the community OR
B) Enough self-control to say, “hey, I have nothing of value to contribute to the dialog, so I’m going to keep my trap shut on this one.”</p>

<p>Just one guy’s opinion – YMMV.</p>

<p>Beavers</p>

<p>Gabe you need to show us some Roadster pics from Cali, they will change the tune. :)</p>

<p>Really feel that this product dilutes what a MINI is. The Clubman is acceptable as there are clear roots.</p>

<p>However, this is simply cashing in on the pseudo-4×4 gang. Now when people ask “What car do you drive” my response as “MINI” will now be met with “Which one”</p>

<p>When they do reveal this car, I sincerely hope that they call it a MAXI or something – it simply is, won’t and never will be a MINI.</p>

<p>I have always been proud of my R53 and admired the R56’s due to the real purity of the brand… this I think takes the shine away from it somewhere.</p>

<p>Any-hoo… I can still continue on my Supercharged adventures!</p>

<p>(PS – I have lurked on this site for years, but felt compelled to post for the first time!)</p>

<p>All I can think of is the unsuspecting motorist seeing this drive by and wondering what insane person decided to paint their car like that!</p>

<p>No split rear window like the Clubman? I guess I wasn’t paying close enough attention.</p>

<p>@<a href="#comment-263351" rel="nofollow">Gabe</a>: I would agree that it was a simplistic comment, but to call it insidious? That seems a bit overreaching.</p>

<p>I don’t know if I dig it or not. I can’t tell with the crazy camo. But all this killing the brand chat cracks me up.</p>

<p>About 18 months, many on this site said the same of the Clubman. And though MINI sales are down, they’re far better than virtually all other manufacturers. Yes, I know Subaru and Kia are kicking ass right now. Yay.</p>

<p>Someone already made the Cayenne point, so I won’t, but the purists should be happy that the Clubman helps the brand to grow, so there will still be a brand.</p>

<p>I also can’t resist adding that I seem to recall C4 hating all over the Clubman way back when, and now owning one. Luckily for me, he’ll point out my error if I’m wrong.</p>

<p>Motor on people.</p>

p>@Chris&#8230;</p

<p>I’m thinking that maybe it works at a MINI gathering / club / track event…..mom (or dad) drives up in the Crossover, carrying the grille, kids, strollers etc…and the significant other drives up with little Jimmy or Susie strapped in, ready to have a go at the autocross. It may work….</p>

<p>How do or does that crazy back door/doors, system operate. I use GMC vans w/3 part doors for work and would not buy a car with them.
I have a Clubman S for 4 more days and the barn doors are ok but, 3?</p>

<p>Clubman S was my wifes car and she never complained about a blind spot.</p>

<p>Oh, and Chad.
Negative posted without thought are not interesting to others.</p>

<p>The photo that cars.com posted isn’t showing us MF readers anything new. I guess the new bit is that they’re testing it in CA and it makes me wonder…why ship the mule all the way over here for a test drive? I wonder if they’ve been test driving it across the US…</p>

<p>I too am concerned about the mass, bulk, ride height, of the car and whether it will still drive like a MINI should. We’ll see. I’m pretty hopeful though as this would be a perfect way for me to stick with the brand as my family gets another +1 in a couple of years. I can’t wait for the Frankfurt show.</p>

<p>I heard that this is the replacement for Mellow Yellow, the new Interchange Yellow/Black Camouflage exterior paint with body color roof.</p>

<p>It will be nice when we can actually see what it really looks like…then maybe some of the hand wringing will cease. The official reveal can’t come too soon for me. I can’t get a sense of this thing yet. That camo does its job well. I can’t wait to see the front and rear, and all the other design choices(especially the lights and grill)…and see it grouped with other MINIs to get a better sense of scale, as well as getting a feel for the future of MINI design in general. We may get an idea of the four door/hatch “wagon” variant–a model I think more would stand behind.</p>

<p>I can’t help but comment on the other topic that has surfaced in this thread. I appreciate Gabe’s frustration. I just tend to scroll through the comments, and don’t bother reading those from some contributors any more.</p>

<p>@ Roccorocket…</p>

<p>If you follow the link in one of the comments above, you’ll see that the ‘barn doors’ and the handle are fake on the Crossover…there’s a picture on the link showing the rear hatch fully opened in conventional hatch style….the commentary associated with the link indicates that it’s just a standard hatch, not any kind of multi-opening door.</p>

<p>“In a Town Called Malice” The song I play while buzzing around in my “MINI” for a truly Mini Experience. So, I seen many pictures and the prototypes, yet this shot, I believe is the reason some find this MAXI-MINI butt ugg. I am sure that when it hits the shores, that we can call our MINI’s, The Mini-Mini, and the Clubman, the 4×4 will in my opinion be called and classified as the Maxi-Mini, or Mini-Ute. I LOVE my 2009 Mini, have only had it a month, have a 2001 RAV4, hate the RAV but used to think it was a super handling SUV, the Mini sticks to the road like glue, NO SWAY, even at 130kph in the pouring rain! I hope that this MAXIMINI, does as well, I’ll pre-order asap. PUT ME DOWN FOR 1 site unseen. Except, PLEASE…No Barn Doors, maybe Please a hatch style that opens window or window and Door flat fold down.</p>

<p>ChrisB, Well said. Times two.</p>

<p>Roccorocket…</p>

<p><</p>

<p>blockquote> If you follow the link in one of the comments above, you’ll see that the ‘barn doors’ and the handle are fake on the Crossover…there’s a picture on the link showing the rear hatch fully opened in conventional hatch style….the commentary associated with the link indicates that it’s just a standard hatch, not any kind of multi-opening door.</p>

<p><</p>

<p>blockquote>
Thanks for the heads up.
You never know with mules.</p>

<p>For all the haters, this car is still small and Mini when compared to other small SUV’s. So chill.
Chris B. nailed it.</p>

<p>I love the idea of the crossover, as a MA I know have a chance to sell to another demographic and keep people who would normally move on because MINI has no all wheel drive model and now they can stay in our brand a little longer. Unfortunately, it would be nice to have a 5th seat beat but I understand there is a fine line between staying MINI and not driving like a MINI but me being not a gear head or hardcore as some of the guys on the website (no insult intended) I think MINI will do a great job keeping the MINI spirit and making this one of the most fun driving crossovers on the road. After all who really buys a SUV and wants it to do the same thing as a roadster or coupe I don’t think thats possible.</p>

<p>I’m with C4, as soon as Mini becomes diluted, it becomes just like everything else. To survive you must stick to your core values OR become the innovators in your field otherwise you become nothing special and fade away just like GM LOL</p>

<p>+1 with Gabe on C4’s history of dramatic and negative comments. I remember back when the R56 was coming out how he claimed it would ruin Mini…and then he bought a Clubman.</p>

<p>I’m actually a bit enthused about the Crossover. I love my R56, really, really love it. Still with two young daughters playing softball, trying to get all the bat bags, catchers gear, and buckets of balls in the R56 has proven a bit challenging at times.</p>

<p>The Clubman buys a little bit of space but not enough in my opinion to justify the purchase. I don’t want to leave the Mini family so if the Crossover has enough room and still has even 80% of that “Mini” feel it might just cover my needs.</p>

<p>OOPs I meant TALKING!!!</p>

<p>I agree with Axel. I would love to see a diesel, manual, AWD R60. I’m really curious to see what the C-pillar will look like. I hope that the sloping roof and C-pillar don’t create a whopping blind spot.</p>

<p>Yes, R60 is going to be “little” bigger than other MINI variants of the past; however, as a current R53 owner, I will be considering it as a second car/MINI. Soon, we’ll be replacing our second commuter with a smaller more efficient car, and this will be a good candidate. Our toddler likes my MINI a lot, and he will appreciate to take his commute to preschool everyday in another, more spacious MINI. I am looking forward to it actually.</p>

<p>In terms of whether this will divide the MINI community or not, we’ll see whether I’ll have any problems -as an R53 driver- with my wife once she starts driving the R60. If we end up getting a divorce, then JohnPD and C4 will win :)</p>

<p>By the way, where is C4? Is he banned?</p>

<p>Still not digging the physical design or what this development says about the brand. It will be interesting to see how the Mini community re-acts to the shift in brand image over the long term. ie I can’t wait to see a R60 wallowing along the Dragon next year ;)</p>

<p>I can’t wait to see the R60 in Frankfurt. My family has grown since Xmas and while a roof rack with box has extended the R53’s usefulness, it won’t be long before we HAVE to get a bigger vehicle. It would be nice if the R60 turned out to be a decent option.</p>

<p>Guess my question still would be if tomorrow I adopt three kids or need six seats does this mean Mini should make a larger car for me. I know that many people do need the extra room for a larger family and fully accept this, I fail however to think that the brand needs to fill every need of every possible owner. I would much rather have Mini keep a very clear brand image that doesn’t end up tarnishing the rest of the brand. I am not sure if this will be the case of not but I do believe its a real possibility.</p>

<p>As for a R60 on the Dragon, yep it will happen after a chunk of aftermarket tuning to make the extra mass and inertia of this car perform with the same grace of the coupe. Then again, just because I can spend the money to make a school bus cut around the Dragon doesn’t mean its a Mini.</p>

<p>To me the handling and feel of the R60 is going to be interesting. The Clubman is already a little less stable than the Coupe in default configurations. You can feel the extra mass it carries load into the corners. I somewhat shudder at what many extra hundreds of pounds will feel like. I do have trust in BMW/Mini to make a capable car just wonder at the end of the day if it will truly be a Mini.</p>

<p>Just as blind as complete blindsided acceptance of every choice made by Mini is Bavarian.</p>

<p>At the end of the day i can say I only expect this to change the perception about what a Mini is. I feel than this may be a negative move but then again I don’t proclaim any sort of insight or genius about what the future holds. I only see the great amount of anger and hostility this car has caused in the Mini community, the community is a large part of what makes a Mini.</p>

<p>Either way this turns out I feel this single development is a pivot point in the time line of Mini. It could be a good move or a bad move. I feel it will sell well but at the same time do more than a little damage. It will be interesting to watch either way.</p>

<p>It does make me chuckle that while Mini is spending so much time and effort with this more and more heavy direct competition is coming to the US against its largest production (the Cooper/Cooper S). Makes me wonder if Mini has realized it needs to grow since its best selling market is being invaded by more cars that have already caused it sales loss in Europe?</p>

<p>Well Aaron there was and still is a bit of a schism in the Porsche Owners group from the Cayenne, though likely still less than the old air cooled group. No doubt that it helped Porsche. Still not sure how a manufacturer building a completely unique SUV compares to Mini making a slight smaller Rav4? Mini has created NOTHING new or unique with this. Manufactures around the world have also been looking at the Micro SUV concept so given the release date of the R60 will be all that small or lite.</p>

<p>I for one believe the R60 will be a decent build, I just think its not one that’s all that great for the brand.
So Aaron if tomorrow comes around that you find out you have twins on the way then Mini should ignore you? Yes I know that small families outgrown the Coupe and Clubman, but just because a market (one of the most hotly competitive ones out there btw) doesn’t mean Mini should build for it. With the idea were do you draw the line on whats a Mini??</p>

<p>If you have a family of 6 or 8 tomorrow should Mini build a car to keep you in the brand? I can tell you one thing for certain already, with the four seat arrangement of the R60 vs the X1 5 seat I am betting more than a small share will be looking at that one additional seat. I have no issues with small families I just feel Mini should concentrate its efforts where is makes a large percentage of its profit from. New business if great but throwing away a portion of your core business is an interesting concept</p>

<p>I hear what you’re saying, JonPD, and I know where you’re coming from…asking where do we draw the line. I just don’t think a four-seat, four door vehicle is necessarily crossing the line. I understand that you disagree. I know some folks are disappointed with how MINI is spending it’s development $$, but there’s little to be done about that. If you told me the R60 was a two-seat roadster, I might agree that that is more fitting within the concept of the brand than this SUV is, but on the other hand, I’d say that I think that’s a waste of developmental $$ because MINI already has a practicality issue and adding another “impractical” car to the stable would potentially lock in that perception of the brand.</p>

<p>Robbie I don’t claim to be any sort of a expert on SUV’s but at the time of the Cayenne can you name another SUV that was built on a high horsepower platform with a tuned suspension? The closet thing I can think of as completion for that was likely to be the new X6 M. Meanwhile Mini is building a Micro SUV that is build for a family of 4, and to me really doesn’t solve any solutions other than being small. Guess it might have a market there but at least the Cayenne had many years of unmolested sales and if you spend anytime looking at what is being developed the Micro SUV is a popular area for many manufactures.</p>

<p>Aarnon I do hear you, and I do honestly know a lot a smart people at BMW/Mini have looked at their business model and decided this was a growth sector for them. However I would point out history which is a collection of smart people that make bad decisions. Time will tell if Mini can figure a way out to heal its community, which I think anybody can agree is still unsettled over this development.</p>

<p>It’s good to see this vehicle quickly approaching official release. Can’t wait for the model to hit the showrooms and receiving an invitation to see the official local dealer launch for a good look-over and test drive. MINI’s vehicles are always interesting. Will be interested in assessing its off-road capability, power and economy. Make sure you have your details registered with MINI to receive an official invite!</p>

<p>@<a href="#comment-263334" rel="nofollow">Chad</a>:</p>

<p>Thank you Chad. You are the voice of reason. Another free thinking American that doesn’t drink the corporate “Koolaid”.</p>

<p>@<a href="#comment-263475" rel="nofollow">777</a>:</p>

<p>Thank you, sir. My sentiments exactly.</p>

<p>Wonder if MiniUSA or either of my local dealers will be sending me an invite to come see the R60 ;)</p>

<p>Well my friends a lot of good insight to this new vehicle, but remember when Mini came out in 02, this is same way the Porsche Cayene came out, DIFFERENT from the PACk, therefore Mini is coming out AGAIN different from the pack and it was hihgly critizied then, look at it now, one the best vheicles out there. Lets give it a chance but I want it with the 123d 2 liter DIESEL engine in it!!!</p>