MINI USA VP on the Premium Market, Countryman Delays & New US Dealers
We’ve heard the notion before that, with the MINI, BMW brought premium to the small car segment. While that could be argued with a number of earlier products (all available outside the US) it’s hard to argue anyone has ever done it better. This video of MINI USA Vice President Jim McDowell is an update to that ideology with some ties into the 2009/2010 world economy and a renewed emphasis on efficiency.
But more importantly there are a couple of recent exclusive MF reports that McDowell confirms in this video:
– Confirmation that the MINI Countryman has been delayed to an early 2011 launch in the US
РYes the Speedster and Coup̩ are coming to the LA Motorshow
– The US dealer network is expanding substantially and rapidly.
<p>Great news all across the board. I look forward to seeing the Coupe and the Speedster in LA. I look even more forward to not seeing every soccer field locally flooded with a Mini SUV.</p>
<p>Glad to hear that MINI hasn’t scrapped the Countryman and is continuing with expanding the range. Think of how many variants the first series minis went through – however it’s interesting that the second generation (MINI) is positioned at the opposite end of the original mini – with MINI being a premium small car, yet the original series being affordable for the masses.</p>
<p>Personally I don’t have an issue with seeing more MINIs on the road as it gradually becomes more mainstream & enjoy meeting (& waving to when driving) more new members in the local MINI club.</p>
<p>Driving the MINI is fun & makes driving to & from work a very enjoyable experience.</p>
<p>He didn’t say anything about a diesel… tear. How far is it to my local VW dealer again?</p>
<p>Such a shame, no diesels :(</p>
<p>And the delay of the countryman… I would go nutz to see MINI in WRC! That alone made the countryman acceptable to my palate. (Remember I had a R50) Remember the ANTI-SUV stuff that MINI did back in 2001-2002…</p>
<p>We nead a dealer in South Bend Indiana! Indy is too far away and the Chicago dealers couldn’t care about the folks in Indiana</p>
<p>Still waiting, MotoringFile staff, for the list of dealerships that will be opening…</p>
<blockquote>however it’s interesting that the second generation (MINI) is positioned at the opposite end of the original mini – with MINI being a premium small car, yet the original series being affordable for the masses.
</blockquote>
<p>That move was quite understandable. The moved into a niche where there isn’t a lot of competition and the margins are good. There are plenty of cars in the inexpensive small car market. Margins in that market are very tight. Also, quite frankly, I don’t think BMW knows how to make an inexpensive car.</p>
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Still waiting, MotoringFile staff, for the list of dealerships that will be opening…
</i></p>
<p><a href="http://miniusa.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://miniusa.com</a> now has that information. If you do a “find a dealer” search, you will see a “dealerships coming soon” link.</p>
<p>He didn’t actually commit to the Coupe or the Speedster at LA Auto Show but I’m so hoping. If I knew for sure then I’d buy one of those $125 early pass tickets for the L A show.</p>
<p>What an impressive person/speaker!</p>
<p>I cannot stand this guy, not sure why. There is something about the way he talks…. it’s not sincere, he doesn’t sound like he is “feeling” the brand and what it means to enthusiasts. You, know sort of like “he is full of….”, just reading what somebody prepared for him to say.</p>
<p>I thought he kinda sounded like Dana Carvey doing president Bush on SNL.</p>
<p>Speedster and Coupester will be at LA- So will the BMW Vision Concept. They are on there way there now..</p>
<p>-M</p>
<p>Delay = retarded. No new MINI for me- on the contrar I saw the new production model Golf on the road the other day</p>
<p>They should have put the teleprompter above the camera so he doesn’t have this far off look the whole time.</p>