Poll: What Future MINI Are You Most Interested In?
MINI has a lot of interesting things in development right now. Some of them, like “the twins” we’ve seen. Some, like the City Car, we’ve only got bits and pieces of information for. That had us wondering. What do you, the illustrious readers of MotoringFile, get excited for?
<p>Hands down the Twins are the only thing that have even vaguely raised my interest from MINI for a long while. Still hoping they mark a significant change in the direction MINI has been going in recent history back toward the enthusiast group that is exclusively responsible for MINIs success. The brand is teetering on the ledge of loosing most of the feeling that it had in the early days. Hate to say it but MINI is beginning to feel like just another manufacture, albeit one that has still some soul to it.</p>
<p>while i see the coupe/roadster and the city car good for dealership traffic and the countryman/hatch good for business in general, the clubman strikes the perfect balance of design, sportyness, and room that i want / need in my current (and next) car.</p>
<p>i will enjoy reading and commenting on all the models, but the clubman is the one that’ll get me into the dealership for a repeat purchase.</p>
<p>Next Gen Clubman, though I hope they keep the same frame. It’s big enough. Put double doors on the Countryman if they require it, leave the Clubbie alone.</p>
<p>Looking forward to the Coupe restoring some “street cred” in the hot hatch wars for MINI (in JCW variant particularly).</p>
<p>But I am even more keen for info on the city car… if this is the smaller/shortened hatch variant then it is getting closer to the classic mini… if the price can be kept lower than current hatch models, getting even closer… and if it tears around corners and restores steering feel lost in the R56 generation, closer still. Let’s see what MINI comes up with.</p>
<p>BMW is becoming like Ford or General Motors with all of their variations and brands.
I’d like to see something close to the original Mini or the original MINI.
The new MINIs are just baby BMWs – Way too refined and have lost the heart and soul of a racer. I agree with “goat”.</p>
<p>I’m very conservative on this one, so I voted for the next gen hatch. However, I’m pretty excited by the City Car, just like @goat said. Are they really coming out at the same time? I hope that one will “cannibalize” the other…</p>
<blockquote>that.guy if the Coopster is a Del Sol is the 2013 Clubman a GTI or Mazda 3? ;)</blockquote>
<p>Uh, sure. If the 2013 AWD JWC Clubman could compete on price and performance with the 2012 AWD GTI-R or rumored AWD MazdaSpeed3, not to mention 2013 WRX, I might buy one.</p>
<p>The MS3 is a really amazing car for the money out of the box and minor suspension tweaks make it even better. Once you adapt to the turbo lag and keep the revs up it is a totally addictive car to drive. If they added a twin-scroll turbo to get more low end power and made it AWD like the MS6, it would be incredible.</p>
<p>that.guy, still a couple of differences the Coopster is going to be lighter than the off the shelf R56 with the same motor if not upgraded unit they have been talking about. Meanwhile your hope that the next gen Clubman will match either the GTI or Speed3. Both will still dwarf the current and next gen Clubman (betting the addition of another door and awd will not do anything pleasant to its weight).</p>
<p>Don’t even get me started on a WRX R60. Hope all you will but there is zero chance this will be much of anything other than the standard JCW with maybe some small changes to the interior and some exterior graphics applied. Which is nothing like a fully stripped car that the wizards at Pro-drive build with and full racing setup.</p>
<p>When I am talking enthusiast I am not talking exclusively speaking about power mad MINI fanatics, rather the massive numbers of people that picked up a MINI and promptly fell in love with the brand. MINIs advertising was good but it was the word of mouth for thousands of MINI drivers that sold the brands success.</p>
<p>Turn the clock forward and its a rare occasion when I see a MINI these days that doesn’t have at least a few MINIs that the drivers are treating like a tool. I think part of this has to do with the brands success but I also think a good measure of it is MINI deciding that their community and its loyalty is not as important as making cars that pander to more and more people that will never be any part of the community.</p>
<p>I personally think a car that helps MINI recapture its fans is just the most important thing they can do right now. I think the Twins are the best chance of this.</p>
<p>What Alan Tate said, 250+ hp AWD Hatch. Although after checking out a recent bimmerfile article, I’m now on the fence about AWD. Just make the JCW version have numbers close to the, I dunno, Scirocco R.</p>
<p>Where is everyone coming up with the “250HP/all wheel drive” coupe stuff? Did I miss something? Dream on! I’ll be amazed if a JCW ever eclipses 220 HP.</p>
<p>My vote goes to the coupe’ two seater/JCW. I like performance sports cars. That lil’ bugger has to deliver big time to get my $.</p>
<p>Sadly, None Of The Above. I own a 2009 JCW Clubman. I need to be able to carry 2 to 3 people and my wife’s wheelchair. In my JCW Clubman I have a great compromise between excellent performance, small external size and sufficient interior space. While I like the Countryman, it is beyond what I need and would also have a loss of performance with respect to my current MINI.</p>
<p>I second the vote for the All4 Diesel Countryman – great torque with the turbo, AWD when needed and 50 mpg/112 mph sounds a winning combination in my book. Who needs a hybrid when you can get a green ecodiesel?</p>
<p>I don’t expect MINI to respond any closer to the Golf R that is has to the Focus RS or Mazda 3 Speed during the 2013 redesign. I do expect to see a little more power but I would honestly be shocked to see a JCW come out with anything close to 250hp (though it would be great if I am wrong, I would love to see MINI finally develop a hardcore performance car).</p>
<p>I also would bet that part of this is they don’t want to make a MINI that challenges BMW’s own 1 series when it goes FWD.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see where they go with the redesign. I expect a small increase in weight and more in size. I think the front end of the future MINI’s will be taking on more of the R60’s front end. Since they are still running up against tighter pedestrian standards we will see more crush area in the front end were dead space is left to soften the possible impacts.</p>
<p>The Hatch is the base, the bread and butter of the mark, if the next generation disappoints broadly then the MINI brand is in jeopardy. Everything else is niche.</p>
<p>From the Polling results Mini should reconsider dumping so much money into the Countryman and bring out the Coupe’ ASAP!!! It appears that Mini is going to lose it’s shirt on a few models; good for collectors but bad for Mini.</p>
<p>The poll results are missing all those people that don’t know they are Mini fans yet because they only like Scooters, for instance, and are therefor not checking out this website. All the people drawn in by the bread and butter Mini are of course voting for the top 3 choices. Actually, I am surprised the Clubman did not fare better in the poll Maybe less clubman drivers are car enthusiasts to the degree needed to follow Motoring file regularly. Does any of this make sense to y’all???</p>
<p>The next GP without costing more than $30K, well equipped.</p>
<p>And hopefully not on the last year of the model run either, because theres nothing people hate more than blowing lots of money on a car and finding out its old news in less than 9 months.</p>
<p>Hands down the Twins are the only thing that have even vaguely raised my interest from MINI for a long while. Still hoping they mark a significant change in the direction MINI has been going in recent history back toward the enthusiast group that is exclusively responsible for MINIs success. The brand is teetering on the ledge of loosing most of the feeling that it had in the early days. Hate to say it but MINI is beginning to feel like just another manufacture, albeit one that has still some soul to it.</p>
<p>I thought the Roadster was coming March 2012; did they change the target launch time?</p>
<p>while i see the coupe/roadster and the city car good for dealership traffic and the countryman/hatch good for business in general, the clubman strikes the perfect balance of design, sportyness, and room that i want / need in my current (and next) car.</p>
<p>i will enjoy reading and commenting on all the models, but the clubman is the one that’ll get me into the dealership for a repeat purchase.</p>
<p>The Coupe? Really people? You know you can pick up a used Del Sol for next to nothing.</p>
<p>My vote goes to the 2013 (AWD JCW) Clubman.</p>
<p>Next Gen Clubman, though I hope they keep the same frame. It’s big enough. Put double doors on the Countryman if they require it, leave the Clubbie alone.</p>
<p>Looking forward to the Coupe restoring some “street cred” in the hot hatch wars for MINI (in JCW variant particularly).</p>
<p>But I am even more keen for info on the city car… if this is the smaller/shortened hatch variant then it is getting closer to the classic mini… if the price can be kept lower than current hatch models, getting even closer… and if it tears around corners and restores steering feel lost in the R56 generation, closer still. Let’s see what MINI comes up with.</p>
<p>Holy smokes the next gen Clubman is in the top 4!!??!!</p>
<p>that.guy if the Coopster is a Del Sol is the 2013 Clubman a GTI or Mazda 3? ;)</p>
<p>next gen hatch with AWD and 250hp while NOT costing $35k with packages.</p>
<p>Production WRC JCW Countryman</p>
<p>BMW is becoming like Ford or General Motors with all of their variations and brands.
I’d like to see something close to the original Mini or the original MINI.
The new MINIs are just baby BMWs – Way too refined and have lost the heart and soul of a racer. I agree with “goat”.</p>
<p>This poll needs the JCW Countryman.</p>
<p>I’m very conservative on this one, so I voted for the next gen hatch. However, I’m pretty excited by the City Car, just like @goat said. Are they really coming out at the same time? I hope that one will “cannibalize” the other…</p>
<p>19 votes for the scooter! Woo hoo!</p>
<p>How about a diesel MINI? Or Countryman? That would get my vote.</p>
<blockquote>that.guy if the Coopster is a Del Sol is the 2013 Clubman a GTI or Mazda 3? ;)</blockquote>
<p>Uh, sure. If the 2013 AWD JWC Clubman could compete on price and performance with the 2012 AWD GTI-R or rumored AWD MazdaSpeed3, not to mention 2013 WRX, I might buy one.</p>
<p>The MS3 is a really amazing car for the money out of the box and minor suspension tweaks make it even better. Once you adapt to the turbo lag and keep the revs up it is a totally addictive car to drive. If they added a twin-scroll turbo to get more low end power and made it AWD like the MS6, it would be incredible.</p>
<blockquote>next gen hatch with AWD and 250hp while NOT costing $35k with packages.</blockquote>
<p>Amen. Ok, I change my vote.</p>
<p>The city car is all I’m interested in now, too.</p>
<p>Bring me the Coopster and nobody gets hurt!</p>
<p>that.guy, still a couple of differences the Coopster is going to be lighter than the off the shelf R56 with the same motor if not upgraded unit they have been talking about. Meanwhile your hope that the next gen Clubman will match either the GTI or Speed3. Both will still dwarf the current and next gen Clubman (betting the addition of another door and awd will not do anything pleasant to its weight).</p>
<p>Don’t even get me started on a WRX R60. Hope all you will but there is zero chance this will be much of anything other than the standard JCW with maybe some small changes to the interior and some exterior graphics applied. Which is nothing like a fully stripped car that the wizards at Pro-drive build with and full racing setup.</p>
<p>Coupé for sure.</p>
<p>Also keen to see the Countryman when it gets to Australia.</p>
<p>emphasize performance – yes, great. But:</p>
<blockquote>the enthusiast group that is exclusively responsible for MINIs success.</blockquote>
<p>Lets not kid ourselves.</p>
<p>Don’t think you got what I was saying lav.</p>
<p>When I am talking enthusiast I am not talking exclusively speaking about power mad MINI fanatics, rather the massive numbers of people that picked up a MINI and promptly fell in love with the brand. MINIs advertising was good but it was the word of mouth for thousands of MINI drivers that sold the brands success.</p>
<p>Turn the clock forward and its a rare occasion when I see a MINI these days that doesn’t have at least a few MINIs that the drivers are treating like a tool. I think part of this has to do with the brands success but I also think a good measure of it is MINI deciding that their community and its loyalty is not as important as making cars that pander to more and more people that will never be any part of the community.</p>
<p>I personally think a car that helps MINI recapture its fans is just the most important thing they can do right now. I think the Twins are the best chance of this.</p>
<p>What Alan Tate said, 250+ hp AWD Hatch. Although after checking out a recent bimmerfile article, I’m now on the fence about AWD. Just make the JCW version have numbers close to the, I dunno, Scirocco R.</p>
<p>Where is everyone coming up with the “250HP/all wheel drive” coupe stuff? Did I miss something? Dream on! I’ll be amazed if a JCW ever eclipses 220 HP.</p>
<p>My vote goes to the coupe’ two seater/JCW. I like performance sports cars. That lil’ bugger has to deliver big time to get my $.</p>
<p>It’s all about the Coupe. The wait is almost over.</p>
<p>Sadly, None Of The Above. I own a 2009 JCW Clubman. I need to be able to carry 2 to 3 people and my wife’s wheelchair. In my JCW Clubman I have a great compromise between excellent performance, small external size and sufficient interior space. While I like the Countryman, it is beyond what I need and would also have a loss of performance with respect to my current MINI.</p>
<blockquote>Where is everyone coming up with the “250HP/all wheel drive†coupe stuff? Did I miss something? </blockquote>
<p>Did you miss this?
<a href="http://www.windingroad.com/articles/reviews/driven-2012-volkswagen-golf-r/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.windingroad.com/articles/reviews/driven-2012-volkswagen-golf-r/</a></p>
<p>I second the vote for the All4 Diesel Countryman – great torque with the turbo, AWD when needed and 50 mpg/112 mph sounds a winning combination in my book. Who needs a hybrid when you can get a green ecodiesel?</p>
<p>I don’t expect MINI to respond any closer to the Golf R that is has to the Focus RS or Mazda 3 Speed during the 2013 redesign. I do expect to see a little more power but I would honestly be shocked to see a JCW come out with anything close to 250hp (though it would be great if I am wrong, I would love to see MINI finally develop a hardcore performance car).</p>
<p>I also would bet that part of this is they don’t want to make a MINI that challenges BMW’s own 1 series when it goes FWD.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see where they go with the redesign. I expect a small increase in weight and more in size. I think the front end of the future MINI’s will be taking on more of the R60’s front end. Since they are still running up against tighter pedestrian standards we will see more crush area in the front end were dead space is left to soften the possible impacts.</p>
<p>The Hatch is the base, the bread and butter of the mark, if the next generation disappoints broadly then the MINI brand is in jeopardy. Everything else is niche.</p>
<p>a real all4 subie killer please. If you can’t bury a subie, don’t build it.</p>
<p>From the Polling results Mini should reconsider dumping so much money into the Countryman and bring out the Coupe’ ASAP!!! It appears that Mini is going to lose it’s shirt on a few models; good for collectors but bad for Mini.</p>
<p>The car I’m most interested in is not on that list.</p>
<p>I want to see a real JCW/GP variant that puts down 250hp.</p>
<p>Make a mini that hauls but please. The GP was close, the latest JCW disappoints.</p>
<p>250HP + please.</p>
<p>A bigger garage is what I need…</p>
<p>The poll results are missing all those people that don’t know they are Mini fans yet because they only like Scooters, for instance, and are therefor not checking out this website. All the people drawn in by the bread and butter Mini are of course voting for the top 3 choices. Actually, I am surprised the Clubman did not fare better in the poll Maybe less clubman drivers are car enthusiasts to the degree needed to follow Motoring file regularly. Does any of this make sense to y’all???</p>
<p>The next GP without costing more than $30K, well equipped.</p>
<p>And hopefully not on the last year of the model run either, because theres nothing people hate more than blowing lots of money on a car and finding out its old news in less than 9 months.</p>