The Next GP to be Roadster Based?
We’ve been reported for several years now of MINI’s intention to bring to the market a 2nd generation GP. The first of course being based on the R53, remains the most powerful and motorsport focused production MINI of all time. Last year the rumors of what the car will be based on went from R56 hatch to the R58 Coupe. And now we’re hearing about yet another change, this time to the upcoming Roadster.
It’s just an idea at this point so we stress that a GP based on the Coupe still very much happen. In fact, according to sources MINI has two plans on the table; one involving the Coupe and the other the Roadster. However it’s the Roadster that will focus on today.
In using the Roadster as a donor car, the plan would be to strip out he interior to reduce weight where possible. In addition to that MINI would add a clip-on hardtop to give the car a motorsport look.
Under the hood look for the venerable 1.6L engine to go from 210 bhp to around 220 bhp and for MINI to finally get serious with the car’s suspension. Rumors are that, like the previous GP, this car (whatever form it takes – Roadster or Coupe) will come with the JCW suspension as standard.
What are the odds of a GP Roadster? Honestly we’d be surprised if MINI chooses it over a GP Coupe. But it remains a tantalizing idea.
<p>Would much rather if they picked one or the other twin but not both. Personally I think the best option for a GP2 would still be the Coupe for the extra rigid body that coupes are more oriented than any convertible. At least a removable hardtop would make it a bit more likely as a track toy though I think this would be hands down the most expensive part to make for a GP successor.</p>
<p>Love the idea of a Roadster GP with a Surrey top. But, in my mind, a “proper” GP is always going to be based on a Hardtop Coupe (read not-Coupé).</p>
<p>Stripped out hardtop, like the original GP. Turn up the power, bring on a real suspension.</p>
<p>That’s an ultimate MINI to send off the R56.</p>
<p>“MINI would add a clip-on hardtop to give the car a motorsport look.”</p>
<p>Sigh…</p>
<p>not sure why this is a “sigh” after all, Honda did it with the S2000CR, they removed the convertible top mechanics and made it hardtop only, either on, or off, in order to make a much more “track day car”.</p>
<p>yup. “unlike”.</p>
<p>Nice thing about the roadster would be a potentially lower Cg. The hardtop would be a stiffer car… 6 of one, half-dozen of the other…..</p>
<p>But I too worry when phrases like “motorsports look”…..</p>
<p>Exactly. Sounds to me like the same kind of “thinking” that led to the non-structural bar they added to the rear cargo area and the non-functional brake ducts added to the front bumper of the GP to it a “motorsport look.” You can’t secure a harness to the bar and no air flows through those ducts, but MINI wasted time and money on both. </p>
<p>Not really, as that non structural bar was so that it could be classified as a two seater and preventing sitting on the rear self more than anything else</p>
<p>That’s all well and good but 220 bhp? Come on, if they are serious it has to be 250. The gap between the power ie s jcw then gp, is too small. They are so many others with way more power for a lot cheaper than this would be. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still want one but that’s because I love Mini’s. Hard to justify to other people who aren’t so familiar with the brand. They just put out a track version with 250 bhp so why not make it to production?</p>
<p>I’d be very curious to know the actual percentage of people who insist that anything/everything MINI do be fully track-day optimized actually pony up and buy such cars, let alone actually take them to track days. How many have actually entered an auto-x event in their current MINI? An SCCA event? Waved $20 in the face of a Mustang owner at the start of a curvy road? Or does it simply satisfy some theological itch that such a car must exist a certain way whether or not you’d actually write a check and own it?</p>
<p>I think the point some of us are making is that we would much “pony up”
for actual performance improvements than for faux “motorsport look”
garnishings. Give us material engine and suspension improvements and weight savings, and not another half-baked skin job like the GP.
Personally, I am not looking for full track optimization, but for
improvements that enhance driving dynamics, not appearance. (That being
said, I tracked the living sh$t out of my last MINI…)</p>
<p>I do and a good portion of mini owners that I know does so as well. The only thing that was track worthy was the limited gp so its understandable for people wanting to have at least one model out of the lineup to be more focused car. If you follow the european car scene then you’ll even see hatches with a more focused models with the same thought as porsche put in their gt2/3 models.</p>
<p>My GP has spend 30k on it and most of it embarrassing “better” cars. Its done lots of autox and a large number of runs around multiple tracks. Add to that the $43,000 we just dropped on the jcw Coupe (a demi performance car). Think I for one would love to see MINI produce something that is more than a mid level hot hatch and aim at the top for once. One thing for sure, personally would not drop a dime for a GP in the R59 as to me it would be largely a poser car.</p>
<p>The next plan is to show where MINI are going in realtion to sustainability and a successor to the MINI E which in terms of technology has become dated.There will be an idea Concept showcasing a MINI with a hybrid drivetrain that could
eventually materialize into the Spacebox.- nee Traveller. But with plans to showcase the production Paceman which will be
prologued by a more production-ready Concept ahead of the World Premiere ,
similar to the MINI Beachcomber ahead of the MINI Countryman. It is possible the drivetrain could feature with this concept.</p>
<p>With the
Coupe being launched and the Roadster imminent. The anticipation is to wait
until the establishment period is over to justify “what next?” And Dr.Segler and his team is thinking about two options initially.
There is two
ideas on progression with the Coupe as a more focused ltd edition JCW GP edition
with the Roadster becoming a MINI “Speedster” with stripped out interior , less
weight and an idea that has been with MINI for a long time but have never got
around to implementing it – a clip on roof. Of course it all lies on how popular and successful the Coupe and Roadster are before taking any decision and at the moment is a creative impulse and on paper.In the meantime they are trying to make the Rocketman work in relation to keeping costs down to bring it to production since the Concepts genetic make up is not feasible at the current time.</p>
<p>Of course if the MINI Coupe
and Roadster are very successful early decisions relate to the next generation
being less a MINI variant and more of a MINI branded model with a bespoke body
that will share MINI design DNA but not be an F56. MINI is very much the
experimental creativity lab for some off-the shelf ideas and they are
investigating new niches such as MINI “loungeracer” which is like a MINI
combined with a single seater motorsport car.
I have not seen it personally but some label it the “BatMINI”. It apparently goes beyond , well everything seen yet.</p>
<p> Sounds promising, just hope that MINI finally nails one out of the park. Think for the performance nuts like me that send large funds constantly trying to improve a decent MINI into a small sports car would be very happy to see jcw step up the sports end of the brand.</p>
<p>This makes some sense, as the body for both twins is the same, with the same upgrades to reinforce, the removal of the soft top mech would save some weight, then not using the Coupe roof would also save some weight too. Make a detachable lightweight roof to clip on, jobs a good un!</p>
<p>Also it really would make my life so much easier, as I’ve already been struggling with the idea of giving up my GP for a Roadster or the new GP. Please MINI do this, all my MINI change issues will be over in one easy buying decision!</p>
<p>Just hope that MINI does find a way around the BMW ///M divisions issue with the M3. The move to larger, more powerful, and heavier cars over time. Until such time as they find themselves building a more pure sports car (see the 1M). I have said it before but I wonder over the scope of time the GP will be more akin to the E30 M3, a fond remembrance of what the car used to be like. either way I am excited to see what MINI comes up with eventually as a possible GP2.</p>
<p>I think it needs to be an R56 hatch. </p>
<p>I would love a Roadster with a hardtop option. Living in Vancouver we get a couple of months of convertible weather and then the rest needs a hard top to keep out the crappy rain. Would be ideal. </p>