MotoringFile’s Top Five Stories To Look Forward to in 2015
2015 will be a huge year for MINI. With the F56 launch out of the way the brand will turn it’s attention to debuting the F56 JCW, F54 Clubman and F57 Convertible. Of course this is on top of launching the F56 JCW race car and further rolling out the F55 five door. And that’s just part of the story. To help make some sense of it we pulled together the top five things we’re looking forward to in 2015.
5. Getting to know the new five door MINI
We’ve seen the F55 in photos but we here at MF have yet to see it in person let alone drive it. Given that the five door could be a huge seller for MINI in the years ahead we can’t wait to get our hands on it and bring you the verdict.
4. Low-mileage R53 values dropping below $10k
2015 could be the year we start to see great low-mileage examples of the soon to be classic R53 drop below $10,000. That will make the R53 not just a great car for a budget minded shopper but a potential weekend toy for those who have fond memories of the cars from 10 years ago. Of course once prices stabilize (and we fully expect that they will) we will likely see values start to slowly go upwards later this decade making the R53 a smart buy as well.
3. The F57 Convertible
We’re not going to pull any punches. We liked the previous convertible but it always felt awkwardly proportioned next to the stunning R58 Roadster. While the F57 will carry on with the same silhouette we can expect a massive improvement inside and out with MINI using the F56 as a basis for the new drop-top. Look for the F57 to debut late in 2015.
2. The 2015 JCW
This is a car we’ve been waiting for since 2008? Why so long? The moment we saw the original R56 JCW we knew that MINI had left a lot on the table. All the pieces were there but the car itself felt less of a definitive statement. Now with 231 hp and a number of bespoke improvements the F56 JCW feels like it could be car we’ve all wanted out of JCW. 2015 will answer that.
1. The 2016 F54 six door Clubman
Six doors – four plus those two barn doors in the back will make this Clubman the most versatile MINI ever. Of course it’s not just the doors. This will be the first MINI to be built on the stretched UKL platform (eventually to spawn the Countryman and BMW X1) and thus it’ll be not just longer but wider as well. And it’ll be endowed with higher output engines a diesel (destined for the US) and potentially a plugin hybrid. we say potentially because that honor may have to wait of the revised 2017 Countryman.
What we’re not looking forward to is the discontinuation of the R58 and R59 Coupe and Roadster. They were cars that always felt special and enthusiast biased. Seeing them end production may make business sense but it leaves a hole in the line-up that we can only hope is filled with the Superleggera or Rocketman.
Now it’s your turn. What are you MINI related things are you looking forward to in 2015?
<ol>
<li>THE ROCKETMAN</li>
</ol>
<p>If made that would be more likely 2017-2019.</p>
<p>Bring on the diesel Clubman. My body is ready.</p>
<p>In Europe, F55 orders are fewer than hoped, the IRL (in the real life) design is far from winning the consent of the majority…</p>
<p>If this is true I wonder if the less than expected fuel consumption figures have anything to do with this. In Europe the MINI has more competitors that may get better mileage.</p>
<p>Can you share your source for that (i.e. sales data vs. estimates)? Thanks!</p>
<p>Having talked about it with vendors at the last Paris show, maybe the sales will grow, but the beginning is disappointing — and the launch is generally crucial to predict the success/failure.
The predicted-by-the-marketing and quite reasonable goal (1/3 F55 vs. 2/3 F56) doesn’t seem to be reached.
Subjectively the look is less attractive and Mini is a lot about look, that may be a part of explanation, but rendez-vous next year to get better conclusions</p>
<p>I would disagree regarding the meaning of launch numbers and you can read why here (<a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2014/12/22/opinion-a-tricky-year-for-the-f56-and-mini-usa/" rel="ugc">https://www.motoringfile.com/2014/12/22/opinion-a-tricky-year-for-the-f56-and-mini-usa/</a>). Also the F55 came out at the end of the summer when families generally have little disposable income due to what they spend on vacations and back-to-school equipment. Add to that the fact that car sales in France and Germany (largest European markets) are down and you have all the ingredients for preventing a great launch. As you say, I’d refrain from making a judgement until the data becomes available.</p>
<p>You evoke families, things could (will slowly) change but today 3/4 of Mini customers don’t have any children</p>
<p>I lived in Paris for twenty years and Boston for seven and I see/know plenty of families who own MINIs. Although these are not statistically significant numbers, the fact that the Countryman represents 42% (and growing) of MINI sales and that MINI USA and their dealers indicated last year that a significant portion of Countryman buyers are families, it’s seems unlikely that 3/4 of MINI customers don’t have children. Again, if you have any data to share on the topic, I’m happy to be proven wrong.</p>
<p>It must come from Mini press release, you can read the last sentence of this article :
<a href="http://www.turbo.fr/actualite-automobile/727277-mini-previsions-ventes-5-portes/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.turbo.fr/actualite-automobile/727277-mini-previsions-ventes-5-portes/</a></p>
<p>I took the 4 door out for a spin for a few hours on city roads and was really impressed. In person it looks nice, the rear doors actually are functional and plenty of space behind the rear seats. I am glad the headrests in the back fold down otherwise it creates a blind spot issue. I was looking at this for a commuter and a fun road trip car (MTTS 2016) as well as something for when we are taking friends out and it hits all of the right buttons. Comfort is really like a baby BMW but I will say that the refinement may be great for the masses, it is not as fun (for me anyway) as my Coupe or my old R56 or R57.
I think it will be a huge seller and much needed addition to brand and for my needs it is on the table for a purchase as an additional car.
To be fair on the same day I drove a few other cars to compare and the MINI was easily the winner in my opinion.</p>
<p>My F55S 4 door has finally been released to the trucking company at the Brunswick, Ga port after nearly 2.5 weeks of just sitting there. But it’s not on a truck YET! Hopefully it’ll head south later today or tomorrow to my Fl dealership. Was hoping for a pre- Christmas delivery. Now I’m hoping for a pre New Years delivery!!!</p>
<p>Your long, longer than expected, wait is almost over. You’ve ordered before, MINI’s, so you know that when you get the little guy, the wait will seem like nothing. At least that has been the case with me. Have fun and enjoy your new MINI. Don’t care what many here say, all MINI’s are fun.</p>
<p>Hey Spicyjcw, wanted to let u know my custom 2015 f56 arrived at my dealership in Marin,Ca. Last week. I picked it up on this past Sun,beautiful and in perfect condition. All in all took about eight weeks,ordered end of Oct. Worth the wait, loving it.</p>
<p>Got an email from my MINI sales person last eve that my F55S arrived the dealership late in the day just after dark. Will be taking delivery of the ‘GrayGhost’ (Thunder Gray) around noon today…replacing the ‘SpicyJcwCoupe;. Will have taken 3 days short of 2 months (Nov 3-Dec 31) from order to delivery. It was at the Brunswick, Ga port for about 2.5 weeks B4 getting on a truck to my Fl dealership!! Finally!!!</p>
<p>When do we expect to see the production F54 Clubman debut (online launch and auto show debut)?</p>
<p>So, is the F55 5 door the Clubman or is the F54 six door the Clubman? See first paragraph, maybe a typo. Are they close to the same size, jus tone has a clubman back stuck onto a 4 door?</p>
<p>Too many similar vehicles, I am confused. I think I am just going to give up and buy a Mercedes GLA.</p>
<p>Typo corrected! The F54 is the Clubman and the F55 is the five-door Hardtop. Whenever in you’re in doubt regarding the model lineup numbers, I suggest checking out the MINI Model Cheat Sheet on the main page of MF.</p>
<p>yes, F55 is the four door Hardtop, F54 is Clubman</p>
<p>The F55 is a 4 door hardtop, the F54 is a full on wagon. They will be quite different.</p>
<p>I don’t know if I like description of the JCW as a race car, seems weird… Yes it is higher performance than the S but the race car status seems best left for the GP, just my $.02</p>
<p>Further clarification on F54/F55. The 5-door F55 is the direct replacement on the production line, and in the market place, for the R55 Clubman (R55/F55 get it?) The 5-door uses the shorter and narrower version of the UKL platform, which is EXCLUSIVE to MINI, but has a slightly longer wheelbase than the F56 Hatch and F57 Convertible.</p>
<p>The 6-door F54 Clubman is a much longer and wider car (C segment, same as a Golf and Focus) and uses the BMW version of the UKL platform. Some versions of the Clubman will be offered with 4WD. F54 has nothing in common with the previous generation Clubman, except for its name and a vague silhouette, and is aimed at a very different market. Expect it to be a lot more expensive too!</p>
<p>Things get interesting with MINI 4. BMW has revealed publicly, that it wants to make some MINIs even larger, to compete more closely with VW, and has hinted that the next generation 5-door Hatch will be a genuine Golf competitor. Imagine the new F54 Clubman, but with a shorter and sloping rear hatch in place of the vertical barn-doors.</p>
<p>If it’s any consolation, BMW has promised that the next generation MINI 3-door Hatch will remain under 4 metres in length.</p>
<p>The roadster is an R59, the R58 is the coupe.</p>