Report: MINI Traveller Crossover to Slot Under Countryman
Autocar has a report today that reports to give us a glimpse into MINI’s next all new model – a small crossover expected to slot under the Countryman. Is the MINI Traveller actually happening? And if so what about the Clubman? Read-on for our take.
We’ve reported previously that MINI will introduce a smaller crossover but it’s been unclear if it was to be based on the hatch or a the FAAR platform meant to underpin front wheel drive BMWs and the next generation Countryman. According to Autocar it’s likely the latter.
Given the instability in the BMW and Great Wall relationship, building the smaller crossover off of the BMW FAAR platform would make some sense. Autocar also believes that this virtually identical in terms of technology to the next generation i3 which will move from its bespoke carbon fiber monocoque chassis. However sources are telling us that this next i3 will be much more crossover in its shape and less MVP – a European centric shape which has never caught on in America and is losing relevance in Europe as well.
Crucially twinning the Traveller with the i3 will give MINI some opportunities it wouldn’t have had in terms of electrification. According to Autocar there will be versions powered by internal combustion engines, a plug-in hybrid and, later in its seven-year life cycle, a battery-electric driveline in a Traveller SE model. It will rival the Volkswagen ID 3, which will be revealed next month. Expect a range of at least 250 miles given projections for the next i3.
This move will align MINI’s products into two distinct areas; larger MINIs will be based on the BMW FAAR platform and smaller ones one a new entry-level platform being developed in a joint venture with Chinese car maker Great Wall Motors.
What does this mean for the Clubman? Our sources tell us that this will effectively eliminate the need for the wagon in MINI’s line-up. Sadly with the wagon market shrinking globally MINI needs to aim for where the market is heading and likely kill the Clubman.
<p>According to Autocar’s source, said to be a senior BMW insider, the MINI Traveller has already been given the Green Light and will be the biggest MINI yet in terms of overall dimensions, and will be MINI’s sister car to the next generation BMW Active Tourer MPV. The current BMW 2-series AT is not sold in the US.</p>
<p>According to Georg Kacher, however, it might be called the MINI Spaceman. This is possible, because ‘Traveller’ means ‘Prostitute’ in some cultures and so might cause offense.</p>
<p>Georg has also reported recently that the Countryman will be replaced by a bigger third generation model and will be sister car to the next generation BMW X1, and will be joined by the MINI Sportsman 5-dr Crossover sister car to the next generation BMW X2. All three will be built on the FAAR platform and will be available with the option of a 2.0-litre 4cyl ICE, Hybrid and BEV.</p>
<p>The current F54 Clubman and F57 Convertible will not be replaced according to Georg Kacher’s sources.</p>
<p><a href="https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/91ff5ac623f0d81e5d80eaea31742f27e29e13792b0b9c25e3b3b41c9cbb118d.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/91ff5ac623f0d81e5d80eaea31742f27e29e13792b0b9c25e3b3b41c9cbb118d.jpg</a></p>
<p>And don’t forget Honda owns the Traveller name in at least one key market.</p>
<p>How about the MINI Bigman?</p>
<p>And for the extra big off roader, the MINI Bogeyman.</p>
<p>A really slick model for male financiers, the MINI Businessman.</p>
<p>A more curvy model with alternative color schemes, the MINI Woman.</p>
<p>Personally, I’m going to hold out for a DC Comics partnership to produce the extra dark, all black trim, matte finished, gothic styled, MINI Batman.</p>
<p>I am totally in favor of using the name ‘Traveller’ for the new MINI MPV. Adopting the name ‘Spaceman’ might be one small step for political correctness, but might be one giant leap too far for MINI Mankind.</p>
<p>Based on previous reporting in MF, this report and Mr. Dawson’s comments have me a little confused. Previous reporting stated that MINI was strongly considering putting a crossover style body on the current F55 platform for sale in 2021. Is that an independent effort from the proposed Traveller?? That was very attractive to me as the size would be very similar to my current R60. Although the banner on this article states the Traveller will slot in under the Countryman, Mr. Dawson’s comments indicate the Traveller will be the size of the current Countryman and the next gen Countryman will get even bigger. Both developments do not fit into a future purchase for me.
Can you clarify Gabe or Mr. Dawson as to what may be going between the two efforts. Thank you</p>
<p>That’s a different product and one that won’t be dramatically different than the F55.</p>
<p>NEW MODELS BASED ON CURRENT UKL1 PLATFORM:</p>
<p>F55 MINI Cooper S E 4dr BEV (under consideration)
F55 MINI Cooper/S 4dr Crossover 2WD</p>
<p>ALL-NEW MODELS 2023 ONWARDS:</p>
<ol>
<li>Larger FAAR Platform – ICE/Hybrid/BEV Options:</li>
</ol>
<p>G54 MINI Spaceman – sister car to BMW 2-er AT
G60 MINI Countryman – sister car to BMW X1
G61 MINI Sportsman – sister car to BMW X2</p>
<ol>
<li>Small All-Electric Platform With Great Wall Motor:</li>
</ol>
<p>MINI-Mini City Car
MINI 3-dr Hatch
MINI 5-dr Crossover</p>
<p>I was just thinking we need to do another round-up on the new models. FYI I’ve heard the Clubman replacement was still up in the air.</p>
<p>According to Georg Kacher, the Clubman is to be “reinvented” and will possibly be called “Sportsman” – think MINI’s take on the X2.</p>
<p>That’s been rumored for many years… almost since the current Clubman came out.</p>
<p>You will recall that during the first full year of Clubman production, it was for a while MINI USA’s best selling model. The novelty, however, abruptly came to an end as soon as the F60 went on sale, and since then it has been consistently the worst selling model in the range. In the rest of the world, it’s not much better. Let’s be honest the R54 wasn’t a great seller either, accounting for just 7% of overall sales.</p>
<p>The other thing is build cost. Those rear barn doors on the Clubman are complicated to make and assemble, and add to the cost. I suspect that the Countryman is no more expensive to build and yet it sells for a higher price and in much greater numbers, so the Countryman must be a real money-spinner compared to the Clubman. Surely BMW won’t sanction yet another MINI Wagon.</p>
<p>AMENDMENT: Things have moved on since Georg’s report earlier this year, and I now believe that the Traveller – aka Spaceman – is the next generation replacement for the Clubman, and that the ‘Sportsman’ is an all-new additional SAV Crossover.</p>
<p>‘What’s Up with MINI and Rolls’ in the attached link makes interesting reading.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.automobilemag.com/news/whats-going-on-bmw-future-strategy-products/" rel="nofollow ugc">https://www.automobilemag.com/news/whats-going-on-bmw-future-strategy-products/</a></p>
<p>A two door SUV model with AWD, some real suspension travel, and the length of the F55 would be very appealing to someone like me. Hopefully it would be a modification to the hatch though so as to inherit the round headlights and more coherent design direction of the hatch models rather than the jumbled mess and poorly proportioned Countryman and Clubman. Basically I want a rally version of the 3 door hatch so I can have a lively car in the city and also drive up fire roads in the mountains where people go with Subarus.
<strong><em>??????????????</em></strong></p>
<p>Isn’t a two door Countryman called a Paceman? So, isn’t this a Paceman II and not a Traveller?</p>