Opinion: BMW Delaying the Next Generation MINI is a Good Thing
The F56 generation is the best made, best performing and most capable small MINI never made. So let’s keep it around for a bit longer. That’s our assessment after BMW confirmed that the next generation MINI would indeed be postponed. The current rumors point to 2022 or beyond meaning that the F56 generation could last up to 10 years – an eternity for a company like BMW. But the truth is that we think this delay give MINI a chance to make the F56 even better and its follow-up more market-ready.
It could also allow for that lifted F55 five door we’ve heard rumored for the past few years.
Ironically it’s also good timing. The components and raw materials of the next generation of electric cars are just a few years away from mass production. By delaying the small MINIs (which are rumored to be mostly electric) it allows BMW to put its best foot forward with more range and performance while keeping costs low.
In the short term it will also allow MINI to bring another refresh to the current small MINI range with styling and performance updates.
That’s our quick take. What’s yours?
<p>The Cooper SE is a half-hearted attempt at electrifying the MINI brand. It may do well for BMW in markets where they’ve given up selling the i3 in REx form and 110-150 mile range is more than adequate. It makes sense that BMW would need to take time to really build significant EVs in the MINI lineup to compete.</p>
<p>I agree with all of the points given above, and would add it also extends the opportunity to purchase a MINI with a manual transmission. Let’s hope for a refresh that cleans up the front end styling and possibly adds a lifted 5 door–all good! For the US market the infrastructure is not there yet for massive adoption of e vehicles. That will be in approximately 5 years from now–that will allow for some technology maturation/improvement which will only make the MINI-E better</p>
Back in 2018, BMW decided that it would no longer be profitable to build small MINIs in Europe, and that consequently it would need a partner to share the design and production cost of the next generation small MINI. Fast forward to December 2019 and the Joint Venture with Great Wall Motor has finally been given the go ahead.
<a href="https://insideevs.com/news/385306/bmw-mini-great-wall-ev-joint-venture/" rel="nofollow ugc">https://insideevs.com/news/385306/bmw-mini-great-wall-ev-joint-venture/</a>
An all-new state of the art production facility will be built on a green field site in Zhangjiagang in the Jiangsu Province in China, with construction starting this year and due to be completed in late 2022. The all-new BEV MINI will go on sale in the first half of 2023, so until then BMW has no choice but to continue to maintain the freshness of the F55/F56.
A spokesperson for BMW said that from 2023, BMW will have three main MINI production sites, Plant Oxford, VDL NedCar and Plant Zhangjiagang, plus the three existing ‘satellite’ assembly plants in India, Malaysia and Thailand where the R60 was and F60 Countryman is currently assembled respectively from CKD kits using some local content – over 50% local content in India, similar to all BMWs assembled there.
<p>Thank you for providing this detailed information!</p>
<p>This plus much more in the GXX section of MF</p>
I think this is not a good idea. It just demonstrates that yet again BMW is not investing in MINI the way it is supposed to. BMW always puts MINI on the back burner and is mismanaging the brand, IMO.
The price for MINIs keep on going up but the customer hardly gets anything in return.
For instance, the new BMW 4 door version of the 2 series which is basically a sedan version of the Clubman. Tis 2-series gets all the options MINI customers have been begging for for years, like:
– Heated steering wheels
– Blind spot monitoring
– Lane assist
– autonomous breaking
AND… the kicker is that it is CHEAPER with those features than a fully loaded Clubman or Countryman! Like BMW apparently just doesn’t want to sell MINIs. MINI just isn’t allowed to technologically have what is expected in the light of competition from cheaper mass brands. If nothing changes I think MINI as a brand will be defunct and dead within 10 years. People just aren’t that interested in a premium car with sub-premium, even sub-mass brand options.
BMW doesn’t want MINI to compete with its own BMW vehicles. But that is complete idiocy because you don’t see anything like that in
Toyota vs Lexus,
Honda vs Acura,
Genesis vs Hyundai vs Kia,
Nissan vs Infinity,
Volkswagen vs Audi vs Porsche vs Seat vs skoda etc.
None of those brands think that putting technology options that are seen as basic features, that all cars offer these days, will sell them less cars. The technology actually gives them stronger sales in bigger volumes on all their brands, offers more of an incentive for people to trade in their old cars etc.
But BMW keeps on repeating the lame old nonsense that MINI might catch away sales from BMW if they are technologically too similar to BMWs. However, BMW and MINI have such differing design languages and brand heritages/identities that a lot of MINI drivers would never consider a BMW and vice versa BMW drivers who just can’t see themselves driving a MINI. MINI sales are falling but BMW just keeps shooting itself in the foot and stabs MINI in the back. I presume BMW management is just incompetent and not able to manage a big brand portfolio while making every brand work.
I think this is perfectly fine and if anything it’s a good thing! there is no need for new MINIs right now especially with the FXX LCIs. they are pretty much perfect as they are. some refinements could be made with software, but otherwise they are fantastic! if we see a new GXX range in 2022-2023 then i think that would be perfect!