World Premier: MINI Urbanaut – The Radical Concept that Points to the Brand’s Future
Your eyes don’t deceive you. This is indeed MINI’s highly anticipated concept car intended to point towards the future of the brand. So why is there a plant in it? And why does it look like a van? We spoke to the Head of MINI Design Oliver Heilmer and the Head of MINI Bernd Koerber about the Urbanaut and what it tells us about the future of the brand (and if a MINI-van is coming).
The first thing you need to know about the MINI Urbanaut is that it’s a “Vision” car. That’s BMW speak for future-forward concept that doesn’t specifically point towards a production car. Rather it’s intended to show-off themes and design elements that are heading towards production. The Urbanaut gives us glimpses of the front of the next generation MINI (at a high-level mind you) and an early look at a much simplified design language we’ll be seeing.
That design language has its origins in the 1959 Mini. More specifically the simplicity and minimalism we see here was inspired by the brand’s past. To us it feels both more modern and inline with where the brand started over 60 years ago.
Yet many of you are likely struggling to get past the fact that this is basically a small van. Or in other terms of modern version of a VW Bus. That’s not by accident. MINI sees trends and data pointing to the potential resurgence of MPVs (as their called in Europe) having a comeback towards the end of the decade. And while the concept of a MINI MPV hasn’t been officially approved, it was an idea the design team wanted to explore as a way to test new ideas and stretch the MINI design DNA.
But Oliver Heilmer was quick to point out that the Urbanaut is dramatically different than the classic MVP. He wanted to create something that was entirely variable depending on the situation and environment. A concept that could seamlessly blend into the owners life far more than a car (which is parked the majority of the time) could ever integrate.
This is a room concept so it’s dramatically different from that. We’re talking about a multi-functional Swiss knife with the Urbanaut. You’re able to use it in different moments and transform it. So the approach is entirely different.
Oliver Heilmer
Head of MINI Design
But it’s hard to get past how uncool the MVP or classic minivan has become in most corners of the world. To that, MINI’s head Bernd Koerber had a very straightforward answer; “We won’t make a practical MPV if it’s not cool.” And he expects to see more concepts like this from other brands in the near future – which could in itself start to sway public towards the idea.
Design is all important to MINI. Sometimes it only takes second to review design. We ask ourselves; is it cool or not cool? So there will be that question. We won’t make a practical MVP if it’s not cool.
Bernd Koerber
Head of MINI
Is the MINI Urbanaut successful? As an object of lust perhaps not. But has a concept that tests new ideas and breaks ground for the brand, yes. And those ideas are particularly relevant in a post COVID world. As the idea of work and living space blend, the MINI has envisioned a new space that offers more than just mobility but also safety and community.
Perhaps Head of MINI Bernd Koerber said it best when he described COVID’s impact on the MINI team: The last ten months has changed our minds on mobility. For all of us there was this feeling of, where can we find space where we feel safe in an urban environment. The Urbanaut is a concept informed by both these recent global events and trends that have been in the making for years.
is it a MINI? Is the broad definition of how the original came to be, of course. It leverages it’s 4.46 meters in smart ways to create the maximum possible interior volume. It’s also an answer to a world in crisis not unlike the 1959 oil crisis. And it’s a radical departure from what came before it.
OFFICIAL RELEASE
The MINI brand is using #NEXTGen to present, in a world exclusive, the MINI Vision Urbanaut – an all-new interpretation of a vision of space. This digital vision vehicle offers more interior space and versatility than ever before, but still on a minimal footprint.
“The MINI brand has always stood for ‘Clever Use of Space’. In the MINI Vision Urbanaut, we extend private space far into the public realm, creating completely new and enriching experiences,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design.
The MINI moments.
“MINI sees its future self primarily as an enabler of and companion for unforgettable times – what we might call ‘MINI moments’. The MINI Vision Urbanaut uses three curated MINI moments – “Chill”, “Wanderlust” and “Vibe” – to present a wide range of possible usage scenarios. The Chill moment invites you to catch a breath and pause in the here and now. The car becomes a kind of retreat, a haven where you can relax – or work with full concentration – during a journey. Wanderlust is the only MINI moment where the MINI Vision Urbanaut is being driven or driving with automated driving functions. The moment Vibe puts time with other people at centre stage – in every way”, adds Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design.
The exterior and interior change to reflect the MINI moment at hand and give the experience the best possible stage. An all-encompassing user experience design, sustainable materials and a purely electric drive system are additional ingredients of the overall concept.
The interior design – More Creative Use of Space.
As an innovative space concept, the MINI Vision Urbanaut was designed from the inside out. The designers created the spacious interior experience before developing the exterior, using floor plans, pieces of furniture plus wooden scale models to provide an indication of size. Over the course of the project, augmented reality was employed to create a digital model, which was then systematically optimised. Unusually tall for a MINI, but only 4.46 m in length, the MINI Vision Urbanaut provides an interior space that can be used in many different ways and offers a whole new ease of movement inside the car.
Electric drive system and automated driving functions also create new ways to use the interior.
Having been conceived from the outset as an electrically powered vehicle with automated driving functions, the MINI Vision Urbanaut has afforded the designers a greater level of freedom when creating both the exterior and interior.
“In 1959, the very first Mini ushered in a small-scale revolution in vehicle construction with its transversely mounted engine,” recalls Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “With the MINI Vision Urbanaut we have been able to rethink and increase the usable surface area inside the car even further in relation to its footprint.”
One space, a multitude of possibilities.
The interior of the MINI Vision Urbanaut provides the ideal environment in which to go on a journey, but is also the aim of the journey. Having arrived at the chosen destination, it can transform into a living room in just a few simple steps. Occupants enter the innovative cabin through a large sliding door in the side of the car. The cutting-edge slide and swivel mechanism is the ideal design for urban driving conditions where space is at a premium. There are no other doors on the driver’s side or front passenger side.
The interior of the MINI Vision Urbanaut provides the ideal environment in which to go on a journey, but is also the aim of the journey. Having arrived at the chosen destination, it can transform into a living room in just a few simple steps. Occupants enter the innovative cabin through a large sliding door in the side of the car. The cutting-edge slide and swivel mechanism is the ideal design for urban driving conditions where space is at a premium. There are no other doors on the driver’s side or front passenger side.
Driver’s area with “Daybed” and “Street Balcony”; “Cosy Corner” in the rear.
An extremely flexible four-seat layout provides the basis for the bright interior. The two front seats are designed to rotate, while the backrests for the generously sized seat surface in the rear can be folded manually (left rear seat) and turned around (right rear seat). When the car is stationary, the dashboard lowers and the driver’s area becomes a comfortable seating corner – the “daybed”. Added to which, the windscreen can be opened upwards when stationary to create a kind of Street Balcony. This enhances interaction with the car’s surroundings and creates an even more generous spatial experience.
The darker environs of the cabin’s rear section provide a quieter space – the Cosy Corner. This area invites passengers to enjoy some time to themselves. A textile- covered “Loop” extends over the seat bench and features the option of LED backlighting. Between Cosy Corner and the driver’s area is the open and airy central section of the car, which offers quick access to all seating areas. With the door open, it is even possible to sit on the floor. On the side of the car opposite the entry door, a small integrated table with a plant adds a finishing touch to the interior fittings. The
table signifies the car’s new centre point – the place where passengers meet, face and engage with one another.
User interface and interaction design – “Analogue love, digital connection” as a guiding principle.
Intuitive, discreet user interface solutions allow conventional controls such as switches or buttons to be omitted. This creates a minimalist, cosy spatial experience while maintaining full connectivity. The principle of making things as simple as possible to use (“natural interaction”) is highlighted by the “analogue”, tactile, haptic experience of initiating a feature, e.g. the direct touch operation option in the Loop over the rear seat bench. The circular instrument is now positioned in the middle of the car – the new centre of the action – and brings information to the place where people meet.
The “MINI Token” – the digital-analogue interface for MINI moments.
The MINI Token is the centrepiece of the MINI Vision Urbanaut’s experience worlds. It is roughly the same size as a worry stone and activates the three preconfigured MINI moments – Chill, Wanderlust and Vibe – when placed in purpose-designed slots in the table at the centre of the car. Other MINI moments are conceivable, such as “My MINI moment”. Here, the MINI Token can be programmed to provide another kind of personalised experience, in which the user can configure their own preferred scenario of fragrance, ambient lighting, music, etc. and call it up directly at a later time.
The exterior design – the spirit of the brand in a new form.
The purist mono-volume design of the MINI Vision Urbanaut gives new meaning to the “Creative Use of Space” approach. The flush, virtually seamless surface creates a modern baseline mood, with high-quality details adding carefully judged stylistic flourishes. In signature MINI fashion, the wheels are positioned at the outer corners of the body, with short overhangs rounding off a compact and agile appearance.
A new MINI face.
The front end of the MINI Vision Urbanaut represents a clear evolution of two time- honoured MINI design icons – the headlights and radiator grille. Positioned under a milled aluminium structure with slotted openings, the headlights are only visible when switched on. Thanks to their multicolour dynamic matrix design they can display different multi-coloured graphics, which creates a new form of communication between the car and the outside world to suit each moment. The
lights on the MINI Vision Urbanaut complement the front “grille” with the attractive look distinctive to every MINI. The enclosed grille itself is now octagonal in shape, representing an evolution of the traditional hexagonal form. Since the MINI Vision Urbanaut does not have a combustion engine requiring cooling air, the grille assumes a new function: it now serves as an intelligence panel for automated driving.
As with the headlights, mulitcolour dynamic matrix rear lights behind milled aluminium covers deliver a fresh aesthetic and present different looks in the various driving modes and MINI moments. On closer inspection, the distinctive, convex surfaces also pay homage to previous MINIs and the classic Mini. One small detail – the contour of the rear windows – references the form of the front grille and underscores the car’s stylistic consistency.
The clear form of the exterior supplies the car’s colours, materials and details with the perfect stage. The matt exterior shade Zero Gravity transitions from a metallic green with blue flip effect to a subtly toned grey. The windows show a pattern in body colour, fading in a gradient from bottom to top. This creates a harmonious transition from the vehicle body to the windows and roof. The pattern also provides a certain amount of privacy without having to darken the windows; the interior remains bright.
Illuminated skateboard wheels provide visual flourishes.
The visual highlight of the MINI Vision Urbanaut when viewed from the side are the wheels, finished in the colour Ocean Wave, a turquoise blue which sparks associations with the beach and the sound of the sea. The abstract Union Jack profile of the wheels is a nod to the car’s British heritage, while their shape recalls skateboards – thereby further highlighting the car’s nimbleness and non-conformist MINI twist. The wheels also represent another way in which the car communicates with its surroundings. Transparent and illuminated from the inside, their appearance changes according to the selected MINI moment.
MINI charms – tactile loveables.
Occupying an exposed position in the C-pillar on the driver’s side are the “charms”. They offer reminders of places travelled, festivals or other events in the form of pins or stickers, and are presented as graphic collector’s items behind glass, as if in adisplay cabinet. The MINI charms are also an expression of wanderlust and show what the owner has experienced with the MINI Vision Urbanaut – like the stickers on camper vans or badges on walking poles in days gone by. One charm is dedicated to
the #Next Gen platform on which the MINI Vision Urbanaut will celebrate its world premiere. Another has a QR code which, when scanned, takes you to MINI.com. In this way, the analogue and digital worlds come together in the car’s exterior as well.Expressing the MINI moments in the interior and exterior.
If one of the three MINI moments is activated by placing the MINI Token in the slots in the table, this is signalled on the outside of the car through the front and rear surfaces and wheel rims. In the interior, the whole geometry – including the seats, the form of the dashboard/daybed and the backrest positions – can be adjusted manually according to the MINI moment selected. The circular instrument display also changes. Fragrance, sound and ambient lighting continue to enrich the baseline mood initiated by the chosen MINI moment.
MINI moment Chill – an oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the city.
In the MINI moment Chill, the MINI Vision Urbanaut becomes a private retreat, an urban oasis. While the rear seat bench (Cosy Corner) invites various seating and lying positions, the backlit Loop above it takes on an appearance inspired by a green forest canopy and can also be dimmed. Ambient music and atmospheric sounds from nature are added to the mix. In the central area, the circular instrument folds down to become a table lamp, eliminating displays or switches that might remind the customer of their automotive surroundings. From the outside, the MINI moment Chill is revealed in the abstract representation of a forest canopy around the headlights, rear lights and wheels.
MINI moment Wanderlust – the joy of travelling together.
graphics in the LED matrix surfaces at the front and rear ends signal whether automated mode has been engaged or the customer is driving themselves.
MINI moment Vibe – celebrating community, sharing moments.
In the MINI moment Vibe, the MINI Vision Urbanaut opens up to people and its surroundings, and provides an experience of togetherness and interaction. Opening the side door and folding up the windscreen creates a welcoming scene that blurs the boundaries between the outside and inside. Amid a colour world of magenta and black with turquoise highlights, the MINI Vision Urbanaut provides a central meeting hub; one which can be either quiet or loud. The central circular instrument becomes a media control centre. An animation of graphic equalizers moving with the music is projected onto surfaces of the front, rear, wheels and Loop above the rear seat bench, creating a pleasant club atmosphere. If those on board so desire, the car could even begin to resemble a boombox.
Digital services connected with the MINI Vision Urbanaut
The concept behind the MINI Vision Urbanaut includes services designed to make using the car an enriching and seamless experience. For example, the MINI Vision Urbanaut can be opened using smart devices – so, in keeping with its status as a mobility option of the future, it can be accessed by anyone within a defined circle of family and friends. Playlists, audio books or podcasts to suit the route and the moment can be explored while travelling in the Wanderlust moment. A personal journey planner displays tips and points of interest (POI) tailored to the individual, as well as recommendations from the MINI Community. These can be proposed and selected as desired.
Sustainable materials and a responsible mindset.
The MINI Vision Urbanaut is characterised by the responsible use of resources. As well as maximum space within a small footprint and the all-electric drive system, the MINI Vision Urbanaut is committed to a responsible approach to materials. This is achieved not only by reducing the number of components in the exterior and interior design, but also by enabling dual functions such as the dashboard/daybed. In addition to the use of recyclates, this also means ensuring that the design is free of chrome and leather. Along with the use of recycled materials, this also means avoiding chrome and leather. The dominant material in the interior is knitted textile, which combines cosiness and quality with softness and comfort. The use of cork on the steering wheel and sections of the floor adds a special touch thanks to its natural feel, and ensures an authentically pleasant interior climate.
Why is the render quality so bad? It looks like they hired the CGI team from the 90s show ReBoot.
It was probably on purpose, but it’s weird to me.
I mean, I like the idea, much like I’m excited for the ID.Buzz from VW, but the render is strange… and obviously an autonomous van is not in line with why most of us enjoy MINIs.
Great exploration of future transport. Why can’t the management at Mini manage to put some of their design work into production? The Countryman looks like a sales manager took control of the designers pen and forced it around the page. We’ll see if the next gen Cooper manages to put some of the designer’s ideas out into world without dilution.
Should the Urbanaut ever be given the green light for production, it won’t appear in showrooms until at least 2027.
It’s understood, however, that some of the Urbanaut’s design elements will appear on the fourth generation MINIs starting in 2023, but we should not expect rotating seats, a dashboard “Daybed” or a “Street-Balcony” anytime soon.
Autocar has provided some additional information on the Urbanaut. While the concept interior of the Urbanaut is intended to preview how future urban vehicles could be used as ‘a mobile living space’, MINI has already built interior packaging models of the Urbanaut that feature a more conventional layout with seats that fold flat to provide a bed.
MINI officials have also told Autocar that as well as a five-seat passenger car, a commercial panel van for urban deliveries is also being considered for production that would give MINI’s parent firm, BMW, a competitor to the popular small vans sold by rivals Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
MVP should be MPV, aka multi-purpose vehicle.
While BMW hasn’t named the platform that the concept is based on, according to Autocar the production version will likely use the EV architecture being developed by Spotlight Automotive, a joint venture between BMW and Great Wall Motor. That platform is set to underpin the new all-electric G55 MINI 5-dr Crossover and will be built in China for the global market, starting in 2024.
I suppose they could make it look worse by giving it a really long front overhang.
One can notice all the efforts you make to seek to qualify this car (it’s not exactly love at first sight) – in itself, this is quite significant
3,000 buyers loved it at first sight. Job done!
Roll on the all-electric ‘Limited Edition’ Cooper JCW GP 3E.
Not exactly… they had to buy it before seeing it 😉
Not exactly. I submitted the following comment well over a year ago while the GP 3 was still fully clad. Lots of official shots, interior and exterior, of the GP 3 without cladding were subsequently released well before the pre-order went live.
“Gabe – enjoyed your ‘up-close and personal’ view on the JCW GP. Those carbon fiber fenders and that huge rear wing are obviously essential aerodynamic aids with 301hp driving the front wheels.
What a wonderfully audacious swansong for the F56 – the fastest most powerful production MINI 2-door Hardtop with an ICE and front-wheel drive! All 3,000 will surely be snapped up tout suite”.
In April 2019, an extensive video was released of the GP 3 being tested at the Nurburgring. It was seriously seductive 🙂
Stop quibbling, you know what I mean, it’s not about the look 😉
As seductive this Mini can be, disappointment was felt by every journalist.
Quibbling? That’s a bit rich coming from you Eric 😉
All 3,000 sold out quickly – that’s all that matters.
You’re a bit optimistic on that, impossible to verify what emanates only from the Bmw press group 😉
How can you explain the 54 officially on sale by professionals ? (and these figures only concern Europe…
<a href="https://www.leparking.fr/#!/voiture-occasion/mini-gp.html%3Fid_puissance%3D583%26id_vendeur%3D2" rel="nofollow ugc">https://www.leparking.fr/#!/voiture-occasion/mini-gp.html%3Fid_puissance%3D583%26id_vendeur%3D2</a>
And in my opinion there are many more in stock by contacting each national representative…
I look forward to seeing the final version (hopefully has four seats and comes with the body wrap as shown in the video!
Why would the BMW Board sanction an all-electric Cooper JCW GP 3 for a limited production run?
Well, why wouldn’t it? MINI’s boss Bernd Körber, has already gone on record saying that the JCW is MINI’s most profitable brand. Additionally, almost all the ingredients – the tried and tested Cooper SE and JCW GP 3 – are already in place.
Provided the GPE has better overall performance than the Cooper SE with at least the same range, a limited edition electric JCW will sell like hot cakes. Many will be bought by collectors who already own a GP 1, GP 2 and GP 3 and use them sparingly.
You know what was the most exciting aspect of the videos of the Mach-E? The sound that it makes. This video is a disappointment for sure, that car could very well be a car powered by the ICE engine. This video is just “good looking” b-roll, I remember a time when MINI knew how to build excitement for new product in the brand, this is the future of JCW and this is a TERRIBLE first video of the halo car for MINI and JCW.
The Mach-E makes a horrible and scary noise
My last MINI was a ’19 JCW hardtop with MINI Connected. My current is an Audi RS5. The MINI Connect worked very well. On my RS5( considering it’s a much more costly car), The Audi Connect ia a worthless piece of Shit. While I prefer Audi , the BMW Connect system works and the Audi system does nt.
Looking forward to using the new MINI app when it is available – as of a few minutes ago it’s still not appearing in the US Apple App Store.
The current MINI Connected app is useful to check the charging status and driving efficiency with my 2021 Countryman S E, but it could be improved. I’m hoping the new app has improved social engagement tools (ex. best electric-only range, best hybrid range, highest G-force and best point-to-point times (hah!), etc.
If anyone at MINI is reading, give the GP-E ~150 miles range, ~100 kW charging, and track-worthy cooling, and I’ll trade my Tesla for it.
Back seat would be nice for rare occasions, too, if possible.
You would have to wait 5 years for this
Doesn’t seem too crazy, IMO. I’m not asking for 300 miles worth of batteries… just ~50kWh of batteries and a C-rate near the original i3. Or maybe a ~43kWh battery like the current i3, which would give it maybe ~120 miles and hopefully ~75kW charging. Seems doable since it will be expected to be expensive and probably have no back seat, anyway.
wish we could get remote start or heatup options for us in cold weather states. do love remote lock options. still not updated as of 12/5/2020
sure wish we’d get a pro exhaust option for the 2020 JCW countryman. just want more burples and pops like the Pro Exhaust setups did on prev gen F60s 🙂
I imagine killing the convertible would be a LOT harder than the clubman. However I’m also in SoCal where the weather is convertible-friendly 90% of the time. I’d think MINI would sooner close shop on the hardtop 4 door than the clubman.
The convertibles are basically non-existent here in Kentucky… I might see 4 Clubmans a year and 1 convertible. People do drive convertibles here but they are either Jeeps or roadsters. (Mostly Jeeps).
And in Chicago I’ve got two Clubman on my street and see a couple a day beyond that. I probably see about the same number of convertibles but it all pales in comparison to the hatch and Countryman.
I probably see 5 Countrymans a week (in a small city here) and 2-3 hatches every day. The hatches are 90% 2 doors and usually S’s.
I tried to find some historical Clubman sales figures for the US or North America and there doesn’t seem to be anything out there that goes back to 2008 when the little Clubman came out.
I’m curious how sales of that car compared to the current “soccer mom” Clubman over each lifecycle.
It seems to me the R55 Clubman was very common to see around Southern California in the late 00’s / early 10’s.
Maybe they should 1) ditch the 4-door hardtop 2) replace it by bringing back a Clubman based on the 2-door hatch, as the R55 was 3) introduce whatever crossover monstrosity they have in mind to call the Clubman as a brand new model
I agree that it’s not easy to find monthly and annual MINI USA sales totals going that far back. Nonetheless, I’ve reproduced below MINI USA total sales for 2013, which was its best ever sales year. Note that the combined total sales of the Hardtop and Countryman accounted for 72.6% of total sales, and it took no less than five more models to make up the remaining 27.4%.
MINI USA TOTAL SALES 2013:
R56 26,954 = 40.53% (Hardtop)
R60 21,325 = 32.07% (Countryman)
R55 05,155 = 07.75% (Clubman)
R57 04,460 = 06.71% (Convertible)
R61 03,262 = 04.90% (Paceman)
R59 02,806 = 04.22% (Roadster)
R58 02,540 = 03.82% (Coupe)
Fast forward to 2019, the F60 Countryman was the best selling MINI and has been since it was launched in 2017. Despite overall MINI sales being lower, total sales of the F55 Hardtop 4dr were higher than the best ever sales recorded for the R55 Clubman.
MINI USA TOTAL SALES 2019:
F60: 13,969 = 38.70% (Countryman)
F56: 08,462 = 23.45% (Hardtop 2dr)
F55: 06,065 = 16.80% (Hardtop 4dr)
F57: 04,031 = 11.17% (Convertible)
F54: 03,565 = 09.88% (Clubman)
It’s no coincidence that the three core next generation MINIs, namely G56 3dr Hatch 2023, G55 5dr Crossover and G60 SUV, are replacements for the current top three best selling MINIs.
You can look at the sales section of MF but I don’t think we started breaking down models sales until later.
Thanks so much for coming up with those numbers… various thoughts:
— I’m kind of stunned the Paceman accounted for nearly 5% of MINI sales in 2013… talk about a unicorn in the wild. I saw one on a used car lot a couple of weeks ago and was amazed — snapped photos and stuff. (Ironically the “Crossover-like Clubman” that is supposedly in the works might turn out to be most similar to the Paceman, which undoubtedly would be more popular today than it was in 2013.)
— Hardtop combined sales (2 doors and 4 doors) still outpaced the Countryman in 2019. They are still accounting for almost the exact same percentage of sales as the Hardtop in 2013, when the 4 door wasn’t available (40.53% vs. 40.25%).
— the original Clubman occupied the place of the Hardtop 4 door, not the current Clubman, in the lineup (in my opinion) — it was exactly the same in the driver’s seat as an R56, with slightly less sporty handling (due to the added weight? I dunno, but I drove an R55 S and an R56 S back to back once and the performance difference was slight). Anyway R55 = Clubman; F55 = 4 door hardtop 🙂
— I just find the current 4 door hardtop extremely goofy looking and I loved the look of the R55 Clubman, plus it had a bit better practicality and those cool barn doors… not sure that it wouldn’t sell at least as well as the F55 today if updated.
Thank you for that.
You make a very good point about the combined sales of the F55 and F56. Here in the UK, monthly and annual sales data for all vehicles is handled by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Interestingly, the SMMT groups together the MINI F55/F56/F57 as one car (they all share effectively the same UKL1 platform) and the F54 Clubman and F60 are listed as two additional separate models. In the current list of the top ten best selling cars in the UK YTD, the ‘MINI’ is in eighth place, being effectively the total UK combined sales of the F55/56/57.
I fully understand what you are saying about the R55. I owned two in succession and thoroughly enjoyed them. The second one, however, was far better built and had fewer rattles than the first. The R55 was, however, very expensive to develop – the “barn doors” and the single “club door” caused considerable headaches for the development team, which resulted in its launch being delayed until after the launch of the second generation R56. The R55 was underpinned by a considerably re-engineered R56 platform, and the whole car was more expensive to build than the R56, and its global sales were disappointing.
The F54 Clubman with its “barn doors” is, alledgedly , more expensive to build than the F60, and its global sales are also disappointing. Earlier this year, Georg Kacher, who is on first name terms with the ‘Mandarins in Munich’, reported that the current Clubman will be “reinvented” as the “MINI Spaceman”. He must have been referring to what we now know is the MINI Vision URBANAUT. That concept car is totally impractical of course in its present form, but some sort of all-electric MPV might eventually emerge, using the same skateboard platform that will underpin the all-electric G55 Crossover due in 2024.
BTW, the British Government has very recently announced that it is planning to phase out sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.
I did some video-watching about the URBANAUT — I dig it, it reminds me of what is probably my favorite concept vehicle ever, the VW Microbus concept from around 2001 (wow! so long ago!).
I feel like MINI occupies a unique niche which appeals to people (like me) who want 1) a great classic sporty driving experience and 2) want something to drive that reflects our aesthetics (which for me could equally be the URBANAUT, the Microbus, or a JCW Cooper — but the JCW wins out every time because it’s the only one that seems to satisfy criterion 1.
The problem with the F54, as I see it, is that it satisfies neither of those. I take Motoringfile’s word that it’s the best MINI ever built as far as checking boxes, but it doesn’t seem sporty, and it certainly isn’t something that would make me feel optimistic about myself to see in the driveway every morning… it’s a “nice” car.
Maybe my point of view is not relevant but the sales figures suggest otherwise. The Countryman is so much cooler to me than the F54, and some of that is marketing (all the Dakar rally marketing they did since it was introduced) but aside from that it’s just a sexier vehicle.
American lifestyles are going to make the switch to EV extremely tough. It’s important to me to be able to drive 240 miles to Nashville without stopping for gas, much less an hour-long charge up at an EV station somewhere in route. I regularly drive from one coast of America to another and prefer to take 2 lane highway backroads on some days to experience the (dying) culture of small town America. I lived in Los Angeles for almost 20 years and never once had a driveway or a reserved parking spot where I could install a charger at home. There’s millions of people in LA like that — hunting for a spot on the street every night. How do you deal with EV chargers for all those folks, my folks? It will take literally billions of dollars investment in infrastructure and we are too busy spending our resources fighting wars in the Middle East and investigating Hunter Biden for the crime of doing business with China. :-/
If I was on a MINI advisory board the first thing I would say to them is, we need a vehicle to compete with the Jeep Wrangler. This might seem random but the Wrangler actually has a lot in common with the great MINIs from a marketing perspective: it’s a radical vehicle that when you walk out and get in it that makes you feel a certain good way about yourself and life in general; it’s a lifestyle vehicle.
They are everywhere in Kentucky, everywhere.
“ I take Motoringfile’s word that it’s the best MINI ever built as far as checking boxes, but it doesn’t seem sporty,”
First off we appreciate that. Second the Clubman is absolutely sporty within its segment. The steering rack, suspension design/tuning and the drivetrain (even with the 8AT) is designed to appeal to driving enthusiasts. In JCW form it does that in spades. Is it has immediately fun as the smaller hatch? Absolutely not. But stacked up against smaller cars with similar utility it’s hugely impressive.
I get it.
I’m in mid-life crisis mode and want the most fun I can live with… “within its segment” literally doesn’t enter into it :-).
My impression of MINI drivers the past going on 20 years is we mostly aren’t thinking practically… do Countryman drivers cross-shop Toyota? I hope not!
According to MINI they do. The Clubman not so much (which is why it struggles sadly). All that said if you’re in that mode I completely understand. I would point you to the GP or (perhaps the more rewarding) manual JCW. And keep in mind the refresh comes next year and will include the JCW.
<blockquote>I would point you to the GP or (perhaps the more rewarding) manual JCW. And keep in mind the refresh comes next year and will include the JCW.</blockquote>
Any chance the refreshed JCW gets a power boost via hybridization and loses the manual? Might be a good reason to grab a manual one, now.
And any chance the Cooper SE gets a range or charge rate bump with the refresh? I’m guessing not since it seems that they can’t even keep up with demand, now, but just wondering since we’re considering which MINI to order and we’re all over the place (Clubman S manual, JCW Hardtop manual, Cooper SE).
I like my 2017 manual clubman JCW but if we are honest the manual isn’t the best. I actually think they are better off offering the car as auto only unless they want to put a better effort into the manual, which we know they can’t afford to do. My next car will probably be electric, but needs significantly more range than what an SE offers ( I want 300+ miles) and needs a real charging network behind it ( today that’s just Tesla). An electric clubman would have the best shot, I don’t think an F56 size car can have the range a larger car could. I’m not hopeful though.
That was my take on the (more or less) identical JCW Countryman manual I ran for a year.
<blockquote>I like my 2017 manual clubman JCW but if we are honest the manual isn’t the best. I actually think they are better off offering the car as auto only unless they want to put a better effort into the manual, which we know they can’t afford to do. </blockquote>
Ouch, not a ringing endorsement. We’ve been on the lookout for a ’17-’19 Clubman JCW because we want a manual MINI and my wife really wants a Clubman. Maybe we should rethink that? May be a moot point as they’re quite rare to find in manual, and on top of that we’re really only interested in one or two colors.
<blockquote>My next car will probably be electric, but needs significantly more range than what an SE offers ( I want 300+ miles) and needs a real charging network behind it ( today that’s just Tesla). </blockquote>
The range and charge rate are definitely unacceptable for how people expect to do trips. Doable, but probably not acceptable for most drivers. The CCS network is pretty decent, now, though. Not quite as good as the Tesla Supercharger network in the US, but usable for many people/areas.
<blockquote>An electric clubman would have the best shot, I don’t think an F56 size car can have the range a larger car could. I’m not hopeful though.</blockquote>
Definitely wish they’d do a long range Clubman BEV. 250+ miles, 100+ kW charging. But I agree, they probably won’t do it… unless it’s a “Clubman” that’s just another crossover or something.
You can read our thoughts here: <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2019/01/03/manual-mini-better-than-an-auto/" rel="ugc">https://www.motoringfile.com/2019/01/03/manual-mini-better-than-an-auto/</a>
But keep in mind that was written before the 306 hp version that’s in our driveway as we speak. We’d have a hard time not opting for that over the manual 231 hp version. The truth is it suits the car exceptionally well.
<blockquote>You can read our thoughts here: <a href="https://www.motoringfile.co" rel="nofollow ugc">https://www.motoringfile.co</a>…
But keep in mind that was written before the 306 hp version that’s in our driveway as we speak. We’d have a hard time not opting for that over the manual 231 hp version. The truth is it suits the car exceptionally well.</blockquote>
Thanks!
I agree with your conclusion. It’s just fun to drive a manual, even if it’s in the Clubman. We drove a new Clubman S manual (one of like 5 in the whole country), and it was, in our opinion, as fun as the 2020 Countryman JCW was that we drove earlier that day. I’m sure not everyone would agree with that, and I’m sure the Clubman JCW is better than the Countryman, but there’s just something about a manual MINI, even if it’s just a Clubman S (vs a JCW hardtop or something more “sporty”). The Countryman was quick, but so is our Tesla, yet neither speak to us like a manual MINI.
You should try it out and not take my word for it. I would say that the power delivery in 1st is held back. The 1-2 shift can’t be rushed. I find that redline comes quickly without feeling like you got the advertised power from take off. I run into the limiter or just the point where it runs out of steam in 1st.
It’s not a bad transmission but not as good as you hope it would be. To me today’s turbo motors and tuning are better taken advantage of by the high gear count autos. But I still prefer to shift myself.
I test drove a pair of Teslas and see the draw of electric motors. There is a good chance that a Model 3 or Model Y are my next car. Their investment in charging puts them way out in front for me. The cars aren’t perfect. But if I’m not going to have a manual the electric drivetrain is the way to go. ICE power trains can’t compare to the smoothness and power and I do care about the environment and think it’s a step in the right direction though again not perfect.
<blockquote>You should try it out and not take my word for it. I would say that the power delivery in 1st is held back. The 1-2 shift can’t be rushed. I find that redline comes quickly without feeling like you got the advertised power from take off. I run into the limiter or just the point where it runs out of steam in 1st.</blockquote>
If there’s ever a manual JCW Clubman near us, we’ll definitely check it out. We drove a Clubman S manual recently, and it’s definitely no hardtop, and I figure a little more power and sound would take it to the next level, but hopefully one will pop up for us to try soon.
<blockquote>It’s not a bad transmission but not as good as you hope it would be. To me today’s turbo motors and tuning are better taken advantage of by the high gear count autos. But I still prefer to shift myself.</blockquote>
Agreed. Something about a manual, even if it’s technically slower. If I was looking to maximize performance per dollar, I wouldn’t be shopping MINIs at all, honestly, so I’m willing to sacrifice a little performance for the fun of a manual.
<blockquote>I test drove a pair of Teslas and see the draw of electric motors. There is a good chance that a Model 3 or Model Y are my next car. Their investment in charging puts them way out in front for me. The cars aren’t perfect. But if I’m not going to have a manual the electric drivetrain is the way to go. ICE power trains can’t compare to the smoothness and power and I do care about the environment and think it’s a step in the right direction though again not perfect.</blockquote>
Interestingly, we have a Model 3 LR RWD, now. Had it for a couple years, now.
Great car. Very capable on longer trips. Honestly, with 300+ miles of range and up to 250kW charging, it adds very little time to our trips, up to ~450 miles/day so far. Totally different planet compared to the Cooper SE as far as road trip ability.
But, we just haven’t loved it like we loved our MINI… so we’re considering getting rid of it for the right MINI. In fact, we’re thinking of buying two MINIs, a Cooper SE and a 6-speed gas MINI to replace our i3 and Tesla.
Like I said, it’s a great car. Really no real EV competition, IMO, unless money is no object and the Taycan is an option. Part of it is the “automatic” transmission. Part of it is that there are just 5 colors and 2 interior colors and that’s basically it, so even in FL (aka, not California), it’s common to see another Model 3 identical to it driving by… sometimes multiple times in a day. Hard to explain, but it’s almost like it’s just an exceptional, very quick, practical appliance, but still an appliance.
But, like you said about the Clubman, don’t let me dissuade you. It’s a great car. It just doesn’t speak to us like our old MINI did, for whatever reason. LOTS of people feel otherwise, and we’d be happy to keep it. We just are thinking through if we’d be even happier with a couple MINIs.
I went to a BMW for a couple of years and came back to MINI. I fear I’d have the same reaction if I switched to a Model 3. It’s made me wait on pulling the trigger, well that and a global pandemic!
<blockquote>I went to a BMW for a couple of years and came back to MINI. I fear I’d have the same reaction if I switched to a Model 3. It’s made me wait on pulling the trigger, well that and a global pandemic!</blockquote>
Reasonable concern. We actually just pulled the trigger on a MINI, so we’re back in the fold. ’18 Cooper S “Ice Blue Edition” because my wife was willing to go with the 2-door Hardtop since it’s a color scheme we love.
So, now the question is whether we move forward with the MINI SE reservation we made, or hang onto the Tesla. I’ve changed my mind about 10 times today, but I’m leaning toward waiting on the MINI SE to see what happens with the GP-E.
I have managed to track down R55 sales totals back to 2008:
MINI USA Total Annual Sales – R55 5dr Clubman
2014 : 2,613
2013 : 5,155
2012 : 5,769
2011 : 6,844
2010 : 8,389
2009: 10,890
2008: 12,281
Total: 51,941
2008-2009 is when I most remember seeing a lot of them in Los Angeles…. so looking at those numbers it makes a lot of sense.
It’s pretty sad how they tail off right from the beginning. Wow. The automobile business is nothing if not fascinating. :-|.
I’m looking at a page right now that says that 2013 was the high water mark of MINI sales in the US by units sold. (2012 was the high water mark for market share). They had the R 56 2 door hardtop, 1st gen Countryman, R55 Clubman, the Coupe and Roadster, and… the Paceman!
What went wrong? (not a rhetorical question)
I really hope they don’t get rid of the Clubman. It really makes the MINI lineup extra unique. Although not offering a manual in the JCW is unfortunate. That used to set MINI apart, but now others offer manuals (Golf R) and MINI doesn’t.
On an EV note, @gbridger:disqus, have you heard any talk about meaningful changes to the MINI SE for the refresh happening next year? Not visually, but range/charge rate? Considering ordering an SE shortly, but I’d hate to order one now and then have one that could be a substantially more capable primary vehicle come out just a few months after my ordered car arrives.
The F55 Clubman is a handsome beast but it just hasn’t grabbed the affection from the buying public in the same way that the F60 Countryman has. For a brief while, after its launch, it was the best selling MINI, but the novelty factor started to fade from the moment the F60 Countryman went on sale. The Clubman is alledgedly more expensive to build than the Countryman, and one can well understand why BMW is reluctant to replace it, at least not as another wagon.
MINI USA TOTAL ANNUAL SALES
F54 Clubman vs F60 Countryman
2016: 12,204
2017: 07,739 vs 14,864
2018: 04,031 vs 17,565
2019: 03,565 vs 13,969
2020: 00,907 vs 03,010 (to Sept 30)
Total: 28,446 vs 49,408
Yeah, I get why they wouldn’t have a lot of incentive to replace it, but I’ll still miss it, and I think if it isn’t a big drag on the books, it really bolsters MINIs brand character as someone who makes interesting vehicles.
There will be a refresh to coincide with the rest of the line-up but were being told it’s mostly cosmetic. We’d guess MINI is focused squarely on the 2023 all mew MINI.
<blockquote>There will be a refresh to coincide with the rest of the line-up but were being told it’s mostly cosmetic. We’d guess MINI is focused squarely on the 2023 all mew MINI.</blockquote>
Thanks a lot, Gabe. I wouldn’t expect them to make a substantial range/charge rate boost so soon, but figured it was worth asking if you’d heard otherwise. Wish it were a little better in those regards, but it will make a great second car, anyway, and we’ve been without a MINI too long. Should be making our reservation deposit tonight.
Now, can I convince the family to take it to MOTD from Florida? It would be an adventure.
A point in the Convertible’s favor is that I doubt many convertible buyers cross-shop other Mini models … whereas I’m sure many Clubman-intenders wind up in a Countryman simply because of availability on dealer lots. Obviously the convertible requires a bunch of extra engineering, which I’m sure is expensive, but any sales are incremental and the units that do sell tend to be optioned up. I also wonder about the impact of the death of the 2 series convertible. In general I don’t think too many people cross-shop BMWs and Minis, but the convertible might be an exception. There are increasingly few sub-$50K options. The segment has shrunk, but I refuse to believe it will entirely vanish, and the current Mini is a particularly well-executed drop-top.
Deep Laguna is like Space Blue (R53 Checkmate)
The fastest time is not what we look for first, when we track these kind of toys
The UK has been allocated 325 units of this limited edition model.
Please tell me that 178 is a typo. The Cooper S has 189 horsepower.
If they lower it to 178, goodbye sales.
“Officially sold out” is pure MINIUSA propaganda. There are still ~20 new 2021 GPs sitting on dealer lots now. Feel free to check cars.com yourself.
You probably guessed that’s why we used the word “officially”. According to MINI USA the dealers who have stock covertly bought them through the online sign-up process and have subsequently stuck them in their showrooms as trophies. Thankfully there are only a few above MSRP.
Like the previous GPs, these “trophies” will stay a long time in showrooms 😉
A number of people who pre-ordered backed out, so that added to the number still on dealer lots.
Good point. Bearing in mind that 3,000 were made, compared to the 2,000 for each of the previous GP 1 and GP 2, and that the GP 3 was launched during the worst global pandemic in living memory, resulting in millions of redundancies and car dealers worldwide recording considerably lower overall sales this year, it’s remarkable that so few GP 3s, both used and unused, remain for sale.
I wish you to test the Toyota Yaris GR, and we’ll talk about it later 😉
Yeah I’m pretty excited about that one. You might have noticed a Focus RS along with the JCW Clubman in a few photos. We tried to benchmark the GP as best we could but November in Chicago is a tough time to get nice cars out.
Yes i see 🙂 (it’s quite a shame Ford doesn’t sell the new Focus in America, even the ST)
Gabe – Is the Yaris GR actually going to the U.S.? I read only yesterday that it’s not, and that a Corolla GR will be instead. In any event, it would be a pointless and a purely academic exercise to compare it with the JCW GP 3. The GR is built on a completely bespoke 4WD platform with absolutely nothing in common with the regular all-new Yaris, and not a single body panel has anything in common with it either. Only the headlights are the same!
The bespoke GR platform has been built to underpin a new world rally car, and to qualify it must be based on an actual production car, hence the Yaris GR, of which a minimum of 20K must have been built. The JCW GP 3, on the other hand, is based on an existing MINI platform that is nearing its ‘end of life’, and is all the more remarkable for that.
btw, it’s “officially” a 2021 model.
A Chinese MINI would not be on my purchase list.