MINI SAV will not be built in Oxford: Official

[coopersooper]

ALOT of the parts arnt English! ALOt of the people that make the MINI arnt English ALOT of the bosses arnt English, the only English thing about the car is where its produced........The only thing that is stopping BMW moving production to another country is the Cooper name....you prob already know this but John Cooper wrote into the prefab of the car that all cars bearing his name i.e Cooper/Cooper S have to be built in England!

Thank **** for Mr Cooper!

[chris.lamb]

The SAV will be built by Magna Steyr in Austria and the R56 cabrio is going to be built @ Oxford to replace the R52 volume.

BMW will keep the styling of the SAV in house but subcontract out the engineering & manufacture to Magna who already engineered and supply alot of the R50/R52/R56/R55 interior.

Exciting times for Magna Austria & UK.

[Paul]

You think?

Feb '07:
“MINI SUV” - Coming From Austria in 2010?

July 07:
Magna to build bigger MINI

[chris.lamb]

Yes :-

Magna Steyr set to build Mini SAV

Luca Ciferri
Automotive News Europe
October 8, 2007 -- 12:45 CET



TURIN – Magna Steyr is set to build an off-road version of the iconic Mini, industry sources told Automotive News Europe.

Magna Steyr's contract to build the BMW X3 SUV at its Graz plant expires in 2010. Then the contract-manufacturing plant would switch to making the new Mini Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), sources said. About 80,000 units of the crossover are expected to be produced annually.

The Mini SAV, code-named Colorado, will be a five-door crossover slightly longer than 4,000mm. The Mini SAV will be offered with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The platform is expected to combine the existing Mini engine bay and front suspension with a new central and rear platform that will redesigned to house a transmission shaft for the all-wheel-drive version.

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said in a conference call with analysts last month that production of the Mini SAV would be outsourced. But he did not name a production site or manufacturer. Magna Steyr declined to comment.

The Austria-based company builds cars and trucks on contract for BMW, Mercedes, Saab and other customers.

Magna Steyr has produced X3 vehicles since the model’s 2003 introduction. BMW announced in May that the second generation X3 will be built in-house at its US plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it builds the X5 and X6. The second-generation X3 is scheduled for introduction in 2010.

You may e-mail Luca Ciferri at lciferri@craincom.de

[Paul]

Well, we weren't just guessing back in Feb.

[LMB]

Mini SAV? Why?

[Paul]

Some would say to broaden the MINI range, bring a new kind of vehicle enthusiast into the MINI fold and allow MINI fans to experience a different style of driving.

Others would say more sales, more money.

[pbraun]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB (original)

Mini SAV? Why?

good question. I'd like to see a 2 seater 'speedster' type convert

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Love your new sig pic<<<<<<<<<<<

[Paul]

They (BMW) have constantly spoken against the Speedster as they feel it will just dilute Convertible sales.

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Some would say to broaden the MINI range, bring a new kind of vehicle enthusiast into the MINI fold and allow MINI fans to experience a different style of driving.

Others would say more sales, more money.

I don't get who they're targeting? SUV drivers? Surely it's not big enough for them?

[Paul]

Probably those who like the sort of soft roaders you see people driving about in, and other small 4x4 type cars. You know, the ones that sit a little higher and have grey plastic clad lower panels and never go much beyond the school run. Whoever they appeal to I guess MINI hope this will too.

[LMB]

What next? A Monster Mini?

[Tonyt3]

I agree with Mo in some respects - I think current Mini owners will be interested in a more usuable 'mini SUV' vehicle, but I cant really see it bringing in huge amounts of new people. Too many other alternative proper SUV's on the market. If in the market for a 'SAV', would you chose one based on a Mini? Hmmm, not sure, unless you were already a Mini fan that is.

Are there really that many 'surfers' out there that need a 4 wheel drive Mini to carry their board? would look cool, undoubtldy. Unless it ends up like that dodgy Rover 25 thing that had grey plastic bumpers...


I would also imaginge the '4x4 Mini' version will be a haldex type with 4 wheel drive only available when the front loses traction (therefore only part time 4 wheel drive) as this would be the 'ecological' approach and would aid emissions and fuel consumption. Would that really be worth having? Emissions laws in particular are going to be a driving design factor for many future vehicles (not just Mini).

[LMB]

They need to bring out a 4 x 4 Works Cooper S and forget about this SAV, SUV rubbish.

[dalboyne]

So AutoExpres now have news of an interesting develpment - the SAV being a pumped-up FWD variant of the Clubman - but with proper rear passenger doors on both sides, and launching as early as next autumn!

MINI SUV | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

Well, that's a bit of a turn-up for the books! If they can re-engineer the Clubman bodyshell for a symmetric 4 doors (that's 2 either side!), then I guess this will also filter down to the standard Clubman....in which case the current model with a Club door wil become an instant classic (or an historical curiosity)???

This looks like being a lot of fun!

Ian