MINI SAV test mule photographed

[Paul]

Left Lane News have some good quality spy shots from KGP photography of the forthcoming MINI SAV model, codenamed Colorado.

The sequence of photos shows the jacked up and flared arched MINI Clubman...Read full report

[minicabrio]

... and a 5 stud wheel bolt pattern

Surprised to see these on the road already

[Paul]

How did I not notice that at first look?!



Not surprising really, will take a long time to get the soft roader right. Still not sure how this will pan out, so many bad and distasteful vehicles of this sort, past and present, makes me wonder...

[Step_7]

So basically are we looking at an X3 in a Clubman suit?

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

How did I not notice that at first look?!



Not surprising really, will take a long time to get the soft roader right. Still not sure how this will pan out, so many bad and distasteful vehicles of this sort, past and present, makes me wonder...

First thing I spotted

It'll be interesting to see what route they go down with this car! Currently it's like a small version of an Audi Allroad (pumped up and flaired 4x4 estate) - or will it have its own bodyshell?

[Jordan210]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

... and a 5 stud wheel bolt pattern

Surprised to see these on the road already

I saw that has 1 series alloys on it

Could be an intresting story to follow over the next commign year !

[Michael]

Anyone else notice that this mule appears to possibly have the forth door. There is clearly tape and coverings down the window area on the left side of the car. It may just be there to cause a stir!!!

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Michael Strachan (original)

Anyone else notice that this mule appears to possibly have the forth door. There is clearly tape and coverings down the window area on the left side of the car. It may just be there to cause a stir!!!

It was like that on the regular Clubman mules too.

[OneDriver]

Do I spy a rear dif? Looks like the clubman body has been lumped ontop of an existing (or new!) 4x4 drivetrain....

I would guess the CLubman body is simply being used for convenience at the moment and the real development is going on under the car.. shame we can't see it!

[lespurgeon]

Is it only me, or is every new model one step further in spirit from the original mini that brought many of us to MINI in the first plance?

[85NIXMIN]

This looks interesting.... haha

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by lespurgeon (original)

Is it only me, or is every new model one step further in spirit from the original mini that brought many of us to MINI in the first plance?

They're designed to bring new people to the brand, much more than keep what they have. So that's why.

[Cookie77]

I think we could be barking up the wrong tree. I was having a quick squint around the get a few measurements and I'm fairly sure that the 3dr 1 series and the Clubman have very similar wheelbases. So either this is a mule to fool or as it is rumoured that both will be built in Austria maybe they will have a common chassis! Stranger things have happened at sea.

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cookie77 (original)

I think we could be barking up the wrong tree. I was having a quick squint around the get a few measurements and I'm fairly sure that the 3dr 1 series and the Clubman have very similar wheelbases. So either this is a mule to fool or as it is rumoured that both will be built in Austria maybe they will have a common chassis! Stranger things have happened at sea.

I very much doubt Clubman production will move to Austria, it's already tooled up and in producion at Plant Oxford - moving all this tooling would be a nightmare at this stage in production!

This is obviously a test mule for a future chassis/drivetrain design - MINI have already confirmed that the 'Sport Activity Vehicle' which is planned won't be built at Plant Oxford.

[Cookie77]

What I was getting at was that the SAV and X1 could possibly share a chassis due to the 1 series and Clubman being of similar wheel bases. The X1 and SAV are to be built at Magna (as goes the rumours) so it could be part of a cost cutting exercise. I never mentioned the Clubman moving to Austria!