MKII New MINI features in EVO Magazine

[klint]

Hi,

According to BMW there's going to be some radical changes to the upcoming BMW MINI that's due in 2007, this can be found in the latest edition of EVO magazine.

The Main fact appears to be reducing production costs and finding a cure for the bottle neck in production that's caused with the two tone paintwork...It might just interest some.

[Paul]

Lot of story for very little genuine news and facy, this has been posted on here several times already about plans to increase output and use a more versitile platform, but the basic hatchback really wont change that much.

This is all really something that's been on the cards for a very long time. They never made much money on the MINI on a per car basis, and the success in the USA in particular was bound to force the issue of increasing production numbers and brining more and more of their "concepts" to life.

It's got to be a real challenge for them, but a "nice" challenge, as opposed to having to work out how to sell more of a flagging range of cars!

[LMB]

It's really hard to see how they can improve on the design.

[klint]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

It's really hard to see how they can improve on the design.

My sentiments exactly, let's hope BMW don't ruin the MINI brand of what it's become with this second incarnation of the New MINI.

[MiniCooper]

The MINI Hatchback is a very strong car in its own right... but, if they add an different models engines etc... then, the MINI will just become another car, the specialness will wear off and itll blend in with the Fiestas and Corsas. I, and I hope you, dont want this to happen

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniCooper

The MINI Hatchback is a very strong car in its own right... but, if they add an different models engines etc... then, the MINI will just become another car, the specialness will wear off and itll blend in with the Fiestas and Corsas. I, and I hope you, dont want this to happen

Don't see why it should, I never considered the classic to be "less special" because they had pick-ups, vans, estates, "luxury models", and all other kinds of spin offs, I don't see why the new MINI would be different, as long as they do it right.

[lusomini]

What "worried" me more on that article was the fact that BMW says the Mini costs to much to build and several items woul be gone, or dumbed down, in a mkII version. Such as the rear Z link suspension, clamshell bonnet, frameless windows, door handles, etc...

Some details, and some important mechanical components that make the car so good and special. The only good news was that the new engine would be better. But then the current one lacks pedigree but doesn't affect the package, while cutting down on all other parts they mentioned certainly will do!

[Paul]

Quote:

What "worried" me more on that article was the fact that BMW says the Mini costs to much to build and several items woul be gone, or dumbed down, in a mkII version. Such as the rear Z link suspension, clamshell bonnet, frameless windows, door handles, etc...

They never said those things would go, and BMW have never said it would be dumbed down. They do have to make it more cost effective, and will introduce new models. They're not going to give specifics for a long time. As soon as we can release some more details, we will. We try to be good like that. Who had the most accurate details on the '05 MINI first, dismissing and/or often contradicting the motoring press.... MINI2.

[lusomini]

Humm... that was the impression I got from the article on EVO. And whenever the words "cost effective" pop up they usually mean bad news for the consumer. But hey, those future gossips often fail by a mile so I guess many things will happen till the new Mini arrives. And, sure, Mini2 is the place I feel happy in

[Paul]

Yeah, you've got to be careful how you read things in car mags, I learnt that pretty quickly as I started following the MINI more carefully during the pre-release days! They can be very good at mixing facts, quotes, and speculation to give their views and editorial a very authoritative feel, and can often end up giving the impression what you've read has all come from the source, or as good as.

[LMB]

They say they don't make much money on selling a Mini, but dealerships must make a fortune with all the warranty work.

[BitRot]

What personally worries me is that rumors about the next generation of Mini being "dumbed down" even exist, and it’s even worse that they’re all plausible.

For every other car out there on the market, people gossip about the next big feature or improvement that will grace the future model, not how the car will be hobbled to better line the automaker’s pockets.

Rumors of snap-on plastic roofs to alleviate painting costs, cheaper rear suspension, and lower quality/complexity interior/exterior elements don’t paint a bright picture of future Minis. Add to that a new French engine with a weak turbo offering 0 hp improvement over the current MCS and 2005-2006 might remain a choice vintage of Mini long into the future.

People have the general expectation that "next year's model" will be better than what's available today, and they're usually proven correct. It's a Bad Sign(tm) when a large number out there already hold the feeling that next generation Minis will be a big step backward.

[jazmini]

I share everyone's concern, but remember what the Japanese have done over the last 10 years or so. Take Honda for example. They've undertaken so many cost cutting measures on their cars and still managed to improve luxury, performance, and handling. Although Honda's improvement in handling is debateble, i.e., look at the old Honda CRX (they quit making it after the 1991 model) -- does anything they have outside the S-2000 handle better -- not! And Honda also is stopping the double wishbone. But my point is that it can be done if you are smart about it, and I truely believe that BMW is one of the smartest auto manufacuters there is. I have confidence in them. I don't believe they would ruin a good thing. At least I hope so. But I am worried about BMW cutting costs in the handling to the point that it handles worse..... What was I talking about again?

[KlausR]

Please tell me, what would be so bad about a clip-on roof? Could you tell the difference? Does anybody mind that the actual MINI´s pillars are body-colored and only covered with black clip-on parts or black glass?

I´m quite sure even if BMW is struggling to reduce the costs for the MkII MINI they will not extend their measures to areas they couldn´t justify such as the multi-link rear suspension. I mean they are just presenting a rear suspension with 5 arms on the 1-series so they won´t try to convince us the next MINI will do with one like many other sub-compact cars. And concerning the next engine generation, I would not mind if they did not provide a bhp increase on the first attempt if they really improved the other areas like throttle response and fuel consumption.

Klaus

[R1]

With those changes I'm going to keep the one I've got then.

I can then keep harping on about the "classic first generation" MINI's being the best!