Tuesday 3rd January 2012

Mini van on the way for Geneva show?

That's a van made by Mini by the way, not an American MPV...

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A PH attempt at a Mini van

Mini could well be making a foray into commercial vehicles at the Geneva show in March, if reports that it is to unveil a 'Cargo' panel van prove true.

German car mag Auto Motor und Sport reckons that Mini is planning to reveal a Clubman-based two-seat panel van, likely to be called the mini Cargo.

The rearmost side windows are to be replaced with sheet metal on the 3.96-metre van, though it's unclear exactly what Mini plans to do with the half-sized side door or the rear pair of doors. The one thing we do know is that it's unlikely to look anything like our painstakingly crafted artist's impression...

So: is a Mini Cargo finally twanging the Mini brand beyond breaking point? Or is it merely a way to enable the Clubman to finally make sense?

[PaulMoor]

That would be a MINI van then?

[Garlick]

If this comes with a zesty small petrol engine, a punchy diesel along with small steel wheels, vinyl seats and a bare metal load bay this could be cool. It also needs to be cheap, have a sliding side door and have no bodykit.

However, I suspect it will have big rims and cost too much to be a serious commercial.

One can hope.

[CampDavid]

Diesel for me, with the Bacon Sarny pack

[eein]

Just what we need, another mis-interpretation by BMW-MINI of the traditional mini style.

[BBS-LM]

I'm waiting for the Mini Lorry.

[magpies]

A MINI Pickup would be (just as) cool

[Johnspex]

If it looked like that it would be fantastic. It actually looks better without the rear windows. Why do you think it would look any different? There must be a market for cool-looking small vans for all sorts of businesses. Interior designers? What would be the tax situation on a vehicle like that?

[bakerstreet]

eein said:

Just what we need, another mis-interpretation by BMW-MINI of the traditional mini style.

Errr....The orginal Mini was turned into a van, so whats your issue?



BMW would have to throw in the cheapest diesel and loose a load of luxuries, so it could compete with things like the Bippa and Vauxhalls's coarsa based van. Can't see BMW doing most of those things though

[959]

BBS-LM said:

I'm waiting for the Mini Lorry.

Very very almost lorry

[jains15]

Garlick said:

However, I suspect it will have big rims and cost too much to be a serious commercial.

...and as such will become the preserve of travelling miniature-dog salon services...

[LuS1fer]

One more and they'll have the set...apart from a 1275GT with a flat nose (my favourite funnily enough).



I think half of this is just keeping the MINI in the public eye, trying to persuade people it's still trendy....which it may be, who am I to know.

[VeeDub Geezer]

Shirley the R56 is due a facelift/replacement this year?

This is assuming They planned a 5 year life for the R56.

Otherwise, I agree it looks pretty good for a small van. Much better that the Clubman it's based on.

[Apache]

I wish manufacturers would stop putting the indicators in the headlight/taillight unit, they're bloody dangerous IMO

[cragswinter]

Man I've been saying they should do this for years.

Of course it's only for business use mister taxman, now can I gave my 20% back please

[Chris71]

A new MINI in van form? The florists and mobile hairdressers of Notting Hill must be delighted.

[TrivsTom]

magpies said:

A MINI Pickup would be (just as) cool

This.

[beasto]

Yep, do my epublishing biz nicely, with vinyl graphics to give it some zip.

Sliding side door a la Ford Connect would be nice, if unlikely.

[geoffracing]

I think it looks very neat.
Better than the Countryman even. Perhaps because most recent cars have blacked-out VERY THICK pillars. With a van you don't these fakely "invisible" pillars!

[tuffer]

I hate the new Mini but always thought a reincarnation of the Van or Pickup would be pretty cool.....So long as they don't jack it up on that ridiculous 4x4 platform or whatever it is.

[sad61t]

Gets my vote, always thought the Clubman looked better on the side without the extra door.