New 4 door Mini Hatchback

[watchnut]

I went to a dealer in southampton/eastleigh the other day, and asked if they knew anything about the new 4 door mini coming out in the new year, and they said other than they were aware it was going to hace the same platform as a BMW 1 series they knew nothing, but were expecting pricing in November

This would make it a fairly large "super mini", and i'm sure an expensive car. One of the Mini's they had on the forecourt was £32k......eyewatering

I just hope it does not look like one of those steriod looking Mini's that are surely bought by people who have no taste!

[Engineer1]

If it's the same platform as the 1 series is one or other changing the driven wheels? RWD Mini or FWD BMW?

[watchnut]

The only info i was given was that it was the same platform as the 1 series they didn't know anything else...sorry, but a rwd mini would be nice!

[C900]

Engineer1 said:

If it's the same platform as the 1 series is one or other changing the driven wheels? RWD Mini or FWD BMW?

I think I remember hearing that BMW are contemplating switching some of the smaller models to FWD to cut costs and improve packaging (the legroom in the back of a mk1 1-series was a bad joke).

[Mustard]

C900 said:

Engineer1 said:

If it's the same platform as the 1 series is one or other changing the driven wheels? RWD Mini or FWD BMW?

I think I remember hearing that BMW are contemplating switching some of the smaller models to FWD to cut costs and improve packaging (the legroom in the back of a mk1 1-series was a bad joke).

At some stage in the not to distant future there is going to be a sub 1 series front wheel drive product (an Audi A1 competitor, which was bought out as a MINI competitor in the niche filling war)
which will 1st see light of day as the next generation MINI hatch early next year

[oberointment]

seems a good idea i dont beleive the mini range should be limited there is always scope for new models

[Rumple]

For me, what's interesting is, how far can they take the whole Mini thing.

[jaynana]

Rumple said:

For me, what's interesting is, how far can they take the whole Mini thing.

absolutely impressive; great creativity and marketing!

[Euro1300]

watchnut said:

The only info i was given was that it was the same platform as the 1 series they didn't know anything else...sorry, but a rwd mini would be nice!

I believe the next X1 will be based on the Mini Countryman platform, so I suspect that's what they meant.

ie. the Countryman platform will be used for both the X1 and the 4 door Mini hatch.

I really hope the 1 doesn't go FWD, as they're superb little things these days.

[hilly10]

I think they will have to stop calling it the Mini. Every year they get bigger,so if a four door is on the way it will fall into the family hatchback sector.

[Engineer1]

hilly10 said:

I think they will have to stop calling it the Mini. Every year they get bigger,so if a four door is on the way it will fall into the family hatchback sector.

In everything but price where it will almost certainly fall in the junior exec bracket.

[Pints]

hilly10 said:

I think they will have to stop calling it the Mini. Every year they get bigger,so if a four door is on the way it will fall into the family hatchback sector.

It's a brand, not a description.

[hilly10]

Pints said:

It's a brand, not a description.

Yes I know its a brand. But nonetheless people associate Mini as being small, which now it anit

[watchnut]

Your right it's a brand.....i parked my BMW Mini next to a proper one yesterday.....the proper one was tiny....no way I'd buy one....god forbid they had an accident in it......also remember spending 6 1/2 hours in my wife's old Mini once, and I swear I was in tears at the end of it in pain from the seat, and fear as i couldn't even see the grill on the HGV's as they tailgated it stuck in traffic jams on the M1

[hilly10]

I agree there you would not want a shunt in an original Mini dont think there would be much left

[SexySpecimen]

I would like to see Mini make a supercar.

[The Moose]

Engineer1 said:

If it's the same platform as the 1 series is one or other changing the driven wheels? RWD Mini or FWD BMW?

Last time I was down at my local Mini dealer, I was chatting to the salesman and I mused that a RWD Mini could be really good fun. His reply, "Watch this space..."