RE: Next Mini revealed in concept

[mike9009]

JaguarsportXJR said:

Garlick said:

Next we'll be wishing the latest Focus still looked like a Mk1 Escort...actually, it would be quite cool if it did but that kind of defeats my point.

Oh no, hold on, this just topped it.

Seriously though I think the concept is hideous. It looks like it has some unfortunately debilitating mental/physical disability, knows it, and is very sad about the fact.

I'm personally of the belief that calling any of the comically over-speedo'd new ones "MINI" is laughable, largely due to their size. The ryman, of course, being the worst. My favourite bit of the whole things is that those who like them always seem to use the same arguments: "It's meant to be different", "Times move on", "Millions would disagree that it's st". I find those arguments flawed in that A) People rarely say a reason why this car is better than the old one, those arguments apply to any new car and B) This is Pistonheads. We're all kind of old fashioned on here as millions of people care more about CO2 and economy than performance, so if you're going to say that new ways are better and the opinion of the masses is what's important, I'd consider moving on to another site.

Having said that though, I did find myself looking at an early BMW Cooper S the other day thinking that I could get on board with owning one...

I'd have to remove all the MINI badges though.

Edited by JaguarsportXJR on Monday 29th July 19:37

You must get really upset about Apple products too.

Fiat 500? No longer 500cc but I don't see all the sentimental Italians getting upset about that. The MINI name provides many 1000s of jobs in the UK and the product sells well despite the name.

Edited by mike9009 on Monday 29th July 22:07

[skyrover]

weez123 said:

they will be the size of a landcruiser in a few years

Mini Hatch
Length 146.8 in
Width 66.3 in

Nissan Micra
Length 148.8 in
Width 65.6 in

Ford Fiesta Hatch
Length 160.1 in
Width 67.8 in

Honda Jazz
Length 161.4 in
Width 66.7 in

It's still the miniest in it's class

[ambuletz]

0llie said:

Look forward to seeing the final result. Still don't think you can beat the very first cars in solid colours, and on small wheels;



Or a very subtly modified 1st Gen Cooper (Cooper S bumpers, and a couple of other OEM mods)

Those were the only wheels i liked on the mk1 and mk2 minis. An ordinary cooper with phone dial wheels. yes please. They're very rare though.

[Sir Fergie]

Triumph Man said:

0llie said:

Look forward to seeing the final result. Still don't think you can beat the very first cars in solid colours, and on small wheels;



Or a very subtly modified 1st Gen Cooper (Cooper S bumpers, and a couple of other OEM mods)

Agreed. My girlfriend has the 1st Gen Cooper with the JCW bodykit on it, and I think it's a brilliant looking thing. My mum's 2nd gen cooper D looks hideous and bulbous in comparison. Plus, and this is a really nerdy thing, I don't like that BMW omitted separate high and low bulbs, and replaced them with H4 dual filaments. I personally hate dual filament bulbs.

They do look very well to be fair - and were - and still are a refreshing change from most boring modern cars. Seen one the other evening in silver - and thought it looked well. And I normally hate silver - getting way too common and does little for most boring cars.

Personally though - I think the muppet that decided to fit these with run flats needs a bit of a kicking .

Still if the concept shown here in this article is fairly close to the real thing - then its not as bad as I feared it might be (getting all too used to manufacturers getting a design right - and consequently fking it up on subsequent model changes).

[JaguarsportXJR]

mike9009 said:

You must get really upset about Apple products too.

I'm not overly keen on some aspects of them, no. I wouldn't exactly say upset though. I didn't realise I was that predictable!

mike9009 said:

Fiat 500? No longer 500cc but I don't see all the sentimental Italians getting upset about that. The MINI name provides many 1000s of jobs in the UK and the product sells well despite the name.

Fair point, but again - as said above, we're back on the "Things are often different now and lots of people like it" and "It sells really well" arguments. Not "This car is awesome because...". The Nissan Juke sells well but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

As far as I can see, they (the MINI, not the Juke) have good handling (I'll admit though I've never driven one) and that's about it. They're not cheap. Early ones aren't that economical. They're not all that spacious. The boots not huge. The speedo isn't a reasonable size and I personally don't find them that attractive to look at. They're not a bad car. They just don't come off that well in comparison to the original for a lot of people.

I appreciate the jobs they bring into the country as I appreciate any manufacturing in the UK and I'm not saying that I hope they fail horribly and never get built. I'm just saying that I'm not that keen myself and that enthusiasts seems to struggle to find reasons to like them other than "they sell really well, so must be great". Marketing can be as much to do with sales as the quality of the product. For example, have you seen the Countryman? Seriously? Seems to be selling very well near me. Again, I'm not saying that's wrong, I'm a sucker for advertising that appeals to me.

As I've already said, I often find myself drawn towards some of them in the classifieds. I'm not one of these ex-Mini owners who hates them, but if you're going to base your product on a much loved predecessor in an attempt to cash in on some of it's success, you have to be prepared for people to make comparisons between that product and yours, and for the eventuality that not everyone will view that comparison favourably.

[JaguarsportXJR]

skyrover said:

Mini Hatch
Length 146.8 in
Width 66.3 in

Nissan Micra
Length 148.8 in
Width 65.6 in

Ford Fiesta Hatch
Length 160.1 in
Width 67.8 in

Honda Jazz
Length 161.4 in
Width 66.7 in

It's still the miniest in it's class

That just means the rest will be a little bigger than a Land Cruiser in a few years.

[Hellbound]

CrowCrow00 said:

Marketing speak: Huge on the outside, tiny on the inside!


I liked that concept they made a while back, you know the actual tiny MINI? The one they said they aren't going to make.

EDIT: Rocketman!

Edited by CrowCrow00 on Monday 29th July 20:23

Strange how they said they couldn't make the 'package work' without compromising the design when companies like Smart/Renault are building a smaller car. Even the UP is tiny. Surely BMW could just make it as simple as they can under the skin and then add all the detail gubbins on top. Just make sure it handles like a roller skate. Oh well, guess all that would have cost money.

[Hellbound]

Zad said:

Little? That is all marketing, they are huge buggers!



I'm sure the new one will be extremely popular in China. Similarly with the Evoque, I don't like the design and wouldn't buy one, but they sell extremely well around the world, and keep a lot of UK people in high quality skilled and nicely paid jobs, so good for them!

You're comparing the original Mini with a Countryman softroader?

Jeez...

[Hellbound]

va1o said:

Not sure why they are bothering to reveal it in concept when the production ready version has already leaked!



http://www.carscoops.com/2013/07/all-new-2014-mini...

I wonder why Pistonheads are very particular when it comes to running stories on spy shots and leaked shots like this?

Probably more concerned with staying on the right side of BMW? Which is fine of course, otherwise we wouldn't get exclusives and stuff. Although I'm sure the syndicated road test reviews would continue.

[TNH]

0llie said:

It will be interesting to see how the 3 Cyl. engine stacks up, especially in the Cooper S. Maybe there will now be a much more noticable step up to the JCW version (rumoured to be running a 2.0 4 Cyl. lump).

They manage to shoe horn a 2.0 oil burner in there so it would be nice to see the 2.0 petrol from the 125i in the jcw. Would probably prove more reliable than the current psa 1.6 too

[dandarez]

matbat said:

Oh... I was expecting to see pictures of the new MINI.

The 3rd gen is completely different. FFS it's even on a different platform. How does it go?
Well my son is one of the MINI test drivers and they have just returned from doing the north end of one rather warm country on the continent to the south end. He says the 3 cyl engine is superb and the handling is very good too. Just like the rest of the range before, they have got it spot on again and it will do what all the haters detest... it will SELL!
Isn't that primarily what a car company needs to do? And that is where they score, every time.

Me? I love my JCWs and from what I hear on the grapevine, the next one could be even better and more powerful!!


As for all those sad Mini people who keep on and on about the MINI not being small, well in 1959 there were one or two cars that made the Mini (Austin 7) look almost MINI!
]

[22rgt B Squadron]

Nickbrapp said:

WHY WOULD YOU BUY A MINI ON FINANCE YOU COULD HAVE A E46 M3 CSL FOR THAT
MONEY!!

Or a m3 and a e39 M5!!!

Or a 911!

Some just dont find the idea of a used car thats had some one elses bodily fluids in it very appealing. Be it cigarette smoke,followed through farts, puke, p1ss, Knackers or p1ss flap sweat, bogies wiped on the steering wheel/carpets ect, ALL used cars without exception will be contaminated in some form or another, there really is no substitute for a brand new car. Yes you can have that much faster old money pit M5 but just think of all the aforementioned crotch fluids soaked into that drivers seat over the years...

[The Moose]

I don't know if it relates to this particular model, but I've been told by someone in the know that I should keep an eye out for a RWD MINI in the near future. That would be rather good fun!

To be fair, all MINIs have been fun to drive IMHO (haven't driven the countryman or paceman).

[Escort Si-130]

PMSL @ 10,000 mars bars

dukebox9reg said:

could probably buy an old tank or sailing boat for that aswell, whats your point? or 10,000 mars bars

[dukebox9reg]

JaguarsportXJR said:

mike9009 said:

You must get really upset about Apple products too.

I'm not overly keen on some aspects of them, no. I wouldn't exactly say upset though. I didn't realise I was that predictable!

mike9009 said:

Fiat 500? No longer 500cc but I don't see all the sentimental Italians getting upset about that. The MINI name provides many 1000s of jobs in the UK and the product sells well despite the name.

Fair point, but again - as said above, we're back on the "Things are often different now and lots of people like it" and "It sells really well" arguments. Not "This car is awesome because...". The Nissan Juke sells well but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

As far as I can see, they (the MINI, not the Juke) have good handling (I'll admit though I've never driven one) and that's about it. They're not cheap. Early ones aren't that economical. They're not all that spacious. The boots not huge. The speedo isn't a reasonable size and I personally don't find them that attractive to look at. They're not a bad car. They just don't come off that well in comparison to the original for a lot of people.

I appreciate the jobs they bring into the country as I appreciate any manufacturing in the UK and I'm not saying that I hope they fail horribly and never get built. I'm just saying that I'm not that keen myself and that enthusiasts seems to struggle to find reasons to like them other than "they sell really well, so must be great". Marketing can be as much to do with sales as the quality of the product. For example, have you seen the Countryman? Seriously? Seems to be selling very well near me. Again, I'm not saying that's wrong, I'm a sucker for advertising that appeals to me.

As I've already said, I often find myself drawn towards some of them in the classifieds. I'm not one of these ex-Mini owners who hates them, but if you're going to base your product on a much loved predecessor in an attempt to cash in on some of it's success, you have to be prepared for people to make comparisons between that product and yours, and for the eventuality that not everyone will view that comparison favourably.

Speedo for quite a while now has been a digital item stuck with the rev counter on top of the steering column, the central speedo is obsolete (well apart from broadcasts to the misses what speed i'm doing).

I have a Mini Countryman and the boot is a decent size for 2+ a very new 1. Can fit a big silvercross pram in the boot, babies bag and a couple of soft weekend bags. Same as any normal hatch. The rear leg room is much better than most cars of a similar size (slightly increased hight obviously helps)

It does handle well and really encourages you to push with its very direct steering and pointy front end.

I have the Cooper S all4 so it goes alllright (looking at getting it in P-Torque in the close future to spruce it up) The 4WD system does a very good job of when you are on it, keeping the car very neutrally balanced throughout the corner, though you have to go into a corner slightly slower than a normal hatch due to its higher CoG and you have to wait for the car to settle. If your are being a proper hooligan the car will allow you to kick the back end out.

Bad points, the ride is appalling but not sure how much of that is down to the runflats and im looking forward to slinging normal boots at it when they wear. The car currently has a habit of jumping sideways when hitting a imperfection midbend.

Looks, I have to admit I hate the styling of the standard car especially with the chrome 'gills', rounded bumpers and chrome inserts. I think the Cooper S (SD) with 'the black pack' looks pretty good. I have anthracite wheels, black 'gills', black headlights, black roof (dark grey car). Think its as 'manly' as I could make a tonka car.

I do love the Countryman bashing though and as usual it always make me wonder how many people have driven or even looked at one properly.








and its not that big

Edited by dukebox9reg on Tuesday 30th July 08:34

[LaurasOtherHalf]

dukebox9reg said:

I do love the Countryman bashing though and as usual it always make me wonder how many people have driven or even looked at one properly.

Even though I own a GP I hated the countryman, but a month or so ago our dealership had an open day & invited us down. Gave me a brand new M6 convertible for an hour unaccompanied to do with what we liked but more importantly gave the misses a countryman for as long as she liked. I have to say we liked it so much it's going to be her next car & I eat humble pie for all the comments I made about it. For what we both want its the best car out there.

[Dr Interceptor]

0llie said:

It will be interesting to see how the 3 Cyl. engine stacks up, especially in the Cooper S. Maybe there will now be a much more noticable step up to the JCW version (rumoured to be running a 2.0 4 Cyl. lump).

The latest news is that the One/Cooper will run the 3-cyl while the Cooper S and JCW will both use the 2.0 4-cyl.

[LuS1fer]

dukebox9reg said:

I do love the Countryman bashing though and as usual it always make me wonder how many people have driven or even looked at one properly.

I'm sure it is a great car but regrettably "looking at it properly" is as far as most people can bear.

[Andy ap]

va1o said:

Not sure why they are bothering to reveal it in concept when the production ready version has already leaked!

Don't laugh but i genuinely cant tell from that image if thats a toy model (scarletrix model even) or a real car?

[drewbagz]

SpudLink said:

Garlick said:

It's a different car!

How many times do we need to compare the MINI to the Mini before Garlick explodes with rage?

At least once more!