RE: 'Rolls-Royce' Minis On The Way

[LCR270]

Yet another gap in the market spotted for people with more money than sense

[Bobhon]

So did the move to an MG Maestro/Metro/Montego/... devalue the MG brand (such as it was)?

But it's still true that people will pay silly money for exclusively crafted products. And BMW would be silly not to take that money off them.

[Renn Sport]

This is utter ste...

RR mini is a travesty... lets take two British icons and cross breed to get something thats neither.

How contrived.

[Craiglamuffin]

LukeBird said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

But you know it won't be...
It'll be the BMW equivalent of people who drive around in Smarts with Mercedes badges on the front.

Really? This is a change to the interior. Lavishing effort on something only you can see is a darn sight classier than the big shouty stickers people order for the outside.

[Whitean3]

Reminds me of the Metro Vanden Plas.
Luxury leather interior, but it's still just a metro, with different interior coverings.

Giving a Mini JCW a leather dash and possibly some wood does not really change the fact that it is a fun, slightly basic car; not a small luxury barge.

[Uhura_Fighter]

Whitean3 said:

Reminds me of the Metro Vanden Plas.
Luxury leather interior, but it's still just a metro, with different interior coverings.

Giving a Mini JCW a leather dash and possibly some wood does not really change the fact that it is a fun, slightly basic car; not a small luxury barge.

What I was thinking.

[Accelebrate]

There's a fair few people with a few pounds to their name who own MINIs with all the option boxes ticked as city cars. Simon Cowell for one. They'd probably quite happily tick a RR interior box and think very little of it.

It'll sell, smart move IMO.

[williamp]

remids me of this: Aston Martin taking a Toyota iQ, keeping the engine but changing the bumpers bonnet and putting leather seats in. And they are calling it an aston



The boss at Aston is a German as well. They really dont like the British motoring heritage, do they. Is it jealosy?

[al1991]

Ridiculous.

[sat1983]

Good idea- why do people have to spend £100k+ to get a true luxury interior? I wouldn't spec it, but I don't see how it's a bad idea...

[drivin_me_nuts]

I quite like it.

If you've got the cash and you want someting a little different why not?

[Schmeeky]

Uhura_Fighter said:

Whitean3 said:

Reminds me of the Metro Vanden Plas.
Luxury leather interior, but it's still just a metro, with different interior coverings.

Giving a Mini JCW a leather dash and possibly some wood does not really change the fact that it is a fun, slightly basic car; not a small luxury barge.

What I was thinking.

Reminds me more of the Renault 5 Monaco - the top spec R5 with leather seats and all sorts of extra goodies..



There's nowt wrong with wanting a small car and wanting a good interior in it. As an example, my folks recently downsized from a Civic to a Jazz, but wanted the spec to be as good as possible.
If it is badged as an interior by RR I think it'll sell pretty well.

[Rotaree]

I think it's a good idea. I've often thought that there is a gap in the market for a small luxury car - it always seems that luxurious has to equal huge, not sure why. Nearly all of the time there's only me in the car and the only small luxury cars seem to be sports orientated and I don't always want that; if you want luxurious and not sporty you end up with Mercs, Range Rovers, etc. Perhaps they've identified a winning formula................










Or perhaps it's just me.................

[AndrewW-G]

Fantastic, maybe I'm in the minority, but I think there is a place for an uber spec Mini/Small hatch, given most of RR's output seem to spend their days trundling round various citys, a car with all the positives, but in a small package is a good idea.........................although given the trim of some 60's minis from people like Wood & Pickett its not a new idea

I'll put a jaffa cake on Price whats-is-face of Brunei having the first one off the production line (as his city weapon of choice is/was a mini)

Edited by AndrewW-G on Thursday 19th November 13:42

[JakeR]

This must be a CO2 thing right?

Wasnt there talk of huge fines for car companies that have high average CO2 emissions across their model line up?

Companies like Rolls Royce and Aston Martin...?

If these re-badged Minis and IQs safeguard the future of the proper models, then we as PHers should applaud them...

[300bhp/ton]

Garlick said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I quite like the look of this too, quite a lot actually.

I like this too
and struggle to see why some people are being quite so offensive.

Plenty if rich and famous people drive MINI's as they are now and I can see a better attired one appealing even more. Espcially when you have people who's main focus isn't speed and handling. If you want a small nippy urban round around that is good looking, trendy and very cool there really isn't much choice if you have, say £50k. A Jag XK is too big. A Merc or BMW saloon too flashy or boring. And most other smallish cars are too
impractical for many with only 2 seats or a rock hard sports car ride.

I'm sure BMW don't intend to sell huge numbers of such a car. But it'll help to lift he presitge of the MINI marque even further and reinforce it's position as a world leading style item with people who have lots of money to spend.

It's getting 8 from me on the PH O'Meter

[Pwig]

I love the fact most people have missed the bit where it said 'it's not confirmed if they will be using the rolls royce name'

So basically they are offering a coach built Mini done to the owners taste. What's not to like? The fact that they will be using the Rolls Royce factory to do it is no such a problem is it?

[AndrewW-G]

Pwig said:

The fact that they will be using the Rolls Royce factory to do it is no such a problem is it?

Given the number of "special orders" that RR fulfilled at Crewe (Brunei, kept the factory going in the 80's/early90's, with dozens of cars either custom built or modified, including a few non RR based cars) I can't see any justifiable reason for them not to do this

Edited by AndrewW-G on Thursday 19th November 13:55

[Gixer_fan]

All that's missing is the solid-folding convertible, and the Mini-max urban people carrier, then the range will be complete!

[Antj]

bks,

these suposed spyshots are years old, been on the internet for a year when the rumours were going round about Rolls royce models being seen in Park lane BMW,

what a useless story, is PH turning into Autoexpress with all these shock made up stories. come on guys get back to reality and stop assuming sooooo much. You never used to.