Thursday 14th June 2012

Revamped Mini Rocketman gets a re-run

But does Olympic-inspired concept mean the mini Mini is back on?

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BMW-Mini is using its sponsorship of this summer's Olympics as a chance to roll out a new version of the Mini Rocketman city car concept that was first unveiled - to much applause - at the 2011 Geneva motor show.

Production plans were even strongly mooted for the baby Mini, but early this year BMW reportedly canned the project - the contrasting demands of modern safety regs and customer expectations of sporty handling seemingly making the project unviable.

Newly made-up in a predictably patritotic red, white and blue Union Jack/Flag-inspired colour scheme inside and out, however, the revamped Mini Rocket man begs the question: is a production version back on the table?

We hope so, but a lick of paint and a new interior for the concept could just as easily be nothing more than a pre-Olympics publicity stunt to remind us exactly which company is providing all the official vehicles. Fingers crossed...

Ps - I just can't write a Mini Rocketman piece without linking to the legendary William Shatner (and if you don't know what I'm talking about, click the link - it's worth it)...

[suffolk009]

Hopefully it's gonna be a long long time before we see that on the school run.

[Dave Hedgehog]

where do you put the fat people ?

[gck303]

A mini mini?

Whatever next!

[SSCooperS]

BMW really need to make this to restore Mini's credibility. Pronto.

[Lightningman]

"Ps - I just can't write a Mini Rocketman piece without linking to the legendary William Shatner (and if you don't know what I'm talking about, click the link - it's worth it)..."

Without a doubt, the best part of this article.

[BBS-LM]

I love this little car, and would make a great city car for major cities like London. Make it.

[M@1975]

The Rocketman, looked silly to start with but actually had some good ideas thrown into it and is actually int he spirit of the old mini if it winds up being cheap (if it gets made ever), however, it won't be cheap, it'll be overpriced and aimed at a market with the disposable income to buy it as a novelty. Basically it'll be the new douchbag / douchette mobile for a long time, if it comes to fruition...

[Hellbound]

If only they'd get on with the job of putting it into production. Keep the roof, lose the sticky outy rear lights, wouldn't want Marty McFly wannabes hanging onto them.

[kazino]

Mini mini, looks fantastic. Would be great for London commuting

[numnuts16]

Burn it and sent it to hell.

[FWDRacer]

The antidote to the poisonous Mini Countryman. Actually makes sense with respect to "the brand". Make it indeed.

[Greg 172]

M@1975 said:

The Rocketman, looked silly to start with but actually had some good ideas thrown into it and is actually int he spirit of the old mini if it winds up being cheap (if it gets made ever), however, it won't be cheap, it'll be overpriced and aimed at a market with the disposable income to buy it as a novelty. Basically it'll be the new douchbag / douchette mobile for a long time, if it comes to fruition...

But if it encourages other manufacturers to make more of an effort then it's a good thing. The original New Mini had this effect to an extent, and I'm sure the Up will do the same (I'm expect to see loads of new cars in the next couple of years featuring a reasonably priced removable sat nav/media/data hub option).

[AyBee]

BBS-LM said:

I love this little car, and would make a great city car for major cities like London. Make it.

This! Surely what the original new mini should have been anyway?

[g3org3y]

I quite like it!

[tyrrell]

looks good to me

[loveice]

I always feel its a-pillars need to be moved 10-15cm forwards.

Why not just call this the 'regular' Mini? And the replacement of the current Mini One/Cooper/S something else. I mean the regular Mini should always be an A-Segment car like the new 500. Yes, nowadays a B-Segment Mini does make sense (is the main seller in Mini's range). But, leave the real Mini name to the A-Segment Mini, please.

[anonymous-user]

loveice said:

I always feel its a-pillars need to be moved 10-15cm forwards.

Why not just call this the 'regular' Mini? And the replacement of the current Mini One/Cooper/S something else. I mean the regular Mini should always be an A-Segment car like the new 500. Yes, nowadays a B-Segment Mini does make sense (is the main seller in Mini's range). But, leave the real Mini name to the A-Segment Mini, please.

MINI City would be a good name!

[cjb1]

yeah, great idea, let's call the new big mini a MAXI? NOT!!

loveice said:

I always feel its a-pillars need to be moved 10-15cm forwards.

Why not just call this the 'regular' Mini? And the replacement of the current Mini One/Cooper/S something else. I mean the regular Mini should always be an A-Segment car like the new 500. Yes, nowadays a B-Segment Mini does make sense (is the main seller in Mini's range). But, leave the real Mini name to the A-Segment Mini, please.

[cjb1]

yeah, great idea, let's call the new big mini a MAXI? NOT!!

loveice said:

I always feel its a-pillars need to be moved 10-15cm forwards.

Why not just call this the 'regular' Mini? And the replacement of the current Mini One/Cooper/S something else. I mean the regular Mini should always be an A-Segment car like the new 500. Yes, nowadays a B-Segment Mini does make sense (is the main seller in Mini's range). But, leave the real Mini name to the A-Segment Mini, please.

[mk1chopper]

I like this but needs to lose the rear lights and oversized wheels.