Wednesday 23rd May 2001

Mini Launched (again)

Production car launched in Italy

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[gigiturbo]

mmmhhh, those guys at BMW really are making a mess...they are trying to sell a mini like a fashoin dress...oh, my god, where is the wild mini cooper of the "goledn age"???

[.mark]

Looks like the 'Golden Age' is forever lost in the coffers of the EU's safety/eco friendly drawer.

[sparks]

Wouldn't this be a good market for MG Rover? I know they can't call it a Mini, but what about an 'MG Cooper' in the true style of the original, or do BMW 'own' Cooper too?

[Marshy]

<handbag> Oooh, get her... </handbag> I think, ac-chully, that the clue was in the article itself. It said "not much new to report". i.e. not much new that hasn't already been reported to death over the last year or so. Handle, flying off, aren't you? Edited by Marshy on Wednesday 23 May 11:58

[adrianr]

Actually saw one of these beasties in the flesh a month or so back...it's enormous! Wonder if they'll do a MINI 4x4 for the especially fashion conscious? AdrianR

[.mark]

Just discussing this at work, my opinion, emphasis on opinion is, they should have let the Mini name die. By all means make a small car BMW after all that's the only reason you bought Rover in the first place (Oh and to make a few quid on Land Rover). Over the years I have owned a few Mini's and nothing can ever replace those, so produce ANOTHER small eurobox but call it something else. Tiny. Small. Titchy....

[PetrolTed]

quote:So there is not much to report. Sounds like a case of sour grapes because you free-loaders did not get an invite. Make no mistake this car is a proper thing, eagerly awaited by many new and existing mini people.

Oooh er missus... Is that the case? Are (original) Mini enthusiasts excited about the new car?

[Paul V]

I am a original mini enthusiast, there is mixed responses within the owners clubs, some people are pleased to see the mini live on, others would have preferred it to die with the original shape. What a lot of people fail to remember is this car was planned to be built by rover, so even if the BMW rover thing had never happened this car would still be coming out. I’m not to keen as I have a 1965 mini 850 and a 1969 cooper and to me this car is not a mini just a re-badged rover/BMW effort. Oh and BMW own to cooper name as well, they also stopped mini parts shops etc from using the mini name.

[archibold]

Hiya Saw one parked last night in West London on the street. Looked very different from the stuff around it. The tax disc was through to 02/02 so it must have been on the road for a whilke already...quite surprising as I thought they were not launched for a while yet. The pale blue it was in was certainly an odd colour in my opinion...liked the interior though. Pity no camera was available at the time.... Paul

[.mark]

Yes, I've seen the same car travelling northbound through Oxford. Guess it must be an early test model?