2012 New MINI 'Mini'

It’s the car that fans of the original Mini have been waiting for – and it could be the biggest-selling new MINI yet. With stringent emissions regulations and spiralling petrol prices, the demand for compact cars is going through the roof.

And the new baby MINI is set to head a new breed of penny-pinching small cars that prove you don’t have to sacrifice style and driving fun for low running costs. Based on the Rocketman concept, the ‘mini’ MINI will expand the burgeoning brand even further.

It will create a new entry point and mark the beginning of a new era, too, with a range of three-cylinder engines on offer, lightweight materials throughout and an all-electric version in the pipeline.

The images show how the pint-sized production car is likely to look – and all those who have been waiting patiently for a true successor to the Sixties model will be pleased to see this car’s tiny footprint on the road. The ‘mini’ MINI is only 40cm longer and 50cm wider than the original, and engineers are intent on making the production car no bigger than the concept.

It will make the most of every inch available to it, though, with a space-saving 3+1 seating layout similar to the Toyota iQ’s. While there will be seats for four, the chair behind the driver will only be suitable for short trips. However, the instrument cluster moves backwards and forwards with the steering wheel to boost room when necessary.

Carried over from the concept will be the dual-function boot, which features a conventional compartment accessed via a hatch with a drawer-like storage area underneath. The centrally mounted ‘Coke can’ exhaust is also slated for production. Predictably, however, the concept’s Union Jack glass roof will make way for a more conventional metal top. Plus, the concept’s three-dimensional ‘handlebar’ rear lights will be replaced by simpler clusters fitted flush into the bodywork.

  

The next MINIs to go on sale will be the Coupé and Roadster in 2012. Expect the ‘mini’ MINI to arrive in 2014 – the same time that the next-generation hatch is due.

MINI Rocketman Revealed

At 3,419mm long and 1,907mm wide, the baby MINI is about 40cm longer and 50cm wider than the original.

The Rocketman borrows 
technology from owner BMW’s forthcoming Megacity electric 
car, which uses 
a carbon fibre spaceframe to reduce weight – and rather than hide it, MINI has left it exposed around the grille and front apron.

At the rear, the hexagonal 
lines mirror the nose, and MINI’s famous ‘Coke-can’ exhaust pipe
 gets a central position in the bumper. The quirky, handle-
style tail-lights project on to 
the bodywork, rather than face straight out, and incorporate 
the brake and indicator lamps.

The trademark Union Jack 
roof makes a return as a full-length glass panel, using the car’s structural beams to create the diagonal and horizontal lines.

Getting in to the Rocketman isn’t as difficult as you might 
think thanks to the double-hinged doors which allow for a wide opening.

Despite the cabin’s small dimensions, MINI claims it is spacious enough for four adults, and the seats can be arranged into three different layouts. As 
a two-seater, the front chairs move as far back as needed, while the instrument cluster 
can also be moved.

Then there's a fourth chair in the rear, which is a temporary device that folds down out of 
a backpack attached 
to the rear seat.

There's a 
clever boot too. It consists of two parts, with the upper section 
a traditional roof-hinged hatch and the bottom part a drawer.

There’s no official word 
on what sits under the bonnet 
of the newcomer, but it’s likely that any production model 


will be powered by BMW’s 
forthcoming three-cylinder 
petrol and diesel engines. All MINI has said is that the Rocketman will be capable of 94mpg.

MINI Scooter concept

Meet the two-wheeled future of MINI! Following the success of the plug-in electric scooter concept that premiered at the Paris Motor Show, MINI is ready to green-light a range of two-wheelers.

Just like the MINI E Scooter Concept, the bikes will feature scaled down versions of all the classic MINI design cues, including the large iconic speedometer, oval wing mirrors and squared off rear lights. The use of chrome and other material is also designed to make the scooters instantly recognisable as a part of the MINI family.

The grey and luminous green colour scheme of the concept was borrowed from the MINI E electric car, and so is the drivetrain: a single electric motor is integrated into the rear wheel, and power comes from a compact lithium-ion battery stored under the seat. The battery can be charged from any standard A/C power outlet, via a retractable cable at the back of the scooter.

MINI used the Paris Motor Show concept to gauge public reaction to the scooter, and is keen to make the production model electric. We should see a version towards the end of 2011, with the finished model likely to be used during the London 2012 Olympics, which BMW is an official car supplier for.

MINI's new Paceman revealed!

The MINI model range continues to grow at a Pace! The firm is readying Coupé and Roadster versions of the hatch, plus a new small model – and now it’s set to unveil the stunning Paceman at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

It’s based on the recently launched Countryman crossover, and shares that model’s platform. But the designers have given the Paceman a much more sleek and desirable shape as MINI gets ready to take the fight to the new Range Rover Evoque.

At the front, a single black mask incorporates the radiator, foglights and air intakes. The grille has been redesigned, too, with a thick chrome surround, horizontal strips of light blue chrome to match the roof, piano black inserts and thin strips of brushed copper.

At the back, a narrow bootlid and rear bumper enhance the sporty profile. The short overhangs of the Countryman have been cut back even further by the removal of some crash protection, while the unique 19-inch copper-rimmed alloys are pushed into the corners, giving the newcomer a more dynamic stance. Blacked out C-pillars create an Evoque-style floating roof, while a subtle spoiler protrudes from the rear edge.

The jumbo brake lights sit horizontally – they’re vertical on the Countryman – while the housings curve around the back of the car. They flow into the shape of the bulging wheelarches, further adding to the impression of a wider, lower model.

The roof has been dropped by 20mm at the front and 40mm at the back to create the dramatic sloping effect. However, the blacked-out windows are more of a practical consideration, because the interior design isn’t finished yet.

For a show car, the styling is remarkably restrained, which hints at how close the Paceman is to production. MINI has also confirmed that the showroom version will sit alongside the Countryman in the range, rather than above it.

Under the bonnet, the Paceman will eventually use the most powerful engine in the current range: the 1.6-litre turbo with the full John Cooper Works tuning. This delivers 207bhp and up to 280Nm of torque to all four wheels. Lower power petrol and diesel versions would also be made available.

MINI Countryman vs Morris Mini Minor

MINI by name, definitely not mini by nature! The Countryman will be the fourth model to join the range when it steamrollers into showrooms in September, but with four-wheel drive and offroader dimensions to match, is it still a MINI? We brought it face-to-face with the original 1959 Morris Mini Minor to find out.

Before the new BMW-engineered hatchback first arrived in 2001, we were sceptical about whether it could live up to the legend of the Alec Issigonis-designed original. But the moment we got our hands on one it was clear that BMW had done a fantastic job of transferring the DNA.

Sure, the current Hatchback, Clubman and Cabriolet are all longer, wider and taller than the 1959 original but they retain the same cheeky styling and go-kart handling that made that car so famous. The Countryman’s arrival though has forced us to re-evaulate exactly what it is that makes a MINI a MINI.

The reaction at the Countryman’s unveil in Geneva was lukewarm, with some journalists pointing out that it was too big and lacked charm. And lined up against the Morris Mini Minor its inflated dimensions are brought into even sharper relief.

Measuring 4.11 metres bumper to bumper, the Countryman is over a metre longer than its ancestor. And while the roofline of the original sits at just 1.35 metres the Countryman towers over it at 1.56 metres high. Side by side the 51-year old car looks tiny and fragile, the 4x4’s 18-inch rims are almost twice the diameter of its modest hub caps.

And it’s not just the Countryman’s expanded waistline that has traditionalists up in arms. It’s the first five-door model ever to wear the iconic badge, the first with all-wheel drive and as if to cement its ‘outsider’ status, will be built not in Oxford, but contracted to Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria.

Having said all that, BMW’s business model is impeccable. Expanding the range not only attracts new customers but lowers production costs at the same time. And that’s the key to the Countryman - it’s not targeting diehard MINI fans, but a whole new type of clientele.

Gone are the days when the MINI relied on its traditions and origins. The current family of BMW-designed models are examples of expert marketing, global lifestyle products that appeal to a wide range of buyers. The Countryman simply adds another string to its bow.

MINI Countryman Cooper D stats

Length:4.1m

Width:1.8m

Height:1.56m

Kerbweight:1,385kg

0-62mph:13.2 seconds

Morris Mini Minor 1959 stats

Length:3.1m

Width:1.2m

Height:1.4m

Kerbweight:626kg

0-60mph:29.7 seconds

Mini Moke

Designed to show off the new Countryman crossover, the stripped-down Beachcomber proved a massive hit when it was revealed at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

So much so that MINI is close to giving it the green light. Head of brand management Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht said: “We will come back to this to see if there is a business basis, as we were overwhelmed by the reaction. MINI will never show a concept that won’t make production.”

The Beachcomber was built around the road-ready version of the Countryman, but lost the doors and roof panels in homage to the Moke – the legendary Mini-based take on the classic beach buggy. Its four individual seats are wrapped in wetsuit material for all-weather durability, and the rear-mounted spare wheel holder is actually a lockable storage box. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, a fabric tonneau can be attached to the car, while more long-term rain protection is provided by lightweight, removable plastic door and roof panels.

As with the Moke – made from 1964 to 1993 – the Beachcomber has a metal, body-coloured grille, only this time the designers have inserted driving lights. Off-road ability is enhanced by higher ground clearance than the Countryman, as well as chunky tyres. Plus, the new ALL4 four-wheel-drive system is likely to be included as standard.

If it is built, the Beachcomber would have few natural rivals – perhaps only the permanently open-topped Smart Crossblade.

And the name? Bank on Moke, if Dr Armbrecht’s comments are anything to go by. “MINIs need authentic names,” he said.

Mini Coupé Roadster

2011 MINIs to go with show

Leaked patent office pictures show final cars will closely resemble Frankfurt stand stars, two-door could revive legendary Broadspeed name.

From concept to reality – it turns out the coupé and roadster versions of the MINI will look virtually the same as the cars revealed at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show!

Bosses have confirmed that unearthed patent drawings show the production cars – so the two-door retains the concept’s dramatic cutaway roof and Le Mans stripes.

But we has discovered that BMW is in secret negotiations with the owners of the Broadspeed trademark with a view to using the famous race team’s name – inextricably linked to Mini – on the 200bhp-plus coupé.

The patent drawings reveal subtle differences between the two concepts and production cars. Most noticeable is that the retro chrome petrol cap has been ditched in favour of a more conventional cap and flush-fit flap. And where the radiator grille was barred, it now uses the same honeycomb design as the Cooper S.

Also, differences between the coupé and roadster – which could be called the Speedster – show both will be offered in Cooper S and John Cooper Works specs. The two-door is pictured with the hot Works’ black foglight surrounds; the soft-top is dressed from the grille down in Cooper S spec.

Works cars will feature an uprated version of the hatch’s 211bhp 1.6-litre turbo, while the Cooper S won’t trail by much, with the three-door’s 175bhp unit being tweaked. Prices are likely to start from close to £20,000 at launch in the second half of 2011.

The Broadspeed name would link the coupé to a Mini fastback produced by Ralph Broad in 1965. The Birmingham-based touring car engineer raced Minis in the Sixties, regularly beating the works Cooper cars.

Fiat 500L

Fiat’s new 500L five-door MPV will go on sale in 2013, after debuting at the upcoming 2012 Geneva auto show. Fiat had already confirmed that such a model was coming, but now it has released photos.

The “L” in its name stands for “large,” and the 500L lives up to its moniker by offering two more doors than the regular 500 hardtop as well as seating for a fifth passenger. European 500L is 163.0 inches long, 70.1 inches wide, and 65.4 inches tall; that’s a little longer and taller than and roughly the same width as a Mini Countryman. The measurements will be essentially unchanged. Cargo room, is sure to increase beyond the pitiful 10 cubic feet available behind the smaller 500’s rear seats.

Styling-wise, the transition from 500 to 500L reminds us of the relationship between the Mini Countryman and the Mini Cooper hatch; the 500L looks like a 500 that stuck its thumb in its mouth and an air hose in its tail. That said, it’s not totally unattractive, and details like the bulging fenders and the wraparound windshield add some zest. The enormous front quarter-windows are somewhat debatable, however. The front end’s big black bumper and chunky plastic trim on the doors and rear end add some crossover-ness to the appearance.

Speaking of crossover pretensions, the 500L will be front-wheel drive—but we expect an optional all-wheel-drive system adapted from the architecturally related Fiat Panda to be worked into the mix eventually. We’re hoping the 101-hp, 1.4-liter four from the standard 500 isn’t in the running; the 160-hp, turbocharged four from the 500 Abarth would be a nice alternative. The Euro-spec model gets Fiat’s TwinAir two-cylinder and a 1.3-liter turbo-diesel among its options.

Mini ClubVAN?

MINI looks set to expand into the burgeoning commercial vehicle market with a new cargo hauler, following the reveal of its latest concept car.

Called the Clubvan, MINI’s new concept for the upcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show is what you get when you take an ordinary Clubman, black out the rear windows and remove the rear seats.

MINI describes it as a compact lifestyle van for business or leisure, and you can certainly imagine small scale delivery services such as florists or pizza businesses using the cute vehicles as a promotional tool.

In total there are two seats, five doors, and a practical load area that reaches from the split rear doors right up to the partition grille behind the two seats. The totally level floor makes full use of the interior’s depth, and that allows the concept to offer more storage space than the Clubman on which it’s based.

MINI will be using the Clubvan’s Geneva appearance to gauge public interest in the vehicle, and if the production green light is given then we wouldn’t be surprised if an all-electric version is launched further down the track to lure small businesses looking to curb ever-increasing gas bills.

Note, the Clubvan is just one additional model MINI is considering. As we reported just last week, three new all-new MINIs are due by the end of the decade, potentially including, in addition to this van variant, a station wagon and sedan.