2011 is the start of an all-out product offensive for MINI. With efficiency regulations going up encircling the world, and the need despite more economies of scale, BMW intends to purchase the MINI brand by moving it into new areas and expanding currently offerings. While the heritage of performance won’t animation away, MINI will focus upon making their cars lighter and more economical along with offering more varieties meant to seek reference of the case to a larger market.
The R60 Countryman
This offensive starts at the Detroit Auto Show with the presentation of the Beachcomber concept. As we’ve reported on MF, the concept is a lightly disguised R60 Countryman with the final lengthening interpretation making it’s debut in early March. Sales in Europe are expected to start in the fall of 2010 with North American sales beginning in early 2011 (the same time BMW’s X1 debuts in the US).
The R56 Refresh
Also publicly debuting at Geneva will the all along awaited and highly anticipated R56 refresh. As you likely have read previously on MF, MINI intends to use this renovate not only to update the exterior only also purify some interior design and materials. Yes, the radio controls and the heating and cooling interface will be refined and in some cases rethought. Additionally MINI will lead in some upgraded materials and subtle design changes meant to eliminate many of the complaints owners have had over the years. Or to put it another way, suppose that you look at the top five complaints most MINI owners have, then you obtain an idea of what will be worked over in this refresh.
As we saw with the 2005 update to the R50/R53, MINI will also be introducing some new interior trim colors and potentially some dash options.
Outside things are a little again insinuating. According to sources MINI will be updating the now signature xenon lights and refining the standard halogen units as well. The rear lights will get a mild nip and tuck if it were not that don’t reckon upon anything too major until the next people of the same age. However more obviously will be the updated (and according to a couple sources) more aggressive front and rear facia on the Cooper S. The Cooper will see similar updates but we’re told to expect a more standard work gaze there. Also on the exterior look for new colors and new spin designs to stout out the changes.
The Coupé and Roadster
The MINI Coupé and Roadster are scheduled go into prototype production at Oxford this June with testing to have existence carried out throughout the remainder of 2010. MINI intends to debut the cars in early 2011 with Cooper and Cooper S models being available at slide from the stocks and a JCW model following closely afterwards. We’ve also heard a few rumors that the Coupé may form the groundwork of a special edition model in the years ahead. We’ll have greater degree of on that later.
The Four Door MINI (aka the MINI SpaceBox)
It’s difficult to even comprehend what to call this next concept. We initially heard about it as MINI’session GTI fighter. A better description would be a R60 without the Crossover pretense. Yes this is the concept many here be in actual possession of been talking about and is internally known as the MINI SpaceBox. So dangerous are MINI about this design that we’ve also been told it’s taken on on official jut code-number, R65.
In our minds this is the car that could expand the brand in ways that no other model (save during the term of the standard hatchback) has up until now. If priced right, we could see this size and shape appealing to possible customers around the world better than almost anything MINI currently sells.
The 2013 MINI
Combine everything above and it won’familiarily come close to the moment of what is next on the horizon at MINI. 2013 will mark the debut of the next generation MINI hatchback that will form the basis for almost every repaired model going forward. To coincide with the work currently underway on the car and to hint at what is yet to be design and engineering directions, MINI will release a new concept. The car will feature not only a starting anew look but also showcase the fruits of BMW’session joint run the risk with carbon fiber specialist SGL. That the wherewithal look for the concept to include load of moment savings carbon fiber in major areas.
Yes the image above is a fake we outed last summer, but we believe it illustrates for what reason in earnest MINI may be moving the design language with this car. While past revisions have been quite subtle, the 2013 could be seen as an opportunity for MINI to progress the trace out form in new ways that we haven’cheek by jowl seen previous to.
The concept’s debut is still a moving target but we expect something in the later half of 2010.
Source: www.motoringfile.com
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