Topic: COMING - a Mini Crossover !!!!!

[ovr50]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/paris/2008/minicrossoverconceptnews.html

Any thoughts? Personally, I can't see this car (CUV?) but what do I know compared to all the marketing gurus in the auto world.

[Dante]

There is a trend for small, raised, AWD vehicles in Europe and Japan and it seems like Mini is joining.
The swinging rear door is a wrong move IMO.

[ovr50]

There is a trend for small, raised, AWD vehicles in Europe and Japan and it seems like Mini is joining.
The swinging rear door is a wrong move IMO.

The existing Clubman model already has the swinging rear doors tho. It's to retain authenticity with the old Minis from the 60s-70s.

Actually I think it works fine in the Clubman but admittedly I have not lived with it daily and is a bit more work to open/close two doors over one door.

[TopGun]

Well I'll let you know more when I'm at the Paris auto show on the last day of our trip (how cool is that eh?).

After taking a hard look at the Clubman and thinking it wasn't a big enough departure from the regular mini to make it "practical"...I like the size aspect of this.

The enthusiast in me can do without the CUV associated raising of the body as it does nothing but hurt the dynamics.

[ovr50]

BMW forum site is saying (guessing really) that this MINI CUV thingy could be the basis for a new X1 Crossover from BMW (think X6 with a lot of shrinking...!!).

[wing]

What's weird is looking in your review mirror in the clubman and seeing a black line.  It's like your review is split because of the doors, I found that very odd.  Other than that the clubman doors are easy enough to live with, most of the time you only open one of them.  The trunk is still rather small though and could only fit an overnight bag and my camera bag.

[ovr50]

What's weird is looking in your review mirror in the clubman and seeing a black line.  It's like your review is split because of the doors, I found that very odd.  Other than that the clubman doors are easy enough to live with, most of the time you only open one of them.  The trunk is still rather small though and could only fit an overnight bag and my camera bag.

I'm sure that observation about rear visibility is correct; I assume you have lived with the Clubman already a bit, wing? I've only sat in one, but I can see where the two doors would create a rear vis. block (shades of the '63 Corvette Split Window coupe!!!). Is the rear door blockage difficult to live with or do you get used to it quickly, wing??

[wing]

Oh it's not HORRIBLE just weird, you can still see well enough rearward because the window is flat after all -- unlike those vettes.   I had a clubman S for 3 days a few weeks ago.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

 

[vdk]

ouch... that does look pretty weird... it's definitely not cute..

[mrthompson]

If it wasn't branded a Mini, and lacked the various bulges, it would be merely okay. 

[tpl]

I guess it must be a Bangle clone who designed that abomination.

if BMW need a CUV then why not build a high roof 1 series hatchback ?

[gta_driver]

If its fuel efficient, I would certainly consider one.

[Mitlov]

If its fuel efficient, I would certainly consider one.

Given the increased size, decreased aerodynamics, and all-wheel-drive system, I suspect it's nowhere near the fuel efficiency of a Clubman.  Indeed, I suspect a GTI five-door (admittedly FWD) meets or beats its fuel economy.  Not to mention I think a five-door GTI looks a thousand times classier.