MINI’s Future: Clubman on the way, SUV still in development phase

MINI has done surprsingly well with its retro-styled Cooper cars since it launced in the U.S. in 2002. According to MINI, sales are expected to grow from about 39,000 last year to 56,000 by 2009.

While most of those numbers are expected to come from the Clubman, MINI is planning a fourth variant for 2011, as well as a MINI SUV known as MINI Colorado.

Click through for MINI’s future lineup...
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EnnNorak - 9/3/2007 8:08:21 PM

+1 Boost

Big mistake on the part of BMW to delay development of the Mini SUV. They should have had one out by now. My wife wants a small SUV and I have to get one in the spring of 2008. I hope that the Mini SUV will have a conventional automatic instead of the dreaded CVT and that engine displacement will grow to a normally aspirated 2 or 2.5 litres. I hope that BMW has the brains to offer its Mini SUV with a proper AWD system with a torque sensing center differential and LSD for both the front and rear differentials.

Matthew1 - 9/4/2007 12:20:27 AM

+1 Boost

Yeah, like a 2.0 or 2.5 litre engine would fit under the hood of a MINI...

Furthermore, a large engine COMPLETELY kills the whole point of MINI.

You are living in a dream world if you think any MINI model would come with more than a 1.6 lite engine. Besides, the Cooper S's 1.6 Turbo produces 172 BHP, how much more do you want in a small car?

crackityjones - 9/3/2007 9:27:27 PM

+1 Boost

Way to go with a comment, since Autospies readers don't generally comment on MINI. Though, I think BMW "has the brains" to make a proper MINI SUV if that's what they're doing. After all, they did make the current MINI successful in the first place. On the other hand, not a lot of MINI owners are happy with the idea of a SUV, especially since MINI spent a lot of money advertising against the SUV in the first place. You'll be the black sheep MINI driver if they ever make this and you buy one. Especially since the point of an SUV for Americans anyway is to have lots of space around you inside the vehicle and lots of curb weight to withstand impact... neither of which MINI will give you. A MINI SUV is an oxymoron and if BMW has the brains they won't make one at all.

EnnNorak - 9/3/2007 9:37:39 PM

+1 Boost

Definitely need Mini to offer an SUV if they want my business. My wife wants a small SUV and we live in a cold winter climate area where AWD or RWD with LSD is a necessity. I personally like the SUV idea because I am not as flexible as I was in my younger days and SUVs generally have a good seat height for ease of entry. BTW, the 2008 Tribeca seems to have made the front passenger seat at the exact height just for me and is, so far the only smaller SUV that I can get into on the passenger side without banging my head on the roof. The Forester was OK too but it has very firm seats which are not comfortable on long trips.

crackityjones - 9/4/2007 2:34:17 AM

+1 Boost

I definitely dig the Clubman because it has usable space. If MINI did an SUV, I am sure they'd make it very cool and people would get over the idea. And I believe MINI is an LSD-equipped model if you want it.