GENEVA MOTOR SHOW PREVIEW: MINI Going Back To The Drawing Board

One thing that I had trouble coming to terms with is the new MINI Countryman. It's a four-door crossover/sport-utility vehicle/thing -- regardless of whatever marketing mumbo jumbo they throw at it -- at the end of the day.

All this coming from a brand who's name is dependent on being small? Yeah'p.

Regardless, it sounds like MINI will be channeling its roots in a new concept making its way to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. According to Carscoop, the new, legitimate MINI will be smaller than the current Cooper and speak to the original MINI's proportions. Better yet, it will sport some unique quirks such as a 3+1 seating arrangement, whatever that means.

Perhaps this will be MINI's chance to come up with a city car that bests the rest with some style and sophistication.


The concept will measure a little over 3.4 meters in length, essentially splitting the difference between the current three-door hatchback (3,723 mm) and the original 1959 Mini (3,050 mm)...

[Source: Carscoop]


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Silverstone - 2/22/2011 12:20:56 AM

+1 Boost

Classic Mini theme FTW!

I would like to see some changes to the rear end and the exhaust pipes with some upgrades to the interior as well!

Steve - 2/22/2011 8:55:16 AM

+1 Boost

MINI is iconic because it is one, instantly recognizable, unique thing. BMW captured that spirit when they first turned out an entirely new car that *strongly* evoked The Original: The BMW MINI.

As BMW strays further and further away from that original icon with derivatives, they distance themselves from the essence of MINI and risk becoming just another car. Time will tell if there were a significant number of consumers who were nostalgic for MINI, or if they just wanted an SUV that sorta reminded them of a MINI.

Deutschland - 2/22/2011 1:12:17 PM

+2 Boost

Why would I want a car closer to the size of the orginial Mini? I would not feel safe driving something like that on US roads.