December20
Earlier this week, we report that MINI would name its upcoming SUV the Crossman, and now comes word that it will share some components with the BMW X1. Since the BMW X1 will use some parts from the 1-series, it would be safe to assume that at least some components of the 1-series will find their way into the Crossman.
The decision to use similar parts will also help BMW to keep the development time and spending on both vehicles to a minimum.
Earlier this year, it was reported that MINI was considering building its upcoming SUVat BMW's Spartanburg, North Carolina plant. While the Spartanburg plant seemed to make sense since it currently produces the majority of the German automaker's SUVs, BMW has revealed that it will keep Crossman production in Europe. The Crossman won't be produced at MINI's Oxford, England plant but rather a Magna plant in Austria — the same factory that produces the BMW X3.
The Crossman will be powered by two 1.6L gasoline engines — including the 175 horsepower turbo four from the Cooper S — as well as an optional diesel range that could include a new 1.4L unit.
Prices for the new Crossman are expected to range from £16,500 to £20,000. Production has been confirmed for late 2008.
Why nit.
I'll just mention Wofford.
why not?
Fuck Mini !
Will the John Cooper Works edition be dubbed the full-Monte.
Spartanburg is in SOUTH Carolina, not NORTH Carolina!! Come on LLN!!!!
Who cares?
Sweet. only this thing is going to be called the MINI LARGE.
Evel Knievel died today-I guess he was human afterall.
Logical decision which should have been made by many by now … the dollar has been falling since 120 USDX, presently about 76 USDX and on its way into the 50s USDX. Send over everything needing assembly to the U.S.
^Is everyone dying today or what????
USA's manufacturing should get a boost when more of this happens with currency exchange rates. There's always positive to go with negative, ebb/flow, ying/yang.
maybe they can mega-size the maxi mini for the 'mericans
RicardoHead: I like it! The "Maxi Mini". Except that it sounds too much like a feminine hygiene product.
R-Head, you'll bever top
"facts don't mean jack to a sack-whacking quack who for Honda would get down on his back and get his äss packed to make up for the püssy he lacks."
Whoa! now thats a mouthful!!!!!!
mini monte?,.. what the hell is that? can't say I'd be proud to say I drive a "mini monte." sounds gay.
Nice rhyme JJT!
MY Si, you sure know about mouthfuls, eh you little meatstuffing pillowbiter?
Two engines AND an optional diesel, that should be a powerful little unit
Deantj, kalo. Mono H ELLADA xerei na vrisei etsi!!!
'Deanster', keep 'em coming.
Why are they even trying to build a Mini SUV? The whole nostalgia about Mini is their size (note "mini"), and they're looks. So why take this small platform, that's made to look small (the Clubman looks horrid), and dress it up with more clearance, larger wheels, slightly different body and more weight?
I would much rather have BMW, or this acclaimed, upcoming manufacturer that we've been hearing about make a MINI SUV. It just doesn't fit in the brand.
Well Mini needs something other than just one model in their lineup. It's a bigger company now then it ever was before and although being owned by BMW that i'm sure is actually a help then a hinder they need more models for this reason. They have the Cooper, next they'll have the Clubman and next the "Monte". They might as well have something to compete in the "mini-small SUV" There's a bit of a segment here so why not? Chrysler has/had the PT cruiser which really opened up this segment, and Chevy has the HHR (although it's really more of a car). Although not my choice of vehicles, I'm sure the "Monte" will sell.
Just a follow-up to my comments yesterday … if you're bored, here's what a former Reagan cohort thinks:
http://www.rense.com/general79/impend.htm
Michigan should see some degree of a resurgence in manufacturing. Maybe some of those 12 000 abandoned homes in Detroit can return to life.
They don't need something more than the Mimi, SS4LIFE. The way I see it, Mini could easily do with the model they started with, why expand when you can leave room for your future brands, keep capacity low and resale high, and keep the name MINI something special? Mini is making profit, and it's very likely it will continue to do so.
soon it will be cheaper to build em here than in China, and without lead.
I definitely see your point jJaycO08, However Mini always will have something special. There really isn't any other car like it. It has it's own design and a history behind hit. They can also still keep their capacity low and re-sale high by not mass producing their current model. But do you remember when VW came back out with the Beetle? What was that like almost ten years ago now? Well about half a decade ago sales of the Beetle started to decrease. Which is simple economics. It had been out for so long along i'm sure with other reasons but without a real design change (VW purposely keeps its design true to its heritage) people are going to want something new eventually. The Cooper hasn't been out that long but in the next 5 years it's probably going to suffer a similar fate. People are going to want something new and different. I don't really think that coming out with a Mini "SUV" is going to be the best solution they should release the Clubman first and see how it sells then wait before releasing a new model. But since Mazda might be coming out with their small SUV based on their MX-5 platform, Mini is going to want to beat it to production, possibly a reason why we're now really hearing about it. But your guess is as good as mine at this point.
It is actually good news for all involved. Mini does not have a reputation for quality (frankly BMW SUVs made in US either, but to a smaller segment of bad press). Ergo, Mini may achieve our shores quality of 80s vs. that famous Her Majesty Quality which run auto industry out of Britain altogether. Workers at SC plant will get more work and work assurance and I don't believe they are unions.
Meat Stuffing Pillow Biter? Deanster what did i do to deserve that?
Yo Mama.
who cares about minis
who cares about minis? Pentiums?
Let's see….
'celeron', the inferior alternative.
if it6s a MINI SUV, i say they call it the MAXI
^cheap shot at a comedic response
Well, that's the end of THAT brand. The new hatch, the Clubman, an SUV… what's next, a MINI transit bus?
deantj:
That was R-head, not me.
What left of Mini? made in Austria? Austria is known for waltz, Hitler and Glock. How Mini SUV fits in? They gonna decorate it with a funny mustache and one testicle?
Sad thing is BMW is running this brand into the ground and destroying all its heritage, yet idiots will still buy them up.
German owned, French Engine, Austrian built, thats English heritage at its finest.
P.S. bring back the 9" wheels.
It should weigh 6000 lbs and make a Hummer H1, Excursion, or Escalade look dinky. Give it some tractor knobby tires and an optional hydraulic digging claw. Throw in a solar-powered rear-view mirror and call it a 'hybrid'. At $4/gallon for gas, uber-kool urbanites will still pay $10K over sticker for it.
SwerveEarly you are a history buff. Where is resident limie Aston? What is his take on desecration of marquee. Her majesty knighted turk for the original design, to add salt to injury. I guess it had no limie pedigree to begin with
global_lightning: funny shit at 1222p on the 5th
autonut: it's "limey," not "limie." comes from the 19th-century practice of supplying lime juice to British sailors to prevent scurvy.
jjt, you have your ways in California, we have our in Bronx. forgetaboutit. take of Olds, I would preserve it, you have antic by default already. Why do you need AWD in CA? Snow?
autonut: I hope the yanks can end this drought!
They are really painting themselves into a corner with these Minis, aren't they? How do you redesign it in 5 years when people are ultimately sick of looking at the current design? If they change it too much, it's no longer a Mini. Slight redesign, people can't tell and it looks like an old car. I think it's already happening. You could park the last generation and the new one side by side and I'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
Oh, never mind my above post. I just learned Bangle's running design for the whole company now so I'm sure they'll be fine…
'rsg', ask Porsche how they deal with your oh-so-serious problem. There will always be buyers of certain vehicles and MINI is one of them.
I just called them. They said, "Build an SUV to generate profits so you can afford to keep building your core vehicles and selling them to a limited market". Maybe Mini is onto something here.
They are getting away from what they do best. Sounds like some other companies that have gotten into financial trouble lately?
Riiiiiight. So the MINI Cooper is such a limited market that producing and selling an SUV of that same limited market niche will solve their problem …. enough of your type running the world and it should end in less than a decade.
Crossman is a good name beacause that's what you'll be if you buy one; a cross man
dumb name
Wouldn't a MG type convertible or a panel van fit in with 60s English heritage that BMW is marketing with this brand. A Solstice with styling influenced by bulldog. Make it as wide as it is long.
I get the Clubman but not the SUV.
By panel van I mean Scion Xb. Very small, but more stylish
175 HP Turbo-4 in an SUV? I can garantee this car will not feature AWD, and unless it weighs much less than 3000 lbs it will lose to much of the competition, especially the HOnda CRV and the Toyota RAV4
Good name! I wish BMW still owned the Morris brand and would do a short weelbase 1 series based retro Morris Minor with NA and TURBO I4 Engines and RWD! That would ROCK!!
They can call it whatever they ant. I'll call it by its rightful name: an oxymoron.
Stupid name. For fucks sake, please
Awful sexist isn't it? Shouldn't be called the Crossperson?
Why bother with trademarking the name? We will either get four units a year, or the name in itself is so stupid only BMW/Mini can come up with. Wait, VW comes close too.
I think Mini Crapstain is a better name.
Minis are gay
No, they're not
Here's a nice big cup of "I don't give a shit".
LP: Del Sols are gay. If you had access to a woman as hot as my wife, you'd not be gay, either!
So I guess this means Mini Crapstains are gonna be waaaaaaaay overpriced like the 1 series.
"LP: Del Sols are gay. If you had access to a woman as hot as my wife, you'd not be gay, either!"
Probably not, but I doubt you'd be watching porn all day if she's that good. Unless of course you're into fat black women who had given birth 4 times. Ain't that right jjt?
Well here's the real jjt:
http://editorialmatters.lee.net/content/articles/2003/11/01/current_issue/cayton.jpg
You guys really think his wife is all that?
Veda, what's your beef with JJT? He's a pretty straight up guy.
Maybe your jealous because he's more handsome than you in your high
school pic —–> http://www.asianjoke.com/pictures/img/uglyasianmen.jpg
Nope.
If self worth is measured by what you drive, then Mini is a gay car. I also heard that some fellows with naturally undersized third leg view vehicle as a substitute for natural length, I believe scientific term is Pinus Insecuritus.
RicardoHead: Straight up as in being a complete Toyota and Honda hater that rants in a bunch of sites including this one? If you don't believe me, check it out. And oh, that's his real photo btw.
veda: put away your broad brush. A complete toyota and honda hater? Moi?
Since you're so good at using the 'Net, why don't you google "jackjimturkey," and "Honda GL?"
I've explained my biases, and I think most people know to take that stuff with a grain of salt. Sorry if it makes you feel like a chump.
Rodd, we're talking cars, not bikes.
you're a dumbass!