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Gurney

Mini Coupe

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/

Autocar well beaten to the punch here, these are official pics.
simonp

Typical BMW, inventing another car that no-one needs!
Gurney

When we had our Mini 99% of the time it might as well have been a coupe as the rear seats remained folded.

A lot less pointless than the X6.
Martin

simonp wrote:
Typical BMW, inventing another car that no-one needs!


If you were talking about the X6, then I'd get your point, but what's wrong with a small coupe?

Shouldn't we be more pleased with this than another type of 4x4?
Martin

Gurney wrote:
When we had our Mini 99% of the time it might as well have been a coupe as the rear seats remained folded.

A lot less pointless than the X6.


Almost snap!
Twelfth Monkey



More than a little ungainly from the rear.
Martin

That's mainly down to the Works rear number, not an attractive upgrade imo.  It would look better with the std Cooper S bumper.  It is a little strange that they've tried to give it a distinctive 'boot', when it's a hatch that opens to the roof.
Twelfth Monkey

It's the roof I was thinking of in particular.
simonp

Gurney wrote:
When we had our Mini 99% of the time it might as well have been a coupe as the rear seats remained folded.


Put like that I suppose it does make sense; lose the next to useless rear seats and useless boot and make the latter bigger!

The only room the standard MINI had going for it was headroom and it doesn't even have that anymore.

Can you tell I'm not a fan?  
Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Tons of pics [here]

It's not beautiful, but I like it. Small coupes are always a good thing in any case.
Eff One

Hmm. Can't decide whether I like that or whether it looks like an elephant has sat on it.

Interior is still an utter abomination.
BeN

I hope that black C-pillar is glass. Otherwise that will be one ginormous blind spot...
Twelfth Monkey

Are you absolutely sure about that, Nick?!



Martin

Eff One wrote:
Interior is still an utter abomination.


Matter of opinion  

It depends how much you like style, individuality and quality  

(Hint: The MINI has all those qualities!!)
Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Twelfth Monkey wrote:
Are you absolutely sure about that, Nick?

Hmmm ... you have a point ...

Gurney

Thought it did have a boot until Martin pointed it out!

The rear spoiler does make it look a tad ungainly but I do love small coupes and as an unashamed fan of the Mini it gets my vote.

A bit soon maybe but a possible GTA replacement.
simonp

By the look of the pic on AE, where the Macbook is casually thrown in the back to slide around as it likes, it appears to have a DB7 Zagato style postbox with bracing over the top that you have to reach over to place bigger items behind the seats (or you cold just tilt the seat forward!). Even with only 2 seats the 250 litre boot is still smaller than a Clio's, a car of a similar size.



I also think that when the illegal gangster tints are removed this car will look worse than it does in these pics.
Blarno

Twelfth Monkey wrote:


More than a little ungainly from the rear.


Ungainly?!

What the fuck is going on with that roofline/C-pillar combo?

Suffice to say, I hate it. It will be bought by fashionista cockbags with little or no interest in cars.
Roadrunner

I think it completely hits the nail on the head for the job it has to do.  Might not be everybody's cup of tea, but it will be a big selling, quality product which will be screwed together in Oxford, so that must surely be a good thing?

I rather like the Frogeye concept shown in one of the photos.  That would work well as a lightweight, NFG version.
Martin

Roadrunner wrote:
I think it completely hits the nail on the head for the job it has to do.  Might not be everybody's cup of tea, but it will be a big selling, quality product which will be screwed together in Oxford, so that must surely be a good thing?


Spot on.
Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Martin wrote:
Roadrunner wrote:
I think it completely hits the nail on the head for the job it has to do.  Might not be everybody's cup of tea, but it will be a big selling, quality product which will be screwed together in Oxford, so that must surely be a good thing?

Spot on.

+1. World-class, successful, relevant-for-the-times product built in Britain.
simonp

It'll only sell well when they bring out the base model 1.4 version, which will be shit!

This Works jobby in the pics will probably be about 25 grand.
Humphrey The Pug

I like that and I've no doubt it will sell by the bucket load.
Martin

simonp wrote:
It'll only sell well when they bring out the base model 1.4 version, which will be shit!

This Works jobby in the pics will probably be about 25 grand.


Eh?  Have you driven a MINI One?

It might not be the quickest car for the money, but it is far far from being shit.  It's a great little car, very well engineered and great fun to drive.

You're probably right about the price of the Works though, but it will be up against different competition to the Hatch so can probably carry it off more easily.
Gurney

Martin wrote:
simonp wrote:
It'll only sell well when they bring out the base model 1.4 version, which will be shit!

This Works jobby in the pics will probably be about 25 grand.


Eh?  Have you driven a MINI One?

It might not be the quickest car for the money, but it is far far from being shit.  It's a great little car, very well engineered and great fun to drive.

You're probably right about the price of the Works though, but it will be up against different competition to the Hatch so can probably carry it off more easily.


+1, even my 'old' One was a fun steer, capable far beyond it's price - even though it wasn't exactly cheap.
PG

The concept of a 2 door Mini Coupe / Roadster is a great one. An Austin Healey Sprite for the modern age, that would take the fight to the MX-5.

But I'm not sure that they've changed it enough from a standard Mini to get there - it needs a longer bonnet and boot line as most good looking coupes that I can think of tend to look long and low.
woof woof

It's a dumpy bulbous little thing but I suppose it has to meet all of the approval requirements...

I don't think it's any worse than other small coupes we've had in the past, actually I think it's probably one of the best looking.

As with all of these things it hardly matters what it's like to drive.
Blarno

*Leaves the thread for the Mini fanboys*
Martin

Gurney wrote:
Martin wrote:
simonp wrote:
It'll only sell well when they bring out the base model 1.4 version, which will be shit!

This Works jobby in the pics will probably be about 25 grand.


Eh?  Have you driven a MINI One?

It might not be the quickest car for the money, but it is far far from being shit.  It's a great little car, very well engineered and great fun to drive.

You're probably right about the price of the Works though, but it will be up against different competition to the Hatch so can probably carry it off more easily.


+1, even my 'old' One was a fun steer, capable far beyond it's price - even though it wasn't exactly cheap.


They aren't cheap, but not buying brand new does help.  I don't think I could have brought myself to pay £23k for ours!

The quality feel and engineering make it worth the money though, better than most French tat    
simonp

The MINI One isn't the base model, though, is it? The crappily titled MINI First is ("Oh fuck, ve haf made ze boo-boo. Ve haf made ze neue cheaper car and our current cheapy is already called ze One. Vot are ve going to call zis von?"). 1.4 engine, steel wheels and acceleration you measure with a calendar.

If they make an all-show, no-go version of this car it will be shit and if they leave it as a go faster Works only version it'll only sell in small numbers, just as the current model does, due to it being ridiculously priced.

And no I've not driven one as I'd sooner walk than own or be seen in a MINI. (even if i do own a piece of French tat!)
simonp

Blarno wrote:
*Leaves the thread for the Mini fanboys*


Need some company?
Blarno

simonp wrote:
Blarno wrote:
*Leaves the thread for the Mini fanboys*


Need some company?


Yes. Come join me in the Over-engined French Piece of Tat Appreciation Society.

woof woof

"French Piece of Tat"

Yup. The thought of all those Frenchmen lining up to piss on the engines is enough to out me off  
Big TC

Not a fan of that Coupe concept - the looks, anyway. I'm sure it will be a good drive, as the standard Mini is, but I'm out, just because of the shape of its arse-end.


Blarno - save some space for me..............
DarthBalls

That is one ugly mutha of a car. It looks like it's wearing a Kangol flat cap backwards:

[img]http://www.kangolstore.com/p/217223/c/1746/Tropic-507-Cap.aspx[/img]

I've never been a fan of the MINI interior either. [/url]
Twelfth Monkey

I see on Autocar that BMW is referring to this thing as a 'pocket Porsche.'  Oh dear...
Parm

Looks like a Mini that has been sat upon (or even shat upon). Don't like it, and I bet it'll be way over-priced.
woof woof

I'm sure it'll sell though.
woof woof

I don't think the interior is very pc,





seems to have backed into that poor bloke and pinned him against the wall.
Grampa

Martin wrote:
, but what's wrong with a small coupe?


It looks bloody awful that's what.


Eff One wrote:
Interior is still an utter abomination.


The interior is the only good thing about it - but I accept Mini interiors are a bit love it or hate it.
Scouse

I prefer this one:



Rodge

It's crap. The Scouse version is much better.

But it's like comparing boiling and dipping in acid, both are horrible.
Matt

Twelfth Monkey wrote:
I see on Autocar that BMW is referring to this thing as a 'pocket Porsche.'  Oh dear...


I think it's actually a little closer to the meaning of 'pocket billiards'.
Frank Bullitt

simonp wrote:
Blarno wrote:
*Leaves the thread for the Mini fanboys*


Need some company?


I like the MINI, but that is a serious spaz-wagon.

Looks like a lash-up special.
cbeaks1

I'd rather see an updated Sunbeam Stiletto instead.

Rear engined with a camp name - lovely.
Martin

I doubt it will look exactly l like this concept anyway, so it may win some fans back!  The Clubman is much better looking than the concept was.

For what it's worth, Mrs M (a big MINI fan) hates it.
Mike Amos

Ugly, pointless and a waste of money.  It is an example of designers/management that cannot accept having similar styling cues does not mean conforming to an exact brand image.

If they had used the runnning gear and hardpoints they 'COULD' have produced an mx-5 hammer on the nail's head.  Sadly, they chose to waste the oppertunity.

After that analysis, words fail me.
ALF

I quite like it.

I need help  
DaveGibson

DarthBalls wrote:
......... It looks like it's wearing a Kangol flat cap backwards: ....

An interesting observation since the Autocar article says the inspiration came from the designer seeing his teenage som wearing a baseball cap backwards.
Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Of course, what they should do is to put a six or V8 behind the seats ...
TimR

The Mini looks awful.

Why is it that all cars have to be overstyled nowadays?
Can't we (they?) try to get back to sweeping lines and dispense with fake grilles, diffusers and the like?
Giant

TimR wrote:
The Mini looks awful.

Why is it that all cars have to be overstyled nowadays?
Can't we (they?) try to get back to sweeping lines and dispense with fake grilles, diffusers and the like?


I suppose a FIAT Coupe was in no way overstyled?...

I agree with you though, when will subtle understatement be back in fashion?....
TimR

Giant wrote:
TimR wrote:
The Mini looks awful.

Why is it that all cars have to be overstyled nowadays?
Can't we (they?) try to get back to sweeping lines and dispense with fake grilles, diffusers and the like?


I suppose a FIAT Coupe was in no way overstyled?...

I agree with you though, when will subtle understatement be back in fashion?....


At the time it came out, yes with the side slashes although it doesn't have any other adornment on the sides so if they weren't there I suppose there'd be something to break it up, even if it was just rubbing strips.

Now it looks like a masterful understatement
simonp

What i don't understand is why they didn't make a new model? I mean the Smart Roadster/Coupe doesn't look look like the ForTwo with a lower roof does it?!
DaveGibson

simonp wrote:
What i don't understand is why they didn't make a new model? I mean the Smart Roadster/Coupe doesn't look look like the ForTwo with a lower roof does it?!

Cost, no doubt. Autocar suggests that, to save money, the next MINI platform may (as with the current engine) be shared with PSA's similarly sized models.
DarthBalls

DaveGibson wrote:
simonp wrote:
What i don't understand is why they didn't make a new model? I mean the Smart Roadster/Coupe doesn't look look like the ForTwo with a lower roof does it?!

Cost, no doubt. Autocar suggests that, to save money, the next MINI platform may (as with the current engine) be shared with PSA's similarly sized models.


That could make for an interesting comparison with the Citroen DS line.
Dr. Hfuhruhurr

DaveGibson wrote:
Cost, no doubt. Autocar suggests that, to save money, the next MINI platform may (as with the current engine) be shared with PSA's similarly sized models.

Let's hope it handles like a MINI, not a Peugeot.
woof woof

I thought that the Mini had a British made engine?
Martin

The petrol engine is made in Hams Hall (Birmingham) and Peugeot make the diesel. At least I think that's right!!

They are both shared with Peugeot.
woof woof

Thanks Martin, good news for British jobs then  

Does anyone know what Peugeot cars the Brit engine goes into?
cbeaks1

See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_engine
Dr. Hfuhruhurr

cbeaks1 wrote:
See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_engine

Probably too small to go in a Little Red Corvette ... but then small engines are a Sign Of The Times ...
Skyhook

Martin wrote:
The petrol engine is made in Hams Hall (Birmingham) and Peugeot make the diesel. At least I think that's right!!

They are both shared with Peugeot.


The fuel rails and manifolds are assembled/tested on kit we designed.

Hams Hall is like something from Dr Who - there are tracks painted on the floor, they have robots that carry engine parts that follow the tracks all over the shop, stopping at benches etc in what appears a random pattern. It's quite bizarre watching them, especially at shift change when they all change route to go off and queue together, almost as if they are off for a tea break.

And of course, it's impossible to resist stepping in from of them...usually they stop just before they hit you.
Dr. Hfuhruhurr

It's when they become self-aware that you need to worry ...
Skyhook

I'm not convinced some of my human collegues are self aware yet...
woof woof

"I'm not convinced some of my human collegues are self aware yet..."


Hmmm. That opens up lots of possibilities...

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