Photo: Original image by autoevolution
The concern MINI is showing for its brand image and keeping it undiluted is quite impressive lately. After announcing that some models might not be continued, officials from Oxford kept on talking about the same thing at the Geneva Motor Show.
The immediate candidates for the axe are, as expected and previously reported, the MINI Coupe, Roadster and Paceman, the three having the least real connection to the brand’s DNA according to the fan base and the management.
In a recent interview for Auto News Europe, Oliver Friedmann, MINI head of product management said that ‘[their] first priority is to roll out a portfolio that has strong pillars and to be absolutely clear what each stands for.” Simply put, they need character. MINI fans breathe easily!
At the moment, the company is looking to establish 3 definite models that will shape the future of the MINI brand. Two of them have already been identified as the Hatchback and the Countryman SUV but a third is yet uncertain, despite some people claiming it’s the Clubman.
The new model fitted with the traditional barn-style doors is expected to reach the market in 2015, being a bit longer and wider even than the Countryman, becoming the most spacious MINI ever made. However, we still have a long way to go up until then.
For the MINI Coupe/Roadster and Paceman enthusiasts things aren’t that bad. The officials didn’t actually say that they will be axed but only stated that they are ‘not a priority’. Therefore, for at least a while, you can still enjoys and get one of them while you still can.
From the sales point of view, though, the 3 are lagging way behind the aforementioned ‘pillars’. The Coupe was sold in 3,858 units in 2013 alongside 2,678 Roadsters and 7,485 Pacemans compared to the 47,177 Countrymans and 78,102 hatchbacks.
The new models, whichever they will be, will surely use the UKL platform that allows vehicles to be just a bit bigger than the Clubman Concept unveiled at Geneva. Thus, don’t expect bigger models but rather some new ones going in the completely opposite direction, using the same engines from the B-family as the ones introduced on the new Hatch, ranging between 1.5- and 2-liter units making up to nearly 250 HP for the John Cooper Works versions.
In a recent interview for Auto News Europe, Oliver Friedmann, MINI head of product management said that ‘[their] first priority is to roll out a portfolio that has strong pillars and to be absolutely clear what each stands for.” Simply put, they need character. MINI fans breathe easily!
At the moment, the company is looking to establish 3 definite models that will shape the future of the MINI brand. Two of them have already been identified as the Hatchback and the Countryman SUV but a third is yet uncertain, despite some people claiming it’s the Clubman.
The new model fitted with the traditional barn-style doors is expected to reach the market in 2015, being a bit longer and wider even than the Countryman, becoming the most spacious MINI ever made. However, we still have a long way to go up until then.
For the MINI Coupe/Roadster and Paceman enthusiasts things aren’t that bad. The officials didn’t actually say that they will be axed but only stated that they are ‘not a priority’. Therefore, for at least a while, you can still enjoys and get one of them while you still can.
From the sales point of view, though, the 3 are lagging way behind the aforementioned ‘pillars’. The Coupe was sold in 3,858 units in 2013 alongside 2,678 Roadsters and 7,485 Pacemans compared to the 47,177 Countrymans and 78,102 hatchbacks.
The new models, whichever they will be, will surely use the UKL platform that allows vehicles to be just a bit bigger than the Clubman Concept unveiled at Geneva. Thus, don’t expect bigger models but rather some new ones going in the completely opposite direction, using the same engines from the B-family as the ones introduced on the new Hatch, ranging between 1.5- and 2-liter units making up to nearly 250 HP for the John Cooper Works versions.
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