Photo: MINI
From a company that offered an affordable compact car, MINI is now the maker of coupes, roadsters and small crossovers, all sold at a premium to people who value retro styling. Not only that, but their smallest, most iconic car is also steadily getting bigger and bigger with every generation, culminating with the Mk3 which is visibly longer.
Back in 2011, MINI silenced the critics with a concept called the Rocketman. This signaled a return to smaller city cars for the British brand, but soon after, they announced they were pulling out of the project because it was economically unviable. The Rocketman project remained dormant for a while, but they never forgot about it.
Two and a half years later, MINI boss Pat McKenna talked about the Rocketman concept once more, this time during an interview at the ongoing LA Auto Show. He spoke to Autoguide about the potential city car and said that the company still wants to build it.
However, he maintained MINI's previous position and said the project would only be economically viable if MINI were to find a partner to share the costs or borrow a chassis from.
Only time will tell if this slip of the corporate tongue will result in a suitor coming forth to claim MINI's small hand. But if the Ford Ka has taught us anything, it's that rebadging doesn't work in this class.
Our say: A small MINI? Blasphemy, totally not worth it! A MINI based on a Fiat 500, now wouldn't that be something.
Two and a half years later, MINI boss Pat McKenna talked about the Rocketman concept once more, this time during an interview at the ongoing LA Auto Show. He spoke to Autoguide about the potential city car and said that the company still wants to build it.
However, he maintained MINI's previous position and said the project would only be economically viable if MINI were to find a partner to share the costs or borrow a chassis from.
Only time will tell if this slip of the corporate tongue will result in a suitor coming forth to claim MINI's small hand. But if the Ford Ka has taught us anything, it's that rebadging doesn't work in this class.
Our say: A small MINI? Blasphemy, totally not worth it! A MINI based on a Fiat 500, now wouldn't that be something.
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