2011 big for MINI
2011 big for MINI BMW’s small car firm set to unveil new production and concept cars at Geneva Motor Show.
MINI has grand expansion plans. Not content with its current range of hatch, Countryman and Clubman, the firm will introduce a number of significant new models and concepts in 2011.
Already signed off for production, the two-seater MINI Coupe and Roadster will debut in production form at the Geneva show and take up the remaining spare capacity of the firm’s Plant Oxford factory.
But the firm also has plans to downsize, and create a city car in the spirit of the original Mini that will also debut in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show.
Unlike the original, the tiny supermini will be a two-seater, albeit with a large boot, and aimed at Smart ForTwo buyers who want a small, efficient city car with a premium badge. The idea resurrects a concept called the MINI Spiritual which was a rear-engined, lightweight car shown at the 1997 Geneva show.
The new concept is important to the MINI brand’s future because it will preview the next evolution of the firm’s retro design language. The new look will dictate the styling direction of the next generation MINI, which is being overseen by BMW’s design boss Adrian van Hooydonk.
The small MINI won’t be related to BMW’s all-electric Megacity car which will be built on a bespoke platform. Instead, it will be built on a shortened version of the existing hatch’s underpinnings, but will use BMW’s range of efficient, downsized three cylinder petrol and diesel engines that will power its next 1- and 3-Series models.
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