I think this illustrates perfectly the more or less only reason I don't like the MINI. It's a great car, made by one of the best auto manufacturers in the world. But they just bought the name and had designers and marketers just build a brand around it.

I detest marketing speak; the product is the product, not the badge. All the MINI brand is advertising and it's heritage stretches back to 2001. I'm happy with anyone buying a MINI, but to think that the MINI has any relation to the Mini is drawing such a long bow that it's revealed as being hollow and fake.

Great car, trading on stolen heritage. That's the issue.

so, leyland, rover.. not on the same page?

_________________
Potato

fair enough, well said and i respect your opinion.

_________________
1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

They were making near enough the same car. Didnt make a brand new car where all that was the same was the same vague colour. And call it the same.

I Like you Concept Cushy lets just see what BMW come up with this time

_________________
Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

What is the difference? It was the same company with a name change.
In 1967 Leyland bought Rover.

from memory the ford falcon doesnt look the same as it did in the sixties

_________________
Potato

Theres very little opposition to that change (although this is a mini forum) as it has been a constant evolution by the same company.

The Falcon evolved from 1960 to the present day. There has never been an all new Falcon, they have always flowed on from the previous model.
Just like the Mini evolved from 1959 to 2000 when BMW stopped production at Longbridge and then built the new Mini with no carryover parts at all in a new factory at Oxford.

BMW a German company purchased the name Mini a English car to make money due to not being able to name a car they designed unless it had a previously popular Name

Who won the War My father detested the Bini as it was German

_________________
Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

hey, I love the MINI. I think it's a great car. I used to drive one, and if it weren't for having 2 children, I still would. I just chose a proper mini as my fun car instead of a MINI.

I just don't necessarily agree with BMWs marketing strategy! The naming of the clubman is proof that they have no respect of the branding. I think it would have been a much better concept if it were named the traveller.

That said, if the "broadspeed" does indeed come out looking like that photoshop (great work, btw), I'd buy one for sure. But I have a feeling it will be a JCW with the JCW badges removed and Broadspeed ones stuck on in their place!

The other reason I disagree with these specials is that they are done PURELY for marketing. Back in the day they would have been done by performance workshops for racing, ie lightening bodywork, increasing aerodynamics, engine tuning etc, and I assume enough numbers built for homologation. There is no need for that for the new MINI. It's just done to replicate the past for no reason, other than to extend the life cycle of the brand.

_________________
tim
68 Deluxe 1293, HIF44, megajolt/EDIS4, daihatsu alternator..

'a mini is for life, not just for christmas!'

i've driven Binis and they're nice - but if you want a modern front driver.. buy a Honda. And, going by the problems that arise, its more of a (popular perception of) a Mini that one would want to admit....

But... I LOVED my 2002 and I'd kill for a 30CSi (well maybe kidnap:) but definitely commit something dreadful for a CSL.

BMW don't need the MINI to prove their heritage - in fact, going on the number of negative issues that the BINI generates I think there's a definite proposition that the BINI detracts from the BMW badge rather than enhances it.

Cheers, Ian

Yeah, I forgot to say I do love the photoshopped visual, but I very much doubt it will see the light of day. It's probably going to be a stripped out shell with a very hot engine and suspension package - hard core certainly, probably a very cool car.

I'd put $100 (NZ, not Australian ) on it keeping the standard shell. They won't give it a new shell as the vehicle would need to be crash tested and the cost of doing that (and new panel pressings) would be prohibitive for a vehicle with limited market appeal (in terms of real buyers).

In other words, in the same vein as a Porsche GT3. Limited numbers, high resale value, standard shell. It might even make it (in last place) into my fantasy dream car garage (but I'd rip the badges off).

I started doing the chop to a cabrio shell, but the wheel base is too short an makes it look goofy.

I thought i Might see how they'd look..