Somehow the words "MINI" and "SUV" just don't seem to go togetherâor do they? Granted, the first thought of MINI doing an SUV seems crazy. Then againâshould they decide to do soâI'm sure it will be a neat little off-roadster, and a ton of fun.
If it comes about, it could be built at BMW's South Carolina plant, and the name being bantered around is "Monte."
Full story here ...
ateixeira says:
10:43 AM, 12/ 4/07
Call it the Maxi Cooper.
Dumb idea, IMO.
Build a BMW X1 if you must.
estreka says:
03:02 PM, 12/ 4/07
No thanks. Agreed on the X1.
firstwagon says:
06:08 PM, 12/ 4/07
I'd have to see more of it first. An actual mini off roader would be cool but just throwing SUV styling cues on a Mini would be lame.
Remember though, the original Mini was the platform for a lot of different little vehicles. Done right, it could work.
rsholland says:
07:42 PM, 12/ 4/07
Remember the Mini-Moke? Here's a military version (I kid you not)
http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/images/armymoke.jpg
firstwagon says:
09:26 PM, 12/ 4/07
Check this out, this is what we had for years, think VW rabbit drivetrain in VW thing body with an Audi all wheel system...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Iltis
Nevermind Hummer, it ain't even a Jeep.
rustyshacklfrd says:
06:53 AM, 12/ 5/07
Rather than knee-jerking, I come at this from a completely different angle than most, and I think it's the angle MINI's looking from, too. This is not about the MINI getting bigger, it's about the SUV getting smaller, peppier, and more fun to drive.
rsholland says:
07:26 AM, 12/ 5/07
I agree. I think a "mini" MINI SUV would be a hoot, and a welcome addition to the SUV scene.
crashtestdingo says:
10:53 AM, 12/ 5/07
I thought BMW's plant was in Spartanburg, SOUTH Carolina.
By the way, perhaps the source article has been changed since this blog entry was posted, but it says that this MINI will be built at the Magna plant in Austria that currently builds the BMW X3.
rsholland says:
11:14 AM, 12/ 5/07
You're right. It is South Carolina. I've corrected my blog. Thanks.