[Dackelone]

Just came across these pics from the MINI dealership in Stuttgart. Seems they made some lemonade out of lemons. Their student mechanics put together this MINI PickUp project car over the last few months.

I think its pretty cool!!



















































source: http://www.mini-mit-herz.de/

[ciaranob]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Just came across these pics from the MINI dealership in Stuttgart. Seems they made some lemonade out of lemons. Their student mechanics put together this MINI PickUp project car over the last few months.

I think its pretty cool!!

Cool indeed - although TBH, prefer this prototype that will almost certainly never be produced

[Dackelone]

ciaranob that MINI pickup is pretty cool too! I never had seen that one before. Thanks!

I wonder what Mr MINI thinks? SCOTT26

[GOLFFRR]

Very cool! Would love to see one of those bad boys on our Mini Lot

very cool project indeed

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Cool indeed - although TBH, prefer this prototype that will almost certainly never be produced

WANT!

[Never_Enough]

Pretty damn cool

[ciaranob]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

ciaranob that MINI pickup is pretty cool too! I never had seen that one before. Thanks!

I wonder what Mr MINI thinks? SCOTT26

Originally Posted by gonzo

WANT!

Here are some links to the project - believe it was built by apprentices at the Mini sign studios:

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mini-ch...spectacularly/

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/conc...an-pickup-here

PS: My wife drives a Mini Cooper S but would go for this in a heartbeat - unfortunately no plans to develop further at this point.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Here are some links to the project - believe it was built by apprentices at the Mini sign studios:

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mini-ch...spectacularly/

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/conc...an-pickup-here

^^Thanks for those links! Here are my fav pics from that page...

[M3Pedal]

El Ca-mini-o

[ciaranob]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

^^Thanks for those links! Here are my fav pics from that page...

They did such an awesome job with this its hard to understand why corporate could not conceive of a market for this. All about volume of course but marketed as a 'city' pick-up I'd have think that there would be fairly significant interest (especially in Europe) - just wonder how seriously it was considered. The team did a heck of a job with the final finish to the point that it looks way beyond prototype and ready to put on a sale lot!

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

They did such an awesome job with this its hard to understand why corporate could not conceive of a market for this. All about volume of course but marketed as a 'city' pick-up I'd have think that there would be fairly significant interest (especially in Europe) - just wonder how seriously it was considered. The team did a heck of a job with the final finish to the point that it looks way beyond prototype and ready to put on a sale lot!

Agreed.

I can't believe they gave the two seater Mini Coupe the green light over a pickup variant. Maybe SCOTT26 has more info for us since he is working with MINI these days.


Mini Coupe...

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Agreed.

I can't believe they gave the two seater Mini Coupe the green light over a pickup variant. Maybe SCOTT26 has more info for us since he is working with MINI these days.


Mini Coupe...
Attachment 1327587

Do people really want the MINI Red Bull car?

[Twixboy]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Do people really want the MINI Red Bull car?

It would be a really expensive novelty item. If you want a truck, get a real truck. If you want a small 2 seater, it should also have a purpose: either fast, good MPG, or a convertible.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Agreed.

I can't believe they gave the two seater Mini Coupe the green light over a pickup variant. Maybe SCOTT26 has more info for us since he is working with MINI these days.


Mini Coupe...
Attachment 1327587

The MINI Coupe was a novelty. The forbidden fruit of MINI. It was low volume so sales for Coupe and Roadster was satisfactory.
The problem was that it was too MINI it was not as individual as it should have been. It was a lot of fun though.

MINI is currently undergoing a rebranding, out goes the colour and the snappy advertising and in comes a sense of maturity, elegance and sophistication and boutique style.The new MINI philosophy is designed to mirror the message by Rolls-Royce so they compliment each other in between BMW but at both ends of the market. MINI like Rolls-Royce never sell a car without being "bespoke" so we have that similar contrast at both ends of the market.

The rebranding of MINI is also abandoning the show concept with no attendance at Detroit or Geneva this year focusing on more intimate showcases.
Although BMW Group are reviewing their Autoshow priorities especially with conflicting shows that have no premieres against larger shows with Premieres such as the NYIAS and this years Beijing Show. Although BMW at Geneva will have an extended display using MINI's space to show several World Premieres and exclusives.

The rebranding of MINI will also suit the introduction of the MINI sports car based upon the Superleggera concept car but adapted for production reality.
The new MINI sports car is the perfect example of MINI's rebranding sophisticated,exclusive stylish and boutique-like desirable.

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The MINI Coupe was a novelty. The forbidden fruit of MINI. It was low volume so sales for Coupe and Roadster was satisfactory.
The problem was that it was too MINI it was not as individual as it should have been. It was a lot of fun though.

MINI is currently undergoing a rebranding, out goes the colour and the snappy advertising and in comes a sense of maturity, elegance and sophistication and boutique style.The new MINI philosophy is designed to mirror the message by Rolls-Royce so they compliment each other in between BMW but at both ends of the market. MINI like Rolls-Royce never sell a car without being "bespoke" so we have that similar contrast at both ends of the market.

The rebranding of MINI is also abandoning the show concept with no attendance at Detroit or Geneva this year focusing on more intimate showcases.
Although BMW Group are reviewing their Autoshow priorities especially with conflicting shows that have no premieres against larger shows with Premieres such as the NYIAS and this years Beijing Show. Although BMW at Geneva will have an extended display using MINI's space to show several World Premieres and exclusives.

The rebranding of MINI will also suit the introduction of the MINI sports car based upon the Superleggera concept car but adapted for production reality.
The new MINI sports car is the perfect example of MINI's rebranding sophisticated,exclusive stylish and boutique-like desirable.

Tell MINI to redesign their redesign. It looks atrocious. As a previous long-time owner, they really jacked up the 3rd GEN design. I'd be in a 3rd gen if it weren't for the fact that the proportions look out of place...I loved my 2nd gen, but the motor was the achilles hell of the car...

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Do people really want the MINI Red Bull car?

Look how well Subaru did many years ago with their "Brat" pickup. MINI really needs some spice in its lineup. Sounds like MINI is going "premium" to me. Current MINI's are getting way too big. Soon they might need to change the brand name to MAXI.

That Superleggera production car doesn't look anywhere near as good as the concept car did at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este!

[djDori_C]

Bad ass!! Hats off to those kids 👍👍

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Look how well Subaru did many years ago with their "Brat" pickup. MINI really needs some spice in its lineup. Sounds like MINI is going "premium" to me. Current MINI's are getting way too big. Soon they might need to change the brand name to MAXI.

That Superleggera production car doesn't look anywhere near as good as the concept car did at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este!

Don't worry its all part of the master plan to introduce a smaller MINI and the MINI IV will be a sister car to the BMW 2er hatch in the highly competitive C segment alongside the new MINI Clubman.
The new entry MINI spawns a sub-compact 1er and the XCite crossover. Impression below of XCite Entry crossover.

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Don't worry its all part of the master plan to introduce a smaller MINI and the MINI IV will be a sister car to the BMW 2er hatch in the highly competitive C segment alongside the new MINI Clubman.
The new entry MINI spawns a sub-compact 1er and the XCite crossover. Impression below of XCite Entry crossover.

So the 1 serie hatch will become the 2 serie and be fwd? What about the 2 serie convertible and coupe are they going to be rwd?

[08njSTEP]

I love the work done in Stuttgart. Very nice. My only comment is the guy TIG welding. TIG is forbidden on computer cars as the frequency will fry any computer and BMWAG has very sophisticated MIG/MAG equipment for aluminium welding(kempi). Steel welding is a standard MIG/MAG process and quality is operator controlled.

Edit: disregard after a closer look that is not TIG. Hand position and torch head just made it look like it.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

So the 1 serie hatch will become the 2 serie and be fwd? What about the 2 serie convertible and coupe are they going to be rwd?

The BMW board has flipped flopped on this UKL question(FWD vs RWD for the 1er).

Maybe SCOTT26 will give us an update. ?

Dack

[Dackelone]

X5 pickup anyone ?