25 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

Looks like MINI are working on a luxury small saloon Riley Elf version of the New MINI for some markets, (BMW retained ownership of the Riley brand) also a coupe version of the new Countryman, to sit along side the coupe/roadster, a small Mini city car possibly named Minissimo or Minor, as well as the next Mk3 version of the MINI hatch!

Quote fron this weeks Autocar magazine:
"Autocar has also learnt that another, rather more unexpected version of the MINI is being considered by the MINI design team. It’s an outright luxury model that would herald the revival of the Riley brand.

The concepts for the Riley show that it will either be a spin-off from the Mk3 Mini, due in 2013, or a new notchback body style inspired by the original Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet.

Many at BMW acknowledge that a super-luxury version of the Mini, fitted with a very high-end wood and leather interior, is likely to have appeal to affluent city dwellers.

However, others argue that a notchback Mini would attract buyers in countries that regard hatchbacks as low rent. A three-door van, based on a version of the Countryman platform, is also likely to feature in the future Mini plan.

Despite the profusion of niche models, the challenge for the Mini design team is to nail down the form of the Mini 3.

This car is based on the same all-new platform as the planned BMW range of compact front-drive cars and is expected to look more expensive and upmarket than today’s car, according to insiders.

With extra competition from the Citroën DS3 and Audi A1, BMW wants the next-generation Mini to look and feel more sophisticated and ‘jewel-like’ than the current three door.

With the Mini 3 and baby BMW ranges expected to account for as many as 800,000 sales by the second half of the decade, the mainstream Mini model needs to stand out as a polished and premium vehicle, not another mass-produced small car."
More:
http://www.autocar.c...AllCars/252508/

[tomgale]

not another mass-produced small car

heaven forbid it does somthing mini-ish. what a bizzare comment to make considering its a small car they intend to mass produce.

[joe90gt]

BMW must be desperate to start dragging great names like Riley through the dirt - Riley was once a name that meant something to people and to think it could be attached to yet another "variation" of the 0.5 series fill me with even more dislike for the BMW "mini". Riley brand is actually 26yrs older than BMW. What name will they use next - Marina or how about Allegro??
I think BMW are smarting because cars like the Fiat 500 are way cooler than the "MINI" and they are trying to get some kudos back by calling their car something that might possibly appeal to sad people who actually think they are buying a mini (or Riley) when they buying a BMW.

[shedonwheels]

Quite intrigued to see the interior of the Riley myself but a MINI with a big trunk, I'm not sure?

Say what you like about BMW but I'm still fascinated by the MINI brand and how well it's doing, and all the new developments they keep making!

[mab01uk]

BMW must be desperate to start dragging great names like Riley through the dirt - Riley was once a name that meant something to people and to think it could be attached to yet another "variation" of the 0.5 series fill me with even more dislike for the BMW "mini". Riley brand is actually 26yrs older than BMW. What name will they use next - Marina or how about Allegro??
I think BMW are smarting because cars like the Fiat 500 are way cooler than the "MINI" and they are trying to get some kudos back by calling their car something that might possibly appeal to sad people who actually think they are buying a mini (or Riley) when they buying a BMW.

Why should a famous brand like Riley have to die for good due to the past incompetent management of British Leyland in the 1970's (who were also responsible for killing off the legendary Mini Cooper name for 20 years 1971 -1990 as well as many other famous British car brands!)...........already sadly the Riley name and its past cars are unknown to most younger motorists today and barely remembered by those of us who were around in the 1960's and 70's.

The new Fiat 500 was designed by Frank Stephenson who also designed the MINI. The Fiat 500 may well be cooler in your personal opinion but at the end of the day it is front engined (unlike the original), is just based on the Panda/KA and is produced in a cheap labour force factory in Poland along with with the Ford KA, so it is hardly a pure bred unique 'Italian' Fiat 500 that 'sad' people are buying either..........

Edited by mab01uk, 02 September 2010 - 07:17 PM.

[grahamransom]

to be honest bmw thoroughly succeeded with there plans for the re release of the mini shape because it has become just like the classic one did . it has become an affordable family hatchback and dare i say it alot of people have them and its keeping the mini name alive.

[Scallywag630]

Heaven forbid!

[Jacko-lah]

Quite intrigued to see the interior of the Riley myself but a MINI with a big trunk, I'm not sure?

Say what you like about BMW but I'm still fascinated by the MINI brand and how well it's doing, and all the new developments they keep making!

Have you ever been in one ? The friend who scrapped the 850 mini my wife gave her (in 1993) now has a 57 plate cooper s (in common blue).

Her husband informs me that it "handles like an cheesin' F1 Car, and goes like cheesin' Stink" (you have to say it in a Manchester Accent to get the real impact - THINK HAPPY MONDAYS)

I've yet to see one with Rust, and I've never seen one broken down.

So everything you want in a car. Fast, small and reliable.

Just got details that they are making a countryman with 4x4 looks a bit weird but i'd rather one of them than a FRENCH car.

[carts60]

This 'Frank Stephenson' bloke who 'designed' the MINI and Fiat 500, is just a massive con artist...

From what i can tell, he takes all the good looks of some of the most iconic cars around and flogs worse versions of the originals as the new 'in' thing.

How difficult is his job, really all hes done is take the original drawings of Issigonis, changed a few things, such as the general size and safety features, then put his own name to them.

The same can be said about the Fiat 500, except he changed nothing, the car is literally exactly the same, bar the engine being moved.

In honesty, these new hatchbacks are doing very well and to an extent are keeping the names of Mini and Fiat 500 alive, but all the branding has changed, and though the cars look similar, are totally different beasts to their originals. Really they're not doing much about the classics. If anything i would argue that they're detracting from the classics, both in interest in the originals and the knowledge of the legacy they left after their production ceased.

I would be extremely interested to know how many new mini owners knew that the real mini won the Monte Carlo rally, or any of its other rallying feats. I wonder if they knew about Issigonis' groundbreaking designs, or even about the transverse engine.

However, to give two sides to the argument, the MINI is a good car in its own right, and my family own one. If i couldnt drive a real mini, that would be my car of choice, or maybe a 500.

[grahamransom]

Have you ever been in one ? The friend who scrapped the 850 mini my wife gave her (in 1993) now has a 57 plate cooper s (in common blue).

Her husband informs me that it "handles like an cheesin' F1 Car, and goes like cheesin' Stink" (you have to say it in a Manchester Accent to get the real impact - THINK HAPPY MONDAYS)

I've yet to see one with Rust, and I've never seen one broken down.

So everything you want in a car. Fast, small and reliable.

Just got details that they are making a countryman with 4x4 looks a bit weird but i'd rather one of them than a FRENCH car.

i actually have seen a few broken down
1 that i saw was at five in the morning with my dad on the way home from a long night shift and a started cackling in the car he just turned and said 'son no need to pity the poor blighter in his bmw i think hes been through enough buying one'

[mab01uk]

I would be extremely interested to know how many new mini owners knew that the real mini won the Monte Carlo rally, or any of its other rallying feats. I wonder if they knew about Issigonis' groundbreaking designs, or even about the transverse engine.

I have owned classic Mini's since the early 1970's and when the classic was as common on the roads as the MINI is today, outside of Mini Clubs and Mini events very few other 'everyday driver' Mini owners I ever met had a clue about the cars rallying history, transverse engines or Issigonis. They just maybe liked the way it looked or drove or because it was cheap or fashionable transport. The majority of people don't choose or research cars like us as 'enthusiasts' either now or then but that should not predjudice any of us against them as motorists.
After all I know or care little about the Issigonis designed Morris Minor 1000 but I would not expect a Minor enthusiast to hold that against me, any more than I would for his lack of knowledge or interest in classic Mini's!

[carts60]

You put forward a good argument mab01uk, however i think the lack of knowledge is more ignorance than anything. If you're interested in any car, even if it it's just for it's looks or economical engine, common sense suggests you should know a little about it's history.

I wouldn't blame a Minor owner for not knowing that Issigonis designed the mini if they werent interested in minis, similarly i had no idea Issigonis also designed the Minor, but i have little interest in the car, so it stands to reason i also know very little about it in general.

[nick217]

BMW must be desperate to start dragging great names like Riley through the dirt - Riley was once a name that meant something to people and to think it could be attached to yet another "variation" of the 0.5 series fill me with even more dislike for the BMW "mini". Riley brand is actually 26yrs older than BMW. What name will they use next - Marina or how about Allegro??
I think BMW are smarting because cars like the Fiat 500 are way cooler than the "MINI" and they are trying to get some kudos back by calling their car something that might possibly appeal to sad people who actually think they are buying a mini (or Riley) when they buying a BMW.

Why should a famous brand like Riley have to die for good due to the past incompetent management of British Leyland in the 1970's (who were also responsible for killing off the legendary Mini Cooper name for 20 years 1971 -1990 as well as many other famous British car brands!)...........already sadly the Riley name and its past cars are unknown to most younger motorists today and barely remembered by those of us who were around in the 1960's and 70's.

The new Fiat 500 was designed by Frank Stephenson who also designed the MINI. The Fiat 500 may well be cooler in your personal opinion but at the end of the day it is front engined (unlike the original), is just based on the Panda/KA and is produced in a cheap labour force factory in Poland along with with the Ford KA, so it is hardly a pure bred unique 'Italian' Fiat 500 that 'sad' people are buying either..........

I am 17 and i know about the riley elf as we had one in our street just last week
Looked in good nick too went well with my mini

[skaterava]

I'm willing to bet a tuppence that if they do release a "BMW" Elf, it'll have 1-series underpinnings.

[joe90gt]

that stirred up a hornets nest as i thought it would, lol - I understand the MINI is a good but cramped and expensive car - however i think BMW are being very cynical when using names like clubman , riley etc, its a BMW not a mini for Gods sake!, I have also heard people (on other boards) say, I really wanted a mini so i bought a MINI,... duh.
I also dislike the attitude BMW took to smal independants using the name "mini" so however good it is there won't be a MINI in my garage, I might accept a 320 ed tho....