25 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

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

The 1-Series actually has Rear Wheel drive underpinnings like all BMW badged cars to date (the front wheel drive MINI range which although part of BMW Group is not sold or badged as a BMW).
The MK1 New MINI originally designed by Rover engineers (and still the basis of the current Mk2 New MINI) has unique fwd underpinnings not shared with any other car manufacturer.
However the Peugeot shared diesel engines have just been replaced in the latest facelifted MINI range by the new BMW developed 1-Series 1.6 diesel engines which qualify for FREE Road tax in the MINI due to their low exhaust emissions.

Edited by mab01uk, 03 September 2010 - 08:04 AM.

[mab01uk]

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.

So therefore Tata of India should stop using the Jaguar, Land Rover names, BMW should stop using the Rolls Royce names, Volkswagen should stop using Skoda, Bentley, Audi, Bugatti, Lambourghini, Seat names, Fiat should stop using Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, Ferrari, Abarth names, not to mention Peugeot & Citroen or Renault-Nissan..................

[roofless]

yoiks......its a BELF !!

[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.

So therefore Tata of India should stop using the Jaguar, Land Rover names, BMW should stop using the Rolls Royce names, Volkswagen should stop using Skoda, Bentley, Audi, Bugatti, Lambourghini, Seat names, Fiat should stop using Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, Ferrari, Abarth names, not to mention Peugeot & Citroen or Renault-Nissan..................

No problem where the company that was bought out was already producing those cars - thankfully Jag and LR arn't Tata based although some of the jags are fords - wow this gets complicated - the rest apart from Arbarth are companies already producing or developing those cars when they were bought out by the bigger company, you'd think Renault would want to change their name to Nissan tho based on their reputation......, Arbarth is an equivalent to cooper in a way in that that tuned cars made by major companies in this case fiat. I would have a problem if they used the Gallardo name on a car that was not in any way related to the original.... eg BMW and mini. Lots of the cars you mention do share parts like engines but they are all individual companies thankfully with their own ideas and designs - the Gallardo is a fantastic car to drive by the way, much better than the R8 partially because it has soul like a mini.
Lancia is a bit iffy as they are mainly rebadged fiats which is a shame as the originals were flawed but brilliant.
BMW are cynical because they are exploiting a classic and well loved name (and making life difficult for the huge number of companies that sprang up years ago to supply goodies for the mini) and image in something that bears absolutely no relation to the original in design or concept.

[skaterava]

BMW are cynical because they are exploiting a classic and well loved name (and making life difficult for the huge number of companies that sprang up years ago to supply goodies for the mini) and image in something that bears absolutely no relation to the original in design or concept.

Hit the nail on the head there.

The original was conceived as a utilitarian, basic and easy to maintain mode of transport. It was just zeitgeist that transformed it into the retro chic car it's become. The modern equivalent needs to share that "transport for the masses" feeling you got with the original. Otherwise, it's just a fashion accessory.

BMW know they can't just produce small cars under the Mini marque, as that's not profitable these days. It's just a shame they had to dilute one of the purest brands in automotive history.

Edited by skaterava, 03 September 2010 - 01:45 PM.

[joe90gt]

thanks - at last someone understands what i'm trying to get at!

[mab01uk]

BMW are cynical because they are exploiting a classic and well loved name (and making life difficult for the huge number of companies that sprang up years ago to supply goodies for the mini) and image in something that bears absolutely no relation to the original in design or concept.

Hit the nail on the head there.

The original was conceived as a utilitarian, basic and easy to maintain mode of transport. It was just zeitgeist that transformed it into the retro chic car it's become. The modern equivalent needs to share that "transport for the masses" feeling you got with the original. Otherwise, it's just a fashion accessory.

BMW know they can't just produce small cars under the Mini marque, as that's not profitable these days. It's just a shame they had to dilute one of the purest brands in automotive history.

Like it or not the popularity of the MINI shows it is clearly what people what to buy and not just in the UK as 80% of production (over 1.5 million so far) are exported all around the world.

If drivers still wanted "transport for the masses" this Kia Picanto would be a top seller.
Cheap, small and comes with a 7 year warranty, what more could anyone want...............!!
http://www.kia.co.uk...ct/Picanto.aspx

Edited by mab01uk, 03 September 2010 - 07:25 PM.

[feybrand]

youre all looking at it wrong no modern cars have any real links to classic cars due to the different market and the fact that old cars were so unsafe
however if you want a link
the classic mini was the most fun you could have 50 years ago everytime you drove it you grinned like an idiot
the new mini is quick reliable comfortable stylish and bloody good fun and you also grin like an idiot when driving it
they are the only links you need at the end of the day its a top car in its own right and if any modern car is going to wear the badge you want it to be on a good modern car which it is

[feybrand]

id love to go forward 40 or 50m years actually and see what people think then

[joe90gt]

not knocking the MINI for what it is just knocking BMW for exploiting the name and everything that goes with it ( i just wouldn't buy one on that basis) - the debate has been raging for years, the MINI could have been British if Thatcher hadn't stated the rot years ago by destroying our heavy manufacturing industry -her philosophy was - if its not performing just shut it down and asset strip rather than investing and developing and getting good mangement in, of course the unions (esp people like red robbo) didn't help matters but with good management that could have been overcome. Oh dear looks like I've started another debate about Thatcherism..............

[rick.spi]

I Like the new minis, although we all know that these new minis and mini range arnt the same as out beloved ones, i dont think you can compare them. in the modern market it is in BMW have created an exellent car range with the new mini variations. i dont blame them for using the names at all, it sells the cars so why not, theyre not making bad cars either. so i really cant see what all the dislike is for as many companys could have made much worse jobs.