Mini Lineup To Grow To Ten, No New Body Styles Though

What, no cheeky little pickup?

Blah, the bulk of the Mini Lovers have their cars and now they are just putting frosting on the same old tired Mule and it will cost them. I do not see them increasing sales but canibalizing existing sales with no gain.

^ Agreed; the 'trip down memory lane' has played it's hand, and Mini is locked into the look so rigidly they are unable to deviate from it. That said, the design is now coming up on TWENTY YEARS OLD, with the sole MCE being an incredible mirror image. Development is dead on the vine.

If they can parlay the Mini mystique as successfully as Porsche has with their 911, they have nothing to worry about.

^ Agreed; the 'trip down memory lane' has played it's hand, and Mini is locked into the look so rigidly they are unable to deviate from it. That said, the design is now coming up on TWENTY YEARS OLD, with the sole MCE being an incredible mirror image. Development is dead on the vine.

Twenty? Exaggerate much? The New Mini has only been out for little over a decade... besides, the original design lasted for around 40 years, so I wouldn't expect revolutionary change..

Feels like almost 20. "Went on sale July 2001" - so coming up on 12 years old. An "eternity" in the opinion of most armchair auto industry critics, who begin to sweat when a car goes without changes after 2 years.

Niche models can get away with longer product cycles than high volume appliances, I suppose...

^ Ahh, but the mini should fit into your definition of mass-produced appliances, being FWD and all, no?

^ Ahh, but the mini should fit into your definition of mass-produced appliances, being FWD and all, no?

Nah...it's a niche product...

Mini is FWD, but no appliance. Didn't the original pioneer the idea of FWD/transverse engine for max passenger room formula back in the 50s? So it is absolutely appropriate it has FWD... essential to concept.

That may not have been your point, Balthy, but you know wut I mean.

Mini is FWD, but no appliance. Didn't the original pioneer the idea of FWD/transverse engine for max passenger room formula back in the 50s? So it is absolutely appropriate it has FWD... essential to concept.

That may not have been your point, Balthy, but you know wut I mean.

Yes...the Mini is pretty much the original FWD subcompact...the original set the template for all that was to come. By appliances I mean bland commodity cars that the mainstream buys in volume---Camry, Malibu, Corolla, Cruze, Altima, etc...functional product that get people you point A to point B but offer nothing interesting or distinctive. The Mini is stylish and distinctive, more than a mere appliance.

It is distinctive, but its very tired-looking. Designed in the last century and all.