Excitement is building within the BMW Group ahead of the launch of the redesigned third generation MINI at the end of the year but details remain sketchy.
What is known is that the car will be built on a new modular platform which will now also be shared with a new entry level BMW.
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Insiders say the new range of group petrol and diesel engines will also be modular with 500cc ‘pots’ enabling three-cylinder 1.5-litre motors and two-litre fours. There’ll also be a six, though not for the MINI.
The Hams Hall engine plant near Birmingham in central England will build the three and four cylinder versions.
New MINI production starts at the end of 2013 with the hatchback. Other variants will gradually be renewed in following years.
The current MINI line achieved 301,526 sales in 2012 with about 100,000 of those – mostly the five-door Countryman – built under contract by Magna Steyr in Austria.
Contract assembly at the former NedCar Mitsubishi plant in Born, Holland, won’t start this year, according to Graeme Grieve, global sales chief for the brand.
He said the US was the top market in 2012 with 60,000 sales (and is one of several not to have the One variant as the entry-level model) while Chinese sales were up 50%.
With MINI soon to have three plants in three different countries all making various versions, Grieve said customers are not concerned with where their cars are made; the line is perceived as ‘British’ anyways. Foreign assembly is not an issue “as long as the product is authentic and MINI is perceived as British in the UK while the interpretation of’British’ differs in other markets” and the car is pitched accordingly.
Assembly points to supply specific markets levying high taxes on imported cars are also under consideration.
According to group sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson, final talks are taking place now over the Brazilian plant and he was hopeful site clearance would start soon.
Grieve said MINI “could be assembled in Brazil” but it’s not yet in the plan.
He said China still “has lots of potential, volume currently is relatively small”.
Asked how many more variants are on the way, Grieve said there are eight now if you count the Clubvan separate from the Clubman and “seven to 10 would be optimum”.
Electric MINIs? The trial of EV versions is still going on but no decision has been made on production, Grieve said.
The Munich-based Briton is a busy man building up the air miles. He spends only 20% of his time at head office; the rest of his time is “out in the markets”.
He said Mini is winning customers in some countries downsizing to less conspicuous but still luxurious cars “less visible to the tax authorities, their customers” and so on.
Our Product Life Database entry for the new Mini
