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Our pals at Automotive Traveller snapped a few pictures of MINI’s forthcoming Cute Ute in psychedelic camofluage. Under the skin it should be quite similar to BMW’s X1, and it will forgo the Clubman’s barn-doors for a proper rear hatch.
18 Comments on “MINI Ute Spied...”
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Look at the size of those C-pillars.
At last, a Cute Ute with a flat roof, instead of those awful tapered designs that look like Godzilla stomped on the back half.
This is what a “cheap and cheerful” urban hatchback should look like. Now if the Japanese and Korean copycat designers will follow suit with models priced for the mass market …
PLEASE, EVERYONE, STOP MAKING FREAKING CROSSOVERS!!
Mini is now to BMW as Toyota is to Lexus.
I thought it was nice that Mini was a stand alone product with a clear vision – classic Mini looks with great handling.
BMW will dilute the Mini brand starting with this utility vehicle. Nothing about Mini’s reputation as small and good handling warranted a utility vehicle. This thing answers a question that no one asked.
What’s next, a Mini 4 door sedan?
-ted
I can’t wait for the bargain basement Mercedes CLS version.
What’s interesting, if you go over to the larger photos I have posted on automotivetraveler.com, is that if you look at the direct frontal shot in higher resolution in our image gallery, is that there is distinct bubbles in the roof, on each side when looking at the car from the front. I’m not sure of the significance but it’s obvious. Does anyone care to comment?
Will Mini also do a slopping roof aka X6 version? That’d be the end of it.
And a MINI-minivan, please.
It looks like somebody took a 1958 MG Magnette, and cut off the boot, much in the same one an older Jetta would look if you cut off the trunk to make it into a Golf.
I thought the MINI brand is supposed to be about FUN. A four-door hatchback doesn’t seem FUN. If it’s supposed to be an off-roader, then a jacked-up MINI makes no sense. And if it’s supposed to be a crossover, than that makes even less sense.
But on the other hand, how many times can they reinterpret the MINI, so I guess they’ve got to do something to expand the model line until they run out of steam.
I know, they should call it the MAXI. Oh wait…
Didn’t BMW see what happened to Smart when they decided to build things other than the original Smart? We see how well that worked out.
People, chill. What’s wrong with a Mini-based larger vehicle that’s fun to drive ala affordable semi-BMW? Seems like a wise move to me since they sell every Mini they can.
A 4-door? Why not? MINIvan? OK maybe not.
As much as I love station wagons, unfortunately some people won’t go near them unless it’s jacked up a little.
The Mini-minivan already exists. It’s sold by Mazda as the Mazda5, and gets mediocre fuel economy.
With that c-pillar, it looks like Mini is trying to compete with Toyota/Scion for “largest blind spot on a utility vehicle.”
I already called this mess out back in this blog entry https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/hammer-time-die-brands-die/
So I’m going to predict it now… in 10 years people are going to laugh at Mini as a brand, because they will be out of business when the “retro-ness” wears out, or they will be over bloated with too many models as they attempt to “expand the brand” with the Mini SUV (Wrangler clone), the Mini Max (4-door), the Mini Hauler (pickup) and the Mini Micro (tiny EV). Why not just save themselves now and rebrand the current Mini as the BMW .5i and leave it at that?
Time for RF to fire up Mini DW 1… its all downhill from here folks :(
I don’t think it’s a great idea. The Brand is diluted with this vehicle.
Plus, I wonder what it will cost. Given the price of Minis, such as the JCW versions, I bet this new one won’t be very cheap. At that point, they’ll have priced themselves into some pretty steep waters, where I would bet much better competition lurks.
CX-7 anyone?
Mini had a utility vehicle from 1964 to 1993. It’s nothing new and doesn’t dilute the brand. My neighbor has one. Relax.
In defense of the apparently-huge C-pillars, it’s entirely possible that at least part of the vehicle between the rear door and the hatch window is, in fact, a window that’s flush with the exterior skin. If someone painted a Suzuki SX4 with the camouflage inflicted upon this MINI-Ute, viewers might (incorrectly) assume that the SX4 had a huge C-pillar.
That being said, I rather doubt that, when compared to the SX4, this MINI-Ute will bring enough (other than a premium image) to the small AWD vehicle table to justify whatever price premium MINI will charge. In the fullness of time, I expect history (and TrueDelta’s price-to-features comparisons) will vindicate my skepticism….
Ute? Utes don’t have hatches. Or a roof to hang them from.
Thats not a ute, Now this is a ute!
http://www.hsv.com.au/cars/ESeries/maloor8/maloor8.asp