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The backwards-cap-wearing MINI Coupe and its Roadster brother are being taken out behind the shed, both going out of production next year.
AutoGuide reports MINI USA product chief Patrick McKenna made the announcement during last week’s LA Auto Show, proclaiming both had “run their life cycle.” The duo also were redundant compared with the hardtop and convertible already in the portfolio, and differences in styling and price didn’t attract many customers.
In their place, McKenna says higher-volume models over niche product will be the order of the day going forward, beginning with the launch of a four-door MINI for those who feel claustrophobic inside the main two-door unit.
29 Comments on “McKenna: MINI Coupe, Roadster Dead By 2015...”
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Well that was confusing. I had to go to Mini’s site to realize that the Coupe and Roadster names are actually different models, with Hard Top and Convertible being the names of the standard 2-door mini’s.
I think they royally messed up the naming of these.
mini, Mini, MiNi, mInI, MINI and eenee meenee mynee mo . . . Oh wait, better not go there.
“MINI Coupe and its Roadster brother are being taken out behind the shed”
Where they’ll be warmly received by the Nissan Crosscabriolet and Acura ZDX who’ve been back there for awhile now
And CrossTour!
And soon to be joined by the X6.
“Go toward the light, Crosstour! Go toward the light X6!”
I was going to suggest giving them AWD and raising up the ride height by 5 inches but you don’t think that would work, eh?
Time to invoke Jack Baruth’s Naming Scheme – Mini $, Mini $$, Miini $$$, Mini $$$x.
See, that was simple! And, of course, a special Mini Poseur edition with the Union Jack on the seat bottoms.
Just lift them 5″. They’ll sell.
Doesn’t always work, ie ZDX, Crosscabriolet
But they’re not bug-cute.
Great minds think alike! I didn’t even see your post when I posted mine. I’m getting better at this.
I bet it would double the sales. Of course, going from 100 to 200 probably isn’t going to help Mini USA much.
I got rid of some pet goldfish when they had ‘run their life cycle’ too. I thought I would always have those fish, but after a while, I just didn’t care.
“launch of a four-door MINI”
Don’t they have this, and it’s called the Clubman? Or something?
Clubman = crossover, Not a 4-door sedan
Silly me. Clubman -2″ clearance = four door MINI. Boom! Just saved them a ton on product development.
I thought that the Countryman was a crossover.
The crossover is the Countryman, not the Clubman. The Clubman is the extended-wheelbase 2-door with barn doors in back.
See how confusing it all is?
I need MINI lineup assistencia. They are worse than Porsche.
I initially remembered the Countryman was the crossover, because the name reminded me of when they slapped “County” on the back of ye olde Range Rover.
Hardtop 2-Door
Hardtop 4-Door
Countryman (4-Door) (crossover)
Paceman (2-Door)
Convertible (2-Door)
Coupe (2-Door)
Roadster (2-Door)
John Cooper Works
You had me at barn doors.
Well, zip it
I used to have a Clubman. Loved the barn doors.
The Clubman used to just be the original Mini with an uglier front end…now it’s a long wheelbase Mini with barn doors?
I see a little bulldog looking at the front of that car there.
Yyyyyep.
The problem is that there’s really no market for a smaller, less practical Mini.
Longer? Yes. Taller? Sure. But were people really considering Miatas because Mini lacked a two-seat variant?
Gah. Awful little cars.
I love the 2- and 4-door hardtops and I could be induced by a convertible or John Cooper Works, but I hate the rest of it. The spillover to BMW’s FWD offerings are going to hurt everything.
I’ll miss the roadster, I think it looks much better than the convertible, who’s back seat is just a cruel joke anyway.