Coupé/Roadster Offical: MINI Coupe Concept

[Mr Robert]

Ok now that sounds much better. It's nothing against the Mini or anything. I just hate to see small cars cost so much. I feel the same way about the C-class too, so it's nothing against the Mini.

I think that has to do with the expectations of customers these days. 15-20 years ago, no one was expecting a small car to have the same level of comfort and refinement as a large car, today, that has changed, especially with European small cars. This because more and more people realise that a car the size of a Golf will do perfectly well, but you still want the rain sensor, the ACC, the leather, the navigation and the 25 airbags...

 

[klier]

If I could paint that car all black and put give it a "teeth like" appearence for the grill....and get it for about $5,000 I would buy it.

For $5,000 I can buy a nice mountainbike. I hope that was a joke.....

 

[jack]

if i got a cooper for 22000doller(about 15000euro) i'd jump for joy !!
but anyway
i'm glad that they still produce it in the UK and don't outsource the production to a cheaper country
but they definitly need to increase the quality of the car, that should be the priority for the facelift and futur generations

 

[HighestOfHigh]

For $5,000 I can buy a nice mountainbike. I hope that was a joke.....

Do you want a car to be expensive?

Nope it wasn't a joke. Really they do over charge for these cars. Of course dr dunkel brought up the point that it runs about $22k, which isn't bad. Still for a car of this size "back in the day (40-50 years ago)" it would have been $5k. From a business perspective, I can understand the pricing. On the other hand, I could never see myself paying 30k for a Mini. I might as well buy a Small SUV or something. I just do not like to pay a lot for a little bit.

 

[jack]

@HoH
there are also people who pay about $50k for a mini
but thats really "the MINI mystery" - MINI was the first small car which made people pay a premium price for a really small car.

 

[Sunny]

. Most of us don't pay for cars by the pound. Meat, yes. Cars, no.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

@HoH
there are also people who pay about $50k for a mini
but thats really "the MINI mystery" - MINI was the first small car which made people pay a premium price for a really small car.

Yes, it is a Mystery. For $50k, why not buy a 5 series or E-class? Just really doesn't make sense. Of course if people want to pay it, why not charge it.

 

[Bartek S.]

Mini Coupe Concept

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[jack]

Yes, it is a Mystery. For $50k, why not buy a 5 series or E-class? Just really doesn't make sense. Of course if people want to pay it, why not charge it.

during the last couple of years i tried to answer this mystery with my own needs.
i'd never buy myself something like an E class - WHY ? - i simply don't need it. and i came to the conclusion that alot of people ask themself this question "Do I really need a large car" and most of them simply decide that its time to down size.
people realize that 80% of the time they sit alone in their car, but they still want something cool and sporty and MINI gives them what they want. a small car with the credibility of a sports car.

 

[Alx]

I like it, looks bad ass...... very cool concept....

 

[theSwitchback]

No longer a mere "concept".

No surprises, but the MINI Coupe and "one other" new model are confirmed for production at Oxford.

MINI Coupé confirmed for UK production

 

[EnI]

No longer a mere "concept".

It never was.

No surprises, but the MINI Coupe and "one other" new model are confirmed for production at Oxford.

No surprises indeed - since since the twins are cabrio-based models. The "other" model is MINI Roadster, of course.

 

[theSwitchback]

It never was.

Agreed, 100% predictable and obvious. Still great to have it confirmed already.

The day MINI make a "Concept" that isn't at least an outline of a future model I'll... I'll hold that thought incase it comes back to bite me!

 

[klier]

^ You better

 

[HighestOfHigh]

during the last couple of years i tried to answer this mystery with my own needs.
i'd never buy myself something like an E class - WHY ? - i simply don't need it. and i came to the conclusion that alot of people ask themself this question "Do I really need a large car" and most of them simply decide that its time to down size.
people realize that 80% of the time they sit alone in their car, but they still want something cool and sporty and MINI gives them what they want. a small car with the credibility of a sports car.

That's fine if you want a small car, my thing is why pay that much for it?

That was my only issue.

 

[Mr Robert]

That's fine if you want a small car, my thing is why pay that much for it?

That was my only issue.

A matter of attitude, I think. Over here, small cars are very common and we are used to the thaught of them not being given us for free. Furthermore, there is a public notion that big is bad, that gives the manufacturers a golden opportunity to sell their small cars at a premium... and i the same time, you get close to the same equipment and comfort in a small car today so the only real difference is the price of the raw materials... ok, that was a stretch, but not that much.

Are there even small domestic cars in the US?

 

[HighestOfHigh]

A matter of attitude, I think. Over here, small cars are very common and we are used to the thaught of them not being given us for free. Furthermore, there is a public notion that big is bad, that gives the manufacturers a golden opportunity to sell their small cars at a premium... and i the same time, you get close to the same equipment and comfort in a small car today so the only real difference is the price of the raw materials... ok, that was a stretch, but not that much.

Are there even small domestic cars in the US?

Lol...Of course they are. It might just be our way of thinking (some of us). When someone is in the market for a small car, they usually want something cheap. It's that unwritten rule that small - cheap / large -expensive.

Yes, they people here will pay big money for a C-class just to be in the Mercedes-Benz family. Even when Smart came over here some people were expecting it to be $10k and under. Yes, the MPG benefit paid off and got them a few sales. Then you have some people who say, I can't even fit my stuff in that thing so why should I pay that much.

A while back when I was getting my MBA, I sold cars on the side (Toyota) and it was amazing how dramatic people got when they saw a Yaris for $16k. It was like they threw up in their mouth. I always got the response of "I might as well get a Corolla or used Camry for that price". Then there are a few that brought it because they wanted a small car and didn't even car about the price. A lot of people I knew there eventually went to other dealerships and encountered the same problem from Nissan, Honda and even Acura. Of course the guy I knew at Mercedes-benz never had a problem with a C-class customer though.

I guess it's all a matter of Luxury cars vs. Basic models. I rarely see a Mini over here and even Beetles are hard to spot. Then of course families are usually bigger over here as well, which is why there is so much growth (or was) in the SUV market.

But I guess in the end it's up to the buyer. I understand BMW/Mini reasoning for selling it at that price (good business sense). Just from my social surroundings, I would never pay that much for a small car. On the other hand if people want to pay it then so be it.

 

[Mr Robert]

I guess it's all a matter of Luxury cars vs. Basic models. I rarely see a Mini over here and even Beetles are hard to spot. Then of course families are usually bigger over here as well, which is why there is so much growth (or was) in the SUV market.

But I guess in the end it's up to the buyer. I understand BMW/Mini reasoning for selling it at that price (good business sense). Just from my social surroundings, I would never pay that much for a small car. On the other hand if people want to pay it then so be it.

The last decade has really brought luxury to the smaller car. They are even reasonably safe nowadays.

By the way, here in Stockholm, there are probably about 20 MINIs for every New Beetle... I actually had to check the VW website to see if they still sell the damned thing... (they do).

 

[HighestOfHigh]

The last decade has really brought luxury to the smaller car. They are even reasonably safe nowadays.

By the way, here in Stockholm, there are probably about 20 MINIs for every New Beetle... I actually had to check the VW website to see if they still sell the damned thing... (they do).

Well the VW Beetle is pretty much dead over here. I have more of a chance catch a Bugatti Veyron on the highway doing 250mph then see a Beetle. Seems like they got stuck and have no clue what to do.

 

[SCOTT27]

Intentionally BMW looked for a third manufacturer either via a renowned coach building company that would be ideal for production or a sharing exchange in which another manufacturer who was in talks for co-operation with BMW already has a manufacturing base in the UK.

BMW have now decided to go it alone with the MINI Coupe and Roadster.