Mini News Most liked posts in thread: Interview: How The Mini USA Boss Keeps An Icon From Becoming A Fad

My concern is if they follow the model changes and end up like the Mustang did and I love the old Mustangs. ( 1st car was a '69 Mach 1, and have owned 2 '68 Fastbacks ) Mustang came out with the 64-1/2 Model and in '67 it got alittle bigger, '69 got alittle bigger, '71 got very big, sales started dropping so in '74 they revamped the car and we ended up with the Mustang II ( gas crunch did have something to do with this ) and after a few years of that they almost quit making the Mustang altogether!!!! If over the next 7-8 years the MINI grows another 8'' can we then say it's big and maybe MINI USA will realize that but they then have to be very careful if they try to come out with a new downsized Cooper..

 

The problem is that when you call your company MINI, you can't do what BMW and Audi have done and just keep releasing new models that take over the smallest spot in their line up as the current models continue to grow in size. I guess they could go with MINI XXL, XL, L, M, S, XS if they keep enlarging the 2dr hardtop/vert.

 

^^^ OK you are sick..... Ford Pinto Cobra II. :wink:

 

Yeah, I'm calling you sick... :lol:

 

I like all MINIs, new and old, and even the Countryman. They all have their purpose.

 

The white one is lowered, not stanced IMO. The blue one is stanced.

 

Oh, we're going into stance now...

Mendraaaaaaa, where are youuuuu?

 

Required in Japan, man.



Grille and trim in body color.

 

I'm gonna file that under sorcery.

 

Broke...Dick, What does the ModFather think?

 

This only needs wider wheels, skinnier tires & a Hello Kitty sticker or two to be just about purfect. Is that the rumored F57?

 

Looks like it jumped out of the twin towers on 9/11 - F...ing disgusting.

 

What are fents and crubs? :confused5:

 

Hmm. I guess I don't see it like that at all... It's nice to see a guy come to MINI that feels as strongly as he does about marketing and growing the brand.

 

^^^ I agree with you completely. :yesnod:

 

Well written Minidave.

 

I think we will hear less about the "Gokart" handling in future ads.... When other car companies are going with lighter weight almost wherever they can, MINI chose to switch back to steel on the rear suspension trailing arms..... In an area where low weight and nimbleness really counts....

 

I went out last night to look at the worldwide numbers for MINI over the years and shockingly enough they keep getting better (with some expected blips with model change over).

2002 - 144,119
2003 - 172,323
2004 - 172,576 (does not include December's numbers, which I couldn't find)
2005 - 200,428
2006 - 188,077
2007 - 222,875
2008 - 232,425
2009 - 216,538
2010 - 234,175
2011 - 285,060
2012 - 301,526
2013 - 305,030
2014 - 302,183

All numbers pulled from the BMW Group site: BMW Group : Investor Relations : Corporate News : Current articles

While the soul of the original new MINI may be fading away, I believe the numbers will continue to grow as the marketing increases (especially if there is a new budget MINI Minor that gets made in the next couple of years).