BMW’s Mini May Offer an Off-Road Coupe
Even as BMW’s Mini brand plans to begin selling its new, beefed-up Countryman model in Europe in a couple of weeks — along with a refreshed line of existing models — there are reports that the brand is considering a Countryman “off-road” coupe.
Britain’s Autocar reported that the new 4-wheel drive model of the miniature S.U.V. could have two or four doors and go up against Land Rover’s new Range Rover Evoque, a compact, two-door S.U.V. that’s due to be shown at the Paris auto show later this month and arrive in the United States later next year.
Another concept in the works is a “Minissimo” city car, an even smaller Mini that would be based on the existing car’s platform.
The expectations are that the third-generation Minis, due in about three years, will share a platform with a BMW range of compact, front-wheel drive vehicles that will use 4-cylinder engines.
In March, BMW Chairman Norbert Reithofer confirmed that the German carmaker will introduce a new front-wheel-drive, entry-level model, part of a plan to increase parts and platform sharing between the BMW and Mini brands.
Meanwhile, the Countryman goes on sale overseas on Sept. 18 with prices starting at the equivalent of $25,700. The company anticipates the model will account for about 20 percent of the brand’s sales. The other Minis in the line for 2011 receive redesigned bumpers and new interior materials and exterior color choices. A special edition Clubman “Soho” model is also expected, joining the other special editions in Mini’s catalog.
The Countryman is due to appear in United States showrooms in February.
More Source:
BMW's Mini May Offer an Off-Road Coupe - NYTimes.comMINI - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com
Mini (marque) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Submited at Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 pm on Automotive by chuck
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