BMW and the not so Mini range
December 17th 2009 12:11
The largest British car company, BMW, are playing games with us again. First they gave us the Mini and Mini Cooper, then the Clubman wagon or estate, yet to arrive is the Countryman SUV and now whispers say that the Moke will soon be reborn!
The Moke was about as simple as a Model T Ford. With its front wheel drive, no windows or doors the Moke was transportation at its most basic but it was cool. If it had been fitted with four wheel drive, a real four wheel drive system not the twin engine all drive version BLMC played with, it would have been a cut price Landrover Defender but it wasn’t.
So what will BMW do with it?
No doubt it will be fitted with ABS, EBD, HDC and a whole lot of other bits of the alphabet, it will be portly in weight and no doubt contain 28 or 29 airbags, just in case. Apparently it will have a soft top and will be an even more rugged version of the Countryman which means it will be a cuddly little baby Landrover then, just perfect for those ramps in underground car parks!
Every time I look at the original Mini – the Austin, Morris, British Leyland, Rover one, I get warm and fuzzy – the BMW Mini does not have that same effect and Autoloud is starting to wonder if BMW will ever stop in pursuit of the ultimate small car. What’s next? More unspeakable monstrosities such as a BMW engineered Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet versions – they own the names you know, along with Triumph.
Imagine that, a 1 series with a boot and a glowing badge in the grille, maybe not!
The Moke was about as simple as a Model T Ford. With its front wheel drive, no windows or doors the Moke was transportation at its most basic but it was cool. If it had been fitted with four wheel drive, a real four wheel drive system not the twin engine all drive version BLMC played with, it would have been a cut price Landrover Defender but it wasn’t.
No doubt it will be fitted with ABS, EBD, HDC and a whole lot of other bits of the alphabet, it will be portly in weight and no doubt contain 28 or 29 airbags, just in case. Apparently it will have a soft top and will be an even more rugged version of the Countryman which means it will be a cuddly little baby Landrover then, just perfect for those ramps in underground car parks!
Every time I look at the original Mini – the Austin, Morris, British Leyland, Rover one, I get warm and fuzzy – the BMW Mini does not have that same effect and Autoloud is starting to wonder if BMW will ever stop in pursuit of the ultimate small car. What’s next? More unspeakable monstrosities such as a BMW engineered Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet versions – they own the names you know, along with Triumph.
Imagine that, a 1 series with a boot and a glowing badge in the grille, maybe not!
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