BMW & Rolls Royce to build a MINI

Yes, BMW is going to collaborate with Rolls Royce the car manufacturer. More exactly, BMW just confirmed that Rolls Royce is going to build a luxury model of the little MINI Cooper.  Quite amazing, is there a call/demand for this type of vehicle, and if so; what price can we expect to pay?

Back in the 60’s ‘Tickford’ enhanced the Mini in numerous ways, making it more ‘luxurious’.  That model was produced in very small numbers (less than 10 I believe) as it was too expensive.  Could this latest creation go the same way?

Photos and full article over at BMWCoop.com

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Comment: BMW knows where the money is as US Mini sales surge

Two of the biggest stories to emerge from the ongoing 21st annual Detroit motor show are the successes reported by two companies, Jaguar and BMW, with both announcing increased profits despite the difficult year for much of the sector. A closer look at exactly how they have managed to do so well in the current climate points the way forward, at least for non US firms, to capitalise on the US sector’s vulnerability.

The big success for BMW has undoubtedly been in the surge in MINI sales in the US market, with over 54,000 sold last year (representing a rise of 29%), while Jaguar’s profits have risen at a respectable 8% overall. Amidst the spectacular difficulties of their American counterparts (Chrysler and Ford GM for example), BMW have seen the tricky conditions as a useful opportunity - after all, Americans aren’t going to all abandon cars in general; just big fuel guzzling US models…

For this reason the fashionable, but also crucially fuel-efficient and diesel-available Mini has been a great success in terms of satisfying the new demands of the huge US market (it is not alone obviously - Toyota is seeing similar success with its Prius model for example). Understandably US companies see a government bailout as their only way through the crisis but their European counterparts, many of whom are perfectly well equipped to make up for losses elsewhere by expanding into the gaps appearing in the US market, are actually in a pretty decent position - even without European industry bailouts.

Ultimately the lack of foresight shown by US manufacturers is a key element in the extremity of their difficulties. Had production not been so heavily geared to the larger-vehicle end of the market (which undoubtedly brought impressive short term financial gains), then the desperation of their position now would be proportionately lessened. Not to suggest that the difficulties now faced are entirely of the industry’s own making - but just to acknowledge that astute planning and preparation could have minimised the effects of otherwise unavoidable factors.

In essence the catastrophic problems faced now by GM and Chrysler mean that their European and Asian counterparts have all the more room to expand into the huge US market which the big domestic players are rapidly relinquishing. In other words, MINI’s success - and BMW’s consequent financial gain - simply represents a clever exploitation of a market which is currently up for grabs. Such is free market capitalism; GM’s troubles translate to vast opportunities for their international competitors…

Dejan Levi

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