Report: Mini Rocketman destined for production

Mini Rocketman Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

This year's Geneva Motor Show was loaded with concept cars. Even though most of them will never make it past the show's floor, the Mini Rocketman just might eventually roll into dealerships. According to Autocar, Mini plans to launch a production Rocketman based on BMW's front-drive platform and its eco-conscious "i" technologies.

If it enters the production schedule, the Rocketman would slot in below Mini's current three-door Cooper hatchback (at least in terms of overall size) and add to the automaker's rapidly expanding range of vehicles. BMW sales and marketing boss, Ian Robertson, told Autocar that:

The themes in the car [Mini Rocketman] are not just about a smaller Mini. Lightweight construction, and new types of components will go on to Minis. The BMW i-concept [technology] will be available to all members of the group.

So, what would be a proper nickname for the production version of the Mini Rocketman? The "mini" Mini?

Related GalleryMini Rocketman Concept: Geneva 2011

Live photos copyright ©2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Category: MPG, MINI, Lightweight

Tags: mini, mini concept, mini cooper, mini mini, mini rocketman, rocketman, smaller mini

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SteveW

Its still hardly mini, or lightweight. The original mini was a fraction of the size of even this reduced size car, and was truly revolutionary for its time. This mini is nothing revolutionary, new, or in any way interesting, other than for the inovative marketing campaign which has folks thinking this is actually an interesting car.

A good name for the "rocket" might be the "slightly less fat ass mini".

March 12 2011 at 2:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Carcus

If it goes into production, I know who the pitch-man should be:

William Shatner-Rocketman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN3MGN899yE

March 11 2011 at 2:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Mark

Darn it, the cars I want are always a two or three years out (or the companies refuse to sell them in my area, like Leaf, Volt, etc).

I've been holding onto my mid-90s Protege, waiting for something that really intrgues me, but with problems piling up, I'm going to have to bail soon. I hate to buy another plain old gas-driven car.

March 11 2011 at 9:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Mark's comment

Geronimo

You can remedy that quite easily. DIY. Buy yourself a used Merc A-Class model (e. g. A-140) with a shot engine. The A-Class was originally designed as a pure EV. You can get that fairly cheap (around $2,000.00). Remove the shot engine and replace it with a 3-phase AC brushless e-motor. Get a compliant controller and the necessary accessories.
Thundersky Li-FePo4 cells cost around $300.00 per kWh.
The complete conversion, incl. BMS, amounts to approx. $15,000.00.
If you have faith in your own work, you don't need a warranty.
Achievable range at that price will be approx. 120 to 150 miles per charge.
You may want to renew the brake discs and pads.
All in all you'll never get a BEV from a dealer for that price. And you don't have to wait; you can start immediately.

March 11 2011 at 10:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jeffzekas

Buy a used Toyota Prius: it can be converted to plug in, and even used, they run for a long time.

March 11 2011 at 1:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Satn

call it the

Literal(i)

March 11 2011 at 8:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Satn's comment

Or how about the Mini-Me?

March 11 2011 at 1:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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Report: Mini Rocketman destined for production

Related GalleryMini Rocketman Concept: Geneva 2011

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