Re: Will the new Mini succeed and how fast will it be? Will it be as impressive a giant
"will the new Mini be the giant killer the original was?"
Only by American standards. From what I hear, it's pretty fast in Cooper spec - we're talking Peugeot 106 GTi / Seat Leon Cupra territory. But it's not going to be as fast as the Renault Clio 172, which is the current holder of the Giant-slaying crown in Europe and which may be available through an importation scheme by a Renault Specialist in Oregon by mid-2003.
"How fast will it be?"
Fast enough to get the owners of Civics-with-coffee-can-exhausts very worried.
"Will it be the terror of the Giants..?"
Probably not. Some people in America don't see anything without a V8 engine as fast and the Mini isn't going to change these people no matter how good it is.
The real impact of the New Mini in America will be to introduce the Hot-hatch idea to Americans, who are already starting to warm to the idea as exemplified by the "Sport Compact Car" crowd.
In Europe, the Cooper-spec mini will compete with the Peugeot 106 GTi, Renault Clio RSi, Seat Ibiza Cupra R, VW Lupo GTI, and others like them. This kind of car simply is not available to Americans and if it is - it's not the best of the breed (which is usually French). The Mini is closest in spirit and size to the Lupo GTI.
If the Mini succeeds here, as it probably will based on the response I saw at the New York Auto Show, it will establish the first line of serious hot-hatches in America since the demise of the Honda CRX ten years ago and the gradual dumbing-down and fattening-up of the VW Golf GTI.
Until VW brings the Lupo or introduces Seat to america, or until Honda brings the Civic Type R (unlikely, they don't want it to interfere with the RSX), or Ford brings out the Focus RS, or until Peugeot and Renault return to the USA, the new Mini will have the market for such a car cornered.
"Will it be as big a seller as the PT cruiser?"
Good question. I think people will like it because of it's looks and it's very nice proportions. I think people will be drawn to that. But I also think that once they buy the car, they'll realize how fun it is. Sooner or later, word will also get out that it comes with a great deal of features and BMW Quality for Daewoo quantities of money.
Ever since British Leyland, Fiat, PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Renault, and those others left the USA, we've been essentially without interesting cheap cars here. The Mini is a very interesting car and it's very cheap. The Korean makers have flourished on price but have yet to make a single truly interesting car (except perhaps the Hyundai Tiburon) - the Mini will be a great shock to them and the other European makers. Hopefully it will convince VW that we need the Polo, Lupo, Audi A2, & the Seat brand, and Mercedes that we need the A-class and the MCC Smart, even if these vehicles wouldn't be directly competing with the Mini it sure would be nice to see more interesting stuff.
Of course, for my money, and I'm a recent college grad without alot of that, I'd buy a Rover 200 BRM or a brand new MG ZR.