In 2002 BMW released a new Mini Cooper. It was very popular. Small (by modern standards, not the originals) and showed a similar zest for life as the original. It featured a keen chassis and a great engine. Being a BMW it also featured Germanic levels of reliability.
In 2007 things started to go a little wrong. BMW decided that a great way to expand the lineup of Minis would be to include a new estate like vehicle called the Clubman. To drive it wasn't bad at all but that's the only thing that wasn't bad. Access to the boot was granted via cupboard style doors that looked stupid. There were only three passenger doors. Two on one side and one on the other. I cannot fathom how the designer thought that would be a good idea. Even better was the fact that the third door was on the right hand side of the car. Great in Deutscheland where they drive and park on the right hand side. But the door stayed there on British imports which meant children had to climb out into traffic. The thing also looked stupid as it looked like a Mini Copper that had ate a few too many cakes.
And BMW is continuing to ruin the brand that is Mini. There are two new cars, sorry SUV's, yes that's right SUV's, coming out. One is called the Countryman and the other is called the Paceman. The countryman is more a SUV/premium hatchback crossover vehicle to be fair but the Paceman is just a SUV. Gone are the days where Mini is about producing small quirky cars and in are the days where Mini makes dinosaurs. If this were any other company other than Mini I wouldn't care one bit but it is Mini and so I do care.
What's next? The Mini RIV?
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