http://www.motoringfile.com/2018/11/...w-jcw-gp-2020/
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Oh I look forward to hearing more about this machine [emoji16]
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Good that MINI have officially said that it’s coming. But a typical Motoringfile artical based on nothing.
As usual lots of speculation and rumours on what the car will end up being.
But great that it’s finally been made official, didn’t doubt they’d do one, the question now is will it live up to expectations.
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We knew it was coming I think ... it was just in what guise. Oh well gives me a chance to starting thinking about if I need one or not lol [emoji23]
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I’ll not be shocked if it is an auto.
American sales of manuals has dropped through the floor and AUDI has said that’s its last manual shift cars for sale will end with the 2019 models. Others will undoubtedly follow.
More and more countries are ditching them as people are becoming more “lazy” when it comes to the vastly complicated process of pressing a clutch to change gear.
They accounted for only 6.8% of sales in 2012 but that is expected to be as low as 3.5% by the end of this year. What with China also not selling many manuals I can see that MINI will pander to the biggest markets to get they sales they so desire.
The GP seems to have moved from the original idea of an L.E. track styley car built and designed with passion and emotion to just a huge marketing exercise to make the most amount of profit.
It’ll sell well, I’ve no doubts, and I for one will not be surprised if the GP4 doesn’t not appear eventually as a “press and go” fully electric beasty.
Ultimately there’s no point in me even thinking about one until at least 2027 when they have dropped in price down to the £18-20K bracket.
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May be I could treat myself to one for my 60th...
Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.
If it looks like this and not watered down then they can take my money.
Davy
The thing about auto-boxes is that they’re supposed to be lower on emissions and that’s why more and more car manufacturers are resorting to them.
So it’s only ever gonna go that way I suppose.
Case in point, my Audi went down a roadfund tax bracket because I chose an auto over the manual, because of lower emissions.
Did the article also say that production may be 3000, as opposed to the 2000 in the GP and GP2? That kinda smacks of profiteering.
I’d not think that China was their target market, so perhaps a manual is more likely?
Hmmm...
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It just makes you wonder why they don’t proof read stuff before publishing it.
The figure of 3000 could easily be 2000 as with the previous two GP models.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8cc0c1eb2e.jpg
Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.
Premium options that’s what we need on the GP 3 :hand:
A far cry from the lightweight ethos of the GP1 (no Xenons, no climate, no glovebox) if they're including 'premium' options... (incidentally that must be the most overused word to describe products the last few years - it used to be 'multimedia', now everything is 'premium')
I get that you might want all that on a JCW, but the whole point of a GP is to be a bit hardcore, a bit uncompromising IMO
I can't see how they would feel the need to make it a manual they have never had an issue shifting GPs. So they know there is still an enthusiast market. If you are in the market for a fast auto hatch I'd be very surprised if mini was anyones go to for that. Much more likely you are looking into a merc or vag product especially if its around the 40k mark. Someone shopping for an S3, golf R, a35 is not going to be the same person looking for a seat mini with reduced sound deadening. Ford have proven with the Rs people will buy a fast manual
The GP shouldn’t have fat arse Recaros but the previous 2 cars have and also had heated should be binned. The whole ethos of the GP is one thing but what they end up building is another. They do so well with lightweight, and performance o orientationed parts and then add this rubbish. It’s one big contradiction
They’ll never please everyone no matter what they do.
I never understood why they didn’t put a rear wiper on a GP1 to save just 7lbs in weight, by not having a wiper motor installed, but then slapped 70kg of Recaros in them !!!
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Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.
Like everyone has pointed out they never really go down the full “race” route for any of these things. They’d sell a full stripped out MINI race GP3 in no time I think but we all know that’ll never happen. No air con, no electric windows, no back seats, minimal sound deadening, no stereo and carpets/trim/etc would be a far better route to go down IMO if you’re going to do it do it right.
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Yeah, I think that they should go a bit more “hardcore track car” style that what they actually do.
I believe MINI build up the “track car” image more by marketing and hype than by actually designing a car that suits the advertising that they use to sell the cars.
Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.
[emoji23]
Sent from Yorkshire wi a hint o’ sarcasm.
That was my point earlier, Pete.
Wonder whether they’re really looking to make 3000 because they wanna make more money, as they’re hyping this one up more than the previous ones imo?
Mebbe it is a typo, but if they’re putting ‘premium’ options into the car, the expectation is to sell it to a wider audience with more of the frills that people now expect. [emoji15]
It’s not a car for me, whether I could afford one, or not...
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