I can see both points...I think. The Ford example I get, a Focus or Escort used to be the medium sized family car, and then the Fiesta was its small sister, then they introduced the Ka into the 'Super-Mini' category and these days even the Focus is not a hugely big family car. I can see Mini doing the same thing, the Mini Hatch is their Fiesta and now they are possibly going to introduce the Rocketman as their Ka. Personally, I really hate how Mini are diluting the brand, but it is not sustainable to stay in the market with just one model, they have to diversify. Yes, they perhaps could of just diversified with one more model rather than a barage of concepts some good some bad. You could argue that BMW are the diversified company and Mini is just one more model to that range and I'd love that if they only offered one or two models but it's just not going to happen :(
Will it stop me buying a Mini, I don't think so, but I can still only ever see myself driving a hatch as thats what I love. I bought my Mini, instead of an ST or a Corsa VXR because it was head and shoulders above in terms of the drive and as much as I hate to say it, even in class. When's the last time you seen a wee ned driving a Mini? When's the last time you seen a ned driving a Corsa VXR or a Fiesta ST with its arse dragging along the ground and an exhaust you could stick you head in? A'l rest my case!