If anybody is to blame for the fact that we want the Rocketman put into production, it's MINI themselves. They're the ones who showed us a beautiful little concept, hinted they would make it and changed their minds.
The arguments against the Rocketman include the lack of platform or development partner and the technical problems of making a small car safe. But these are just excuses. MINI is too comfortable making Countryman SUVs to get off their… and take a big risk.
It's not even that great a risk. Fiat sold what, about 1.5 million units of the 500. That's one generation, one car and only a handful of engines. Today, we got to see not only one but two amazing new A-segment competitors. There's the rear-wheel drive Renault Twingo with a three-cylinder turbo engine and the new Peugeot 108 which weighs only 840 kg.
If a Renault or Peugeot can impress us, why can't MINI, who have the backing of a very profitable and powerful German automaker, do the same?
Renderings by Theophilus Chin
It's not even that great a risk. Fiat sold what, about 1.5 million units of the 500. That's one generation, one car and only a handful of engines. Today, we got to see not only one but two amazing new A-segment competitors. There's the rear-wheel drive Renault Twingo with a three-cylinder turbo engine and the new Peugeot 108 which weighs only 840 kg.
If a Renault or Peugeot can impress us, why can't MINI, who have the backing of a very profitable and powerful German automaker, do the same?
Renderings by Theophilus Chin