I think, they need to concentrate on RD60, the 25 replacement, enhancing the 75, X70/71, a new Midget, building the sales of the city car, the TF replacement.....basically they've enough on their plate without dragging another brand name from the grave.

 

Bring back the Morris Minor as a retro-MPV, but sleek in silhouette, like the Mercedes GST concept, with wood framework at the back (disguised rear doors) and sell it as the Morris Minor Traveller. I cannot see a niche for the saloon, the packaging seems difficult.

And how about turning MG-Rover into MG-Rover-Triumph, and rebadge the MG ZT and the forthcoming X 60 as Triumphs. Make Rear-wheel drive standard in both. The RD/X 60 could take styling cues from the Rolls Royce Phantom in for the dashboard architecture and the boot treatment. Thus a mini Rolls Royce/Bentley - - - Rover/Triumph! The V8 Triumph would be the Sprint, and the V8 Rover could be Vitesse (I know Vitesse is really Triumph though).

For roadsters:

In the small segment, sell the MG TF under both the MG and Triumph badges with different noses. Then reset the present multi-link suspension to give good ride and cruising abilities and soundproofing and retro styling, wood dash and cream dials. MG would be roadster-rover. For the Triumph, double wishbone suspension all round (a la MX-5), and crisp, modern styling like the Audi TT, Nissan 350 Z and the forthcoming Ford Mustang (see concept).

Then for the Z4/Boxter market, a new car with both retro-style cruiser (MG) and a focused sportster (Triumph).


Resurrect the Austin Marque for the Supermini and sub-supermini segments. Long term, let the Austin marque grow back into the Astra/Focus segment, and the Mondeo/Vectra segment.

 

Bring back the Morris Minor as a retro-MPV, but sleek in silhouette, like the Mercedes GST concept, with wood framework at the back (disguised rear doors) and sell it as the Morris Minor Traveller. I cannot see a niche for the saloon, the packaging seems difficult.

And how about turning MG-Rover into MG-Rover-Triumph, and rebadge the MG ZT and the forthcoming X 60 as Triumphs.

1) I'd love to see a new Minor - if BMW did'nt keep the name. It'd be a great way of getting more life out of the 25 platform - the whellbases are almost identical.

2) Triumph is gone for good - BMW DID keep that. Lets hoep they build another TR7:lol:

3) I dont think Austing is a good idea. I think bvoth it and Morris are tainted. Bring back Wolsey, or some of the other old brands maybe - they may not have relevance now (as has been said many times) but that has'nt stopped Merc. bringing Maybach back from the grave.

 

With all the Retro designs about, I think it would be a good idea if Rover brought out a modern incarnation of the classic Morris Minor.

It would be a great rival to the proposed future MINI 5-door and could even rival the Chrysler PT Cruiser.

I think that Rover owns the Morris marque and I am sure that it would be a money spinner.

Try the same DNA lines as the MINI with the original MINI and they would be onto a winner!

What do you think?

definately not nononono. It least the Mini was an attractive looking car whereas the minor was just ugly. Anyway we already have a modern morris minor except its made by Ford and called a Ka.

 

Re: Re: Morris Minor Replacement

definately not nononono. It least the Mini was an attractive looking car whereas the minor was just ugly. Anyway we already have a modern morris minor except its made by Ford and called a Ka.

Wrong on BOTH counts!
1) The minor was a design classic. Much loved all over the world.

2) It was much, much bigger than the Ka - its wheelbase is very slightly larger than the current 25

Morris Minor Owners did an artists impression back in 1998. By chance this was also based on the 200 floorpan, but not sure if this a MkII or a MkIII.
Morris Minor Owners Club

Hmm...lets just say its needs some work - but the idea is a good'un

 

Re: Re: Re: Morris Minor Replacement

Wrong on BOTH counts!
1) The minor was a design classic. Much loved all over the world.

2) It was much, much bigger than the Ka - its wheelbase is very slightly larger than the current 25

Morris Minor Owners did an artists impression back in 1998. By chance this was also based on the 200 floorpan, but not sure if this a MkII or a MkIII.
Morris Minor Owners Club

Hmm...lets just say its needs some work - but the idea is a good'un

Rubbish I may be loved by the Minor Fan club but for the rest of us it was a dated looking vehicle. And I can see absolutely no reason for reserecting it whatsoever.

Yes I know the ka's smaller than a Minor I was talking about looks.

You are also talking about a car which hasn't been in production for 30 years unlike the Mini.

Plus where does this ridiculus retroism end, new A40 which I would rather have over a minor, new Austin 1100, New Maxi, New Marina Oh No! (Mind you call the Marina a modern Minor since it used lots of bits from it). Lets leave these cars in the past where they belong.

One of the Motoring Magazines Programme's tried to turn an old Minor into a Peugeot 206 best thing for it my view

 

The Ka is the Minor in looks? In whay way?
The headlamps? No...
The body style? Well, the minor came in 2 doors..., but it wan't a hatch
The body shape? No..the Minor had a long bonnet (compared to modern cars) and a back end more like the current crop of Renaults than the Ka.
Admittedly, they both have four wheels, numerous windows and a roof, but I think thats it!

The point is that the Minor is, no matter what you say, well loved - and it is iconic. Plus if VW can take a golf (or Polo, can never remeber which) and churn out a car that is inferior to it in almost every way (it even started out with only a 8valve engine for heavens sake!) and sell bucket loads, then surely MGR could do the same (but better) to the 25 and come out with something that did'nt cost too much to develop, will allow the platform to live a bit longer.

As for not being around for 30 years, so what? They're still on the roads! Everybody knows Morris Minors! No-one had made a Maybach for many years before Merc ressurected the brand.

And lets not forget no-one had made a proper MG roadster for years until the RV8 came out

edited... threads merged - moderator

 

New Morris Minor? (Vote)

Should MGR build a new Morris Minor?

edited... threads merged - moderator.

 

I reckon it would be quite good as a concept car - but I think that is as far as it should go - we know MGR have a great heritage - but we must look forward too - else how will the next heritage be developed!

So if the designers wamnt a play thing then why not - else concentrate on shifting metal now!

 

Build it, but build it smart! We do NOT want another Beetle we want a car that can evolve over time into something quite modern.

 

Retro cars have all turned into sales disasters (and the Mini could join them)

The VW Beetle has stiffed in Europe. They had to unload the first batch of LHD in the UK because sales were so poor.

The Ford Thunderbird lasted only 2 years

The Jaguar is in a design cul de sac: all their cars are retro and sales are begining to slump.

The PT Cruiser is now very heavily discounted as its hard to shift

And of course the Rover 75 confirmed Rover in many minds as an old Auntie type for for pipes and slipper men. It was its sales failure in Europe which killed off B*Ws interest.

The initial public reaction is always favourable but sales soon dwindle. Nissan had the right idea to do short production runs (the Fargo etc) which were all presold. Maybe that might be a better approach

 

MGR are not big. They don't have infinite resources. They are behind schedule with current projects (SV, ZT 260/385, replacement for R25/45).
To take anything else on wouls be unwise at best, suicide at worst.

 

Retro cars have all turned into sales disasters (and the Mini could join them)

Er??????? I think not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The MINI is very sucessful and is a forward looking design. It is the Rolls Royce of small cars. It is the most desirable small car, and nearly everyone I know wants one. I hate B*W, but damn it if I don't want one too.

 

The Ka is the Minor in looks? In whay way?
The headlamps? No...
The body style? Well, the minor came in 2 doors..., but it wan't a hatch
The body shape? No..the Minor had a long bonnet (compared to modern cars) and a back end more like the current crop of Renaults than the Ka.
Admittedly, they both have four wheels, numerous windows and a roof, but I think thats it!

The point is that the Minor is, no matter what you say, well loved - and it is iconic. Plus if VW can take a golf (or Polo, can never remeber which) and churn out a car that is inferior to it in almost every way (it even started out with only a 8valve engine for heavens sake!) and sell bucket loads, then surely MGR could do the same (but better) to the 25 and come out with something that did'nt cost too much to develop, will allow the platform to live a bit longer.

As for not being around for 30 years, so what? They're still on the roads! Everybody knows Morris Minors! No-one had made a Maybach for many years before Merc ressurected the brand.

And lets not forget no-one had made a proper MG roadster for years until the RV8 came out

edited... threads merged - moderator

Ok the Ka doesn't like exactly like a Minor but in evolved styling it does in my view, which is one reason I dont like it.

The MG roadster is interesting and proves the point that retro cars are a mistake. Instead of the MGF MGR could have produced an updated MGB style car, but instead went for a very modern styled car, with TF they changed the front end of the car the bit of the F which still looked a bit old style MG. Result TF's selling like hot cakes, case closed.

You can probably do a retro style car for cars which are well known as the Beetle or Mini, but the Minor's not in the same league.

Lets have Modern cutting edge style Rovers and MG's.

Are these so called icon's that good, I remember learning to drive in my mother's Mini, and thinking god this crap car, slow and basic, I couldn't wait to get in my Driving instuctors Triumph Dolomite Sprint. Infact I wouldn't mind a new retro style Dolomite sprint

 

I've voted no, why bother but i really want to vote no, there is to many projects to contend with, not for the forseeable future. think Richard's idea of a Merc Gst style car is quite intreging though.

 

Retro cars have all turned into sales disasters. Rover 75 confirmed Rover in many minds as an old Auntie type for for pipes and slipper men. It was its sales failure in Europe which killed off B*Ws interest.

The R75 has exceeded it's UK sales targets in 2000, 2001, 2002 and so far in 2003. It only fell short in 1999 because Classic and SE spec cars were delayed.

European sales were down on forecasts because Cowley couldn't build enough LHD variants due to the fact that capacity was filled by RHD production.

The R75 has consistantly been the no.2 best seller in the Compact Executive sector and in the 1st quarter of 2003 has been giving the new Vectra a run for it's money !

 

BMW does not own "Minor", it owns "Mini Minor". Maybe MGR could coax Triumph back from BMW.

I don't think the R25 platform has much life in it, it is basically twenty years old. There is no niche for the Morris Minor to be reborn as a saloon. The Volkswagen Beetle can bear testament to that. The Traveller is an icon, perhaps more so than the saloon.

BMW have used the same styling lines on the 5-series for decades and it was updated and interpreted for each new generation (the new one excluded). BMW employed this approach when designing the Range Rover, MINI, and Rolls Royce Phantom, all of which are highly successful designs with excellent detailing.

This is the way I think the Morris Minor Traveller could be designed. I also think there is a huge market for midi-MPVs and full-MPVs, and those which are seen as "cool" are the most in demand. This is why cars such as the Volvo XC90, Mercedes ML and Discovery are so popular. They can seat 7, but they are "cool". I, for one, can forsee the woodie Travellers being a huge hit. Proper packaging would avoid an MPV look, perhaps like the Peugeot 306 SW and Mercedes GST. It could look cutting edge like the Rolls Royce Phantom and Range Rover, yet retain the silhouette and styling lines of its predecessors. The rear doors would be concealed easily (The original had only two passenger doors). I think MGR would have a hit on their hands if they built this.

Also: In Ireland where I live, there are no Austins on the roads anymore: no Maestros, no Metros, no Montegos; I have never heard of the Morris Marina, nor has anybody else outside UK, more important export markets. Even with England, I doubt anybody under 35 knows what a Marina is.
All over Europe, the Mini is thought of as an "Austin", the marque is synomymus with the Mini despite the fact that it hasn't been badged as such since 1969. More interestingly, what you know as the "London" Taxi, is known all over Europe as the "Austin" Taxi
- I think this brand recognition could be built on, especially for supermini markets. It has a very English pedigree, and brings to mind such automotive icons.

 

RichardIRL I completley agree with you. The Moris Minor Traveler is the car to build. It could be done as a REALLY cool MPV. I think MG R should take the Small Audi (A2?), for size and proportions (not styling) and nick the "wood" effect off B*W. The MINI traveller below perhaps gives some cues to how the panelling could be done in quite a charming way. This is not a great pic but is the ony one I could find.

 

Ook!!
BMW are planning on getting there first. The new Mini estate/MPV will be called the clubman. I think that the Audi A2 is too small, its a supermini. I am aiming for a sleek look, like the Peugeot 307 (midi MPV) or the Mercedes GST (full MPV). Both are sleek, and proportioned more like estates, but packaged like MPVs. This BMW concept is wide of the mark. MGR can better this I think. Nevertheless, if BMW are doing it, it will surely be a hit.

Take a look at this:
http://www.theredmini.co.uk/images/newmini/clubmanearly.html

 

wood effect..... YUCK!

 

I think MGR should concentrate on new ideas - like the 'SPIRITUAL' which should have been the new mini - starting with a clean sheet of paper and making the best - rather than having hands tied behind their backs so that it resembles a car of 40 years ago.

 

New morris traveller would NOT sell. A few people might buy it but the large sales number required to make the project worthwhile would not happen.

People should look to the future rather than digging up shite cars from the past.

 

Maybe the lesson to be learned form the Beetle, and PT Cruiser is a short production run of a premium priced vehicle maybe assembled by an outside agency?

 

The PT Cruiser isn't selling because it was poorly executed. The car looks a mess. It has a 1930's profile, but with big black plastic bumpers and incongruous (but still unattractive) alloy wheels. On top of that its dynamics are below par.

And, the roadster market sector is quite low in volume sales, but that didn't stop the instigation of the project which eventually resulted in the MGF...

I think that the Morris Minor Traveller could be a niche project based on another MGR product, closely base it on an estate RD60 --- if the estate version of this is good enough. All that it would require is different panels and interior, such as is the difference between the Citroen Saxo and the Peugeot 106 --- and I don't see why it should have to be wood effect, it could be real wood, or something similar to what the Rover 75 had.


I believe that a new Traveller makes some real sense. Consider the Renault Megane Cabriolet, the forthcoming Opel Tigra and the Chrysler Crossfire. All are built by external companies and on existing platforms. The Renault Megane Cabriolet is based on the normal hatch Megane, the Opel Tigra is based on the Corsa (no shared external panels) and the Chysler Crossfire is based on the outgoing Mercedes SLK (no shared panels or fascia). All are built by either Karmann or Heuliez. Ford did it with the much acclaimed Puma, based on the Fiesta. All are niche projects which will sell in relatively low numbers but turn out a profit.

Rover actually did it themselves a few years ago with the MG RV8. Contrary to its looks, it shared only 5 % of its components with the original MGB. This project was given a development budget of only £5,000,000. They commisioned Abbey Panels to make the new exterior bodywork, (who also did the Jaguar XJ220).

They turned the DeTomaso Bigua/Qvale Mangusta into the MG SV, so why not the Rover 55 Estate into the Morris Minor Traveller? It could borrow parts from the Mini, such as the headlights, door handles, dials, seats, rear light clusters, as the MG SV took the Punto's headlights. It could take some other parts from the forthcoming Mini Clubman.

And on top of all that, this is a project which could sell in huge numbers and change the companies direction altogether. If not, it would make a small but definite profit, and demonstrate to the world the talent that exists in MGR.

 

I think that the Morris Minor Traveller could be a niche project based on another MGR product, closely base it on an estate RD60 --- if the estate version of this is good enough. All that it would require is different panels and interior, such as is the difference between the Citroen Saxo and the Peugeot 106 --- and I don't see why it should have to be wood effect, it could be real wood, or something similar to what the Rover 75 had.

Not on the outside it did'nt. Sadly real wood on the outside of any new Traveler would be a bit of a no-no. A maintenance nightmare and a liability in an accident (I suspect) I can imagine a sharp of wood spearing someone during a shunt.