From that article, "The first electric Mini was, like the first electric many things, a bodge."
(OED; bodge: A spoiled or mismanaged piece of work; a mess; a botch.)
I'm not sure I like hearing my wonderful SE referred to as a bodge.
CAR magazine: Oxford to build new Mini Electric from 2023
- Thread starter MichaelC
- Start date
- Replies 57
- Views 4K
From that article, "The first electric Mini was, like the first electric many things, a bodge."
(OED; bodge: A spoiled or mismanaged piece of work; a mess; a botch.)
I'm not sure I like hearing my wonderful SE referred to as a bodge.
chrunck
Well-Known Member
The first electric mini came out in 2009.
I'd bet the author never tried driving this delightful bodge.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
I always thought of "bodge" as meaning whimsical improvisation. I got that impression learning the word from a show called Scrapheap Challenge, known as Junkyard Wars in the US.
Wictionary sez:
bodge (plural bodges) A clumsy or inelegant job, usually a temporary repair; a patch, a repair.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Not that I find Wictionary a great source, but if that's the general meaning then Car Magazine is completely wrong if not referring to the original MINI E from 2009. There's a lot of impressive engineering to the way electric was retrofitted into the SE. Heck, it even has a heat pump which even Tesla didn't add until later years.
Last edited:
SameGuy
Well-Known Member
A bodge is also colloquially used as something thrown together from bin parts. Remember the UK version of Junkyard Wars called Scrapheap Challenge? The competitors were referred to as “bodgers.”
SameGuy
Well-Known Member
fishbert
Well-Known Member
I was reading this article again, and it occurred to me... the only place it explicitly says the next-gen electric MINI will be built at Oxford this year is in the headline. The body of the article, as written, doesn't really conflict with MotoringFile's reporting that the move won't happen until around 2027.
MichaelC
Well-Known Member
The first paragraph claims "An announcement is imminent", and the second paragraph says:
Granted, they don't specify production at Plant Oxford will actually include all 3 types of three-door. And I haven't seen any announcements from BMW/MINI yet about production plans for Oxford this year that could support or dispel the rumors. So, yeah, there aren't any real facts (yet) to properly substantiate the headline.
Point taken that I should have shared with a disclaimer that I have no idea whether the author has a decent track record at getting the scoop or simply likes to churn the rumor mill. It kinda seems like the latter is more likely at this point.
fishbert
Well-Known Member
… that the new electric Cooper will be built at Oxford. That’s been rumored for months… just not right away.
Right; that’s the key. It’s really easy for the reader to connect those statements together beyond what’s actually being said. Every sentence in the article body could be true, even if the J01 is only manufactured in China until ~2027 (as other outlets have reported).
Oh, no, that wasn’t my point at all; you’ve done nothing wrong. I just found it interesting that, if you lawyer-ball the text, the article doesn’t explicitly say what the headline claims. But that the casual reader will probably come away with a different impression.
fishbert
Well-Known Member
The April issue of Car magazine is interesting... says "BMW will refit the factory this year to assemble the new-generation petrol and electric models side by side, underpinned by the new A01 architecture shared with Great Wall." That's still not quite as explicit as the online article's 2023 headline, but does seem to take a few steps away from the ~2027 rumors. They also go on to say "the Electric was the best-selling Mini last year" (not sure if they mean globally, or just in the UK).
Other nuggets:
• "Executives are considering a striking Aceman soft-top, to attack the niche vacated by the defunct Range Rover Evoque cabriolet."
• "The most likely new member of the Mini family is a sporty five-door coupe... Based on the bigger Countryman, Mini design created a low, wide, and comparatively long fastback... If it gets the nod within six months, expect the Mini Coupe in 2026."
• Regarding the Rocketman concept: "‘Conceptually it’s a no-brainer,’ admits a senior product planner. ‘After all, the A01 platform can easily go smaller and shorter because that’s where its real scalability assets lie. In an ideal world, this components set could eventually become the common denominator for the Mini Minor and for BMW’s next mega-city vehicle [MCV, the i3 replacement]"
https://apple.news/A_qijztNxTuqUwdpkGCMeeQ
Other nuggets:
• "Executives are considering a striking Aceman soft-top, to attack the niche vacated by the defunct Range Rover Evoque cabriolet."
• "The most likely new member of the Mini family is a sporty five-door coupe... Based on the bigger Countryman, Mini design created a low, wide, and comparatively long fastback... If it gets the nod within six months, expect the Mini Coupe in 2026."
• Regarding the Rocketman concept: "‘Conceptually it’s a no-brainer,’ admits a senior product planner. ‘After all, the A01 platform can easily go smaller and shorter because that’s where its real scalability assets lie. In an ideal world, this components set could eventually become the common denominator for the Mini Minor and for BMW’s next mega-city vehicle [MCV, the i3 replacement]"
https://apple.news/A_qijztNxTuqUwdpkGCMeeQ
AndysComputer
Well-Known Member
IIRC the electric mini was 1 in 6 of all minis in 2021 and 1 in 5 in 2022.
In 2021 it was 1 out of 3 hard tops.
I can’t see how Oxford has space to run both gas and electric lines given the electric is its own platform in the next gen. They do it today because the platform is shared. I can’t see how they could do both in future?
In 2021 it was 1 out of 3 hard tops.
I can’t see how Oxford has space to run both gas and electric lines given the electric is its own platform in the next gen. They do it today because the platform is shared. I can’t see how they could do both in future?
chrunck
Well-Known Member
So another Paceman? Considering how terribly the R61 sold, I'm surprised they're considering going that route again. Though with 4 doors instead of 2, it stands a better chance.
fishbert
Well-Known Member
Something else from that April issue of Car magazine, which is confirmed (or at least repeated) today by MotoringFile:
That could be good reason to come up with a plan B (or at least the threat of one) involving the Oxford plant.
"The essential NEV (New Electric Vehicle) production license for China has yet to be signed by the authorities. ... That's because a glut of Chinese start-ups have in 2021 and 2022 installed massive overcapacities in the NEV sector, supposedly making Mini wait until one of these shoestring-budget operations falters and its precious license is made available to the next in line."
That could be good reason to come up with a plan B (or at least the threat of one) involving the Oxford plant.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
It took me a long time to figure out what a Paceman was, which was nothing more than a 3-door Countryman. I'm not surprised it was a poor seller because the type of person who wants something as big as a Countryman typically wants rear passenger doors like all SUV lovers.
As for a "low, wide, and comparatively long" design, wouldn't that sort of be a wagon/estate car? I'm not sure how a "sporty five-door coupe" differs from the Countryman, except maybe lower roof? I guess then maybe one could consider it a new type of Paceman.