[DonaldD]

With sales slumping a bit for MINI, the brand had considered introducing a budget-focused model like they have in Europe.

"We've considered it and we've decided against it," said MINI product boss Pat McKenna.

That budget model in Europe is called the MINI One, and it sits below the Cooper and makes use of an even smaller displacement engine with reduced output. The previous generation MINI One used a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder co-developed by BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroen making just 75 hp.

“While a MINI One could reach a lower pricepoint, the Cooper is developing the amount of power you expect from a premium small car,” he said.

The MINI One could have more closely competed with its quirky-car rival, the Fiat 500, which starts at just $16,195.

In the end it was the brand's dealership network that was the deciding factor.

“Usually with a dealer you would always expect they would go for the lower price,” McKenna said, “but they really surprised us, they said ‘don’t do it.’” The dealer reaction, he said, was encouraging. “We’re lucky to have dealers that really get the brand.”

Do you guys think that a cheaper entry-level MINI would be successful? Would you be interested in buying one?

 

[italianjob]

eh i dont think it would have sold very well anyways in that stripped down base trim

 

[Poggy]

The MINI One sells very well over here. Until the F56 came out, it wasn't actually the base model - the MINI First was the base model.

Further, the info on the power output is incorrect. Even the original (R50) MINI One had 90bhp, and a 1.6 engine. The R56 had a 1.4 engine until 2010 and then the same 1.6 as the Cooper, albeit with lower power until production finished.

Interestingly, the F56 MINI One achieves pretty much the same 0-60 as the R50 Cooper.

 

[tylerD]

I actually think this has more to do with emissions than it does with offering people a cheaper option. Europe is far more affected by fuel economy than North America is, and with NA like a bit of efficiency they are not prepared to sacrifice power. Anything below 100 hp in the states is dead in the water...

 

[Peakrob]

The uk mini site has started showing the mini one as an option again, with the smaller engine but new body and interior...

 

[tylerD]

the One looks half decent in poverty spec, at least they offer alloys instead of some ghastly dog dish cap...

even the interior is likeable at the pricepoint...

 

[DonaldD]

The interior definitely doesn't look bad. Its mostly the power that is the problem for the US market. It might as well be a smartcar, and I'm pretty sure that even a smartcar would go faster. In Canada we get the Micra which is under $10k. It doesn't sell in the US though. Americans must just not like these super budget models.