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MINI has been in the news lately with regards to the forthcoming Clubman model, the much awaited MINI Cooper wagon. Much like the internationally-inspired wagon concepts, the new Clubman will feature a rear-hinged access (suicide) door plus an extended wheelbase for much-needed extra interior room. Undisguised interior and exterior spy shots have already made their way onto the internet and it’s common knowledge that the car will be debuting this September in Frankfurt. But what’s also got MINI in the news is word regarding a forthcoming compact sport utility vehicle, filling in the niche that smart didn’t when the formore compact SUV was canned.
According to the Globe and Mail newspaper, Canadian automotive consortium Magna is in talks with BMW to produce this vehicle, which is rumoured to be called the Colorado (although GM, with its Colorado pickup truck, may have something to say about this… how about Mini Moke instead). The Colorado would utilize the stretched platform of the Clubman, but would feature additional ground clearance plus a new all-wheel drive system. The little SUV is expected to account for 65,000 units per year. Surprisingly, along with this info came news of a scheduled production figure of 20,000 units for a Volkswagen roadster.