A mini for the hills, latest offering from MINI takes it to a tentative realm. The area where this auto manufacturer has never tried its hands upon is making of vehicles that have capabilities to do a little off-roading as well.
This off-roading evolution is expected to be called Monte and the supermini has its derivation traced back from the company’s recent Clubman model. The new entrant will supposedly join the sports activity vehicles market and is expected to make an appearance at the Paris Motor Show next September.
The car will come all geared up for the rough terrain with a tall suspension, a tough off-roading body kit and will be the first in its family to come with five doors, making it a little more practical.
Any details about this front wheel driven are still inadequate and for now we just know that the vehicle will be made available with two engine options a 1.6-liter petrol and 1.4-liter diesel. The sports activity vehicle is expected to cost around £2000 more than the Clubman.
MINI is also thinking upon a larger diesel powerplant option, which will only be making an appearance at the entrant level. The vehicle will deliver a performance that matches the company’s green credentials. Parent firm BMW is still working with more enhanced aerodynamics for the vehicle to boost up its performance.
The vehicle will come loaded with the stop-start engine technology that will help in saving fuel while the vehicle stands jammed up in the traffic. The vehicle comes geared up with a very efficient gearbox and a regenerative breaking system. While BMW still has some of its desires left to run this one with the Bio fuels, but still the vehicle comes with no motors on it.
Introduction of Monte in the market will be a very important move that the brand will register, as it will mark an end for any more developments of the second generation supermini. As for now, the company plans for no other future ventures and will put its entire focus on bringing some special edition of the existing models.
[Via: AutoExpress]
