Mini: The Next 50 Years

First, the bad news: There's still no production version of the Mini Crossover. The baby crossover will have its global debut at a later venue in early 2010.

The good news about the Mini Coupe and Mini Roadster concepts for Frankfurt, according to a Mini communications contact in Munich, is that "both cars will be produced for the 2011 model year and both will be available on all our world markets."

The future still looks small at Mini, too. BMW reportedly is in talks with a Japanese manufacturer regarding minicar architectures and interiors. Word is that it is a potential swap scenario with Toyota for a next-generation iQ and a future Mini sub-subcompact range along the lines of a Gen 2 Coupe and Roadster, as well as a BMW tiny tyke based on Isetta explorations that have been underway for some time now.

Von Hooydonk adds, "The Coupe and Roadster models could conceivably stand on their own within BMW Group, but there is certainly a chance for BMW to share in it."

Sources indicate that the Crossover will quite literally be playing a big role in Mini's future. "The Crossover launch has been pushed back," says a BMW Mini spokesperson, "as we wish to first explore differentiation within future Mini smaller models and get feedback."

Inside Line says: Mini will be having a lot more niche and special models on the lots in the near future based on the ultra-Mini, Mini Coupe and Crossover lines. — Matt Davis, Correspondent