Posted by Joe Hitei on December 18th, 2007
Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Hatchbacks, MINI
The MINI has been on a growth spurt since the introduction of the second-generation model. With the 3½-door Clubman wagon on its way to dealerships, the new convertible set to follow, and even a sports-coupe derivative rumored to be in the works, the BMW division is focusing on the development of a crossover based on the MINI. No big news there, we’ve been watching the spy shots roll in for months now. The surprise, however, is that it won’t be called the Colorado as previously thought. No, that was just a working title, an internal codename. It won’t be called the Monte, either, as previous reports suggested. According to a recent interview in German publication Auto Motor und Sport, MINI’s CEO Kay Segler said the retro soft-roader will likely be called “Crossman”. Magna-Steyr is expected to build 80,000 Crossmans (Crossmen?) at its factory in Austria each year, starting in 2010. The name, of course, combines Crossover with Clubman, the wagon variant on which it’s based. Think it’ll entice more buyers than “Colorado” or “Monte”? Leave your opinion in the comments section below. [Sources: Auto Motor und Sport via Autoblog.nl and eGMCarTech]
MINI Coopers 
I may skip the clubman, but I have one of these for sure!
This in my opinion, is not Mini at all. Looks like a Blazer trying to copy MINI. I wouldn’t be caught dead in it.
That is a despicable, beastly, loathsome bastard to the MINI brand.
I am sure BMW will not be name this car the Crossman. They couldn’t possibly be that stupid. I have a hunch that the finished product will look much cleaner than what we see now and BMW will dream up a sexier name than the Crossman. An all-wheel drive MINI would be very appeling to me and I will certainly be interested in a closer look.