February 2009


The 2010 Crossman is Mini’s entry into the SUV market. There has been talk about this new toy as early as 07. Some say that it will be out in the market in October or November this year. Then again some say early next year. The Crossman as some say it will be called is not even on any official Mini website yet.

Frankly there’s a lot of speculation going around still. Some say that it will come with the same 1.6 liter, 16 valve engine of the base Minis. Other proponents give it the super charged, 1752hp engine of the S. and then there are still other that insist that the Crossmans’ heart will be based on the 208 hp John Cooper Works engine. Looking at some of the spy photos, the Crossman looks like a Clubman on steroids. Bigger, wider front, larger tires, a skid plate and roof rails.

The only 3 points that all agree on is that it will come with a new all/four wheel drive system and the Crossman will be built in Austria by Magna Steyr, the same company that built BMWs’ X3. The third is that based on the other Mini variants, this is going to be another fun drive.

The other day a friend of mine asks my opinion of the Mini as she has plans on buying one-a Mini S JCW in fact.

So I went through the usual stuff: 1.6-liter (DOHC), 208 hp, 16-valve, in-line 4-cylinder aluminum-alloy engine, 6-speed Aisin Agitronic Automatic transmission (she wants an automatic), 0-100kph in 6.5 seconds (they’re used to metric here), either 16” or 17″ alloy wheels with run-flat all-season or performance tires and so on.

Ride wise I told her it’s a fun car to drive.

Safety wise, it’s got CBC (Cornering Brake Control), ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) among other things. Side impact protection and six airbags.

Handling is superb. Knowing she’s single, I said that this would be a good buy.

I wouldn’t have it she had a family knowing that the legroom at the back isn’t that great not to mention the pains for a rear seat passenger in a 2 door. Plus if she had kids it’s rather hard finding a car seat.

Overall she’ll have a blast in this car.