BMW Postpones the New Mini due to Brexit

BMW is postponing the release of the new Mini generation due to Brexit. The Munich-based group has delayed the plans for the development of the compact car due to the uncertainty on trade relations between the United Kingdom and the EU. This will make forecasting for long-term investments more difficult. In short, until there is greater security on the outcome of the negotiations, large-scale investment on the updating of British production lines will be stopped.

This is a common situation for firms operating in other thriving industries in the UK like the iGaming one. For instance, a list of UK casino sites that stand out from the crowd contains some companies which may need to setup an office in the EU or establish themselves in the UK in order to provide their services without restrictions. This will increase their taxes on profit, plus additional trade and tax agreements. Ultimately, increasing the costs on the end user.

Cost Cutting at BMW

“For cost reasons and for Brexit, the life cycle of the BMW UKL1 platform has been extended,” said BMW spokesman Maximilian Schoeberl made to Reuters. The current generation of the Mini, on the market since 2014 and based precisely on this chassis, will therefore remain on the market for a few more years. The choice is part of the cost reduction plan of BMW, which aims to save 12 billion euros by 2022. To achieve this goal, the German giant has already halved the number of combinations of engines and transmissions in its range, reducing the development costs.

In addition to Oxford, England; the three-door Mini is currently also produced in the VDL-Nedcar factory in Born, the Netherlands, where the Cabrio, Countryman and BMW X1 are also produced. In 2018, the Dutch factory assembled 211,660 cars, with a 39% increase in production compared to previous years. In the same period, 234,501 Mini’s came out of the production lines at the Oxford factory. However, the possible application of tariffs on imports into Europe could significantly reduce the margins on the models assembled in the United Kingdom, forcing BMW to increasingly shift the production of its three-door vehicles to the European Union.

Mini Countryman John Cooper Works GP Edition

The fastest Mini ever, the new John Cooper Works, will also come in a limited GP edition. The Mini Countryman John Cooper Works GP model will be enriched with exclusive aesthetic elements that will give the car an even sportier look. The Mini Countryman John Cooper Works, together with the Mini Clubman John Cooper Works, is the most powerful series car that the British brand has ever offered in 60 years of history. Under the hood, it is equipped with the 2.0i TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder petrol engine capable of delivering 225 kW / 306 hp. The extraordinary engine is combined with a new eight-speed Steptronic sports transmission, which includes a mechanical differential self-locking system on the front axle. There is an ALL4 all-wheel drive system, a suitably modified frame and reinforcements for the structure, engine and chassis.

The John Cooper Works will feel like a real race car, entering a new dimension of performance. The new Mini Countryman John Cooper Works GP will be produced as a limited edition. Thanks to the numerous style upgrades, the most important are the bonnet stripes, the Union Jack roof and more. The car will be available in all colours, including the metallic paint Silver White, which to date is not available for any other Mini Countryman. The GP go through the usual times laps at Nurburgring Nordschleife. The previous model achieved a time of 8:23, whilst the new GP edition is expected to faster. You can expect to see it perform 7:56.69.