@MaWeiTao: Oh dammit, you beat me to it. I believe someone is now required to sing me a song about how I failed to read far enough down — even though I was probably typing my response while you were posting yours.

@FP - Activity resumes!: I want to buy a Mercury GrandMa and get ALL of those trim levels installed. Just so I could put all the badges on my C-pillar. Together.

@rickerbr: HEY! Now that's better! Thanks, man, now we can discuss!

@ploopsy: Uh, no. It was made by the same company the entire time, but that company got bought-out / absorbed / incorporated / forcibly stuffed into various other companies, since the Mini was made for such a huge length of time. Austin, Rover, British Leyland... all the same companies from the bricks-and-mortar…

@c0de: I like it. I want that in a sticker and/or Euro-plate for my Corrado.

@Brian B: If I recall, and I'm digging through my magazines to find the article as we speak, they're actually exploring the possibility of a two- or three-cyl air-cooled, rear-mounted diesel engine. They've wanted the up! to be available as a comfortable, convenient, low-maintenance economy car for the North American…

This isn't really news. It's great in that it's reassuring, but it sounds like VW is just spewing more press releases in the hopes of stirring up some more buzz. When the up! concept was first introduced, they said from the start that it was intended for the entire global market, including the US, whether they liked…

@rickerbr: I'm sorry, but what the hell are you talking about? Nowhere did it say they were taking away the Golf/GTI. The up!-like concept is in addition to the Golf.

@evoCS-Hench-Minion to the stars: Nothing quite says "balls of steel" like Lucas-branded headlamps on a rally car.

Thanks, John. That cheered me up a bit, after that stupid bastardized Mini coupe-thing wrecked my good mood. I needed that reminder that Mini used to make fantastic little cars.

Anyone else suspect this Routan is supposed to be a place-holder in the minivan segment to make people aware that VW actually has a minivan... while they spend their time developing one? Kind of like the first generation Odyssey. It was an unmitigated piece of crap, roundly mocked my magazines, journalists and the…

I can't see any possible way that that bastardization of a Mini is better than this in any way, shape, or form. Sure, I'm biased, but good lord. Small, nimble, 170 lb-ft of torques. Stylish design, efficient. Tasteful interior, I'm sure made with the familiar Volkswagen obsession for fantastic materials arranged…

@Steve_in_NC: Because Americans refuse to accept that 95% of the time they're going to either be driving alone or with one significant other. "No!", says Americans, "I need it to be much, much bigger! I need to be able to hold all of my family, and my inlaws, and their two dogs, and all my luggage for a trip to the…

@Bartender, make mine a double.: Hm. Since many of the top commenters on this site either own or lust after Volkswagens, you're not doing a very good job of earning any friends around here. Perhaps, with a comment like that, you'd prefer AutoBlog?

Thanks, MINI. Thanks a bunch.

@The Cheat: I'd vote for a D9 Cat.

@iancoleTX: That is because you are wrong. Gorgeous? No. A bastardization of all that is Mini? Yes.

@skaycog-live,love,drink!: The Western part is clearly the part to see. I might be biased, as I was born and raised in BC, and am currently trapped in Alberta by an absence of work.

@skaycog-live,love,drink!: Indeed. .357 is from that area, which should be proof enough that it's unholy... as is The Incomparable POLAЯ, which should prove there's something in the water over there. Although POLAЯ may qualify as Ontario's sole redeeming feature.

@Al Navarro: Ha. Thanks for the shout-out, Al. I'm not very good at keeping a low profile, am I?