Plans For Ten High MPG MINI Models

There is a bit of whiplash going on among the MINI media. First came news that a Rocketman concept will be built in multiple configurations. Then, BMW boss, Norbert Reithoffer recently spoke with What Car? and indicated that the MINI brand could eventually spawn up to 10 models.  However, now it appears one of them may not be a production version of the Rocketman concept. According to BMW Sales Chairman Ian Robertson:

The Rocketman was a concept and we have no plans to take it further, but features of it will appear on future MINIs

Even so Autocar claims the Rocketman has been scheduled for production. Auto Express says MINI will equip the Rocketman with a structure similar to that found on the BMW i3 - a carbon fiber passenger cell, mated to an aluminum chassis and that the i3's electric powertrain would:

slot neatly into the MINI, too, although power would be sent to the front wheels, rather than the rears.

It also believes there will be turbocharged gas and diesel three-cylinder engine versions and that the Rocketman will arrive in 2014.

Which reports are right?  We have no idea.

[Sources: via GreenCarReports.com/the torque report/autoblog]