I love the Volkwagen up! and the Skoda Citigo. For me, they were two of the most interesting cars on display at the Geneva Motor Show. They are highly relevant, cost effective, cute and customisable. What’s not to like?
But as I said in part two of my Geneva Unconventional report, I was left feeling a little disappointed by the SEAT Mii. For a brand that prides itself on so called Auto Emocion and Enjoyneering, the Mii just seemed like the poor relation of the up! and Citigo. For me at least, it was almost as though SEAT was lacking in confidence. So the news that’s coming out of the 2012 Wörthersee GTI tuning festival is rather encouraging.
For the event SEAT has created a show car in the form of a Mii FR Line. This is the first time SEAT has shown a mildly interesting version of the little car and although there are no promises it will go into production, I for one hope that it does. Just look at it!
The changes are purely cosmetic, with Torando Red paintwork, black wheelarches, revised spoiler and black 16″ alloys. On the inside, the black and red theme continues, complemented by sports seats with FR lettering. There no plans to make any mechanical changes as, according to Mike Orford of SEAT UK, “there is very little demand for powerful cars in this market segment”. I’m sure some of the chaps at Wörthersee this weekend may disagree with that!
Clearly the Mii FR Line is purely a concept at this stage, so what are the chances of the car making into production? Well, Mike Orford told PetrolBlog that “there is a desire within SEAT to produce a sportier looking Mii at the top of the range”. Well this is encouraging. I therefore suggest that you politely put in a request at your local SEAT dealer to help convince them to do the right thing.
SEAT needs cars like this and the Mii FR Line could be the car that trumps the the Citigo and up!. Do it, SEAT. Do it.
9 Comments
That’s a smart looking little car. If they could make it look like that and be insurance friendly they’d probably sell big numbers.
Oh and ‘enjoyneering’, really? Marketingtwattery?
I can’t see it being too hard to achieve and they’d probably enjoyneer the experience too.
Thank you very much you’ve been a wonderful audience we’re here all week in the Lavender Lounge
😉
Mii is a trademark of Nintendo, used for the avatar characters on the Wii console. Surprised they didn’t spot that one!
Blimey. I’m not an expert on these things, but are trademarks registered in classes? Nintendo’s for gaming and leisure perhaps?
Actually that’s probably the case. Might be more an issue with associations, eg. the assumption that all Mii drivers look like this > http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2007/03/15/mii_2263.jpg
Sonic the Seat? Mario the Marea?
It’d definitely make the Mii a bit more interesting, wouldn’t it.
Even considering the limited market, I’d be surprised if we don’t get a warmer Citigo/Mii following a production version of the up! GT concept…