German Car Forum

AutoArt - a manufacturer of miniature car models - has already included 1:18 MINI Cooper MY 2006 in their new catalog HERE. Even the pic is there (at the end of the page) - by mistake. According to my source BMW AG is already takan an action forcing AA to be remove the pic.

Here is a close up:

Only the skirt changes?!

Current one / new one:

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Front bumper is different. Air intake different. Front spoiler different. Bigger fog lights. Turn indicators now integrated in headlights, not more in the bumpers. Headlight cluster layout different. Grill different - now in one piece. Hood different - much higher.

Very similar to Traveller Concept:

This is a face lift right? I think I like the current one better.

No. This a major redisign: a new generation of MINI - MINI gen. III. But they kept overall shape almost untouched since MINI is a design icon - like Porsche 911.

Guys, I'm not joking!!! This is real! A new generation of MINI Cooper (coded R56).

I now I lost much o reputation with all the E92 3-series Coupe press release date fiasco, but still ... You'll see all the other info I provided to be proven true.

I would like to see shots shots. BMW shouldn't be too pist about it, the pictures doesn't reveal that much.

I believe you Tine that this is a new Mini... but there are barely any major changes. It just looks like a cosmestic touch up... unless there have been considerable improvements to the chassis and all the other hidden aspects of the car.
I guess they're sticking with a winning formula in terms of the looks of the car, but I was expecting a few more changes noticeable changes than that. It looks more like the current Mini than the Mini Traveller Concept.



PS: This does not mean I don't like the car... coz I totally love the Mini, awesome looking car!!

As I said: MINI is a design icon, so it was wrong to expect the design would be changed much. New skin seems more fluent and clean - more modern. But the shape stays almost the same (even the size) - it was not changed much, only to meet new safty standards.
The biggest changes are under the skin: new better engines, new more rigid chasis, even better steering, new gearbox - all leading to better driving dynamics. Also Interior is slightly remodeled - the most improvement is in details, materials and fit & finish.

Traveller is different due to being a Concept - withot air inrake, without bumper, having Cooper S air intake in the hood, also possibly being a bit higher due to its purpose: providing more space. Also it will slightly differ from the Cooper - not wanting to be just an enlogated Cooper.

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New MINI Cooper interior.


Standard trim:


High end trim:

I thought that designworks usa was responsible for the style, but it seems that giugiaro designed it...

Not really.

Next Mini has Italian Roots
Italdesign handles body engineering, chassis, tests for BMW

By AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Published 01/24/06, 1:12 pm et

MUNICH – When the second-generation Mini is launched late this year, its engineering will be Italian, not German like parent BMW or British like the brand.

Instead, BMW hired Italian design house Italdesign Giugiaro to coordinate the engineering.

BMW styled the new Mini and designed the Mini’s powertrain jointly with its cooperation partner PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and it will be built at Mini’s UK plant. But Italdesign is handling all other development – including developmental engineering of the body, structure and chassis – and parts validation.

Italdesign’s role
Italdesign is subcontracting some parts of the engineering that it cannot handle by itself, such as road testing.

BMW says it chose an outsider to handle the development because it lacked capacity in its Munich headquarters and engineering facilities.

“It is a question of capacity within the company,” said Burkhard Göschel, BMW board member for research and development.

He said it is normal to outsource some engineering, but acknowledged that BMW decided to pool development at Italdesign instead of coordinating its suppliers. “Italdesign has experience with small cars,” Göschel said.

The Mini will be assembled in the current Oxford, England, plant, which will be expanded to produce around 240,000 units annually. Later, the car will add a station wagon and a convertible derivative. The current model comes as a two-door hardtop and cabriolet.

Source: AutoWeek

I hope that the chassis will be as good as the actual.

So I'm guessing the new Mini has the new Peugeot/BMW engines, right?

Yes, it will have the new prince and also HDI engines.

This unmasked picture looks very similar to the current car!

I suppose there's no point in changing a winning formula!

Dream it, Enjoy it , Feel it, Sense it, Drive it , Love it. New MINI.

Ehhh...I am not feeling it this time around. I mean I don't know. The mini to me has never quite appealed to me 100%. I think that interior isn't my friend or something who knows.

I think it is an acquired taste.

1. Get your hands on one (preferably Cooper S Works, but a stock S will do...)
2. Drive it like you stole it.
3. You'll have acquired the taste.

Very nice! I guess I will have to do that. My brother believes it is the best thing since sliced bread so we will have to see.

hey ive driven a S works mini.. god damn it was fun to drive..
and i drove it like i stole it.. haha damn it was so fun.. i really conciderd one..
and then i got home and thought about it.. and said to my self..
look at me.. and look at that car.. we are opposites.. i cant be seen drivin around in it..
but if it fits you.. its one hell of a car

I want to get something straight. Why is this car so awesome? I have never driven one but doesn't only have 168hp(us model)?

It's a very small and light car, so 'just' 168bhp makes it go pretty quick. Don't forget the Cooper S Works with 210bhp! These describe it as having go-kart like handling!