Whats in store with the 2010 MINI?

[onehots2k]

If I'm not mistaken the MINI Cooper is suppose to get a facelift. Do we know when its going to be released or any interesting *tidbits??

I'm curious if they would make the headlights a bit smaller and give us a bit more power and efficiency. Its amazing how quick and efficient they are right now in S and JCW form. I'm just wondering what else is in store for us enthusiasts.

 

[jack]

i have heard that they are going to remake the interieur, but the exterieur stays as it is
i expect new light design - rear led lamps, new front layout(as with the last generation) and (i know, i repeat myself) new color variants, as well as newly designed side "intakes"

 

[Cashmere]

the R53-R56 transformation was one of the laziest I have ever seen, you have to be a MINI geek to really spot the difference. Though, still a huge fan

 

[jack]

i wouldn't call it lazy
if you look at it you definitly see that they had a hard time keeping the proportions tradionally(due to pedastrian savety issues). the biggest trade off are the wheel arches and the high stance of the car.
the R53 looked brilliant with 17inch rims, but at a r56 17inch rims look lost.

 

[onehots2k]

i have heard that they are going to remake the interieur, but the exterieur stays as it is
i expect new light design - rear led lamps, new front layout(as with the last generation) and (i know, i repeat myself) new color variants, as well as newly designed side "intakes"

Sometimes these subtle changes make all the difference. Just look at the E90 facelift. It looks great. I hope we see the facelift before summer of next year.

 

[Mr Robert]

Im guessing there will be a JCW Engine kit for the Doopers.

 

[Mr Robert]

Oh, regarding the FL, it is rumored to hit the market in 2010 and be about as extensive as the one made on the R50/R53 model in 2005 (R50/53 model ran 2001-2004 and FL R50/53 ran 2005-2006 with the R56 replacing both as 2007 model).

 

[jack]

Im guessing there will be a JCW Engine kit for the Doopers.

i would like to see an jcw exhaust kit for the cooper
it was also possible with the previous generation to have a jcw cooper [minus the S]

 

[onehots2k]

i would like to see an jcw exhaust kit for the cooper
it was also possible with the previous generation to have a jcw cooper [minus the S]

I didnt know that. That would be pretty cool. I wanna see what the face-lift is going too look like. I want something efficient and fun. Its going to come down to the Honda CR-Z or the facelifted MINI.

 

[Mr Robert]

I didnt know that. That would be pretty cool. I wanna see what the face-lift is going too look like. I want something efficient and fun. Its going to come down to the Honda CR-Z or the facelifted MINI.

As the FL is rumored to not be that extensive (at least on the outside - about the same as the one made to the R53 a couple of years before the current model was launched) I think there will be more done under the bonnet.

 

[Mr Robert]

the R53-R56 transformation was one of the laziest I have ever seen, you have to be a MINI geek to really spot the difference. Though, still a huge fan

Can you then imagine those who can actually spot the difference between a R53 and a FL R53.

 

[onehots2k]

As the FL is rumored to not be that extensive (at least on the outside - about the same as the one made to the R53 a couple of years before the current model was launched) I think there will be more done under the bonnet.

IMO, its the subtle changes that make all the differences! I would prefer a little difference under the hood though. It would be pretty unlikely. Didnt the Mini gain a WHOPPING 5hp from the R53-R56? lol

 

[jack]

i guess that the engines get more efficient, moving the hps even more upwards wouldn't make much sense.

 

[Mr Robert]

IMO, its the subtle changes that make all the differences! I would prefer a little difference under the hood though. It would be pretty unlikely. Didnt the Mini gain a WHOPPING 5hp from the R53-R56? lol

The FL on the R53 gave 7 hp! So, in 7 years the MINI Cooper S gained a total of 12 hp. Wow...

In that light, there is more likely a jump in HP and very few changes to the exterior. But then again, the engines for the MINI are designed with PAS and I have not heard of any new sporty models from Peugeot.

By the way, there are actually quite a lot of people who think the move from R53 to R56 was a FL.

 

[jack]

By the way, there are actually quite a lot of people who think the move from R53 to R56 was a FL.

and there are several R53 owners that jumped off the mini train, because of the changes they made to the r56

 

[onehots2k]

They jumped the MINI-train?? Where did they land?? Nothing matches the quick/fun/fuel efficient factor in the U.S. at least.

If they can squeeze out another 4mpg while keeping the power the same that would be great. Even though the MINI increased single digits over the years I dont think BMW would start decreasing power as 'Jack' claims.

 

[Mr Robert]

They jumped the MINI-train?? Where did they land?? Nothing matches the quick/fun/fuel efficient factor in the U.S. at least.

There is nothing that tics all the boxes here in Europe either. The closest you come is the Honda Civic Type-R (very thirsty, stressed and rubbish interior + bad ride + not as dynamically good or involving) and the Renault Clio Sport (Stressed and rubbish interior).

I was considering a few alternatives before getting the Cooper S. First off was the A3 Sportback (to dull) and the BMW 1-series. The 1-series was close as it is very fun to drive but it did not hold its place once we had tried the Cooper S.

Another serious contender was a pre-owned Cayman S. We actually looked at a few 2006 cars and we were quite tempted bud they were a good €15k more than the Cooper.

 

[Mr. M]

I'm pretty sure, a hybrid Mini or a Mini-e.

 

[jack]

They jumped the MINI-train?? Where did they land?? Nothing matches the quick/fun/fuel efficient factor in the U.S. at least.

that hasn't been reported
but there are several hardcore drivers, that enjoyed the sound of the supercharger and the simple rawness of the R53. some say that mini lost its carme due to the fact that it got a more comfortable ride.

If they can squeeze out another 4mpg while keeping the power the same that would be great. Even though the MINI increased single digits over the years I dont think BMW would start decreasing power as 'Jack' claims.

i was not talking about a power decrease, i was talking about more efficient engines - keeping the hps, but lower the consumption

increasing the power would mean
a 100PS MINI One
130PS MINI Cooper
180PS MINI Cooper S
that would move especially the Mini One too far.
sources claim that current models already have more power then the actual numbers say... remember ? ... in the beginning of production mini even released Cooper S models with 190hps - due to a failure in the controller

 

[onehots2k]

[/color]
that hasn't been reported
but there are several hardcore drivers, that enjoyed the sound of the supercharger and the simple rawness of the R53. some say that mini lost its carme due to the fact that it got a more comfortable ride.



i was not talking about a power decrease, i was talking about more efficient engines - keeping the hps, but lower the consumption

increasing the power would mean
a 100PS MINI One
130PS MINI Cooper
180PS MINI Cooper S
that would move especially the Mini One too far.
sources claim that current models already have more power then the actual numbers say... remember ? ... in the beginning of production mini even released Cooper S models with 190hps - due to a failure in the controller

I get what you're saying now. I'm all about having the car keep its power while increasing a few mpgs. You can only have so much power in a FWD car before torque-steer becomes a daily chore.

I've read a few magazine reviews on the JCW and they got identical mpg figures as the S!! Thats amazing.