RE: Not dead yet: new Mini Cooper S announced

[Water Fairy]

Colour scheme doesn't help but that looks rubbish. Like a base One version.

[Mr Tidy]

Water Fairy said:

Colour scheme doesn't help but that looks rubbish. Like a base One version.

It's a minger that looks nothing like a Mini, and does look like a base model especially with those cheapskate seats. No manual gearbox option - why would you?

Mrs Tidy had an R50 One then an R56 Cooper and I lost interest in them after that.

I had an F5* Cooper with the 3 cylinder turbo as a hire car. It sounded like a diesel, had no torque at low speeds so you had to get the revs up - then suddenly it wasn't that economical!

Not dead yet, but it won't be long.

[Rob 131 Sport]

Mr Tidy said:

Water Fairy said:

Colour scheme doesn't help but that looks rubbish. Like a base One version.

It's a minger that looks nothing like a Mini, and does look like a base model especially with those cheapskate seats. No manual gearbox option - why would you?

Mrs Tidy had an R50 One then an R56 Cooper and I lost interest in them after that.

I had an F5* Cooper with the 3 cylinder turbo as a hire car. It sounded like a diesel, had no torque at low speeds so you had to get the revs up - then suddenly it wasn't that economical!

Not dead yet, but it won't be long.

I very much doubt it.

Mrs 131 Sport and there Ilk will keep buying them for many years to come.

[Sofa]

Mr Tidy said:

It's a minger that looks nothing like a Mini, and does look like a base model especially with those cheapskate seats. No manual gearbox option - why would you?

Mrs Tidy had an R50 One then an R56 Cooper and I lost interest in them after that.

I had an F5* Cooper with the 3 cylinder turbo as a hire car. It sounded like a diesel, had no torque at low speeds so you had to get the revs up - then suddenly it wasn't that economical!

Not dead yet, but it won't be long.

I've done a fair bit of mileage in the F56 Cooper (both manual and auto) and I actually really like the 3-cylinder turbo. Better with the manual (the auto does let it down quite a bit) but it's actually a bloody good engine. I spent a good few weeks in them doing a 100 mile commute from Bristol and back, and could hang with even the most enthusiastic traffic on the outside lane of the M5. The LED headlights even bullied a few full fat Range Rover Drivers out of the way...

[Xenoous]

It looks so so so bad. Such a shame. BMW just doing BMW things.

[GTEYE]

If you look at pictures of this and then the new EV, you can see this is really a half hearted stop gap, not a new car.

Sadly it shows where the engineering money is being spent these days….

Mind you, I don’t actually think it’s bad, it’s more MINI than the new EV version, probably the black wheel arches.

But overall, it’s a bit sad that it’s just a reheated 10 year old design, dressed up for today. We deserve better.

[mikeswagon]

Mr Tidy said:

Water Fairy said:

Colour scheme doesn't help but that looks rubbish. Like a base One version.

It's a minger that looks nothing like a Mini, and does look like a base model especially with those cheapskate seats. No manual gearbox option - why would you?

Mrs Tidy had an R50 One then an R56 Cooper and I lost interest in them after that.

I had an F5* Cooper with the 3 cylinder turbo as a hire car. It sounded like a diesel, had no torque at low speeds so you had to get the revs up - then suddenly it wasn't that economical!

Not dead yet, but it won't be long.

I owned an F56 Cooper from new for almost 5 years, and 90k roughly. Didn't sound like a diesel, but did have a distinctive note. Had plenty torque low down for the size of the engine, and regardless of how I drove it could barely get it below 50mpg.

Sold it to scratch the itch I'd had for an R55 Clubbie, a JCW no less. Loved it, although I missed the level of tech that the F56 had. Only sold it due to insurance wanting silly money for my daughter learning.

This still looks like a Mini, but the MINIs have grown with each new model. It's not like your average Joe on the street isn't going to recognise it.

[ajprice]

Water Fairy said:

Colour scheme doesn't help but that looks rubbish. Like a base One version.

The current Cooper Classic spec looks pretty basic too compared to the Cooper S and JCW cars.









Smaller wheels really don't help the look of the Classic trim

[Squoz]

How on earth did that rear end get the green light. I think those rear lights look awful and just don't suit the rest of the car. The rest of the car is a pretty nice looking, but perhaps a little too cute looking. Still think the R53 followed by the R56 are the best looking.

[swisstoni]

The rear is not good at all. It’s like they got bored with the basic Mini shape. Which is an issue when you are in fact Mini.

[Alex Z]

cerb4.5lee said:

As mentioned in the article, it is really easy to get carried away with the options on these. I remember spending £5k extra on options in my old 2017 F56 manual Cooper S. They do feel nice inside when they are well specced though I reckon.

I think my F57 Cooper S had around £8k of factory options, but someone else had paid for them by the time I got it

[nismo48]

Andy665 said:

They have progressively destroyed the charm and appeal design wise over the generations

Awful looking thing

Sad but true

[LHB]

Looks like I’ll be sticking with my F56 S, really wanted to like this new one but the lack of bonnet scoop, no visible exhaust (apart from a single exit on the JCW apparently) and a remarkably wky interior means I’ll be looking elsewhere if I ever move my Mini on. Shame because my F56 is one of my favourite cars I’ve driven and was hoping this new one would be an upgrade, but it’s very much a downgrade.

[W12GT]

Horrid!

Single central display is an absolute no-no for me. And that back end looks nothing like a mini.

I think this model may not be as successful as the last two generations.

[biggbn]

ajprice said:

Water Fairy said:

Colour scheme doesn't help but that looks rubbish. Like a base One version.

The current Cooper Classic spec looks pretty basic too compared to the Cooper S and JCW cars.









Smaller wheels really don't help the look of the Classic trim

Mine is a one D but looks exactly like the Cooper pictured. Brilliant little thing, I'd love a fast one. Unusual to hear the triple criticised, many say the Cooper is the pick of the range, quick, characterful and frugal. I'd love a white 1499gt, all the looks and still cheap to run, and a simple map away from being lively

[theicemario]

I see they've done away with the exhaust tips so it can use the same rear bumper as the electric

Sport trim looks utter gash. Gone full M Sport bruv

[gary-tznge]

I have owned four JCW hatch in a row picking up the fourth car in late 23 all being manual, looking at this
F66 Cooper S with or without the JCW body kit I am not convinced this is a step forward.

Maybe even a step back the auto gear selector looks awkward interior trim doesn’t look great and I agree with many who have pointed out the rear end as a bit of a mess at least in the pictures.

Perhaps it’s better in the metal I really do hope so.

Happy that I went for one of the last manual F56 JCW.
url|https://thumbsnap.com/a3mSTGfL[/url]

[Lester H]

abzmike said:

The front end is just about ok, the rear just doesn’t match anything else. It’s like two designers started at each end and met in the middle.

Spot on. I don’t think ,like some posters ,that it’s awful but why, oh why, do they need to mess with it. The first Mini was totally iconic despite being a terrible rot box but the first BMW reincarnation was a lovely looking tribute to the original, before if became an obese parody of the Issigonis design. The design of this is unbalanced and in no sense an advance. I was unaware of the Funky Cat connection, a car which imho looks good ( cute?) but in no way is it a Mini or even an early MINI

[Lester H]

W12GT said:

Horrid!

Single central display is an absolute no-no for me. And that back end looks nothing like a mini.

I think this model may not be as successful as the last two generations.

Yep. They have been over milking the large central speedo look for so long that it has now moved on from cartoon ( for the young ones, you know) to absurdity.

[ian_c_uk]

theicemario said:

I see they've done away with the exhaust tips so it can use the same rear bumper as the electric

Sadly, it's a new part, so there isn't even a cost saving!

"New" petrol Mini (facelift):


"Old" electric Mini (same F56 platform as above):


New electric Mini (new platform, co developed with GWM \ Ora: