Friday 29th September 2006

The Emperor's new MINI

New new MINI looks like old new one shocker

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Yesterday afternoon in Paris, BMW rolled out its new MINI in front of the world's press.

Look Mum, I'm new, but the same

As the snappers snapped away, the most striking feature of the car was the fact that it looks the same as the old one (bar a few tweaks).

In BMW-speak, the explanation goes as follows: "The exterior design of the new MINI has remained true to its phenomenally successful forbear, yet every body panel is different. The MINI design team rightly deemed evolution preferable to revolution and MINI’s styling remains instantly recognisable."

Behind the scenes, the story is different though. The new model has a stronger front end with more space to allow pedestrians to bounce off the bonnet without hurting so much.

The shoulder line is 18mm higher and accentuates the powerful stance of the car’s body. The round, clear-glass headlights are now fixed to the body and have been turned slightly to maintain the geometry of the car. The new radiator grille is reminiscent of the air intake scoop on the classic Mini and there will be 12 body colours available to choose from, seven of which are brand new.

The new model boasts a completely new four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol engine featuring a wealth of innovative technical features, and new suspension.

The 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated engine in the MINI Cooper features fully variable valve control, based on BMW Group’s unique VALVETRONIC system.

The MINI Cooper S comes with Direct Injection petrol power. Intake air is pre-compressed by a turbocharger, complete with intercooler. The performance is further enhanced by advanced valve management – four valves per cylinder being operated by two overhead camshafts.

A diesel version will follow in early 2007.

The new MINI will be built at Plant Oxford, which is currently gearing up to increase its capacity to 240,000 by 2008 as part of a £200m UK investment by BMW Group. The new BMW-designed engines will be assembled at Hams Hall in the Midlands and the body panels and sub-assemblies will come from Plant Swindon.

 

 

[deadlym]

article said:

The performance is further enhanced by advanced valve management – four valves per cylinder being operated by two overhead camshafts.

Yeah, no-one's done that before.

[skint_driver]

The new mini is available in a completely different colour.

Reason enough for most of the image-concious new-mini drivers to upgayde.

[dean_ratpac]

it must be a german thing, wasn't the same with the 996 - 997, every panel is different.

[IPAddis]

Does it still have the Z-axle at the back and different coloured roof (seems so). BMW were talking about ditching these to save money.

Ian A.

[Raify]

Since my post on this thread has been deleted, could whoever did it remove the thread from the "My Stuff" list?

Ta,

[V8 EOL]

Bet it still sells in its millions.

On a separate topic, introducing the new VW beetle...

Every flower holder and chincy styling accessory is different. Shame about its soul.

[tony*t3]

This thread has now been fully opened for every homophobic (but so obviously in denial) coment from small minded, small penis owning bigots to state that the car is so obviously 'Gay' and not nearly as good as the original (the original 'Original', not the classic new Mini).

[molineux1980]

Yep, i'll stick to my original!

[Fire99]

I loved the old mini, and the new old mini, or is that the old new mini?? i get confused..
I do worry about all this advertising that padestrians will bounce better of bonnets will make the casual pedestrian even more likely to cross roads with their eyes closed...

I think cost saving has played a large part as i've heard many reports saying the first BMW mini was very expensive to build..

From a non-mini owner hopefully residuals of the 1st BM edition Cooper S will soften a little then i can afford to buy one.

[neilmiddleton]

article said:

The new model has a stronger front end with more space to allow pedestrians to bounce off the bonnet without hurting so much.

Cool feature..does that mean you don't need to slow down so much in towns?

[tony*t3]

Shame the bonnet air intake is now 'just for show' on the Copper S as there is no intercooler on top of the engine anymore....

[GTRene]

I also heard that the front is a bit longer...not realy mini then, and maybe out of proportions?? hm...stupid thing those rules, I think they go to far and spoil the lines that can be achieved without pedestrian rules...ok a bit I can understand, but it never is the atention to hit a pedestrian? even when you think to be safe in your house a plane can come down or a meteorit or someone blows him/herself up in front of your "safe' house lets say in Irak come on...please don't make to many rules it drives us nuts!
GTRene

[nickworld]

I think they Have ditched the z-axle at the back - bummer. Evo did a pre-release test in the last issue and said it's lost a bit of the mini-ness about the handling. I really hope they haven't blunted it too much!

Pound to a penny that those folks who lay into the old-new Mini haven't driven one...

[mrenaut]

Right, so that's the new new MINI that looks the same as the old new MINI until you try to buy panels and find that none of the old new MINI ones will fit the new new MINI ? Funny how the old old Mini managed to survive for over 40 years without major changes...

Surely if you buy a new new one you'd want people to know about it without having to look at the age on the number plate? Seems a bit pointless but I imagine it will please all the estate agents who drive them.

[Davislove]

early reports suggest they've played safe on the chassis front as well..........it's lost charactor IMO, no supercharger whine, softer ride etc

[bigbubba]

V8 EOL said:

Bet it still sells in its millions.

On a separate topic, introducing the new VW beetle...

Every flower holder and chincy styling accessory is different. Shame about its soul.

That not the New Beetle, it is the Old New Beetle!

Bubba

[andy_b]

GTRene said:

I also heard that the front is a bit longer...not realy mini then,

everyone should start calling it the Maxi...Mini, it certainly isn't

[V8 EOL]

andy_b said:

everyone should start calling it the Maxi...Mini, it certainly isn't

I wonder how they can modernise / retrofy this!

[Raify]

Davislove said:

early reports suggest they've played safe on the chassis front as well..........it's lost charactor IMO, no supercharger whine, softer ride etc

No no no! You don't get this thread at all. There's no room here for debate about the actual car!

We need more opinions from people who've never driven the car, generalisations about the owners being homosexual estate agents and complaints that it's bigger / more German than the original Mini...

[mph999]

nickworld said:

I think they Have ditched the z-axle at the back - bummer. Evo did a pre-release test in the last issue and said it's lost a bit of the mini-ness about the handling. I really hope they haven't blunted it too much!

Pound to a penny that those folks who lay into the old-new Mini haven't driven one...

Probably, (I've got one) and it's one of the best handling cars for the money ... if not the best.

Martin