Monday 18th November 2013

Mini Mk3 unveiled

Mini are calling it 'The New Original'; here's the important stuff on the all-new Mini

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The third generation Mini has been officially unveiled in Oxford ahead of its motor show debuts at LA and Tokyo this week.

Rocketman influence clear to see here

Despite the 'all-new' tag attached to it (more details on that soon), the latest car couldn't be anything but a Mini. The floating roof remains, the wheels still sit right out at the corners and it's still (just) small enough to be cute. The front now takes some styling cues from the Rocketman concept and the rear looks rather like the current car, but in XL. It's evolution not revolution, but was anything else really expected?

As we've detailed previously, the Mini Mk3 is based on BMW's UKL1 platform that will underpin future FWD models from Munich. Over the R56 Mini, the new F56 is larger in every direction; it's 98mm longer (3,821mm), 44mm wider (1,727mm) and 7mm taller (1,414mm). The wheelbase has grown by 42mm to 2,495mm and the tracks are wider too, improving space in that notoriously tight interior. Mini boasts that the boot is now 30 per cent larger too, although 211 litres is hardly commodious.

Cooper S now comes with 192hp

The new Mini will be available with three engines from launch. A pair of new 1.5-litre three-cylinder units will power the Cooper and Cooper D; the petrol makes 136hp and 162lb ft, the diesel 116hp and 199lb ft. Using the NEDC test, the Cooper D returns 80.7mpg and 92g/km. That'll be the estate agent's choice once more then...

The Cooper S is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo. Its vitals are 192hp, 206lb ft, 49.6mpg and 133g/km. Expect the range to be bolstered with the One, One D and JCW models soon enough. A six-speed manual, with rev-matching tech, will be standard on all Minis, with a conventional auto on the options list. A 'sports auto' will be available too, offering shorter shift times, paddles and rev matching. The 'Mini Driving Modes', Green Sport and Mid, alter the shift characteristics, coasting and the firmness of the adaptive dampers if fitted.

Still sort of the same, but bigger again

As with the exterior, the interior of the Mini Mk3 is familiar from the current car. The central display is now even larger, the speedo is finally where it should be next to the tacho and there's the promise of higher-quality materials. There's some new tech also, including LEDs, a head-up display and more advanced nav. Mini fans will love it, the detractors will find nothing to change their minds.

Has a Mini ever left the dealer at the advertised RRP? Probably not, but we do have the before-options prices for the Mini Mk3 launch range. The Cooper will cost £15,300, the Cooper D £16,450 and the Cooper S £18,650. They're rises of £400, £270 and £415 respectively over the current car. Not as much as you were expecting? Us too. The new Mini goes on sale next spring.

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Everything that was deemed relevant in the Mini press release has been included here. For every single last detail, see the full press release. It's fairly lengthy though, be warned...

[delays]

Rear lights take some getting used to...

[Rawwr]

Quick! Cover it back up again!

[phast]

I think they got the styling just right with 1st generation new mini, it has always looked a bit podgy since.
Need to see this one in the flesh but on these pictures alone I still like the oldest new mini best.

[KTF]

Why the 'unusual' non-uk format but on uk plates registrations? Codenames or something?

[Andy ap]

Oh dear.....

[lusopiston]

Some interesting details, headlight design looks sharp, but it keeps getting bigger and bigger and not just in overall dimensions. It looks like the brief from generation to generation is to make everything fatter and bigger: those plastic surrounding arches? bigger! rear lights? bigger!! central speedo? move it behind the steering... but anyway, make it bigger!!!

As an original 2002 Mini Cooper S owner I was a big fan, but the car is evolving a bit like the original e-type, loosing the classic proportions and detailing as it goes along.

[Shaw Tarse]

Meh!

[Ved]

I still say they are missing a potentially huge market for a genuinely small Mini at a low weight with a zingy ultra efficient engine.

This is just a bit meh.

[Triumph Man]

delays said:

Rear lights take some getting used to...

I wondered what the rear reminded me of, then I realised: It's the how the minis from the Italian job game for the PS1 are rendered!

[lusopiston]

Shaw Tarse said:

Meh!

http://www.autoviva.com/mini_bmw_rocketman/version...

[TaylotS2K]

Assume Porsche designers have been at this.

[peteA]

More of the same but bigger and uglier...why?

[scrwright]

KTF said:

Why the 'unusual' non-uk format but on uk plates registrations? Codenames or something?

Factory postcode !

[365daytonafan]

KTF said:

Why the 'unusual' non-uk format but on uk plates registrations? Codenames or something?

OX4 6NL is the Cowley factory post code. Guess doing that saves them having to do new press shots each time the reg period number changes.

[Deutscheblonde]

I kind of like the side profile. Front is just ugly though, simple as.

[carinaman]

lusopiston said:

Shaw Tarse said:

Meh!

http://www.autoviva.com/mini_bmw_rocketman/version/30365

I was thinking more ACV30. That rear bumper ramp up to the rear lights looks really fussy.

At least that black plastic gum shield protruding from the grille looks practical.

[RGambo]

why make it bigger?? the clue is in the name isn't it? hey ho.

[Contigo]

And it looks not too dissimilar to the other Mini's R53 etc... Looks fine but prefer the first gen R50,R53...

[toppstuff]

Its easy to criticise.

But BMW know what they are doing.

I have owned both models of Cooper S and they are terrific little cars. Very easy to own and to just get along with. And the local dealer is excellent.

I guess this will just carry on the tradition. Although they do look very like the last model - just a bit uglier.

[Shaw Tarse]

Park the new car on a high street, would it make the Daily Mail/get noticed?