The Next Generation MINI Gets Closer to a Reality

Sections: R56 (Hatch) Oct 29th, 2003 25 Comments

AutoExpress has more details about the upcoming changes to the MINI. Here's an excerpt:

“It looks as though we're in for a real adventure in 2004! Exclusive images in the current issue of Auto Express magazine show the first glimpse of the forthcoming facelifted MINI, which promises to be even more fun than its cheeky predecessor when it's unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next March.

Having been careful to pen a suitable 21st century successor to the original Mini, it seems parent company BMW has played it safe and left the styling virtually untouched for the next-generation model. But that doesn't mean there won't be significant refinements to the design.

A new front bumper has been fitted to direct more air to the engine, and the gaping inlet on the bonnet for the supercharger reveals this car's identity as a Cooper S.

What's more, lower side skirts help give the hatchback a more aggressive stance. Engineers and test drivers are concentrating on correcting the MINI's few faults and adding even more spice to the car's lively handling. This prototype has a test rig on the tailgate that lets experts feel the effect of different rear downforce rates by making fine adjustments to the roof spoiler.

One of our main complaints about the current MINI is the firm ride, so the unforgiving 18-inch wheels fitted to this model are testing the ability of a new suspension set-up. They also make the car look sportier in flagship S guise.

The current MINI is a top seller in the UK, and the Cooper S Works edition scooped the prestigious Auto Ex-press Greatest Drives 2003 award, so there are high hopes that the revised version will capitalise on that success.

Company insiders have already hinted that a mighty 300bhp edition could be in the pipeline as a supercar-baiting flagship prepared by the officially endorsed tuning firm, John Cooper Works in West Sussex. Details of changes to trim levels and prices remain a secret, but the retro-style cabin is expected to feature a number of revisions.

Redesigned front seats will provide more lateral support, while the recline and fold mechanism will be easier to use. The dials on the dash are set to make way for chronometer-type gauges similar to those in the Lexus IS200.”

You can read the entire article here. You can see more detailed photos (all scanned by Bascule over at MINI2) here: 1 / 2 / 3. Above photo provided by scooperman_uk.

Analysis

Wow. This looks to be a real improvement over the current car – more so than just a simple facelift. If MINI can pull off the elimination of some of the current cars faults while increasing performance and the quality of the interior they would have done a spectacular job of a mid-life model refresh. That being said the current form of the MINI was finished in 2000 so they have had almost four years to contemplate these improvements.

Written By: MF Staff

http://revorg.org/mini.html Scott

Hey, I want one of those adjustable spoilers. Will that be a retro-fit?
nfo

i guess this is one more reason to wait to order another mini! :) bring on the revisions, it's giving me more time to save, kinda like my savings for a revision b. G5! hehehe
ANTSMINI

Wow! Kinda makes me wish I had waited another couple years. But I guess thats always the case. Maybe it will actually be uglier, then I wont feel so bad.
katie

“Exclusive images in the current issue of Auto Express magazine” Where can I check out said images?
Dandp

Complaint about the firm ride? It's supposed to be a go-kart for goodness sake. I made the suspension stiffer and am running 215/40/17's now….I WANT to feel the road…
CometGirk63

Who's doing all this complaining I keep hearing about? I love the way my MINI handles and have yet to meet someone that doesn't. interesting….
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe Bridger

Here's a pic of the magazine via scooperman_uk at MINI2.
Dandp

HUGE wheels….excellent.
Josh

When was that magazing from (the one is the picture)?

I wanna get it
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe Bridger

It's out now in the UK.
http://omor.com/mini/ dc

I made some comments about NextGen MINIs on another thread, and I wish I could find those comments.

Two top comments were about a desire for wider, not taller wheels, and a Quife LSD as part of the factory kit.
Paul C.

I was to order early next year and now this, how long do I have to put off to still have Indi blue but with some of this new stuff??

When is the Geneva show?? Feb/March?? Thats when they say it will be anounced! Man oh man…..all about timing now………..
Richard B.

Now I don't mind that Seattle's Mini dealer has 1 yr wait for MCS. I ordered the first '05 in their allocation.

Gabe, great site. thx
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe

The only question mark about this article is this really whats coming out next year. What AE is showing in the picturess may be something that is being tested for later introduction or as Paul Mullet suggests for JCW. According to an article that Paul (from MINI2) did a little while back the Cooper will so much more design change than the MCS this time around. Further the changes will mostly be cosmetic for 2005. Just something to keep in mind.
ZAKdog

My first impression is not one of approval…The 18's make the car look even smaller and out of proportion… Hopefully, the front fascia will be painted…can't get a good look at the rear spoiler, but I am digging the movable aspect!
http://bridger.us/mini Gabe Bridger

The facia will look almost identical to the current car (and yes it will be painted as it is now).

I personally love the look of 18″s on the MINI. Very aggressive.
Frank

BMW, please do not turn the next gen MINI into another heavy (3000+ pounder), soft handling boat just for the sake of change and pleasing of the masses.

Sure, improvements in the interior and other areas are welcomed but I take strong issue with the incorporation of Lexus IS300 like instrumentation. Has anyone ever driven that car?? The instruments are aweful and hard to read under most lighting and driving conditions. If I want chronograph type instruments, I buy a wrist watch, thank you very much.

The funny thing is that Lexus will be moving away from this type of instruments in the next gen IS….

I am not liking this sudden heavy handiness to change the current MINI design. BMW has a hit in their hands and like the old saying says…”Never mess with sucess”.
Markus

Interesting info. It will be fun to see how the MINI will change over the years. Many changes will be improvements. However, it will be hard to change the styling without diluting it. My guess is that the changes will cater to the mass market, but that the early cars will always be labeled as the 'enthusiasts' version. That's how it was with the VW Golf: the MkI GTI is considered by many to be the best and most fun of the bunch. I can see MINI improving things, but my guess will be that the car will get slightly heavier, beefier. It may get more power and revised handling, but I will also guess that the MkI MINI will remain the most tossable, and most fun to drive. Basically, I'm both glad to have a 'MkI', and glad to see MINI work on the car and sort out some quirks.
JimB

So I guess that it would be safe to infer that 18″ wheels will be standard (sportpackage) for the new S? I wonder what the specs on those wheels will be (weight, price, etc)….
Alex

Didn't anyone bother read the article? The 18's were just used to test out new suspension. There's no mention that they will come with the 05 MINI. The same goes for the adjustable rear spoiler, which was used to test handling conditions and make fine adjustments as to position and mold the new one. Not feeling the Lexus style nstrumentation. One of the big aspects of this car is its originality and sticking to the original mini design as much as possible should be the designers main concern. I think BMW did a fine job in updating a great classic and “if it ain't broke, don't fix it”.
http://users.adelphia.net/~rocketboy/index.html Rocketboy_X

Frank.. as long as I'm not the only one who winces a little when I hear about the 'improvments'… If i wanted a soft ride, I would have bought a MC, not MCS… and the chrongraph style gages just look odd…

That being said, a better designed wing might not be half bad, it will be a simple cosmetic change that will help differentiate between the different model years, and some better seats will be a nice bonus…

I'm not sure about the lower side skirt thing though… MINIs handle great in the snow, but it gets hung up on the snow easily when it's not plowed… and lower sideskirts would probally just add to this problem.. not good, not good at all…
klip

I really don't think the improvements are going to be a bad thing. The styling is left virtually unchanged. The article states they are looking to add more “spice” to the already lively handling and looking at increasing the downforce. If they soften the ride at all I would assume it would be for the cooper and not the S. Either way I don't think they have any intention of changing it into a floaty boulevard cruiser!

As far as the interior improvements go, I feel they will be positive. The gauges will be similar to the chronograph style on the Lexus IS but we haven't even seen them yet. It's a bit early to pass judgement on them. I like the sport look of chrono style gauges and can't wait to see the “mini version” of them.
Frank

I have driven the Lexus IS300 and the instrumentation is one of the worst aspects of this car. The chronograph style instruments are confusing and hard to read. They look cool but are useless to obtain “At a glance” information. I hope BMW does not follow on Lexus'path of reproducing hard to read instrumentation, but the Chronograph setup suggest many needles going up and down within the same instrument reading and that is not a good thing. This is a car, not an airplane or a wrist watch.
Robert

Interesting to see if they drop the lower grill as shown. Looks a little more aggressive. I'd leave the car alone, personally.

My daughter has a Golf, what a piece of C%&p!

Robert
lytlguy

Get rid of those 18 inch wheels, it beginning to look like a Beemer with a mini body switch. Stay with the 16inch but make them 8 or 9 inch wide,add on a aftermarket flare kit then you got something close to what a mini is supposed to look like, and drive like. GOKART.

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