We’ve got a few more updates on some of the minor changes MINI has in store for the 2006 model year.

Wheels
We’ve just heard from a reliable source that the venerable 15″ holey wheel (seen here via MINI2’s wheel FAQ) that was introduced with the Cooper in 2001, will be discontinued. Word has it that there will be several new wheel styles available for the 2006 model year and at least one had to go in order to make room. We’ll hopefully have a few photos of the new wheels in the coming weeks and months.

Seats
Since we get so much email on this topic, here are a few random bits of information we’ve recently seen on the Recaro seats that will be offered for 2006:

  • The prototypes that have been seen recently are finished in grey and black cloth.
  • The base seems more than flat enough to deal with US air bag sensor regulations.
  • They are somewhat similar to the Recaro seats that were offered in the 2004-2005 VW Golf R32. (the R32 seats were actually made by Koenig)

For more information check out our previous stories on this coming option here.

And for more on the other 2006 model year changes, take a look at our featured articles section in the upper right of this page.