Another week, another cover story on the next generation MINI by Autoexpress. You’d think they’re trying to sell magazine or something. For those that have been following the next MINI information here on MotoringFile, there’s nothing really new here except for the questionable photoshop job on the front cover (seen above). Other than that it’s pretty much a poorly compiled and compacted re-hash of what we already knew from the MotoringFile article from this past March (you can find it here). At least they dropped that quad-light idea that they were on about a few months back. Anyway here’s an excerpt from the article:
Regular readers will know work is well underway to develop the next- generation MINI hatchback. In issue 858, we revealed exclusive spy shots of the car, showing the revised bodywork. The big changes are inside; while the cabin will retain its retro styling, the dashboard gets a new look with plenty of fresh materials and switchgear.
The centrally mounted speedometer will be altered to incorporate the sat-nav controls. Ahead of the gearlever, the toggle switches on the centre console of the existing car will be redesigned to make them easier to use.
[ New MINI has a Family Gathering ] AutoExpress
Like I mentioned earlier, if you want to know all there is to know about the next generation MINI, check out our in-depth report on it below:
[ Next MINI Generation Revealed ] MotoringFile
<p>I don’t remember seeing anything yet on a hood with two scopes (as seen in the picture)… is this just them taking artistic freedom to what they guess might be on the 2007 MCS or is this something I missed before?</p>
<p>Based on the reports we have, there will only be one scoop. I’m guessing they might have just taken some artistic liberty.</p>
<p>But their twin scoop is quite nice looking …</p>
<p>I never knew the toggle switches were difficult to use!</p>
<p>The toggles are not hard to use… I have really small hands (no jokes guys) and I can still be able to hold both the passenger and driver side window buttons down at the same time…</p>
<p>Dual hood scoops straight from the hood of a ’70s Firebird Formula. Woo Hoo! This might be taking the retro thing a bit too far…</p>
<p>um sir……..will that be one scoop or two today……….</p>
<p>Auto Express have a reputation for dodgy photoshop, filler articles over here in England, looks like they are at it again this week :rolleyes:</p>
<p>In the new MINI prototype that I sat in, the toggle switches had bigger heads on them so that they were a bit easier to grasp with your finger. I thought that the looked good, but we weren’t supposed to play with them and so I can’t tell you if they work any better or not.</p>
<p>Also, they’ve failed to mention the new set of toggle switches that are now up in the headliner (up in the area where the clock used to be in the 02-04 MINIs). At least they were in the prototype that I was in. They looked nice to me.</p>
<p>Yeah – they failed to mention a lot that we reported on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/03/20/next_generation_mini_revealed">back in March</a> ;)</p>
<p>There’s no need for scoops with a turbo, correct? => Don’t want any then.</p>
<p><em>Q: Any way MINI really did away with turbo-lag?</em></p>
<p>Driving a VW/Audi 1.8T or any of Volvo’s turbos leaves a driver’s foot feeling ridiculous,- esp. compared to MINI’s SC.</p>
<p>Enjoy the weekend, all. Cheers.</p>
<p>There’s just as much need for an intercooler on a turbo as there is on a supercharger, so I would say that a scoop is most definitely necessary, unless they plan on using a front-mount intercooler.</p>
<p>As far as doing away with turbo lag goes, they’re utilizing a twin-scroll turbo design (see Mitsubishi Evo), which purportedly does away with a lot of turbo lag. I’m sure we won’t be disappointed.</p>
<p>Considering that those twin scoops look absolutely awful (you get the impression the MINI badge is stuck in the cleavage and might pop off at any moment) I doubt we’ll see that in production. They don’t look good on the GTO and they still don’t look good on the MINI.</p>
<p>Gabe, I read MotoringFile occasionally. Nice, informative site, by the way. However, why is it that you’re ALWAYS critical of other journalists, particularly of print magazines? One does not have to put others down to build oneself up. As the saying goes, “if you have nothing good to say, don’t…”</p>
<p>I apologize for being a hypocrite, but I hope you find my mild criticism constructive.</p>
<p>I would like to back gabe up Douglas, the information on this site is practically a spec from BMW when Gabe gives us info… so when others talk about wild ideas that haven’t been even heard before, or edit pictures to show things that will never happen (double scoop), I don’t blame him for pointing out their ignorance in the area… this isn’t one of the coolest minis sites for nothing, we’ve got a man with awesome connections here…</p>
<p>But I do yeild to you your own opinion that he may be to harsh. I just don’t agree.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>why is it that you’re ALWAYS critical of other journalists, particularly of print magazines? One does not have to put others down to build oneself up. As the saying goes, “if you have nothing good to say, don’t…”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I expected someone to say something like this eventually. In a way I agree with you. I wasn’t planning on even posting this on MF because I frankly don’t find it newsworthy. However we’ve gotten so many emails in over the past day or two that I felt like I had to post it and then subtly hint at why it’s really not news. </p>
<p>I don’t mean to put down journalists… God knows 99% of them write better than I probably do (hell, there are other people on this site that write better that I can). It’s just that I’m trying to maintain a certain level of information on the site and when I see large publications coming out with articles that tens of thousands of people will read with questionable information in them. ugh. where’s Paul Mullet, maybe he can explain the frustration :)</p>
<p>Anyway no offense taken Douglas.</p>
<p>Wow twin hood scoops. All that is missing is the flaming chicken on the hood. </p>
<p>Here is a thought…a remake of Smokey and the Bandit using MINIs.</p>
<p>Cheers,
Jack</p>
<p>twin hood scoops on a MINI One? Read the small print on the cover.</p>
<p>Ladies and Gentleman, Frank Stephenson has left the building!</p>
<p>Gabe’s right, the piece isn’t news. But considering how much of a stir such a piece will cause, he doesn’t have much choice but to publish about it. </p>
<p>It’s in MF’s best interest when an article such as this comes out to A)Point out that MF told the world about it first, and B) to debunk the speculation that MF has already gotten word is false.</p>
<p>Maybe he could have omited that the article is a poorly compacted and compiled rehash of information previously reported here on MF, but honestly I don’t think it’s that big of a deal….</p>
<p>I’m a bit confused on the next-gen MINI’s release – will it be on the road in the summer of 2007 or the fall of 2006? I’ve heard fall 2006 here on MotoringFile, so that’s what I tend to believe.</p>