The New MINI Keeps the Clamshell Hood

I noticed the headlights are fixed to the chassis instead of the hood (er..bonnet). The headlight assembly looks more round than the current version also. I’m wondering if there are going to be alignment issues in the future.

Can somebody clarify ‘clamshell’? Seems like the hood opens up like any other car’s. I must be missiong something. . .

No actually that’s what was said. That they wouldn’t be integrated with the hood as in the current car.

So much for my attempt at humor … sorry for not verifying your original article.

Was it really that big of a concern?

If they were not keeping it… how would it have opened? Seems like a weird focus.

Interesting!

Note that the car with the bonnet open appears to have a mirror with turn-indicator built in – like the current mini in the Japanese market (others?).

Any word as to whether or not this is a 2007 standard item OR option for the US?

While it may look a bit less sporty & Benz-like (IMO), I bet a few MINI owners would like it.

Clamshell hoods open with an overhang on the sides for better access, usually along a seam line, as opposed to a top-opening hood which makes you lean over the fender to reach that back spark plug or exhaust manifold nut. The drawback is weight – a Bugeye Sprite’s clamshell could give ya a serious wake-up call when it slipped. Thank God for gas struts!

          BCNU,
       Rob in Dago

Aside from the accessibility, the clamshell bonnet also gives the whole front of the car a super clean look unique in the auto industry. Imagine the face of the MINI with two big hood seams down the top of it – ick! It makes for a more expensive hood, but ultimately a simpler car – in both aesthetics and mechanics.

I do agree that pulling the headlights out of the bonnet seems a step in the wrong direction – like it would be more complicated in the end with all of the alignment issues.

Note the difference in the turn signals/fogs on the two cars on the right. The one to the left must be an S and the other, on the far right, a Cooper. Either way, it’s interesting to see that BMW hasn’t gone too nuts with re-designing a winner…we’ll see about the rest…

Pete

No worries… humor (as I know all too well) is tough in the MF comment section ;-)

roflmao Yes Gabe it is true!

Does anyone else get the (bad) image in their head of a skull with its skin pulled back and eyeballs sticking out?

Yes! it kinda looked cool for the concept’s taillights that they have been showing recently. but not so much for the headlights. Maybe if the hood tipped forward it would look different.

A little “nah nah nah-nah nah” is good healthy fun. Great job on the continuingly accurate scoopidge! Thanks!

This bit about headlihts not being incorporated in the bonnet is certainly disconcerting. It will have an adverse effect on my coon hunting, as now i will be forced to hold a flashlight in one hand, while firing rifle with the other!

The alignment issue everyone is worried about concerns how the circular openings in the hood sit around the headlights. Any slight mis-alignment of the hood could result in uneven gaps around the lights.

Well spotted Bob. Yes the current MINI is the only car where you can use your headlights as sky searchlights.

has anyone else noticed how the top of the stuff in the engine bay of the open hood car seems much, much lower than the the hoods on the closed cars? on the open hood car, the engine stuff looks below the top of the headlights, while the closed hood is way above the top of the headlights.

this looks like the stupid euro safety nazi nanny space. i suspect that the aftermarket will sell lots of hoods that are lower and have more rake in the grill, like the current car.

I know a few people have had problems with faulty xenons, I wonder if these problems will be less prevalent if the xenons are now fixed to the body work and not undergoing the stresses involved with opening and closing the bonnet.

Good get.

Never thought of that. What a “health” risk then! At least they’re still keeping the diagonal shutline which clerverly recalls the weld flange on the original.

Well, one thing’s for sure – more gaps. I hope at least they’re small ones!

I’m just worried that the headlight assembly will be sunk in from the bonnet, making it a rather nice snow/mud/salt residue collector. Although I am glad that the fender flairs are static. That’s a alignment issue on my MINI…

Erik…