The US R56 Debut Round-up in Photos

Sections: Best of the Web | R56 (Hatch) Jan 14th, 2007 24 Comments

Grab a tasty beverage and find a comfy chair. We’ve got a ton of pics for you from around the web (and most notably from our good friend and Outmotoring.com owner Aaron Cornaby) of the US spec R56 introduction at NAIAS:

Have more links? Feel free to add them in the comment section.

Written By: Gabe

http://www.kurtcollins.com krut

Looks like the US Spec cars are coming equipped with the “cod-piece” on the seats.
OH Steve

Just got back from the show, I was suprised to see the “codpiece” as well. I asked one of the MINI staff working the exhibit if it was a US spec seat and she assured me it was. I was most impressed with the reddish-orange interior on the gray S, very nice.
KLF23

So what’s the opinion now that many have seen the R56 in the ‘flesh’?

I haven’t seen many posts saying how good it looks in person…
http://www.outmotoring.com Aaron Cornaby

Be sure to check out some of the little details like the net in the passenger foot well, the dash that opens up for a secondary storage area above the Glove Box, the new OEM driving lights, larger stock exhaust tips, JCW exhaust tips, new way to install spoilers that does not require the hatch to be taped off (check out the pics from the side view of the spoiler), MINI logo in the tail light lens, smaller diameter shift well, REAL cupholders, the JCW had a Ipod interface hooked up (sneaky), seat flip-up handle is on the top edge of the backside of the seat (instead of the lower side edge), and a few other little surprises…

best,
http://www.motoringfun.com Pedro

There are some 2007 Detroit photos over at MotoringFun.com – http://www.motoringfun.com/image-gallery/events/2007-detroit-auto-show/
http://www.outmotoring.com Aaron Cornaby

…carpeted boot sidewalls, completely STUFFED engine bay, new JCW upper stress bar, current OEM armrest fits new center console!!!, new gas cap…

and CHEAP, plastic-junk-toy looking side markers…can you say ‘playschooooooool’? They are the biggest design flaw in the car, aside from the center stack and fairly hunky/beefy overall rear section that looks like it had a few too many thanksgiving dinners….
Shamus

Don’t worry Aaron, those sidemarkers will surely be redesigned in the aftermarket, just like the R53′s.
Vanwall
I mourn the loss of subtlety that Stephenson’s design had, but its look is still not nearly as busy as some other cars on the market, thank you very much. The codpiece is an ugly design element, IMHO, and the silver plastic on some of the interior bits is sadly reminiscent of cheesy kid’s toys from the seventies, altho if that’s the intent, they’re spot-on. ;-) Still too much muchness rearward for me, but we’re scheduled for a wagon this iteration, so it’s a moot point here. Thanks for all the piccies!
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Rob in dago
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http://vinreddy.blogspot.com vin.

What are those wires running under the A-pillars in the open door shots of the interiors?
luis

What are those wires running under the A-pillars in the open door shots of the interiors?

Those are wires for the in-car lights they use at the shows.. It scared me at first when I saw them, but I soon realized they were there only for the show.
http://www.motoringfun.com Pedro

Luis – thanks again for the great pics! If anyone wants Luis’s detailed take on what is in those pics, I posted his impressions as well – http://www.motoringfun.com/2007/01/13/my-first-impressions-of-the-r56-mini/
The Seeker

I still think the speedometer, center stack and side marker lights look a little too Dr. Suess. It’s a shame. I too mourn the loss of subtlety that StephensonÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s design had.
GZ

I like the interior however I am hoping aux guages will be available to fill some space and create more of the orange glow dials I love at night.
RH

Well… As much as every other person hates the R56, I certainly don’t miss Stephenson’s split grill on the previous generation (I don’t miss the squeaks from the dash either)….
Bob

If I remember correctly, Stephenson’s split grill concept was a further emphasis of the jutting jaw Bulldog inspiration…stance and cheekiness included. Brilliant in my book! I don’t see any inspiration in the new grill.
scottinbend

Aaron, that shot looking down between the front seats shows a couple of knobs. Would those be the seat back adjusters? I hope so. My 78 VW Scirocco had adjusters like that and I loved them. Was very easy to get the seat back just where you wanted it.

Great pic’s by the way!
GZ

I feel the new grill is the best feature of the R56. Looks better than the outgoing aero kit.
mark

the scale of the new car is off everywhere, except in the form of the Clubman. I think the new design lends itself better to the stretched version. The higher beltline is too much for the R56 to absorb in scale. The Clubman stretched wheelbase allows the added inch to stretch along with it. Thus reducing the gain.

In fact, I would bet that the new car was first designed for the Clubman ( and Euro crash zones), then penned for the R56. For me, i am going to keep my 2006 for a while.
giacomo

I feel the new grill loses the original Mini grill connection where R50 “nailed it” with the correct amount of advancing design.
LL

Still can’t tell from the pics… whether the bonnet scoop is functional or not. Most say it’s fake, but MINI website (last time I checked) still refer to the “functional” bonnet scoop. My guess is it simply allows air into engine comparment, not so much used as a air intake for the engine.

While I like the huge speedometer, I find the space beneath it (i.e. the center stack) somewhat bare — make the car look like it’s not quite fully equipped — liket it’s missing radio or air conditioning, even though it’s all there.

Happy to see that the turn signals of oem tail lights are orange rather than red. :-) Can’t wait for mine now… It’s crossing the pond when I last checked.
Peter

Here’s my set on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uptick/sets/72157594483986717/
GZ

Yes LL. The aux guages(available for R56?) are a must. I loved them on my ’05 for filling up the empty space with something cool and functional.
Vladimir

i think the r56 looks just awful. no subtlety, lacking complimentary proportions, and in virtually every choice made, in my opinion, it looks cheaper. i just can’t stand it, it is so depressing to see bmw dilute the appeal and individuality of the mini so quickly in its lifetime. the new bonnet design is clumsy and lacks the beautiful lines of the r53, and, those gaps around the headlight clusters and fenders!! so far i have owned two bmw minis, but i seem to feel that, if this was the car introduced several years ago, i perhaps would not have bought it?
Bob

I too see a slacking of character in the new one. Maybe they’ll perform a major facelift on it soon or take a whole new direction the next time around…

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