Actually, that’s exactly what the new Euro pedestrian crash laws say. There is now a minimum distance between the outside skin of the bonnet (hood) and the first solid part of the engine underneath. Some manufacturers such as Citroen and Jaguar have come up with ‘pop up’ systems that raise the bonnet in the event of a crash (kind of like an airbag on the outside), other manufacturers have raised the whole bonnet – look at the 07 Camry or the 07 MINI…

Look at the engine bay of the new Cooper and S.

See the weatherstip around the edge of the engine bay? I really doubt that has changed from the Cooper to the S. so the engine bay is the exact same size. The turbo sits low, so its a non issue.

It looks to me as if they hood is exactly the same with a slight difference in shape near the front on the S to make the lines flow into the scoop nicely instead of a scoop just slapped onto a Cooper hood.

it would seem to me that the opening would allow more opportunity for ears, fingers, glasses, etc., to be caught…

i agree that the scoop is iconic to the MCS, but i do like the stealthier idea of a smooth, uninterrupted bonnet also…and if it’s safer, why wouldn’t it be mandated?

Obviously if you consider the design brief of the R56, this was to create a new MINI but to convince the consumer that it was almost a facelift rather than a new car, to keep the overall look the same as the last car this meant the Scoop had to stay.

For me, I don’t have a problem with it, I do think in design terms that if there was no function for it then the bonnet would have looked better without it, but it didn’t stop us from buying a MCS.

If a cat decided to go sleeping on the hood he will be grilled…

About the Hood Scoop, I think some MINI-tuners will come with a solution to make the non-functioning hood scoop functioning. The only problem is the space between the bonnet and the engine. When you make the hood-scoop open all the dirt and stuff from the streets will come onto you’re engine-block and fry. So it has to be closed or else it will become a very big smelly mess.

I’m curious which tuner/person is first and what their/his solution is!

You can so put a forced air induction on that puppy. That will be so cool. Yeah, I asked if you could swap a MC bonnet with a MCS bonnet. The MA didn’t know.

There was a bonnet rub on the front passenger(US)side of the car from what looked to be an air conditioning filling hose cap. It does look like it will be ease to fix though. (44 miles on this car and it had rubbed through to metal)

Laser blue is a really cool color!

I miss the supercharger whine but the engine sounds really nice and powerful.

The thing that really made the biggest impression on me was the “Fob” Key.

The key, proximity door opening, push start is way cool. The door handles look just like the R50/53 only with a small additional button where your thumb would go. To use it, simply have the Fob near the door, Push the button with your thumb and the car unlocks, then open it just like a R50/53.

The Fob has a valet key built into it that comes out and is able to open the door if the fob is dead. Reinsert fob into “fob hole” and it recharges!

The secret glove box above the glove box is unaccessable (sealed) when you have the iPod adapter put in.

The center stack is still not so pretty but looks less “Playskool” with a higher build quality than the pictures allude to.

That is a huge Speedo! Would like to see one with nav.

…i do hate it, as do i hate the slightly wall-eyed face created by the angled headlamp assembly…

…however, as is human nature, my hate is simply fuelled by my exhorbitant love of the r53…

…i wanted my r53 to be improved, better interior, seats, less rattles, more power, better MPG…

…well MINI delivered on almost all of those things but missed the magic formula with the face…

…for those that agree with me, remember the 911…

…they tried to implement those goofy pseudo-round headlights 5-6 years ago…

…iconic design will not stand for such sacriledge!!!

…do not give in to hate, for it leads to the darkside…

…instead, let MINI know what we want for the NEXT gereration, the clubman, and the moke…

…and focus your praise for what they continue to do right…

…piece out…

As a product designer I’ve always tried to use honest materials and appropriate design for each product. It’s the little things that work together to reveal the personality of the product. Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, sometimes things don’t work out during product development. For example, the hard core Lotus Elise has two fake vents on the rear end which were planned to be air extractors, but didn’t work in the final product.

I also know from experience that a large percentage of people simply don’t care. Fake woodgrain, fake convertible tops, fake stitching on molded dashboards, fake allen bolts on interior panels, fake landau irons, fake exhaust pipes, fake scoops and vents, and even fake lug nuts molded into plastic wheel covers. Once you cross the line, how much dishonesty is too much?

I’ve been avoiding any negative comments because I think the Mini designers did a fantastic job with the difficult criteria that they had to work with. I would be very surprised if the Mini designers didn’t argue passionately against the fake scoop.

All that being said, I would rather look at this whole issue as Mini’s (accidental) gift to the aftermarket. Within a few months I’m sure there will be plenty of solutions to this issue.

seems like making a big deal about nothing at all…

 BCNU,
Rob in Dago

We all know that the chrome is there to enhance the air flow over the vehicle.:-)

Cheers, Jack