Is This The R56/R55 Facelift?
We’ve had these photos sent to us several times over the last few days and are still trying to figure out what they actually show. We know that MINI will be introducing the refreshed R56 and R55 either late this year or early next. And as we reported well over a year ago there will be some subtle changes to the front and rear facia, lighting and interior design. However we’re not entirely convinced that these photos show any of that. In fact after looking at them extensively it would appear that they both simply have the factor aero-kit (the one most MINI fans love to hate) and nothing that indicates a refresh.
Instead what we think these cars may be are testing mules for drivetrain updates related to the mid-life cycle refresh. We know that MINI will be updating the engine output slightly for all models (similar to what they did for the 2005 model year with the previous generation cars) so it would make sense for them to be doing some extensive testing around that right now considering the cars may launch late this year or early next. And the black bonnet on the R56 and the the slightly raised bonnet on the R55 would indicate that something is happening under there.
We should know much more soon.
+ Mini working on the Cooper and Clubman facelift / Globalmotors
+ Spy shots: Mini already working on facelift for Cooper and Clubman? / Motorauthority
Related:
+ MINI’ Mid Life-Cycle Refresh / MotoringFile
<p>yeah I hope they don’t make that aero kit a ‘standard’ fitting it’s proper ugly :)</p>
<p>I 2nd that Chris. I no like that factory aero kit. It looks pieced together. I’ve seen them at the dealer with even the fender flares painted. It looks like an after thought with extra parts. The shadow line trim looks nice and it’s consistent all the way around. That painted shadow line doesn’t work.</p>
<p>Factory chrome grille for the MCS? Yay!</p>
<p>(Else I do not see anything much different….Maybe the bulk of the refresh is in the interior).</p>
<p>The grille change is what I was going to mention. Slats on the S is new. Don’t know if that means anything. And from the reflections on the inside of the windsheild, I can see that they have completely redone the center stack! (that would be nice)</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-256520" rel="nofollow">C4</a>: These mule are usually made up of whatever parts they can grab. Hence the aerokit and chrome grille.</p>
<p>Is it just me, or does the wheel gap look much lower on the front of the hatchback photo?</p>
<p>I can’t wait to see the interior changes in the refresh. I will probably be waiting until then to get my new Mini.</p>
<p>Also looks like the clubman in the photo has a MiniOne grill. Wheel arches are europe spec as they don’t have the reflectors integrated.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to hear more about what Mini is up to with these cars.</p>
<p>It’s just the factory aero kit. I see NO difference from current models. The Clubman has the standard slatted grill that comes included with the factory aero kit.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-256525" rel="nofollow">Andrew Zimmerman</a>:</p>
<p>The ride height does indeed look lower on the R56 hardtop.</p>
<blockquote>These mule are usually made up of whatever parts they can grab. Hence the aero kit and chrome grille.</blockquote>
<p>The chrome grille doesn’t just clip on in place of the mesh grille on the Cooper S. The radiator support on the Cooper S extends further forward to accommodate the turbo. Because of that, the Cooper grille does not fit without extensive modification. Unless the Cooper D grille is different from the normal Cooper grille.</p>
<p>the bottom piece of the bumper looks nice. Makes the front end “appear” lower.Formally, very nice.</p>
<p>…its funny because the bottom piece aperture looks as if the cad intern just flipped the geometry of the original R56 bumper. Good call anyways. Now can Mini give a proper salary to this kid! ; )</p>
<p>Just checked RealOEM.com and they do list different part numbers for the chrome Cooper and Cooper D grilles. 51112752364 for the Cooper D and 51112752363 for the Cooper.</p>
<p>If the Cooper S and Cooper D grilles are interchangable, I think it would be popular as an accessory.</p>
<p>I would love to see a return of the chrome front grille in the MCS. My 2005 MCS was ordered with it from factory (Part of the exterior chrome pack first offered in ’05) and I love it. It gives the car a very classic/elegant look.</p>
<blockquote>I would love to see a return of the chrome front grille in the MCS.</blockquote>
<p>With some minor modification, it is possible to fit a chrome R56 MC grill on a MCS. There are pictures of the result on NAM and MINI2.</p>
<p>I noticed in the pictures that the Clubman had two backup lights and two fog lights. That would be a nice and logical change for the U.S. market.</p>
<p>I too am anxiously waiting to see the interior changes. Bring on some gauges!</p>
<p>Looked again, appears there is only one backup light but two fog lights.</p>
<p>The single backup/reverse light in the Clubman is definitely an “odd” touch. Sometimes people in busy parking lots tell my wife that her car’s “other” backup light is out.</p>
<p>The first is a just-a-coop. Look at the gas cap. I get the feeling since they’re made out of spare parts it just has a random S hood.</p>
<p>The single rear “foglight” is also really odd on the Clubman. I got tired of being told I had a right rear light out, so stopped even using it. Complete waste of $100 for that option.</p>
<blockquote>The single rear “foglight†is also really odd on the Clubman. I got tired of being told I had a right rear light out, so stopped even using it. Complete waste of $100 for that option.</blockquote>
<p>Im sorry, Why was it you got the rear fogs in the first place? Visibility to others in the fog was it….</p>
<p>Hope the center stack and radio in the interior will be redesigned. I hate these many ugly buttons in the speedo, that really looks horribly fragmented.</p>
<p>I’d also like to see the headlights facing straight ahead and not to the sides, don’t like the dull look of the current headlights.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-256564" rel="nofollow">dr</a>:</p>
<p>I got the rear fog light too. Heavy/thick fog in S.Florida is a very rare event. But I like to have it anyway for other users (Like startle tail gaters) and to have a full set of toggle switches. I don’t like “blanks”.</p>
<p>I got the rear fog simply to fill in all the toggle switches.</p>
<p>When I ordered my Clubman the “MINI Configurator” didn’t clearly show it was only on one side (they have since changed the website). I also thought the two narrow reflectors below the tail lights became illuminated, since that was what I was mistakenly told at the SF Auto Show by one of the floor people. And I thought that would have looked kinda cool. But since I also hate having any blank toggles, it does solve that problem.
Another mistake I found on the “Configurator” was that they also included the door speakers with chrome trim rings as part of the interior chrome package. After I emailed Miniusa and asked why mine had black rims, they said that black was correct, and then they did change the website.</p>
<p>No chrome gas cap on the S? Was this reported on MF earlier?</p>
<p>That is NOT the facelift front bumper on the R56. ;)</p>
<p>From the pictures, I don’t see anything that isn’t already in place on the R55/R56. We know there is refresh coming, but this isn’t it</p>
<p>I hate to be the bugaboo, but that first pic looks like the car is loaded up on the left front, because of a hard right turn. I would love the new refresh to incorporate a lower (R53ish) stance, but after reviewing those pics, look at the massive gap on the clubby. I still dig the R56 look, but coilovers are a must when I buy my new one after the refresh. Blah on the factory aero kit too.</p>
<p>For all you rear fog lamp/missing toggle people, I have bad news for you. There’s an open space on your refrigerator shelf, horrible, I’m sorry to break this to you. But the good news is I have a milk carton that will fill that up for you, and for only $100 a piece. Cash only, no money orders.</p>
<p>Huh… I probably should have clicked through the links to the original website. The first picture isn’t actually a Cooper S! Cooper S bonnet, but the single tailpipe offset to the right is the tip-off. So, these are really a jumble of parts. This is probably more effective as camo than the horrible cladding and trippy vinyl wrap they usualy use.</p>