MF Exclusive: MINIâ€™s Mid Life-Cycle Refresh

Sections: R55 (Clubman) | R56 (Hatch) | R57 (Conv.) Jun 25th, 2009 65 Comments

The R56 has been a commercial and critical success for MINI. Despite the loss of some steering feel and some of the brashful character of the R50 and R53, MINI clearly hit the mark with the car overall when it came to market in 2007. And in some ways it’s surprising how well the car has done. From a design standpoint it was evolution on the outside but revolution on the inside. The form and function of everything was rethought from the R50 to the R56 and along the way MINI seemed to have lost the plot in a couple of areas. Now they intend to fix it.

In the spring of 2010 MINI will be introducing the refreshed (or LCI – Life Cycle Impulse as it’s known in BMW speak) R56 and all its variants (ie the Clubman and Convertible). While the number of changes (major and minor) will be huge, there will be several key changes.

First and foremost, MINI intends to fix the interior. Yes, the radio controls and the heating and cooling interface will be refined and in some cases rethought. Additionally MINI will introduce some upgraded materials and subtle design changes meant to eliminate many of the complaints owners have had over the years. Or to put it another way, if you look at the top five complaints most MINI owners have, then you have an idea of what will be worked over in this refresh.

As we saw with the 2005 update to the R50/R53, MINI will also be introducing some new interior trim colors and potentially some dash options.

Outside things are a little more subtle. According to sources MINI will be updating the now signature xenon lights and refining the standard halogen units as well. The rear lights will get a mild nip and tuck but don’t expect anything too major until the next generation.

However more obviously will be the updated (and according to a couple sources) more aggressive front and rear facia on the Cooper S. The Cooper will see similar updates but we’re told to expect a more classic look there.

MINI will also be introducing at least one if not two new colors for the refresh as well. Rumors are rampant that the favorable reaction to Cannaught Green found on the ultra limited edition JCW WC50 has opened MINI’s eyes to the need for a non-metallic green. When pressed one of our sources simply said “there are some within the company that are very much in favor of the idea, now it’s just a matter of making it happen.”

So the inside and outside will be rethought and refined. But like the 2005 R50/R53 refresh, this update is going to be more the skin deep. While we don’t have specific information on changes yet, we have been told to expect some noticeable tweaks that should result in slightly different numbers at least the Cooper S.

Look for the updated models to debut at the Geneva motorshow in March of 2010 with an on-sale date late summer (the start of the 2011 model year).

Written By: Gabe

bee1000

Per the latest Autoweek magazine, it is looking unlikely that the 500 will come to America because it is1 size too small. The Grande Punto is highly likely, they say. The MiTo is somewhere in between. We shall see.
robble

220 HP for the JCWâ€¦.really??

Get a Jan/RMW tune and you’ll have much more than that.
M_POWER

Well now, you can make it have 1000hp if you wish, but I think some folks here would agree that in case of JCW Factory car’s engine, messing round too much with tune and turbo may not be such a wise idea….9hp hike is good. In fact, to me, any plus from factory, maintaining the warranty is a plus. We all know more than few had that warranty come in handy when things went south, even with stock setup.
Lester

Hope those radio buttons will be removed from the big speedo … the center stack of the R56 really looks horrible! And yes, a desert plate speedo would do!

Besides Iâ€™d like to see the Lightning Blue back. That Horizon Blue is crap â€“ and the Lazer Blue is too bright for my taste
gokartride

I’m afraid the Mini mantle is not going to fall to MINI, and that a better Mini will, in fact, be built by someone else. BMW has every right to do what they wish w/ the car, and they will succeed in an excusive way, but other car-maker have been watching and taking notes. The realm of the premium small car is expanding, and others will do what MINI is failing to do. BMW may own the name, but they do not own the idea, and that idea is germinating elsewhere. Remember, you read it here first.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1459351091 Collin Ryser

I liked the origional idea of the speedo being put on an extra dial above the steering wheel. Having the GPS and the speedo in the same dial is just too much.
C4

@gokartride:

Arrogance is the worst enemy of any successful auto maker. Arrogance brought down GM and a number of others. The days when MINI was the only game in town are clearly coming to an end. I am still holding hope for a much better car in 2012 but I am afraid that the current economic climate is not going to help much.
http://www.petergbrown.com/ Peter

no value for the coin? how about best resale value for 7 years running & free maintenance just to name a couple?
http://www.JosephRegner.com Thameth

Well its a real shame that my plan of getting a refreshed MCS as a 2010MY has now been pushed back to 2011, at least there’s hope for some great changes. I’ll need to stay on my schedule of selling my 05′ MCS before the end of this summer though as I’m just getting too high in miles (75k)

I was planning on getting my third Pepper White MCS, but if there is the chance with this latest news I would love to get a True BRG, Diesel MCS possibly??? Now that would be awesome! Plz plz plz….
C4

Thameth, 75K miles on a well cared for R53 S is really nothing. Consider this…Most modern cars are design to last well over 250K miles with basic maintenance. With that in mind, you still have 70% life left on that 2005.

I plan to put at least 150K miles on my R53.

As a 2005 R53 S owner approaching 60K miles…. I would never sell a R53 to get a new R56. I own a R55 Clubman S. Fabulous car. But it is not the superbly tuned/design car the R53 S was. Trust me when I tell you this. If you want to add a R56 or R55 to your R53, that is a different story. But selling a R53 for a second gen… Never in a million years.
Kevin

I was hoping the interior rehash would start with the 2010 MY…not 2011.SOB.You are starting to really tick me off BMW. I want to see the speedometer redone ( smaller- as in my 02 MCS). I want to see a return of the water temp gauge and include (as standard )…an oil temp or oil pressure gauge on the Cooper and a water temp and boost gauge as standard on the MCS. THIS IS A SPORTING VEHICLE BMW…..at least make these items optional…and what was wrong with the sport chrono option???? Move the stereo out of the speedo. Move the AC /heat down…simplify but improve the quality of the knobs and dials.and BTW make the tach graphics higher quality. Offer a grey or tan fabric seat as an option.Thank you….and I want this for 2010 MY not for spring 2010. Throw in 2-3 more HP and Ft/lb on both the Cooper and MCS……..Just Do it BMW because the Suzuki Swift Sport is right around the corner in the USA for thousands less.
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Juan Carlos

Please don’t forget the sunroof!!!! that is a headache!!!
Mark

Wow, people NEVER seem to be happy. Always find this or that wrong… and debate, speculate for ever about it. I have an 08 cooper, and although it has some funky interior layout, i love it and btw, I bought a Mini KNOWING that it would be extactly that. My many thanks and hats off to Mini for having put such great designs outhere.
Alberto

I like the MINI as it is now. What really matters it’s the driving feeling and the pleasure to drive: fast or slow. So, for me, I hope the improvements solve, in COOPER S: - the torque steering problem; - double cloche gear in option it will be a must; - electronic dumping control; - and one efficient dif-lock (like VW Golf VI GTI, or the new Seat Leon Cupra R), usable with the DTC ON! With this changes, the MINI Cooper S will be a blast hot hatch! Regards to all and forgiven my bad English

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