Next Generation MINI F56 Detailed
The first and third sketches are courtesy of Autoexpress and are just here to illustrate a few ideas in the story below. They are rough and shouldn’t be taken as anything other than sketches from an outside source.
BMW Insider Herr26 on several websites as well on MF with his insight into the upcoming 3rd generation MINI. Code-named the F56, the next MINI will debut at MINI United 2012 (one of the reasons it was post-poned as we previously reported) and then at the Paris Mondial l’automobile in October of next fall.
We’ve reported previously on the F56 sharing a chassis and engine range with the upcoming front wheel drive BMW. In fact the two cars will be virtually the same technically with only the visual design (inside and out) and the software disguising the two. At launch engines will range from a 1.5 three cylinders to (if sources are to believed) an updated version of the 1.6L four cylinder.
But what will it look like? That’s the big question that has been on the minds of many of our readers. And that’s where Herr26’s recent comment on MF can shed some light:
>I recently came up close and personal with the car which showed some devious changes hidden under the camouflage which I will go into.
>There was a MINI Cooper S (F56) Prototype @ Garching today , here for a quick runabout by the M chassis engineers as it so happens. It was also a chance to get a closer look at the car to what is being hidden underneath it’s camouflage and there is a lot being hidden.
>For example the roof of the car is fake and is using the roof from the current car. The clue is and is evident on the photographs of the scooped prototype. Is the A-Pillar you can see the space in between the roof and pillar.
>The roof also carries on the new MINI motiff such as on the Coupe and Countryman with the step just at the C-pillar. The exposed metal and glass is disguised by the camouflage. The C-Pillar hides something else that it wraps around the rear of the car more snuggly with a larger hatch opening. The outlines on the bootlid are false.
>At the front of the car the hood covering is actually a moulded piece of vacumned plastic which covers up the more raked back front end , The bumper is also fake covering up the lower part of the MINI signature grille. which becomes larger for a more signature identity.
>For the first time in a MINI and to give the impression of it being “all grown up” there is now creases on the body. Although the rendering is not exact to the forthcoming car. It shows some ideas that are evident on the scoop photographs.
>AutoExpress have produced a rendering of the new car whilst I would agree with the front of the car with it’s more prominent nose and the inclusion of a nose cone taking away the typical MINI Clamshell bonnet in favour of a more compact clamshell hoodline.
>One thing being debated is the inclusion of a scoop for the MINI Cooper S. Given in the R56 the scoop is virtually redundant, but considered a characteristic styling element of the Cooper S , some proposals equal to a hood bulge in the centre or BMW-M like bonnet vents.
>The front lights are almost exact to the placement and shape of the car – They are further melted in the front wings for a more raked back , sportier appearance and helps idenitfiy the car’s MINI-ness. Illuminated rings around the main headlight unit is carried over from the MINI Rocketman Concept car.
>MINI also gets creases for the first time which can be seen on scoop photographs especially around the a-pillar , front wing side repeater.
>This rear however was one such possibility by reversing the MINI typical shape and lay it across the bootlid surrounded by a MINI badge like the Paceman. This decision has been reversed in favor of a more typical MINI appearance. The hatch for example is now wider and wraps around the C-Pillar .
>The interior although using a BMW dashboard agains strikes the evolutionary balance with a typical MINI centre speedometer. Given the more sportier appearance of the overall look of MINI Gen 3. The interior especially the dasg gets a more raked back look instead of the classic upright look.
The centre speedometer remains but becomes more function than form.
The car’s communication technology gets the addition of a MINI trackball previewed on the Rocketman placed on the console and steering wheel.
>MINI has always been about “make it your own” and whilst a high level of personalisation will continue. The next car will also allow a personalisation theme of using light. Something similiar in today’s MINI’s but will extend to key areas of the car such as around the speedometer and dash.
>As Norbert Reithofer announced at the UK 500 Million Pound investment. The next MINI family will spawn up to 10 MINI’s.
>The MINI City Car that will come from the looks of the Rocketman Concept whilst the genetics have to change to become production viable and cost effective for production. Will be a seperate MINI model.
There you have it directly from the source. While we can corroborate quite a lot of this but, there are parts that frankly are new to us and un-confirmed. So until we things get closer to production treat much of what you read above as a very strong rumor. And for further reading on the new car, check MotoringFile’s F56 section.
First and third images courtesy of Autoexpress
<p>Holding judgement until we get to see it but not sure how the panel lines would look on the car. I do wonder if a few subtle changes though is enough to separate the 1 series from the F56</p>
<p>What happens is that the details are heavily covered up with vacumed plastic pieces and then covered with the Typical BMW camouflage, It completely removes all the details and makes it appear more like a Tank than a car. In the first prototypes where they are tuning the chassis and suspension etc key areas are left unfinished as it progresses through the development stages to the Final prototypes.</p>
<p>Of course MINI has the revitalised VW beetle to contend with now. Since in styling they seem to have resolved the New beetles mistakes but in Europe they are repeating the same mistake that cost them dear. By giving the Beetle larger engines via the Golf they are making it more expensive than the MINI. So the new MINI could have again the advantage.</p>
<p>The BMW 1er City Compact sister car is aimed directly at the Audi A1 , which despite it’s claim of “MINI killer” has not really lived up to the promise. The A1’s sister car , the VW Polo is apparently better to drive and favoured in the media over the A1 and of course it is significantly cheaper.</p>
<p>A MINI has to be a MINI hence an updated but evolutionary cycle. The BMW can afford to be a bit more adventurous with it’s single round headlights linking the earliest entry-BMW models such as the BMW 1600 right down to a modern sporty wedged outline.</p>
<p>BMW and the concept of Front Wheel Drive is of course termed as so….wrong by many.
But the results are going to surprise a lot of people.  </p>
<p>But both the MINI and BMW can co-exist.</p>
<p>What about the two cylinder engine for the MINI Mini ?</p>
<p>Its coming.</p>
<p>Horrible!!!
Parece un Seat Ibiza!!!
Que vuelva Frank Stephenson a MINI!!!
Pepe</p>
<p>Your images seem to be strangely proportioned (as if you weren’t paying attention to the original photo size). Makes it hard to tell what the car really looks like</p>
<p>The pictures come from a colleague at BMW UK. from the publication Auto express thenTaken via iphone . </p>
<p>What happens is that I have people across BMW’s World-Wide distribution network send me these magazine illustrations for research and if they are closer-than-close or behind in the distance.</p>
<p>I like to see how far they go.</p>
<p>I think these blue illustrations are from AutoExpress. Â I am assuming (hoping?) that they are merely their photoshop shots in the dark. Â I certainly don’t care for a lot of the details (the headlamps – ugly; the crease – pretensious; the exaggerated rake – trying too hard). Â Hopefully this is not a good representation of the best MINI/BMW can do for the next gen.</p>
<p>My concern as I peruse the text and photos about the design direction of the next gen MINI is that it is following in the same unfortunate footsteps that the Mazda Miata and Audi TT have already tread. Â </p>
<p>Both of those vehicles at introduction were “idea” cars, whose design details adhered to fairly rigid and clear-headed design objectives, resulting in a couple of iconic automobiles that successfully echoed great designs of the 20th century. Â When they were revised (the Miata, twice), without the adherence or possibly even an understanding of the original design objectives, each of these little cars had its personality watered down with corporate-feeling design elements that seemed motivated by trying to position the car more upscale in the market, rather than by trying to make a great-looking vehicle. Â Both the Miata and Audi TT thus became more feminine and more class-encoded, as luxurious design elements — meant to appeal to upper-middle-class aspirations of wealth and prestige — replaced the previous generation’s simple, beautiful lines. Â In short, they went from cars I would have loved to drive, to cars I’d be embarrassed to be seen in.</p>
<p>I hope MINI’s designers will be heed the lessons learned from those vehicles and other similar missteps as they contemplate which of these design details make it into the production vehicle.</p>
<p>Yes that is the concern but what happens in between cars like the MINI and MX-5 etc is that they become established , they become iconic and they become sales successes that they fall into that vicious cirlce called progression. In which the customers demands play a great role.</p>
<p>But what you discuss is something that will have to happen with the car born from the MINI Rocketman Concept’s genetics. As that is a MINI that will start from Scratch just like the first MINI in 2001.</p>
<p>Are customers demanding creases in the doors? Â Swooshed headlights disappearing up the hood? Â I haven’t ever seen anyone online wishing for such things. Â These appear to be elements motivated by corporate branding / homogeneity concerns rather than by giving the people what they want. Â (Correct me if I’m wrong, though.)</p>
<p>I think most MINI customers are a) quite pleased with the overall current design of the car and b) more concerned about performance improvements (whether more hp or conversely better gas mileage) and would much rather have increased reliability and improved ergonomics than a crease in the doors.</p>
<p>While I think it’s essential for MINI to be aware of the community’s feedback, it’s equally important to keep some of that at arm’s length. Ideas need to be born out of new thinking as well of not more so than consumer feedback.</p>
<p>That’s a general statement of course but that is how the most successful product and automotive designers operate (think Apple for instance).</p>
<p>I agree that successful designs need not adhere to customer demands, especially as most customers don’t have necessarily the imagination or design skills to envision a successfully executed design that fails to follow their wishlist of improvements in an obvious way. Â This presupposes, though, that there is a strong design philosophy at work that is operating at a higher level than such vulgar concerns as flattering the masses.</p>
<p>However, when “customers demands” are being used to justify changes which appear to go against the ingrained identity of the already-successful product, it is relevant to ask, who are the customers demanding these things, and if customer demands are the guiding spirit behind the changes, why are these particular demands (which seem to have gone completely unheard in these parts) the ones being met?</p>
<p>In other words, shouldn’t your reply be directed at Herr26’s comment that “customers demands” are “going to play a great role”, not my attempt to clarify why, that being the case, these are the particular demands that are being addressed?</p>
<p>Apple hasn’t updated the design of their flagship computers (the cheese-grater PowerMac G5/Mac Pro) for what, 8 or 9 years? Â Their brilliance is not just coming up with new stuff; it’s as much about knowing what to leave alone.</p>
<p>Totally agree with most of what you’re saying but I think customer demands is used in a nebulous way here (based on what I know – for what it’s worth).</p>
<p>I like the back and the side, not so much the front. The creases feels like BMW really taking over the MINI design. We’ll see how much will actually be true with these photos. I’m neither for or against the design.</p>
<p> I am not going to be THAT GUY and say that this is going to destroy the brand, however I don’t see buying a new MINI if this is the direction they are going in terms of design. The roof on the Countryman and the Coupe are one thing but the iconic roof line is something I don’t see as something to be messed with. Also I think that adding creases to a car for no real reason is just BS design! I LOVE the soft lines, smoothness and curves of the first gen car, the one I fell in love with. While I am one of the people who thinks that the R56 car was a let down, the Aero Kit made it worth liking. I was instantly in love with the quirky Clubman which seemed to fit the larger re-designed hood. I also feel that the R57 was a home run with the pop up roll bar as well as the higher belt line and shorter A posts. So you can see I am not a TOTAL first Gen. fanboy, it is just what I own. </p>
<p>Sure, it is an evolution and it is going to happen but I will look at it this way, there are 55 Chevy guys out there and 57 Chevy guys out there and most times they like what they have and wouldn’t trade for anything. I will be that R53, R55 and R57 guy who would not trade with a F56 car for any reason.</p>
<p>Â Yes, I know that this is not an official MINI rendering, that being said I have a few more things to say.</p>
<p> I don’t like the GIANT piece of bodywork that goes from the front edge of the hood to the bottom of the grill. It makes the car look cheap to me, like the the TOYTA IQ or the Fiat 500. Then, what will it take to change out the bumpers to go to an Aero bumper down the line. Oh, and the fake bulges around the fog lamps and reverse lights are horrible!</p>
<p>O won’t say much about the headlights because as long as they look round from the front I don’t have a major problem with them.</p>
<p>The last thing I will say is that crease that goes down the body from the repeater to the door handle is not needed. I think that line looked good in vinyl on the Sidewalk but it could be peeled off, you are stuck with this crease FOREVER!</p>
<p>The front appears plausible but the rear DRAWING seems awkward and I suspect a poor rendering. </p>
<p>I just showed these photos to my wife … “Look, possible direction for next year’s MINI” … wife (typical consumer): “I don’t get it, looks the same”</p>
<p>Enough said ;)</p>
<p>Who cares about the renderings – just some eye wash from an artist.</p>
<p>I would be very happy to simply see a larger Rocketman minus the glass roof, funky doors and drawer. Great front grill, great headlights, great evolutionary shape, not over-doing it with body creases but not plain as the prior models either. Quite perfect I think. </p>
<p>I agree with lavadera… if they could continue the rocketman design, just larger and minus the gimmicky stuff I think it would be great…</p>
<p>GOD PLEASE GOD…. NO CREASES….</p>
<p>Another vote against the creases here, but I’ll direct my vote to the higher ups at MINI; I sense God has other issues on his/her agenda.</p>
<p>Again, ignoring the renderings, the creases we saw on the Rocketman were very “lite” and not at all out of character.</p>
<p>Currently, the body creases seem, to me anyway, the domain of BMW (in the context of MINI and BMW, not the market at large). Â </p>
<p>As such, creases could well act as a critical point of differentiation. Which, as the brands share more and more going forward, will become more important. </p>
<p>Please keep both creases and swept back headlights to a MINImum.</p>
<p>Rocketman rocks !!!</p>
<p>Can’t wait</p>
<p>I’m all for making something better and when you’re evolving something that was based on a past design (i.e. “retro”), it’s a difficult balance to strike. Â However, I fear that some of the changes described and illustrated in the renderings are moves a little too far from the original design.</p>
<p>The front lights that are “more raked back” are a mistake, in my opinion. Â As is the steeper rake on the windshield.</p>
<p>An English buddy of mine, who’s first car was a Rover MINI, got in my R53 and remarked how much it reminded him of his first car. Â I felt a sense of pride in that. Â My fear is that this new design direction loses that connection, for good or bad.</p>
<p>Yikes, these sketches have me quite nervous. The raked front and side creases in my opinion are quite disagreeable. Hopefully the FrankenMINI shown here will find some charm before it is set in stone.</p>
<p>Kinda weird we’re just seeing the first round of prototypes and we’ll see the car in full production form in just over a year from now or less. They must be using a lot of simulated testing for the development of this car which probably makes any additional real world testing redundant. Provided I’m reading all of this correctly.</p>
<p>Every new model that comes out of this car gets worst and worst! The R53 was so awesome, looked just like the original, then R56 still cute but moving further away… Now WTH is this!</p>
<p>Ah, our new baby BMW. A smaller, albeit, rounded version of the BMW Series 1. The rear is kinda Series 1/Golf/Paceman concept style.</p>
<p>Creases? They are not inherently bad, but often the execution is a let-down. At best, creases can accent design features or carry features from front to rear. At worst, they are folds that serve no purpose and have no integration. They are frequently abstract elements without a home.</p>
<p>Given BMW’s recent history, I would have to say Be Careful; VERY Careful. Actually, it would be easier to just take a pass altogether…</p>
<p>Also, note the wheels: 5-bolt pattern. Left-over artists features from something else or coming reality?</p>
<p>Looks like the camo’d F56 has a 5-bolt pattern…..</p>
<p>The perfect evolution of the mini in my opinion</p>