F56 Switches: Best Photo Yet

Sections: F56 Hatch Jul 25th, 2012 73 Comments

More and more details about the upcoming 3rd generation MINI, the F56, are coming to light as spy photographers get better and better shots of prototype cars. Here we have an unobscured view of an F56 center switch bank. As previously reported, gone are the window and door controls. Instead, we see toggles for Eco/Sport button, DSC off, engine start, auto stop/start, and park distance control. And yes, our sources are saying all of these features will be available on US-spec cars.

Heating and A/C controls are following a much more conventional layout than in previous generations of the car and this particular spec appears to include dual-zone climate control. We can also see the button for a new auto-recirculate feature. If the system detects air impurities coming into the cabin from say, a smokey bus, the A/C system will automatically switch to recirculating the interior air until exterior air quality improves. That’s no help, however, if the air impurities are coming from inside the car.

With all of this, however, keep in mind that this is still a prototype! MINI is not even into final evaluations yet, so materials and final layout may change for the production version. Be sure to reference back to our previous post on what we know about the rest of the upcoming interior.

[Source: Auto Motor Und Sport]

Written By: Nathaniel Salzman

Ali

So toggles for Engine Start/ Stop and Park distance control, does this me those buttons standard on all cars? what are the replaced with if they’re not going to be selected as an option?
- http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
  
  You’ll know when we know.
- Hoover
  
  Perhaps they will be empty blanks. If you don’t have fogs in the R56, they leave them blank. This begs the question: Where are the switches for the fogs? Stalk? Dash? We also see slits around the chrome bezel. Presumably, based on previous reports, for accent lighting. But don’t the slits lend themselves to some level of function? Tach or speedo? I think it would be cool if the lights around the bezel were dependent on speed or revs, but I would prefer to see revs in a tach above the steering wheel…unless there is a heads up in our future. I’m not ruling anything out, and I’m not going to make a snap judgement, except to say that I, too, like that on/off switch. I wonder what the small black button is above that switch.
  - BimmerFile_Michael
    
    small black thing is an ambient/sunlight sensor- it boosts the auto A/C if needed. On BMWs there are multiple locations for these to optimize interior temperature/humidity etc. I am not sure exactly what version of the sensor it is at this point but for the exact function but you get the idea.
    - JackMac
      
      And they have no need to be touching the start/stop control. This feature looks cool the first time you see it, but then quickly becomes questionable.
- BimmerFile_Michael
  
  Auto Stop/Start is now standard on almost all BMWs stateside and in Europe on MINIs as well. It will be standard on the F56 and is coming to the US in a MINI model in the not so distant future according to rumors circulating.
BimmerFile_Michael

I am in love with the giant red on/off switch! Like the switch layout as well. The climate controls are what they are. I am sure people are going to complain they aren’t the MINI “wings” but how the heck can you make dual zones look like wings and not be overly tacky? Circles make more sense are easier to use, something MINI has never been good at!
- http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
  
  I always thought the “wings” climate controls in the R56 interior were trying way too hard. On the R53, the logo was implied in those controls and the R56 version always felt like explaining an inside joke. I agree that just abandoning that all together is a good move. I also love the start button as a toggle switch. It’s almost like the driver and passenger should have to both turn separate keys in unison to start the engine launch sequence. 5…4…3…2…
  - Hoover
    
    I think I would like it more if you had to flip up bright red cover first, like a missile switch. But that could be annoying–especially if, heaven forbid, you stall. Besides, I would probably break it.
    - Frenchy2004
      
      If you stall you have the auto start to carry you on, as long as it’s on, when you press the clutch again the engine starts “automatically”.
    - werkkzeug
      
      auto-start, however, begins to work only when the engine has become warm already
- http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams
  
  The last time MF posted about the F56 interior was shown I also said that I loved the red toggle start/stop toggle switch! You wording assumes that the issue with the climate controls (as they were in the R56) in the shape of the MINI wing logo is tacky. I would disagree and say that it isn’t tacky at all but instead the issue is that if it can’t be ergonomic it might not be worth doing. These climate controls in the F56 pictures look a bit more ergonomic and are somewhat similar in functional design as to the three dial manual HVAC controls of the R53. But the R56′s climate controls were generally straight forward to anyone with half a brain and it wasn’t the main interface issue. The interface issue was with the R56 head unit and nav controls which I’m assuming is what you are referring to as your generalization that MINI has never been good at being easy to use. The R53 climate controls and radio controls were straight forward.
  - BimmerFile_Michael
    
    My comment was how can they make a dual zone not look tacky with the “wings” I liked the previous setup.
- oldsbear
  
  No, I’m going to complain that it’s where fingers can accidentally press it while reaching for something else.
- MadisonKobalt
  
  I am going to enjoy watching every valet and car wash attendant attempting to find the giant red on/off switch.
  - hemisedan
    
    Oh, I’m sure that they will figure it out. If they don’t, maybe that’s a good thing.
http://www.facebook.com/lilmacarony Cameron Love

Looks great! Can’t wait to see the final build and buy one of these on my own!!
http://twitter.com/mcoopers07 MisterRyan

So happy MINI is revising all of this by the time I graduate from school! Out with my ’07 MCS, and in with the ’13 MC JCW!
- John
  
  These changes won’t be in the 2013 production year. And if it is the same as the past, a JCW won’t come out right with the release of the new generation MINI, it takes some time after.
Se7en_speed

As long as they have the AV system work with android I’ll be happy
Mills

Looking at the other interior spy shots on that link shows the steering mounted tach is now the speedometer, with a little half moon tach to the left of it. Very disappointed to see the tach lose it’s prominent place front and center. I would of much rather had a nice round tach, with a larger digital speedo, than we currently have, integrated into it.
rhawth99

So small little buttons that all look alike for the AC and defrost controls – doesn’t seem very user friendly for the driver. I’m not upset about changing from the MINI wings but those switches are small and have very little differentiation.

I guess I’ll be the first to say that putting the engine start button down in the center console as a toggle switch is extremely stupid. Will they have to add extra programming logic to keep someone from accidentally turning the engine off while trying to hit one of the other toggles?
- http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams
  
  That was exactly my complaint as well: that all of the F56 buttons under the dials look exactly the same! I loved the manual controls on my R53s because it was easy to not only feel the three dials, but I quickly memorized the buttons surround the dials and could use them without looking at them. These buttons cannot be used without looking at them! Additionally, the buttons look very recessed compared to the three dials above and the toggle switches below which makes me wonder if they will be harder to reach and/or read.
- Uridium
  
  I agree on both points. Actually I’m repelled by the location of the start/stop switch. It puts controls that are explicitly for the passenger right next to something I don’t want them anywhere near. It makes me uncomfortable as a driver or as a passenger.
  
  I love the three knobs and the buttons would work for me if there weren’t so many of them. Can anyone tell me what the third button does (between the “defrost” buttons?)
  - Aurel
    
    The logic for its new position is that your hand is already there for the gear shifter … so it’s a logical new spot. I am sure you can’t just off it out of the blue.
  - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
    
    Foot on the brake and/or clutch is still required.
    - jeff
      
      but currently you don’t need the brake / clutch engaged to shut off the engine.
    - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
      
      It won’t be a tap. Most likely it’ll be a twist.
- BimmerFile_Michael
  
  The switches may just be redundancies if people want them and the climatics are controlled via the nav screen- to be determined and there may be an entirely different setup for cars without nav.
r_k_w

Are you sure that last toggle is for Park Distance Control? I don’t understand the need for a dedicated PDC switch, and at such a prominent location on the console. PDC was always something minor and buried in option menus.Do any current BMW’s have a switch like that?
- http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
  
  It probably turns a camera on and off, I’m guessing.
- http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams
  
  Yes, that is the BMW symbol for PDC and it has been a standalone button on BMWs (without iDrive I believe, although possibly also with). The previous gen cars such as E60 5-series and E90 3-series without iDrive both have PDC buttons on the vertical dash section between the heated seat controls and the new F30 3-series has the button on the console between the front seats.
  - r_k_w
    
    Okay, then that settles the question, although I still don’t “get” it. Is PDC actually something that drivers are in the regular habit of switching on and off, to the point of making it take up one of only 5 toggle switch positions?
    - http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams
      
      I can’t imagine it would be flicked more than a handful of times in the entire lifetime of a car, but because people want to have the ability to control it, there has to be a switch for it. I believe even if you turn if “off” that position is only held in memory until the car is turned off and upon startup again is turned back on (ala Sport button) although someone with PDC on a MINI or BMW would need to confirm this.
    - Diesel
      
      You usually have a PDC button only when you have parking sensors on the front of the vehicle as well as the rear. Thats why MINI has never had a PDC button fitted because they’ve never had front sesors. So this button will probably be an option.
http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams

I’m happy to see the center infotainment screen surround having the (assumedly optional) chrome or piano black finish. I don’t like the Countryman’s center speedo surround as the flat gray plastic seems unnecessarily bulbous and there is no option to change it. Of course some people that won’t like the reflections/glare from a large shiny surface, but assumedly this will be optional. It is great to see this installed instead of the passenger holding the surround as in previous spy pictures.
http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams

I’m glad the rounded air vents are staying on the outsides of the dash near the doors, even if the vents abutting the center infotainment screen may be square. The round vents firstly look great and secondly are very easy to operate with just two fingers to open/close the vent and change flow direction!
http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams

If the tach is significantly smaller and next to the speedo I’d be disappointed, although that appears to be true. The reason why I’d be disappointed is not as much as the location but because of the size of the tach in relation to the speedo. I didn’t mind the Chrono Kit on the R53 (I actually be lying if I said I didn’t like it) because I don’t think the tach was made smaller (or at least not by much) than the on-chrono package. Many motorers love and live by driving by the tach rather than the speedo. And if the size difference between speedo and tach really is that large and the tach appears to be “tacked on”, that will be a great loss.
http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams

If I am correct from listening to the hosts of WRR, the spy shots we see testing are only Cooper and Cooper S models differentiated by dual center, or side single tail pipes and that JCW models are not yet being tested? If true, it makes it particularly interesting to see that this Cooper S’ speedo has white text on a dark gray background which has previously been reserved for the GP R53 and the factory JCW R56. Any word on if this being made standard across the line, if this is a fluke or if this test mule is a JCW?
- BimmerFile_Michael
  
  Dials may or may not relate to this particular drive train- they could be simply just testing lighting parameters for a part or the cluster itself.
http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams

The dark gray console moulding surrounding the three main HVAC knobs appears to have no seams between the flat center section and the pseudo-downtubes [that end at the toggle controls] which would point to possible continuity between manual and automatic HVAC control layout. This could allow for easier or less expensive manufacturing. Unless any of the MF/WRR sources have any leads if auto HVAC would be standard across the line although I find this unlikely…
- BimmerFile_Michael
  
  Think about the current non-auto basic system ; there are essentially three items that can be tweaked- Fan speed, Where it blows, and temperature. There are the three knobs that will go in the place of the dual zone and auto :) So it should be the same plastic piece resulting in one part with less seems to creak and also be less costly to build as it will be of higher economies.
  
  Amazing how complex yet simple it all is !
  - http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams
    
    Just what I was thinking!
BimmerFile_Michael

The ignition switch is located on the same side as every other car outside a Porsche. The auto/start/stop is located next to the ignition switch so it can easily be disengaged at start up if so desired. This makes good sense.

Saabs have had a key on the center console for ages and there were no big issues. For all we know the big red toggle is not a toggle at all and is really something that needs to be turned like a key plus it has a different shape and size so the feel will be different.

The only button people may touch down there once the car is moving is the sport/Eco button which is the left most button most of those switches are one that would be touched at startup in my opinion- which makes it easy to do at once. Let’s not jump to conclusions yet.. and when the start button was reintroduced people said the same thing and that turned out just fine.

I hear where people are coming from but remember this is a prototype and things may change and they are testing proof of concept- maybe the idea is scrapped and they move onto something else or maybe the haptics and functionality are more than meets the eye.

As always there is usually a reason for these things to get “leaked” or spied.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bradley-Sketchley/100000398251447 Bradley Sketchley

It’s amazing to me how well everyone here complains… This next MINI will be great. It’s this kind of whining that makes MINI do what they have to (:e.g., moving the window switches to where they are located on every other boring car) in order to satisfy all these whiny people. The many special things that separate our cars from the rest are the things everyone bickers about. Any car worth having has a lot of quirks (believe me, I’ve been around the world’s best exotic cars for some time now). I swear, if you don’t like it, then buy a different car!
- http://www.facebook.com/UberFisch Michael Fischer
  
  Brilliant.
- http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams
  
  There are just as many comments about new things that people like as much as things that might be missed… Those comments (that go either way) are pretty level headed, aren’t loaded with expletives and have also struck up some decent conversation which is more than I can say for the commenters on many other fan-manufacturers forums/blogs.
- frogberg
  
  I’ll admit it, having the window switches in the center stack is rather annoying, and I’ve had well over 7 years to adjust to it.
http://www.facebook.com/james.nolan.31 James Nolan

The enhine start in the centre is so far the onlybthing carried over from the original mini. Purists will note that that until the early 70′s, many cars had the ignition switch in the centre switch panel. Even so, I hope MINI isnt planning on bringing back the starter switch on the floor, theyre just a nightmare!
- jeff
  
  but highbeams on the floor would be sweet!
Aurel

I really love the red “start/stop engine” button in the middle! But please… where is the MINI spirit in that very banal AC controls??

Note: The “A off” button is for ESC not auto stop/start if think.
- Diesel
  
  No the “A Off” Button is for Auto Start/Stop Off. The toggle switch second from the left is the DSC button. (Its a picture of a car skidding)
http://www.facebook.com/frank.granados.733 Frank Granados

Too much plastic around the HVAC control panel. I understand this is still a non-production mock up, but to be honest, doesn’t look all that great to me.
- http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams
  
  I would say that the plastic is merely different than the R56 which was trying to keep the down tube like look of the R53 while improving leg room by minimizing the width of the console. Although the R56 may appear to have less plastic, I think this is a bit of an illusion and I’ve always thought the R56 center dash plastics looked thin and cheap (especially compared to the R53 which could have down tubes could be painted or had in JCW carbon fiber or leather.) At least the F56 looks to have smoother plastic that gives the appearance of a soft touch surface that the flat R56 couldn’t attempt to have. Also this plastic appears to not extend down to the exhaust/transmission linkage tunnel and this could be to minimize the plastic-look, maximize storage space or it might appear wider and more expansive than the R56 due to the platform sharing with BMW which might have a wider car and cabin. I completely agreed with @BimmerFile_Michael:disqus when it comes to this one-piece design leading to better NVH in the cabin (think of the R53 dash which went from five to three panels in the LCI to improve fit and finish and to reduce squeaks and rattles.)
b-

I like how the Start/stop switch is SO big, why bother with the toggle guards at all?

Also, will these cars all have the comfort access? I ask because I will have to put my key fob into the dash and THEN reach down to start the car? WTF? I think that a start/stop should be near the key fob, no?
- http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
  
  The whole automotive world is pretty much going the route of comfort access. Your fob will likely never need leave your pocket again.
  - jbkONE
    
    I guess it’s cheaper to do that than install a turning key cylinder? Or is it just “cool” so that’s what everyone’s doing to make their cars look more upscale?
- http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
  
  The F56 will not have a place to put the fob – it just needs to be in the car. That said comfort access (the act of walking up and the car unlocking via a touch sensor on the handle) will be optional in most markets.
  - Edge
    
    Hmm, interesting… that begs the question then… if you’re not going to be “docking” the fob at all, how does the battery inside of it get charged?
    - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
      
      Just like the BMW system. Conductively by holding up to the steering column every so often.
    - BimmerFile_Michael
      
      They have a replaceable battery- lasts about two years but some use inductive charging as well.
    - http://www.nathanielsalzman.com/ Nathaniel Salzman
      
      Wait. You mean on my $25,000+ car I might have to fork over $10 on a battery every couple years? Unacceptable! MINI had better include this in the free maintenance program for new cars. Harumph!
    - http://bridger.us/ Gabriel Bridger
      
      It will be.
Erik06MCS

Gone are the center console down tubes?? I hope not! Otherwise this dash will look quite bmw-ish with the non round center a/c vents and this cut-off ledge styling below the a/c panel. Although change can be a good thing, too much change will lose the MINI identity. Seems like other than toggle switches, the only other MINI thing about this dash will be the large round center thing (well its no longer a speedo!). hmm. Will wait for more updates in the future but no changes thus far make me want to trade in my R53..
- http://www.facebook.com/jasonrwilliams Jason Williams
  
  I had mixed feelings about that because I really like the form and strength they gave on the R53 as if they were holding up the dash although they were just decorative. The R56 doesn’t really have down “tubes” but tried to keep the shape while minimizing the center stack width to improve knee room and the look isn’t pulled off well. Also most classic Minis don’t have them, and the cabin is more open. Even when I was working on my R53 and had the down tubes off the cabin felt more open so I wouldn’t automatically say this is a step in the wrong direction.
Frenchy2004

For those worried about someone “accidently” shutting off the engine even on the current model you cannot shut off the engine if you are in motion, I have tried. I really like the auto start feature and shut my engine off every now and then when I know it’s going to be a long wait at a light. I have driven a few cars here in Europe with auto start and fell in love with it, genius idea.
WH

Love the big switch, but I’m worried that I don’t see any way to fit a “color line” into that dash.
3PedalMINI

Sigh, I would kill to have my R53 Back :(
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000671752842 Chris Bamford
  
  I had an r53, then an r56 both specced to the max from new. What am I driving today… an R53, it’s better made, more solid and unpretentious. If mini can finish the rocketman – ill have one of those next. Please.
goat

The HVAC controls are much more appealing in design and materials execution (even in prototype) than the Tyco-grade R56 centre stack. Bonus points if the grip surface on the three HVAC knobs is rubberized rather than hard plastic. Looking good.
Rj

Really liking what I see. Hope Mini bring the new Bmw idrive as well and soft touch interiors with better quality.
hemisedan

Looking at the lower dash area, to me it looks very nice. As for window toggle, that’s not all that important, but I do like the big red toggle swithch for the start feature. As for the JCW, which is what I will be interested in early 2014, I hope that it is made available shortly after January 1st of 2014, as that is when I will be wanting to trade my 2011 JCW. Wife says that next car has to have auto, and I insist on DSG, so there goes the six speed manual. I just hope that they don’t wait too long on the JCW, or I’ll probably go with the Coupe JCW.
frogberg

It’s nice to see they kept the toggles and got rid of the kitschy MINI logo pattern on the buttons.

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