Clear Photos of the Next MINI's Interior

<p>not bad. pretty lukewarm on the center stack, and the 2 spoke though.</p>

<p>Initial gut reaction – I like the narrower “streamlined” look of the dash.</p>

<p>If you want a sneak peak at what could be the new nav software on the MINI – check out the new BMW 1 or 3 series.</p>

<p>looks like the interior of a small retro aircraft.</p>

<p>its ok. a little dry for me. im just in love with my current 05 mcs i really like the 3 piece dash change for the 05.</p>

<p>Stick a cup in the cup holder and turn off your DSC by accident.</p>

<p>The interior looks like it was built with Legos by a 7 year old.</p>

<p>The exterior bulge around the back is hideous.</p>

<p>I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt until more pictures arrived, but man, the only thing this MINI is going to have going for it is more HP.</p>

<p>I can see people loading up on 2006 models. They are going to be worth something after this monster flops.</p>

<p>Nooo… I think I am going to be sick</p>

<p>quite possibly one of the ugliest interiors ive ever seen…. that crap rivals the dashboard from my old volkswagen!</p>

<p>Anyone else notice that the CD player in the center stack has a DVD logo on it??</p>

<p>Sorry about the bad grammar and a few missing words from the last post. After all, it is pretty late.</p>

<p>Sorry – this is not making me FEEL any better.</p>

<p>I new it couldnt be as drastic as the first photos. HA! We thought WE had a big speedometer!</p>

<p>Are you sure this is not a Geo Metero with a big speedo and a Mini logo on the wheel?? They might be improving the quality of the materials used inside, but it look cheap. You would have to limo tint the windows and make sure no one was around when you opened the doors! </p>

<p>I really hope this is just a prototype! I would have to say, if this is what roles of the line, that would keep me from buying another mini. Maybe even selling the 2 that I have just from embarrassment!</p>

<p>First of all I agree, the speedometer is almost as big as de s.wheel, it looks like it has a large red screen on it(well for the size of that thing you can get wall-street tiker info).
But I now why they did this, so even the guy three cars behind can see that you are overspeeding.
Not good my friend, not good</p>

<p>“not bad. pretty lukewarm on the center stack, and the 2 spoke though.”</p>

<p>My thoughts exactly. I love my 3 spoke wheel, and that center console is iffy. I like the speedo, and the fact that they want it to house everything is great (I never liked the speedo and tach on the wheel with the navigation in the current mini). Its just that the AC/stereo/toggle arrangement looks a little weird. Still has that goofy “concept car” feel to it.</p>

<p>However, for the most part its nice. I’m reserving final judgement until I see it in person. After all, the Mini didn’t totally blow me away until I found myself sitting behind the wheel of one.</p>

<p>I will echo the comments about liking the dash but not the center stack. Somehow the A/C, disc player and swithches do not match the rest of the dash and look fake/stuck on.</p>

<p>I like the steering wheel better than the current 3-spoke wheel. I have always liked the 2-spoke better anyway.</p>

<p>I like the new 2 piece dash. Seems like less to rattle and much more streamlined.</p>

<p>The instrument pod beneth the speedo is very clean and simple. Reminds me of art deco styling.</p>

<p>The steering wheel is not a good match with the interior.</p>

<p>the door panels are much nicer than the current on my ’05 MCS.</p>

<p>The bonnet reminds me of a Mercedes. Not bad, not great either.</p>

<p>I don’t like it…it looks more like a BMW than a MINI…</p>

<p>the current interior fits with the go-kart theme…this new interior gives off zero go-kart feelings…it looks like they are trying to mature the car, when it’s supposed to be a kid…</p>

<p>the new speedo is too big, the 2-spoke is bleh and either has a larger diameter (so much for our tight go-kart steering, barely turning the wheel to turn) and/or is thinner (i like the beefy feel of the current wheel)…</p>

<p>the center area looks cool, but what happens when i want to put in my own cd player? or an in-dash carputer/screen?</p>

<p>the speedo is now way too big…any bigger than now is too much…</p>

<p>i like the 05 dash 1000x more…the only thing this has going for it is the cup holders further back…</p>

<p>and u DEFINITELY need a Whalen with that new shift knob…</p>

<p>it looks like an 80s 3-series with some silver and circles (and new stereo area)</p>

<p>ajigel – that will be where the push button starting system is (similar to the new 1 and 3 series). </p>

<p><strong>Everyone: If you want to read all the details on the interior and other changes expected for the next generation MINI, please check out our previous story: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/03/20/next_generation_mini_revealed">The Next Generation MINI Revealed</a></strong> (from last week).</p>

<p>The exterior is completely camouflaged and doesn’t represent the form of the final car. No – the rear of the car (or the front) won’t look like the pics).</p>

<p>Not too bad for a handmade mock up. I don’t care for the silver buttons down the center.
I love the idea of more legroom around the center console and the return of the two spoke wheel.
I was wondering what the stick in front of the handbrake was for? I read the earlier story but still not sure witch gizmo it would control.</p>

<p>Wow, such drama. It entertains me to no end how intense some folks get when something new comes along. I love hearing everybody’s opinion, but these spy pictures of the prototype cars are turning into an episode of Dynasty. “Maybe this is the evil twin of the real interior.” On some of these posts, I feel like I’ll have to throw my head back and rest the back of hand on my forehead, and in a deep southern drawl declare “wherever shall I go, whatever shall I do?”</p>

<p>Makes me laugh, keep it up.</p>

<p>My reaction to the new interior is mixed. I agree that they’ve over-simplified the center console and not being able to swap out the head unit for the stereo borders on being just plain mean. Minimilist though I am, they’ve gone over the border from clean to over-simple on the center console. I second the “Jetson’s” comments and the discordance between the interior and exterior. It doesn’t feel british to me and I would like to see something with a little more character. The MINI logo A/C control is cute, but it’s not <em>that</em> cute. In many ways, it looks like simply an over-simplification of the current interior but it’s lost a lot of character in the process. Diddo as well on the two-spoke stearing wheel, I would much rather see a streamlined three-spoke. </p>

<p>That said, I don’t disslike it. I’m excited to see what the final version looks like. I hope they trim it out a bit better than what we’re seeing here. I’m also just thankful that they haven’t gone the Fisher Price route of so many Fords and Toyota’s with gigantic preschooler-sized dash buttons and seemingly palm-sized dials. I personally love the toggle switches and relative simplicity and cleanliness of the current interior. It sets the MINI interior apart in a great way from other cars. That will contiinue, changes and all, and hopefully the build quality will be such that it’s at least well put together even if not as pretty as it used to be.</p>

<p>Beyond the interior details, I also am not a fan of the bit of an ass they seem to have put on the car. I’ll be very interested to see what the final design accents on the exterior turn out to be. All in all, I’m personally more skeptical about the powertrain change than many of these stylistic adjustments.</p>

<p>“…of course that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong.”</p>

<p>Holy moly, the speedo is steering wheel sized! The thing has its own gravitational pull. No thanks.</p>

<p>Oops, allow me to rephrase: Please, please, BMW, make the new interior look exactly like this mockup. I want to keep my ’05 forever, and an interior like this will certainly kill off any need or desire for me to upgrade in ’07.</p>

<p>Speedo is WAY too big. Not cool. It’s trying too hard.</p>

<p>Im sure the interior will look better when its done, but its getting too BMWish.</p>

<p>My only question now is, do I keep my ’04 model or try to get one of the last ’06 models? Like someone said in a previous story, “it was fun while it lasted.”</p>

<p>Gabe,</p>

<p>Put a cup in the cup holder and accidently toggle off the DSC or something else in that little cluster.</p>

<p>Why put important switches near such a heavily traficked section of the car like the cupholders/ligthers.</p>

<p>The interior looks like it was thrown together by different people with different ideas on what they wanted.</p>

<p>My 04 interior is not perfect, but at least it is consistent.</p>

<p>UGLY! is all I have to say. MINI has not made one positive improvement visually. The 2002-2004 are the best. Too bad. they can’t leave greatness alone.</p>

<p>All,</p>

<p>I’ve actually seen the new MINI in real-life and so I can tell you first hand that the exterior looks absolutely NOTHING like those pictures. The MINIs in those photos have a bunch of junk added on to them to hide what the car really looks like underneath. I’m under NDA and so I can’t really say too much, but I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed with the exterior of the car (from what I’ve seen anyway).</p>

<p>Well, there’s not much reason for me to rehash the comments I posted in the previous article about this new interior, suffice it to say that these new photos have only cemented my earlier thoughts for me. Unlike Gabe, I don’t hold much hope that this design will be massaged significantly before rollout next year. It seems too far along in the design process to completely rethink the center console area. The best we can hope for is some sort of damage control. Just putting the console components in black instead of silver would be a big step in reducing the “look at me, I’m a gadget” feel it has going on right now. I actually like the MINI logo-shaped climate unit, but maybe that’s because I have the auto-A/C in my MINI. Unfortunately, the other components fight with it.</p>

<p>Things they <em>can</em> easily change: the shifter that has “sedate BMW” written all over it; the air vents that look like a cheap 70’s Euro model.</p>

<p>You know, I do still like the center speedo area overall, but these photos more significantly underscore just how huge it is. As I’ve said in my previous comments, it tends to fight visually with the steering wheel due to its large proportions. The tiny air vents next to it only exaggerate its domination of th e upper dash.</p>

<p>In the end, the overarching design criticism I have is that nothing flows anymore — the FrankenMINI, as I described it before. Not only does the dash have a different style for each section (upper dash -70’s retro, center console – Best Buy cheap techy gadget, shifter area – stodgy BMW sedan), but the lines of the dash don’t flow very well either. The major lines form this sort of stretched out oval with awkward lines stretching down to the floor..reminds me vaguely of a warped Infiniti logo. The problem area for me are the corner points where the curve of the upper dash meets the vertical lines underneath the speedo (as if the speedo needed another focal point to point it out). The lines just feel very 70s to me.</p>

<p>OK Gabe, here are some of my thoughts when looking at the pictures:</p>

<p>Have you ever seen the sequel to a hit movie and walked out feeling like the directors tried too hard to top themselves?</p>

<p>The speedometer reminds me of a scale at an old grocery store.</p>

<p>The center stack wants too much to be hip, cool and retro all at the same time.</p>

<p>The shape of the dash reminds me of mid-’70s BMWs, but with none of the style or feel of quality. It also doesn’t seem to fit with a 21st century car.</p>

<p>The door panels look nice, but they do away with storage space in a car that is very short on it to begin with.</p>

<p>I’m not sure how someone is supposed to access the DSC, Sport and the third button from the driver’s seat, but I can see how they could easily hit them by putting something in the cupholder.</p>

<p>I’ll refrain from comment on the exterior until a non-camouflaged picture is posted. But I don’t think that making the car bigger is a good thing.</p>

<p>I swear!</p>

<p>General design of the doors look ok but needs room for storage and the oval detail is too thin. The monotone door dosn’t work. The dash detailing is out of porportion. The overall dash shape has too much BMW influence. I they need to look back more to the original Mini and the current one and try and evolve the shape. Dash is a bit too serious. Speedos surround has too much mass around it. If it can be thinned out it might work.
Center console: Poor use of space and porportions need work. I miss the tubes which I think is a styling cue that gave the interior character. The buttons by the shifter need to be moved.
I’m sure they will be more improved mock-ups and these posts a a cheap way for BMW to gather comments on there work rather than paying people in focus groups. Looking forward to seeing more updates!</p>

<p>maybe the ugly markups are to get all of us to trade in our current MINIs (for them to sell certified pre-owned, no less) and buy 06 to keep the sales strong for the next year until the 07 comes along…</p>

<p>then they’ll make the 07 much better looking in order to continue sales for 07+ models…</p>

<p>it’s all starting to make sense now…</p>

<p>” wont argue that the quality will be better, but it lacks soul.”</p>

<p>perfectly put</p>

<p>Two words. Very BMW..</p>

<p>“Why not integrate a clean, simple slot into the dash without the silver surround?”</p>

<p>That would be a LOT better!</p>

<p>I’m not seeing that center stack making it to production. It looks exactally the same as a rejected idea during the concept phase of the new MINI. I wish i had the pics, because they were actually on one of MINI’s websites (Canada, I think, but I can’t be sure which one), and I swear, it looks just like the mockup-mockup pictured above…</p>

<ul>
<li><p>I love the idea of incorporating the nav screen into the middle of the speedo, so I understand that tends to make the speedo bigger</p></li>
<li><p>I think the outer casing of the speedo looks to bulky/padded and seems to magnify the speedo size too much</p></li>
<li><p>I really love the (Hyper Blue) painted dash surfaces in my MCS, and I’d like to see more/larger painted surfaces on the new dash..I think it lets you experience the color of your car from the inside much more, and I think that is missing here (I see a lot of padding on the new dash)</p></li>
<li><p>I like the MINI logo climate control</p></li>
<li><p>I think the center stack is trying really really hard to be cool, and maybe needs to calm down some, perhaps by dropping some (or all) of the other silver shapes</p></li>
<li><p>c’mon, a joystick behind the stick shift for Idrive has got to be as awkward to deal with as a rotary cellphone ;p … why not a 4-way mouse button on the backside of the steering wheel (like the original MFSW-which I still miss BTW) -?</p></li>
</ul>

<p>~ overall it looks like the roll cage concept of the current interior would give way to a more conventional padded plastic interior..</p>

<p>nevertheless, it’s STILL beats a Camry interior ;)</p>

<p>one more thing, i’d like to see less buttons and more toggles (for the DSC and such). Possibly on the headliner, that would be fun, although i’m sure many disagree.</p>

<p>lol or is it the little hand on the 8 and the big hand on the 6 -?? I guess I’ll find out tomorrow……</p>

<p>There are two slightly different center stacks in those photos. The one with the nav is much better than the squared-off joint below the speedo without nav. If the speedo has the nav system, where will the speedo needle be, in the middle of the nav screen and the needle with move in front of the screen? It’s not clear.</p>

<p>I don’t mind the larger speedo. The two outer air vents look bad, though. And I will always prefer a two-spoke steering wheel, I sometimes like to rest my hand at the bottom where the third spoke is. I like changing the station and volume without taking my hands from the wheel, like you have to do with the Nintendo-style buttons on the front.</p>

<p>I have seen few changes since 2004 that haven’t screamed “cost savings”. BMW is definitely making the MINI cheaper to build. But then why all the wasted money changing an already great design?</p>

<p>I like the new interiors feel. The plastics look to be of a higher grade. It looks more like a BMW than the current MINI’s interior. I really dislike the new speedo. The current speedo has a much better layout. I really really hate the long digital display within the new speedo. It’s really ugly. The moving of more buttons to shifter area is really stupid. The current layout is perfect with the seat warmers located in that area but moving DSC from the toggle switch cluster would be a really bad choice. The button layout makes no sense and seems to make the interior look busy. I’m not really sure about the climate controls. The new door panel layout is also a little odd but the materials look to be made of higher grade plastics. MINI needs to be careful with changing an almost perfect interior. I could see a need for better materials and more storage but a complete makeover is not needed.</p>

<p>Well I can firmly say they aren’t “playing” with you. This is a true mock-up of the next generation MINI interior. I’d recommend everyone who dislikes it either try to get used to the new design and features or began taking really good care of your current MINI as it’ll have to last awhile.</p>

<p>So, you may have to shoot me, but overall I like it. Yes, it is more modern, but not too over the top. SOmet items should be downsized a tad. These include the speedo- a size in between the current one and this may work, but MINI HAS to remove the radio readout from the bottom of the speedo. TOO BUSY. Also, the HVAC vents on the ends of the dash are disproportionately large. The new climate controls are cool and the toggles are great. They probably moved the DSC buttons out of there to prevent the dead spots among all of the toggles. It’s tacky to notice right off that you didn’t opt for an option with the blanks in the current toggle panel. </p>

<p>Everyone hates iDrive, but everyone is headed in this direction for nav systems and the like. Audi has its MMI and Mercedes will be showing its version soon on the new S Class. BMW was the first to do it so has the received the most critism- but it is improving and at least iDrive version 3.0 or later will be in the MINI.</p>

<p>One key thing is to make the downtubes more noticable and to make sure a large, black plastic background doesn’t surround everything in the center stack. Make it more compact and keep the storage underneath.</p>

<p>It is more modern, but reasonably clean for a mock up this early- we’re probably still at least a year from finalizing the interior. They want our reactions and boy do they have them. Right now it’s a 7.5 out of 10 for design and probably an 8 out of 10 for apparent quality in the mock up.</p>

<p>Keep the info coming Gabe!</p>

<p>It’s okay, but I think there’s too much going on – too many different design elements, too many different screens, buttons, and shapes, in too many different places! Remember – less is more! :)</p>

<p>WOW !! Thank you Evan for standing up for BMW and the iDrive, yes at first it was a pain !
but it has been improved 10 fold and it’s not by chance everyone is following. Please for everyone out there that jumps to the conclusion that the iDrive is awful, please take the time to try it ! as I’m sure 90% of you that say it’s crape just go off popular car journalist’s opinions! who, just so most of you know are 55 to 65 years of age and can’t program there own voice mail , yes it will take a week to get use to but it’s innovative . If not for BMW, Mini wouldn’t be around anymore…
iDrive more than likely will only be a option attached with Nav, most of the people who have nav don’t use it , it just looks cool to have a TV screen in your dash ! lets be honest people. The dash is simple and I’m sure for those who don’t like the Pics once they see it in the flesh will like it and appreciate the better material quality.</p>

<p>Bangle signed a contract with Ford a year ago,
he is head of design for BMW until his contract is up which is the end of 05, Mini had it’s own design team….nothing Mini has looks anything like Bangles work , also the iDrive was designed and Made by HK…learn the facts
Bill and Andrei. Also everyone is following bangles work.God people see something they don’t like and bangle gets the blame…it’s not fair and it’s wrong !!!</p>

<p>As an owner of a 2004 Mini I am very dissappointed in the new interior. It is ugly. Who the heck wants the LED info of the radio/CD in the Speedo. If something fails it will cost alot to fix. Right now the audio equip can just be pulled and replaced.</p>

<p>And the CD slot looks like some type of flying saucer or cat eye. I think they are trying to compete with SCION and the Young crowd to much. </p>

<p>I’m glad that they will bring back the 2 spoke steering wheel. </p>

<p>I have also viewed pictures of the exterior and while I understand some changes had to be made (European Ped Safety) the rear end doesn’t appeal to me.</p>

<p>If MINI brings in all these changes especially the Radio/CD interior then they have lost me as a return customer.</p>

<p>I’m sure glad I purchased a 2004 Mini. I don’t understand why the 2005 had so many of it’s options eliminated/cut down for the regular MINI (no 8 Spoke rim; which is a classic design i.e Mini Lites), Steering wheel option reduced to one, no bumper inserts, and in the interior the clock was made smaller and moved. </p>

<p>Everyone I know that purchased a 2005 dislikes what happen to the placement of the clock. </p>

<p>On the positive side for 2005 A Chrono pack option and the stand alone option for an Autodim Rearview mirror (without the Autodim Headlights. I wish they would have done that for the 2004 Mini.</p>

<p>While I understand that some changes are always done, it’s a shame they decided to make so many drastic changes. They should have kept the MINI in a Classic style.</p>