We’ve got a little stocking stuffer for you today. Another clear shot of the next generation Cooper S doing some final shake-down tests at the Nurburgring in Germany. The image comes courtesy of MF reader Jordan and looks to have been taken earlier this fall.
Like the other Nurburgring testing photos, you can clearly see the new proportions of the next generation MINI in this photo. For starters the front overhang has been increased slightly due to new Euro pedestrian crash standards. Also obvious here is the reworked boot area – also slightly larger and reportedly more reminiscent of the classic Mini. However one thing that hasn’t changed is the overall wheelbase. Thus any increase in rear legroom will come only from the re-sculpted front seats. One other detail seen here are seemingly larger front brake rotors.
You can check out the full size photo below:
[ Next Generation Cooper S at the Nurburgring ]
Related:
[ The Nürburgring Nordschleife ] MotoringFile
[ Next Generation Cooper S at the Ring ] MotoringFile
Definitely looks very MINI like – unlike some of the news and photo reports that have floated around – looks very promising. MF has assured us over the months that there is likely nothing to be disappointed about and this proves the point yet again.
Can I get mine with purple wheels?
Looks low to me . . .
Nice scoop – and nice to see not too much change 🙂
I wasn’t sure about it before, but I am now… the rear spoiler definitely has a middle support in it.
Is it me or does the “ass” stick out from the window a little bit moe??!?!? Not sure i like that =/
Argh… that car looks cool. I am ordering a checkmate cooper S, but it looks like I may also need one of those when they are released.
I am not currently in the process of ordering a MINI, however this car looks good.
Well, so far it doesn’t look to be the death of the MINI as we know it like so many have predicted in the past…
BIG nose, BIG butt…Hate IT.
are we to understand that that cladding follows exactly the form of the car underneath? I think not. I don’t think that hood scoop is real, either. This photo has less to do with a production vehicle than the GP we all saw did. Nice XMas gift though. Thanks!
Looks like you fixed that pink tinge on the wheels. Just a bad exposure then?
<blockquote>are we to understand that that cladding follows exactly the form of the car underneath? I think not. I don’t think that hood scoop is real, either. This photo has less to do with a production vehicle than the GP we all saw did.</blockquote>
Looks like you’re setting yourself up for a nice surprise come next summer! Yes the scoop will be present on the MCS. Yes the form of the car you see is very close to the final version.
<blockquote>Looks like you fixed that pink tinge on the wheels. Just a bad exposure then?</blockquote>
It was just some funky lighting from the low sun combined with poor image quality.
Reportedly MINI dealers will see the “real thing” at a special private showing at the Detroit Auto Show early in the year. And is that a “grille” under the headlamp…just over the masking?
<blockquote>Looks low to me . . .</blockquote>
The car is in a right corner (look at the driver) putting its teeth into Europe’s (and probably the world’s) most challenging racetrack. So the left suspension is bound to be compressed quite considerably 😉
I’m not too fond of the bigger front overhang, but it’s not too bad.
Okay folks, look close at the photos again. It is clear that they are still using cladding to hide the true lines of the front and rear ends. I do believe that when we finally see a true, unmasked photo of the car it won’t be quite so contraversial. Again we will have to wait an see.
Sorry for the typos. Still not a touch typist yet.
Looks to me like they angled the roof down a bit and made the rear windows smaller kind of like a dodge magnum. just a bit though to make it more aggressive looking. i love the new look of the car. I can’t wait to see the final production model. Here’s To another year! Merry Christmas everyone
Longer Hood, Bigger Engine 😉
I don’t know: I was fearful about how the front end would look with the goofy new Euro-ped regs. I’m not crazy about it, and the hood scoop looks a little Daimlery. Also, the J-Lo look seems really odd to me–making it seem less fluid. But I will of course withhold final comments until I see an production version.
Go Bears!
It’s too hard to judge the front overhang with all that stuff tacked on. I’ll reserve judgement until I see it in person, but it looks a lot more faithful to the Mini look we all know and love than previous versions and mock-ups.
<strong>Longer Hood, Bigger Engine ;-)</strong>
Not in this case…Longer hood=extra three inches for european pedistrian laws. That extra three inches is a crumple zone.
It looks longer then my 04 and my wifes soon to be 06. I think it’s fine otherwise but I’m greatful that we have the current model as I prefer it still. I’m not to hip on the rear spoiler either. I like the straight off the roof look of mine. The only think I wish I had different would be the new power plant. Sometimes I worry about my engine being worked over by my overly aggressive driving style.
It seems BMW/MINI is taking the Porsche approach to redesigning their car. When you build a design icon like a MINI or 911, there is no need to reinvent it. Boxters, 911’s and MINI’s will look like they do now, to the untrained eye, despite the various technical advances. That is a good thing.
Will the 2007 cooper s come with a turbo or supercharger? I’ve heard rumors but nothing solid.
thanks
Ben – take a look at the <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/03/20/next_generation_mini_revealed" rel="nofollow">Next Generation MINI Revealed</a> story in the top right corner of this page for every detail you ever wanted to know about the new car.
looks very similar to original when viewed alone but when viewed back to back with the old s (which i own now)the new car falls short while being longer (sorry ,couldnt resist).