GP production should now almost be in full swing at Bertone in northern Italy. Here are a couple pre-production examples (both left and right-hand drive – click the image for a larger pic) that were recently spotted by a reader in Munich at BMW HQ. How do we know these are pre-production? For one the lower body panels are completely unpainted black plastic. Secondly it looks like those lov’em or hat’em four spoke 18″ wheels weren’t available when these particular cars would produced.
Not surprisingly we’ve heard lots of various information on GP production timelines. Naturally, all different. Based on everything we’ve come across it’s probably safe to say that UK and Europe deliveries will start in late June/early July with the first cars will reach the US just in time for the early delivery program and MTTS in early-August. There’s a particularly interesting rumor going around that the Bertone factory will be shutting down around August/September for a few weeks before finishing off the last of the US bound GPs for October delivery.
Naturally we hope to have a more defined timeline in the coming weeks.
Thanks to Frank for the the photo.
Those cars are definetely US spec. Notice the marker lights on the wheel arches.
Are the back windows going to be tinted like on the second car? I guess it would make sense given that items left out of the storage bins could be relatively exposed in the newly enlarged boot.
>Those cars are definetely US spec. Notice the marker lights on the wheel arches.
Actually all GPs have that US spec light and reflector.
Hmmm interesting. Why is that?
This being such a short production run it was probably cheaper to just use the US arches since they needed them for the US market anyway.
I’m so jealous.
More pictures of the 07, photographed on the autobahn <a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70433" rel="nofollow">here</a>.
By the way Gabe, have you heard anything about a <a href="http://www.mini2.com/forum/finance-insurance/117477-new-mini-credit-card-mini-motorers.html" rel="nofollow">MINI branded credit card</a>?
Can’t wait!
I hope the Italians stay open long enough to finish off a good amount of GPs!
Gas caps are supposed to be body color too
Are those shark fin antennas or aero turbulence piece?
It looks like they haven’t screwed in the antennae yet.
Why are they not installed with the 4-spokes GP wheels?
hi,
i’m italian.
when deliver in italy to me ?
@vin: According to the spec I received from my dealer, the rear and back window will be tinted
@ivor: are you sure? it is a cooper s after all
I’m sure read somwhere that the gas cap would be body color 😉
The gas cap isn’t body color in all the official press pictures; it’s the normal chrome color
Most Italian factories clos for 2 weeks in august for holidays so that explain why they’ll be closing
<blockquote>Most Italian factories clos for 2 weeks in august for holidays so that explain why they’ll be closing</blockquote>
Only 2 weeks? I was under the impression that it was the entire month. That’s what I heard regarding the Ducati (that’s “joo-CAT-ee” if you’re announcing for Speed) factory, anyway.
Wasup with them wheels? what happened to the GP wheels?
<blockquote>Wasup with them wheels? what happened to the GP wheels?</blockquote>
<blockquote><em>From the first paragraph:</em>
How do we know these are <strong>pre-production</strong>? For one the lower body panels are completely unpainted black plastic. Secondly it looks like those lov’em or hat’em four spoke 18″ wheels weren’t available when these particular cars would produced.</blockquote>
your right blalor
some close for 2 weeks and some for 4