More Official R56 Photos Released
With the R56 review embargo now over, MINI has released a new set of R56 photos along with some initial design sketches. For the first time we also get a look at the MINI navigation system in the form of an official press photo. However there’s still no imagery of the joystick controller for the system.
Related:
[ R56 Official Photos ] MotoringFile
[ R56 Official Photos (pt 2) ] MotoringFile
It’s starting to grow on me, although I wish they’d release photos of a different colored S rather than just blue (althought the JCW red ones were nice). Since JCW tuning is (was) available as a factory option I wonder when that information will be released. When CAN an 07′ be ordered for that matter?
if i can afford it, i think i’ll go for a R56 MCS JCW in a few years once we pay off the 06 R50. i’ve got the wife convinced, i’ll just have to convince myself after i actually see one.
and is it me, or does that blue R56 MCS seem to be riding on some sort of rally suspension set up? it appears to be sitting a bit high up. maybe it’s just the stock suspension, not sport.
Looking good, except for those horrid Crown Spokes….
For the R56 there will be no JCW tuning anymore. Only another exterior and interior.
Words are going around that BMW M technic is allready busy with the Turbo engine.
<blockquote>For the R56 there will be no JCW tuning anymore.</blockquote>
No big deal, right? Aftermarket has always provided a superior bang-for-buck ratio….to say nothing of the new turbo engine, which should respond nicely to an ECU upgrade….200hp should be child’s play….
>For the R56 there will be no JCW tuning anymore. Only another exterior and interior. Words are going around that BMW M technic is allready busy with the Turbo engine.
Not quite. MINI will again be offering a JCW engine upgrade (factory only this time) for the R56. As with other JCW parts it will be engineered and tested by BMW.
Why all the MCS photos? Where’s the Cooper?
>Why all the MCS photos? Where’s the Cooper?
There were no new Cooper images. You can see Cooper images from previous posts in the links below the gallery.
Boy, you could drive a MINI through the gaps in those wheel arches!
What is the blue accessory strapped to the interior side of the rear hatch? (picture on the lower right side)
What happened to the car in the sketches? 😉
the NAV is a MUST on the new gen. it really brings the interior together, albeit making it a bit more busy looking.
It’s sad, but I love the concept drawings far more than the actual car! In the drawings, the lights actually seem to point forwards, rather than off to the sides. Funny how that worked out 🙁
It’s obvious the car was designed to have a navigation system from the outset. It looks incomplete without it. I was iffy about the center stack before, but now I’m sold.
<blockquote>What is the blue accessory strapped to the interior side of the rear hatch? (picture on the lower right side)</blockquote>
That’s a (hope I know the right term in English) warning triangle. I think it’s standard issue in Europe (at least I got one with my ’06 Cooper).
<blockquote>[No more JCW engine tuning?]No big deal, right?</blockquote>
Actually, I think it’d be a huge deal if BMW were to choose to brand factory tuning as M-Sport instead of JCW. Maybe not from a bang-for-the-buck-sooping-up-your-Mini point of view, but very much so from an image point of view. They’d be completely destroying all heritage feel that there is now to the Mini brand.
Just as I thought it would, the ’07 continues to grow on me. It didn’t take too long to accept the exterior changes, but the interior changes were the sticking point. However, after seeing lots more pictures, I’m starting to really like it. The only problem I have is what’s been observed by a couple other people – the interior seems incomplete without the navvy system. For someone like me who would neither want nor need it (nor want to pay the hefty price for it), that kinda stinks.
I also notice that the std sunroof wind deflector is one of those pop-up “Mesh” types that alot of the new A3 folks had problems with 🙁 I hope MINI did their research and made sure that it’s “rip resistant” enough :-/
Does the new “Key” have a blade as well? Or is it just the circular fob?
In an earlier post Gabe you mentioned this:
<blockquote>The beltline has been raised (especially in the rear) and the roof lowered. The result is a more aggressive look that suits the car very well.</blockquote>
I kept looking at the pics you have supplied and until this morning I couldn’t figure out what was really bugging me about this new look. That’s it! The new cab height and beltlines! They seem out of proportion with each other. The classic look has been one of large cab to body area. This was brilliantly carried out by Frank in his redesign of the Classic. This new look does not carry that out. It’s sort of Scrunchy looking.
Of course this is because they had to raise the hood for the “euro ped” law. I would imagine raising the roof would have made the car look odd. Do you really think the roof was lowered? I have to think not but you have more info than I so I could be wrong.
I can’t wait to see theses cars side by side, in person, to see how the new one stacks up to the now old new car.
Of course most of these design issues won’t matter to most who buy the car as most younger and even boomer types did not know much or care much about the original Classic Mini.
My Opinion: They did what they had to do but… so far I’m lukewarm to the design.
Drill…. The blade is inside the fob… just in case.
THAT’S IT! Thanks ITZMTOR – was bugging the heck out of me, and I just could put my finger on what was so odd. From the side this thing looks really out of proportion – very nose heavy with that huge bonnet, squashed-in roof, high waisted small glass area – if I got one, I’d have to name it “Jimmy Durante” LOL.
Those dash pics really turn me off, the nav in particular. Bulldog stance is ruined by the new front etc. I’ll hang on to the MINI’s I’ve got.
A great car doesn’t “grow on” one.
the big orange turn signal bulbs (which will not be easy to replace BTW) and the massive center speedo w/ intergrated audio (completely nonfunctional IMO – what driver actually looks over to that to check speed – and personally I have no interest in a cheesy $2K navigation system) are both deal breakers for me…
should read “integrated” above
Jimmy Durante…. That’s Funny!!! The ol’ Schnozzola…. inka, dinka, do! Good nite Mrs. Calabash, where ever you are!
Or you could call it the Rodney Dangerfield car… It gets no respect!
My doctor, Dr Vinny Boombatz, said I was going to die… I said I need another opinion, he said OK, You’re ugly too!
With the larger center speedometer on the ’07, does this mean that there will be no chrono package available? I really liked the additional gauges with the chrono. Also, the ’07 seems to have deleted the temperature gauge. I’m pretty good with the exterior of the ’07 but still not sure about that center stack and speedo.
Okay, ITZMTOR, that does it!
We need a contest (if Gabe will allow) possible owner-names for the new gen cars. So far we have:
Jimmy Durante (’cause of the big-nose bonnet)
Rodney Dangerfield (’cause it gets no respect)
Gabe. MINIJCW’s post knocked the wind out of me until I read yours that there will be a factory tuned engine. Any feel for when it will be available and what the specs will be. I heard rumors of 250 HP(!). Also, what is the final verdict on the weight reduction from the current S. I’ve heard anywhere from 22lbs to 192 lbs(1). Thanks for the nice work.
Nah….. I already push it enough.
@GZ,
There will be comming a tuned engine, and here in Europe they speak about 260HP. JCW has been sold to BMW, but BMW will not call it works anymore.
@rhawth99 the chronometer is out of the option list, so not available anymore.
@Micha, the orange bulbs in the front light can be changed in white directly from factory. Option for €70.
I ordered mine 4 weeks ago. Normally delivery would be in january, but I allready have to wait to April 2007, because from march there will be standard LSD on the cooper S.
>There will be comming a tuned engine, and here in Europe they speak about 260HP. JCW has been sold to BMW, but BMW will not call it works anymore.
I think what you’re referring to is the news we broke of JCW’s changes in the spring of 2005. You can read a bit here:
<a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/04/25/bmwmini_to_buy_jcw" rel="nofollow">http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/04/25/bmwmini_to_buy_jcw</a>
And to clarify, we won’t be seeing 260hp in the “normal” JCW MCS. It’ll be more like 220-225bhp.
Gabe: Any rumors if the Clubman will have a JCW option available for it? It will have the turbo, so doesn’t seem to be any mechanical/engine reason why not.
Also, some time ago BMW/MINI mentioned in an article or interview trying to get the next gen diesel (turbo) engine certified for the US – any word on that?
>Gabe: Any rumors if the Clubman will have a JCW option available for it?
Last I heard, we should expect to see a JCW Clubman just like the Coupe and Convertible.