US Spec ’08 Model Year Changes
We’ve had a lot of emails recently from readers wanting more information about what to expect in the way of changes to the US spec 2008 MINI Coupe. As we’ve reported earlier, the US market will not being seeing any of the fuel saving technologies (such as start/stop and regenerative braking) for the 2008 model year. The only new option that appears to be headed to the US is the optional USB interface that would appear to offer factory iPod connectivity for hopefully less than the cost of the current dealer installed adapter.
Beyond that one new option there will be one new standard feature on US cars that is a long awaited addition: driver-side auto-up window control. Auto-up is finally being added after almost six years of US MINI owners asking (and begging) for the feature that is standard everywhere else in the world.
The convertible (R52) will soldier on with the old body-style and drive-train with only one notable spec change. “White Silver” will be added to the color line-up as an exclusive convertible only color replacing Cool Blue. White Silver will be available only as part of the Sidewalk package.
The one thing that we can expect to see is a minor price increase across the model range. However we won’t have specifics on that for some time.
Gabe a small correction on the new color. The name is “Fine White Silver” according to Stracco. Interesting choice. The standard interior surface in an R56 Cooper is also called “Fine White Silver.” I wonder if the two are related somehow? I haven’t seen it yet. Bye Cool Blue.
>Gabe a small correction on the new color. The name is “Fine White Silver” according to Stracco.
Gert Hlidebrand calls it “White Silver” 🙂 Seriously though I’ve seen it officially referred to as White Silver by MINI several times so if there is change I wonder if it’s for the US market only.
Thank goodness we have another silver option!
>Thank goodness we have another silver option!
Bite your tongue! It’s <b>WHITE</b> silver 😉
You forgot auto-up windows 🙂
Any word on new color options for the ’08 models? Like maybe Nightfire Red to the S? (Wishful thinking, I know.)
Will the Auto-up and USB input be retrofittable? I know the R56 software is a bit wonky.
Gabe,
Any word on color changes for the R56?
Again… I’m glad i didn’t wait for the 08 and got my 2007 MCS in April. I’ve been enjoying it all summer long.
i’ll go ahead and ask it. Will either the USB or the Auto-up be retro-fittable? Seems like at least the Auto-up could be programmable.
I’ll go ahead and ask it. Will either the USB or the Auto-up be retro-fittable? Seems like at least the Auto-up could be programmable.
Do you think the auto-up can be flashed on the computer for customers that already own 2007 cars?
Saving gas is fine, but I am glad that we are not getting the shut off with the clutch in when stopped feature. Have you ever sat in traffic in florida in the summer, and no A/C on? THat means it kicks on and off in stop and go traffic. Not good….can you say MINI road rage?
Any word (or better yet, pics) of what White Silver looks like?
Do non-US cars have auto-up window for the passenger as well, or only the driver side?
Any word (or better yet, pics) of what White Silver looks like?
Do non-US cars have auto-up window for the passenger as well, or only the driver side?
Please don’t raise the price!
And New Vin Numbers
Be greatful you don’t get the brake stop/start gizzmos. All this extra fruit just adds extra costs while being non-optional in other markets.
It’s hard to imagine someone wanting to buy a new convertible in the old shape and engine without some major price reduction or incentive. I don’t see many of these being made, and the Clubman taking the production slot time.
No news on any new colours?
What about Canada? Any chance that we will see these Euro specs and hopefully the MINI D?
Fuel saving technologies? Oh we don’t need those over here !
This is sad news indeed.
All apologies to anyone attempting to leave a comment before. They have been fixed (you know they have if you are reading this comment).
Thanks for your patience today!
db
>Do non-US cars have auto-up window for the passenger as well, or only the driver side?
Only driver side.
>i’ll go ahead and ask it. Will either the USB or the Auto-up be retro-fittable? Seems like at least the Auto-up could be programmable.
Very unlikely.
>Again… I’m glad i didn’t wait for the 08 and got my 2007 MCS in April. I’ve been enjoying it all summer long.
Amen to that.
>Any word on new color options for the ‘08 models? Like maybe Nightfire Red to the S? (Wishful thinking, I know.)
No new color options. And don’t expect Nightfire Red to stick around too long even on the Cooper.
>All apologies to anyone attempting to leave a comment before. They have been fixed (you know they have if you are reading this comment).
Our host lost power and it corrupted our datebase. Everything is tip-top now.
Gabe,
I though you mentioned previously that the 2007’s with the Audio Package would include the USB port. Is that correct or is it only the 2008 models?
The news of non-retrofittable auto up saddens me, but the fact that it’s only the driver’s side is good news then. I’ll be getting an 07 and the shortcomings of the auto-up makes me confident that development of an auto-up module will not be effected. Nice.
>I though you mentioned previously that the 2007’s with the Audio Package would include the USB port. Is that correct or is it only the 2008 models?
No – the 2007 Audio Package doesn’t include it. Not sure about the ’08 package.
Too bad that center stack isn’t getting a redesign.
<blockquote>“It’s hard to imagine someone wanting to buy a new convertible in the old shape and engine without some major price reduction or incentive”</blockquote><blockquote>
i for one am waiting until 2009 to buy my cabrio although the wait is giving me serious hives!</blockquote>
Actually, the center stack is one of those things that may look funny in pictures (or not) but in daily driving I find to be quite nice. Again, the benefits are subtle, but they do add up.
I’m just watching for the day Nightfire Red and Oxygen Blue vanish, as Cooper-only colors do not tend to hang around for long.
<blockquote>No new color options. And don’t expect Nightfire Red to stick around too long even on the Cooper</blockquote>.
Why is it that MINI manages to kill the best colors they have before they time is due? Damn, I can think of Velvet Red, Silk Green, Jet Black, Indy Blue, Solar Red et al.
I just don’t unserstand why they are so adamant in killing off every other decent metallic Red or burgundy paint.
I hope I can still order a NightFire Red/Black Clubman but something tells me the color will be dead even before we can order it in a new R55.
Shame, shame!
But wait….
The powers that be are giving us, yet one more silver…White Silver…whooooo! So now we have like 3 or 4 blues and 4 or 5 shades of silver. Rejoice!
I want Hot Orange on the R56! With a JCW Aero Kit, Sport Stripes, and the 18″ JCW Black R105s! That would be smokin.
Ooh yeah, they should bring back Jet Black.
A Mini employee at Mini United in Zandvoort apparantly intimated that Jet Black would be returning on ’08. According to Gabe’s info it seems not. Major major bummer :-(.
Just waiting for the return of Jet Black.
“The powers that be are giving us, yet one more silver…White Silver…whooooo! So now we have like 3 or 4 blues and 4 or 5 shades of silver. Rejoice!”
Good one Nigel, it’s sad that your statement is true. For a company that boasts so much customization to have so few color options is just…….strange.
BMW is renowned for under-statement in colours of cars.
Seems bronzitbeiges and lachsilbers are the norm. Funny this because back in the 70’s with the old 2002 models they had orange and lime greens! Of course this is when they were a sporty car maker not the “Luxury” car company of today.
Well I guess as Mae West once said ” I’ve tried rich, and I’ve tried poor, and rich is definitely better!”
Nigel – The Austrian R55 configurator is showing the colors. Night Fire Red is not there. Nor is yellow…I think a yellow/black R55 would look great. In fact, the non-metallic colors choice are severely limited. I also tried to make a black on black with no success. Seems that you will have a contrasting C pillar weather you like it or not.
GMG
<blockquote>Bite your tongue! It’s WHITE silver ;)</blockquote>
How’s this then? Thank goodness we have another white that’s not white :-/
Previously there had been an interior “dark/shadow/black” chrome option mentioned for all ’08s. Is this still in the pipeline, or has it been nixed?
FYI… Some folks are starting to get their US spec 07 MINIs with the USB port installed (week 52+ builds). Apparently the USB port is now part of the Bluetooth Prep/Convenience Package. Thus, it appears that the Bluetooth module is what’s controlling the USB functions for the port.
Man! I really hope that my week 34 build R56 gets it. Guess I’ll know in a few weeks for sure.