We just got confirmation from sources within Oxford that an R56 Cooper S was produced on Friday with a unique exterior color called Eclipse Grey Metallic. Our sources are implying that it’s part of the 2011 model year refresh. If correct you’d have to assume it’ll be replacing one of the current colors. Dark Silver could be a candidate considering it’s been around since launch.
We’ve also been given the heads-up that tomorrow will be the day MINI releases the first photos of the refreshed 2011 models. We had expected the full release with photos in early February so we’re not entirely sure what if anything will show up tomorrow. However needless to say, if something happens tomorrow, you’ll see it and read all about it here first.
Update: For those that didn’t notice, there are no new photos today. As we suspected we won’t get those until February. Instead MINI gave us the first teaser video for the new R60 crossover.
<p>I’m sorry, but this just does not make any sense at all. At first, MINI extends the formerly Cooper S exclusive color Dark Silver to the complete range, only to kill it a year later? I don’t think so, also since Dark Silver still is a popular color.
And details on the 2011 refresh tomorrow, only one week after the announcement of the engine update coming in march? Don’t think so either, MINI would seriously hurt their sales if they would do this…</p>
<p>Can someone tell me the gray color the GP used?</p>
<p>and if it was unique to it, will this new gray mentioned above be close to it gabe?</p>
<p>(here’s a link to a GP photo)</p>
<p><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/04/29/automobiles/533-2006-mini-gp.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/04/29/automobiles/533-2006-mini-gp.jpg</a></p>
<p>it was called Thunder Blue.</p>
<p>Let’s hope it’s an improvement, especially in the dash area.</p>
<p>Btw just a personal opinion Thunder Blue is the best color to date from Mini, helps that its wrapping what is still the best overall Mini in my mind to date.</p>
<p>Should be interesting to see the new color, will be a little sad to see Dark Silver go but should be a interesting change.</p>
<p>Another grey? Did BMW hire the color guy from Buick? Why can’t we get a good orange or yellow or even green just please no more grey/silvers!</p>
<blockquote>Another grey? Did BMW hire the color guy from Buick? Why can’t we get a good orange or yellow or even green just please no more grey/silvers!</blockquote>
<p>truth. what happened to mini’s exciting color choices? even their blue is a shade of grey…</p>
<p>Let me inject a note of conjecture. First, we find that MINI is upgrading its engines for March production. Second, photos of 2011 will be released in January. Perhaps MINI will commence building 2011 a few months early. I know its like reading the tea leaves, but MINI needs a little spark with the impending arrival of Fiat 500, Ford Focus and Audi A1.</p>
<p>Ok enough with the grey’s and silvers and blue’s that look like they have grey in them. Come on MINI, give us a nice blue like the Hyper Blue again and lets get that Cannaught green. Seriously the colors lately are really boring.</p>
<p>Ooh, excited about the possibility of seeing images of the updated models.</p>
<p>Can MINI please stop with the monochromatic kick they’ve been on the past few years? Yeesh! If I wanted a boring car, I would have bought any other car. MINI’s are meant to stand out in a crowd, not hide!</p>
<p>While we are paying homage to great colours, let’s hear it for “Indi Blue”, the best shade of blue MINI has offered to date! :)</p>
<p>Greatly looking forward to seeing the refreshed R56 photos… to many R53 enthusiasts, this mid-cycle refresh is a make or break one for the R56 platform. I am quite confident it will correct the interior centre stack issues but I am also hoping MINI gives us a better-resolved exterior design (the overly “puffy” hood / headlights and exaggerated wheelwell gap/ride height being the two most awkward design elements).</p>
<p>I would love to see Sepang Bronze (instead of that horrible $14k paint) added to the current color choices and the return of more traditional colors like Island/Silk Green and Connaught Green.</p>
<p>I too wonder if the refreshed models will be available in March if MINI is releasing pictures of them today. That would certainly push up my plans for a Clubman purchase.</p>
<p>I second the vote for Silk Green – my wife really likes this color.</p>
<p>how about black-yellow R60? <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ycjq758" rel="nofollow ugc">http://tinyurl.com/ycjq758</a> check out the teasing pics and the official video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0hptquUWk" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0hptquUWk</a></p>
<p>“Greatly looking forward to seeing the refreshed R56 photos… to many R53 enthusiasts, this mid-cycle refresh is a make or break one for the R56 platform. I am quite confident it will correct the interior centre stack issues but I am also hoping MINI gives us a better-resolved exterior design (the overly “puffy†hood / headlights and exaggerated wheelwell gap/ride height being the two most awkward design elements).”</p>
<p>100% agree. I wanted to buy another Mini after my 03 Cooper S but went with a 128 instead because of the exterior design changes to the R60. My main complaint are the size/proportions of the rear lights and the chrome surrounds.I’ll switch back in a hertbeat if I like what I see.</p>
<p>I doubt you will see any changes to sheetmetal as it costs too much to re-tool. I expect a new grill, side scuttles, and maybe a new tail-light that fits in the current opening. I also think that interior center stack will be different below the radio. We obviously will see new color options inside and out.</p>
<p>I just hope they paint the lower rear control arm and associated components BLACK! It is such an easy change that would improve the looks of the car.</p>
<p>My prediction to colours that are going to be discontinued:
Oxygen Blue
Nightfire Red
Lazer Blue</p>
<p>New Colours across the line:
Interchange Yellow
Non-Metallic Green (Connaught)
Orange
some kind of bright lime green</p>
<p>We will be getting the Eclipse Grey to Replace the Dark Silver, but I can see MINI coming out with the bright and cheery colours now that things are looking up in the economy…</p>
<p>BMW has to have the most conservative color schemes on the planet and unfortunately they seem to have extended this notion to MINI. Maybe all the 3 Series have to come here with slushboxes awash in gray, silver or some watered down blue, but the MINI is supposed to be fun. Given the 50th, how ’bout some of those day glo colors of yore. Lime Green, Orange, Bright Yellow to go with that Laser Blue? Another gray? I’m so excited.</p>
<p>I still think that the Electric Blue, with White top, was one of the best colors, with some real energy. Many of the subsequent colors, including the reds have been dull & lifeless.</p>
<p>Mini needs to avoid the dull colors that seem to be designed for a luxury sedan. I think that the Electric Blue, with White top, was one of the best colors, with some real energy. They have to seek “energy.”</p>
<p>My favorite two colors on the R56 have been Mellow Yellow and Dark Silver, so I guess it figures having canned one great color it’s time for them to go after the other one, as well. Anyway I guess I will hold out hope that Eclipse looks as good as Dark Silver when you put a white roof and stripes on it, however it seems like DS would be hard to improve upon in that regard.</p>
<p>Someone on NAM posted today that their dealer said Oxygen Blue is being discontinued some time in the next couple months.</p>
<p>I am quite skeptical of dealer-sourced info for the most part… I’m just throwing that out there to see if anyone (Gabe, maybe? :D) can confirm or deny the rumor.</p>