MINI Refresh in Motion (Video)
Earlier this week was the world debut of the MINI refresh on MF. We gave you seven pages of photos and all kinds of details. However today it’s all about the videos. We’ve got eight different videos that give you every angle of all three MINI models (sans the JCW).
We’ll have much more specific information on options and models in the coming days.
Overview
R56 Hatch
<p>Great videos! I just can’t get behind all this. I think the oscillating headlights are a great touch. I definitely appreciate the subtle reworking of the interior. The exterior could have stayed exactly the same and I would have been a touch happier. The new front apron and chrome around the fogs looks forced. The LED tail lights and extreme brake force detection are also a very nice touch – something that has been on BMW’s for about the last half decade. Call me traditional: my favourite MINI will always be the GP/Competition Edition (in Canada). All this fancy fluff is just that, fluff. I’m always in favour of advancing the state of the engine, however! Just to show I’m not a total snob; I do think the R55/56 platform is much a better built car then its predecessors – they are definitely much more solid (interior components are just firmer).</p>
<p>Mark,
What you probably don’t care for, which I don’t either, are the chromed brake ducts and rear fog lights. These that are shown are part of the chrome package. There are a couple of pictures around that show the front end without the chrome. To me at least, it looks alot better. The brake ducts kind dissappear, much like the JCW Aero package II do. Yes, the JCW Aero have brake ducts. I think the same would have the same effect on the rear fog lights too.
I’m big on the JCW, so I like what they’ve done with it. Made it now, look a little different from the Mini S, not saying the Mini S is bad, but the JCW is just a bit different.</p>
<p>I really like the way the top and bottom of the front and rear are tied together! Aside from the overdone chrome on the brake ducts and rear fogs, I like this design very much; I’m glad the chrome is optional. Great work, Mr. Hildebrand, engineers, and designers! The revised engine, transmission, clutch, and, hopefully, improved steering/handling are quite welcome. Assuming that the coupe is too cramped for my head to fit inside, the R56 looks like my next MINI.</p>
<p>I’m a pretty critical MINI enthusiast (@Mark – I have one of the Canadian-market Competition Edition Factory JCW’s that you graciously mentioned!) and I find the LCI interior + revised exterior + Valvetronic+ solving the timing chain rattle has FINALLY made the R56 family of cars very compelling. “I am goat and I approve of this LCI.” :)</p>
<p>I completely missed this in the initial release…but it looks like the rear fogs have to be standard now on the R56. Good!</p>
<p>I agree whole heartedly with you guys, the chrome line trim makes the ducts and rear fogs look out of place. Sort of like a tacked-on auto parts store accessory 🙂 But, overall, I completely welcome the changes to the engine and interior. Maybe a little more could have been done on the later, but it’s actually more than what I’d expected from a mid-cycle refresh. Good job, MINI!</p>
<p>I really like my 16″ Bridge Spoke wheels, but I think my new favorite is the 17″ Conical Spokes. I like the way they flare out from the center, which is opposite from the Bridge Spokes which get narrower. That type of design would even give my 16″ wheels more punch. I think all MINI’s look the best with the “larger” wheels needed to fill those huge wheel wheels.</p>
<p>Gabe</p>
<p>Of all the pictures I have seen of the 2011 refresh so far, I have only seen cars with Auto A/C. Is Auto A/C standard for 2011?</p>
<p>Ok enough with the brake ducts and led tail lights and the rear fogs and the new wheels. This has all been seen before. I wanna see the pics of the new upholstery and dash trim and ay other colors like the brg2. the previous pics of brg2 were not very good.</p>
<p>Look close at the Auto A/C controls in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/motoringfile/4740658638/sizes/o/" rel="nofollow">this picture</a>. Very different. Buttons. No wheel action.</p>
<blockquote>Of all the pictures I have seen of the 2011 refresh so far, I have only seen cars with Auto A/C. Is Auto A/C standard for 2011?</blockquote>
<p>That would be nice!</p>
<p>These new A/C buttons appear to be a simpler “rocker-type” switch, where you push multiple times on either the top or bottom to increase/decrease the fan speed, etc.</p>
<p>Actually the current design operates the same way; but the “wheel design” has a clumsy feel and look to it. Also at first glance, I think your mind says “turn it” since it’s a wheel, when you actually need to “push it”.</p>
<p>In a previous comment, I noted that the brake lights are not LED (standard filament bulbs can be seen in the closeup photos <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/wp-content/gallery/2011_mini/P90062353_highRes.jpg" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/wp-content/gallery/2011_mini/P90062389_highRes.jpg" rel="nofollow">here</a>), and I expressed my doubt that the turn signals are LED either. At 2:47 in the R57 video, the turn signals can be seen doing the slow fade-in/fade-out of filament bulbs, which confirms they are not LED. So the only LEDs seem to be the stripes in the light. Calling these “LED taillights” is like… announcing a race at Road Atlanta.</p>
<p>…as far as I’m concerned…I’m really enjoying the refresh on ALL the MINI brands shown above.</p>
<p>Which makes for a nice;yet,early birthday present for Me(July 4).</p>
<p>Now I’m off to enjoy My Birthday Weekend where there aren’t any firecracking lighting,BBQ grilling,sloppy-drunk drinking,use the flag as an excuse to push ones’ ideas down someone’s throats’ morons to deal with…and have happy,quiet thoughts of completing my goals and deciding on either buying the refreshed MINI droptop,Countryman…or both,lol! Happy 4th of July to All!</p>