The 2014 MINI (F56) Spied Inside and Out
The F56 is in its final stages of development ahead of a launch late this year and currently test mules are buzzing around Germany. It’s given us a chance to look at the car with its final shape emerging thanks to the lack of heavy plastic cladding. It’s also interesting to see some of the options we reported on earlier this year finally appear on near production models. Before we talk options (which will recap in a future post) let’s take stock and what these photos from Paultan.org show us.
– Look closely just behind the front wheel and you’ll notice a bulge – likely where the side repeater is. We were incorrect that it will be on the mirror and have confirmed through multiple sources it’s staying in its current position.
– Are these xenon lights or LEDs? We’re guessing the former but regardless of light we’ve heard that the entire mechanism will swivel and a much quick rate than the current MINI set-up.
– A clearer shot of the Rocketman-like grill.
– Since this is a Cooper model it’s difficult to say what MINI will do in terms of design for the MCS but we’ve heard that designers have made sure there is a clear distinction between the two.
– The belt line either appears to be higher or the drive is sitting lower than normal.
– The entire door handle will pivot from the front much like BMWs – no more squeezing to open.
– The headlights have moved a bit more forward facing similar to the Rocketman concept.
– There’s a small connecting piece of plastic from the rear hatch to the spoiler that looks to be a new aero piece. Interestingly it also makes the spoiler look like a little like the GP’s.
Check out Paultan.org for all the photos and let us know if we missed anything. Then share your thoughts in the comment section below.
And be sure to dive into our F56 section for the best information in the world on the new MINI.
<p>Looking more like a “mini” Paceman (from the rear)</p>
<p>Also sloped roof, in a Paceman/RR Evoque style.</p>
<p>With a Rockman grill…</p>
<p>Why is the gas cap on the passenger side? :(</p>
<p>This is a car mostly(?) designed by Germans and perhaps sharing some parts with BMW. Germany is a right hand traffic country so they put the gas filler cap on the passenger side so that if you run out of fuel on the road you don’t have to stand in traffic to refill it.</p>
<p>Or, so that the English do have to stand in traffic to refill it. =)
(like the Clubman’s suicide door)</p>
<p>Germany isn’t a RHD country. This is simply an indicator of shared parts with BMW.</p>
<p>The is one of the “hard-points” dictated by sharing the underpinnings with the upcoming BMW city car.</p>
<p>Are those PDC sensors in the front well trim? And also in the the rear well trim.</p>
<p>Notice the BMW-style automatic gear selector in image 174949. That is something new too.</p>
<p>No, that’s a traditional shifter shown; note the pattern, PRND… The all-electronic auto trans shifter in BMW is forward for reverse… RPND….</p>
<p>Is that a HeadsUp display we can see on images 174938, 174941, 174942 ?
Cool :-)</p>
<p>As we’ve reported it will be an option. See the first link in the article for more info.</p>
<p>You may have reported this before, but you can see the BMW Surround View cameras pretty clearly in these photos.</p>
<p>Good eye. They’re definitely on the options list we’ve seen and on this car.</p>
<p>Those will be a godsend on the eventual successors to the Coupe and Roadster. Beats the shit out of the “say a quick prayer before backing out of your parking spot” method currently required.</p>
<p>Still can’t help but feel the car looks like its swamping the wheels. The previous spy shots made it look like the wheels were too small, and these ones (174945 in particular) make the plastic wheel arch trim seem huge. Wondering whether it’s an optical illusion caused by the camo.</p>
<p>Would have liked to see more of a radical change to get me back in a MINI.Not enough (at the moment) to differentiate to a R56, which are 2-a-penny on UK roads</p>
<p>I see the trapezoidal grill is more reminiscent of a classic MINI reminding me more of an R50/R53 looked at head on than an R56. I like that a lot!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, looks like this revised grille will be one of the defining visual characteristics on the F56. Not so sure about those huge tail lights however.</p>
<p>I wonder where the hood splits when you lift it up? Agree on the tail ights, I think they are too big on the current car IMO, these look like they might be huge.</p>
<p>Side mirrors look much bigger.</p>
<p>Also what’s up with the huge space between bonnet and windshield it doesn’t look right?</p>
<p><a href="http://paultan.org/2013/05/17/spyshots-next-mini-hatchback-to-grow-larger-again/new_mini_spyshots_06/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://paultan.org/2013/05/17/spyshots-next-mini-hatchback-to-grow-larger-again/new_mini_spyshots_06/</a></p>
<p>Can anyone translate what is says here on the piece of paper on the dash?</p>
<p><a href="http://paultan.org/2013/05/17/spyshots-next-mini-hatchback-to-grow-larger-again/new_mini_spyshots_13/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://paultan.org/2013/05/17/spyshots-next-mini-hatchback-to-grow-larger-again/new_mini_spyshots_13/</a></p>
<p>It is a warning about the airbag behind the cammo cloth.</p>
<p>Looking at the overall proportion of body to wheels, and I realize this is the non-S Cooper, it may be time to up all spec wheel sizes by one inch. Maybe it’s the height of the shoulderline but these wheels look tiny.</p>
<p>The F56 is starting to come together very nicely! The take-away I’m getting from these images is that the details are being scrutinized far more than any previous modern MINI, especially in the realm of aerodynamics. This is getting me excited. Observations not yet made:</p>
<p>•It’s great to see the around-view cameras in the front side bumper edges. You can also see a rear-view mirror forward-mounted camera. I’m assuming this is for collision detection?
•The 5-bolt wheels have been previously seen but does this mean there won’t be any if as many hold over wheel patterns?
•The front quarter-panel in front of the doors seems very short, so I hope this doesn’t mean the wheels were moved back in relationship to the engine.
•There is a small triangular trim piece in the lower front corners of the door windows which is unusual. Perhaps this is for aerodynamics?
•The roof appears to have more curvature if I’m looking at it correctly and it definitely slopes downward ala Paceman as others have noted.
•The rear spoiler continues the curved theme, but being much more pointed and having a noticeable rear overhang in the center. Hopefully this will help with aerodynamics in addition to keeping the boot clean(er).
•The rumors have gone both ways regarding the exterior dimensions but the hood appears more pointed and longer, especially forward of the front wheels. While I’m not thrilled with this, undoubtedly the aerodynamics will be better and perhaps safety improved.
•The faux-speedo isn’t looking as offensive as it previously did in earlier spy photos and I think the quality of the materials helps. The non-MINIConnected illuminated infotainment LED distracts from the tacky melange of cluttered shapes/patterns/control depths which is occurring within the sacrificed-speedo. Although it looks marginally better than previous pictures it also looks much more informative and user friendly than the ergonomically-challenged R56…
•The steering wheel controls are of a completely new design with circular outer buttons surrounding a center button. Hopefully the buttons actually have a positive engagement/click unlike the poor four-way rocker switches of the R53/R56 which have very little feel.
•Although this could just be the picture, it appears the front seat’s shoulder area extends vertically north of the bottom of the headrest to almost form a valley where the headrest sits (noticeable in 174945 and 174946). I’m all for shoulder support in the seats!
•There are interesting triangular pieces of cladding in the upper outer corners of the rear hatch glass which appear very similar to those in the lower front corners of the front door glass; I’m assuming to help with aerodynamics (174946).
•Just like the latest Countryman/Paceman update, I’m not seeing window switches on the center console.
•The rearview mirror is now the shape of the rocketman-esq grille rather than the traditional R53/R56 oval: “Oh nos!”</p>
<p>Still not sure about the messy interior and the overall size of the thing.</p>
<p>Why don’t we just wait for the introduction of the F56, to begin our analyses?</p>
<p>guys, the around-view cameras in the front side bumper edges looks to me like PDC like we have in the back, that is all. correct me if i’m wrong..</p>
<p>the BMW Surround View cameras, how does it work? can we use this system for blind spot while driving in highway, for example ?</p>
<p>It creates a composite image from multiple cameras around the car to create a birds eye view for those who can’t be bothered to look out the window :). It’s actually pretty cool and handy in some situations.</p>
<p>It appears looking through the rear window shots that the latch release for the rear seats has moved to the top of the seat, rather than being hidden in the trunk/boot and difficult to get to when it’s full of luggage.</p>
<p>The cener radio control in the center old speedometer look needs to go. It looks like they said lets still use the old shape even though it makes no sense and is a terrible waste of space. Putting a rectangle in a circle looks dreadful. If there isn’t a speedometer there ditch the circle.</p>
<p>Still not sold on the interior but I am glad/surprised that the design doesn’t seem to be any huge break from the MINI formula of past. It will be a nice evolution, I could even learn to love the new interior if the fit and finish as well as nicer materials are used.
Also, that shifter knob, that is one bad ass shifter knob if I do say so myself.</p>