F56 Q&A: We Answer Your Questions on the 2014 MINI
Over the last six months it’s become obvious that many of you have many unanswered questions about the new MINI. While we do t have answers for all of them, we do know quite a bit from various sources throughout the world. Therefore we want to open up the floor to you. Hit us up in the comment section with questions big or small and we will do what we can to answer them throughout the next couple of days.
And don’t forget that we have a massive amount of F56 information in the MotoringFile F56 section.
<p>Diesel in the US?</p>
<p>Is there going to be a 5 door</p>
<p>is the Cooper S and JCW going to be 2 litre L4 or the same as the one/cooper 3 cylinders 1.5 litres but more HP obviously ?</p>
<p>Or an updated version of the 1.6 litre 4-pot? All three options have been quoted in various articles on the internet. I’m a big fan of the PSA/BMW 1.6, but I like new technology and would prefer either the 1.5 or 2.0.</p>
<p>Personally I would prefer the 1.5, 3 cylinder because of light weight and economy. Also I kind of find the sound it makes nicer that the inline 4’s, and, as you said, new tech is always cool.</p>
<p>Yes I’ve been weighing this one up in my mind. 1.5 litre 3-cylinder: lightweight, economical, sounds great, but from what I’ve read to get close to the 220 hp mark in the BMW i8, you need to trade low down torque for high end power (the i8 is boosted by its electric motor) and therefore the 1.5 litre may mean little more power than in the current Cooper S. 2.0 litre 4-cylinder: refinement, quietness, torque, potential for more power in stock form, but heavier and less economical. I’d be happy with either to be honest!</p>
<p>Have been driving a jcw coupe for a while and have gotten used to the steering and feel of the R56 family of cars. Got some time behind a R50 again and the outstanding question I have would be is MINI going to reverse the trend for the steering feel in the F series. The difference in feel is night and day, still feel that I can place the R50-53 on the edge of a dime. However the R56 generation cars are numb in comparison.</p>
<p>Is there going to be a base price increase?</p>
<p>How much of the car is brand new vs how much is carried over (if anything) from the R56?</p>
<p>The new dash layout is quite a bit disturbing. The design seems a forced bunch of differing technologies. Any hope this will change before production?</p>
<p>What will be the engine (and so the power) of the Cooper SD ?
Can we really hope a controlled suspension ?
ALL4 tranmssion ?</p>
<p>Will the 8-speed automatic version be available from the start on the Cooper S and will it include flappy paddles?</p>
<p>JCW when? “iOS in the car”?</p>
<p>I second this. Is there a timeline for JCW, and Will it still have prince?</p>
<p>If you load Purple Rain on a thumb drive, it will!</p>
<p>When the R53/R53 switch over happened, there was a change to the in-production R53s. The lug bolt holes had grown to 14mm from 12mm. (R56 uses the 14mm holes). This is why when you look at wheels on Tire Rack from a 2006 R53, it asks your production date. Also, the convertible HID headlights went from d2s bulbs to d1s bulbs from 07-08 when it was the still r50/53 body style at the same time as the r56 hardtop. Any type of cross generation sharing we could see? I’m guessing a 5 lug R56 or LED headlights in one is out of the question but it would be nice.
Will the converitble MINI still lag a year or two behind?</p>
<p>Will there be any other grill options (JCW) that mask the giant gulping fish mouth?</p>
<p>Can we expect to see the BMW N20 engine ever offered on the MINI?</p>
<p>AWD??</p>
<p>Let’s talk engines:
– any idea what updates will be to the diesel units (UK market: both Cooper D and Cooper SD)
– what engine will be in the new Cooper S?</p>
<p>The new engine family shares basic architecture between petrol and diesel so there will be changes across the board.</p>
<p>Will there be trim blackout options?</p>
<p>Any ideas on the 4 different interior trim levels? Why does the spyshots show two different spoilers on the MCS? Are 18″ alloys confirmed as factory fit?</p>
<p>MINI retro and More BMW mainstream do you think
owners will repeat buy from R to F Series. I was shocked even by what the Spy
shots suggest the new MINI will look like, Actually my first reaction was – “No I just would never drive that! If it
looks as bad as that” Crash regulation aside this could be a disaster for MINI
sales. Second reaction was “how long will they build the R56 or how long will
the Clubman be on sale” Panic mode. I thought I had it easy I was going to buy
another MINI but I’d rather move away based on the fact I have to like the look
and that’s before we even get to the inside. Loved the idea of the V3 engine
and MPG but it has to be in a package I can drive.</p>
<p>Are there going to be different “lines” – think BMW’s lines (M Sport, Luxury, etc) for the specific models?</p>
<p>With the F56 to replace the R56 late this fall in Europe & early next year in the US, will any of the other current models (ie: R57-61) be tied to any of the changes offered in the F56?? IE: mechanical upgrades re engines, transmissions, & electronics such as headlights, dash layout, etc. Or will those of us looking at other models outside the F56 have to wait until 2015 or later for these changes?
All the talk so far has been about the 1.5L 3 cyl. Is that just for the base non turbo, or to include the S? At what level will a 2.0L be used and when…S or just JCW? What about the larger/heavier R60-61’s which certainly could use a larger output 2.0L? Since 2007 the same 1.6L has been used across all models with 3 main power configurations. That’s 7 years with minimal power improvements & fuel economy using the same engine.
Backup cameras as an option beyond the current backup detection system?? Would be a very welcome option on MINIS with limited rear visibility like the Coupe, Roadster, & Convertible (with tops up).</p>
<p>Don’t quote me on on this but due to the fact the F56 is actually using future BWW technology I would doubt anything would be backwards compatible. It’s a new electronics architecture and it will be a new navigation package if they are going ahead with the original plans.</p>
<p>That is not to say that MINI will not offer a backup camera on those other models- as that more than likely was in the works in order to meet US requirements that were proposed and would have gone into effect prior to those models end of life, even with the backup camera requirement being pushed out MINI would most likely want to recoup some of the development money if it was in fact completed.</p>
<p>Engine changes are coming but when is the question- Gabe and I have heard different things from different people but what I have heard comes from the BMW side of the shop in regards to MINI.</p>
<p>Will the F56 really be as ugly as the spy photos revealed? Is there really a telephoto lens in the world that makes a car’s grill and blacked-out bumper look like the pucker of a cartoon character? What is the timing of the next-generation Mini after the F56?</p>
<p>is there going to be any “blind spot” option ? (oh please say yes)</p>
<p>I see a bunch of questions, but no answers….</p>
<p>Keep your shirt on. Answers will come in a follow-up post as soon as we can gather up good information and respond.</p>
<p>Thanks – I’d prefer a well informed follow-up post rather than quick answers!</p>
<p>I was just playing…..</p>
<p>Will the taillights have a simliar look to the Paceman. Is the F56 going to be the third MINI to have its name blasted over the rear hatch?</p>
<p>Love the roadster; want the F56 goodies. Please tell me the coupe and roadster won’t end with the R56 platform.</p>
<p>How long after the F56 release will we see the revised Clubman? That is the car that is next in line for release, yes?</p>
<p>Would love to know that. So that’s my question as well. Marijn</p>
<p>Nice 5 spoke GP rims in the pic.</p>
<p>Do you think BMW will finally adopt “ios in the car” on the F56’s? Do you think a “software update” is possible for that?</p>
<p>Is there no Ice Blue colour option for the new mini cooper</p>
<p>Any truth to the rumour that with MINI’s ever increasing size BMW will change the name from MINI to MAXI?</p>
<p>do the new engines use timing belts, or timing chains?</p>