Exclusive: MINI USA’s 2016 Product Updates Include Some Major Surprises
Big news from MINI USA. The 2016 model year changes are starting to filter out and we’ve got all the details. Plenty of surprises both good and bad. Read on for the details.
First up the good news: MINI USA has held the line pricing. That means no MSRP increases on any model. A rarity for sure. Overall MINI USA has made 2016 all about streamlining options and option groups to make the process of ordering MINIs easier. Take it from us, this is a good thing. However within that streamlining process MINI USA has killed off some key options we’ve considered must haves for many years. The biggest one of these in our mind is the sport suspension option. While the Dynamic suspension is still available, the take rate of the passive sport suspension was so low that MINI USA apparently couldn’t justify keeping it. However it’s not going away entirely as it will still available available as standard on the JCW furthering the separation between the two models.
Still this is disappointing. Why do we prefer the sport suspension over the variable dampers? For us it allows a more sporting experience that feels right on a MINI. Truthfully we’d call the variable dampers the ultimate choice if they had the ability to match the sport suspension, going from -10% all the way to +30%. But they don’t quite have that range and therefore feel a bit more compromised than we’d want. For those wanting a factory tuned sport suspension on their Cooper or Cooper S, your choice is now either Dynamic dampers or the JCW suspension installed at the dealer or port.
Unfortunately that’s not all that’s been left on the cutting room floor for the 2016 model year. Here’s the full list of changes starting with the F56/F55.
F56/F55 Changes
– Sport suspension option discontinued
– No visual boost, now only Media & Wired Packages.
– No more Loaded Package only “Fully Loaded”.
– Sport Package now includes Dynamic Dampers making it more of a legitimate sport option.
– Auto-dimming exterior mirrors are now packaged with auto-dimming interior mirrors (separate power folding mirrors option has been eliminated)
– Cold weather package goes back to $750 but now has the power-fold & auto-dimming stuff with it.
– Cruise control buttons are being remapped
– Changes to window switches (from chrome to piano black
– Cooper will now be SULEV with the B36 engine
– No MINI wings tags on seats
F56/F55 Discontinued
In the discontinued options category we have a mix of expected and very surprising. The biggest perhaps is the discontinuation of an option that frankly should be a standard safety feature as it is in the rest of the world: the rear foglight. Yup after an online petition in 2003 brought them to US MINI, 13 years later they’re gone. Here’s what else is out:
– Satellite gray/truffle cloth/leather seats,
– Interior surface dark silver & firework, color line shadow gray,
– 6 disc changer (yes it’s now impossible to play a CD in the F56/F55 MINI
– Chrome mirror caps (they’re still available as accessories)
– Smokers pack
– Rear fog lamp
– Halogen fogs on Cooper
– Universal garage door opener w/compass
– Secret storage compartment (gone due to production complexities of having it available in some parts of the world and not in others)
R60/R61 Changes
– MINI Countryman Park Lane edition – $2500 on Cooper & S, $2000 on ALL4 (Oak red roof & highlights on Earl Gray)
– Earl Gray from the new Park Lane Edition added
– City, Tech & Loaded packages removed
– ZFL – Fully Loaded package is new for JCW
– Sirius goes to $300
R60/R61 Discontinued
– Light Coffee paint
– Matte Anthracite Turbo Fan wheels, 17″ black 5-Star wheels, chrome mirror caps,
– Universal garage door opener w/compass
We’re expecting most if not all of these changes to commence with July production. And don’t forget, the Clubman debut is coming in August with production happening in November of this year. Why do we mention this? The move to streamline options is partially due to the Oxford plant producing more vehicles than ever before. And with the introduction of the Clubman (which MINI expects to be a huge hit) is going to further increase the pressure of production.
Nevertheless we can’t quite forgive MINI USA for the loss of several options above. Notably the Sport Suspension which we’ve called the best suspension available from the factory and more importantly the essential safety feature that is the rear foglight.
<p>Were any compromises made to the B36 performance to achieve the SULEV standard, or is it performing well enough out of the box today to qualify?</p>
<p>Looks like the economies gained through the discontinued options is covering the cost of what would have otherwise been the standard price increase.</p>
<p>Having had rear fogs on my last two MINIs, I don’t really consider them an “essential safety feature.” The tail lights provide most of what is needed (especially those massive units on the F-series). I can count the number of foggy trips over the past decade on one hand. Perhaps I’d feel differently if I lived in a fog-prone area.</p>
<p>It certainly does matter where you live. When I take trips from Boston up to Maine, New Hampshire, Nova Scotia, etc. I have felt substantially safer having the rear fog lamp on my last R53 in poor visibility conditions. If the Oxford plant is trying to simplify production, considering some markets require rear fog lights, it would seem to make sense (organizational sense, not financial sense) that this would be made standard for all cars. Unfortunate news, and it will be interesting to see if the wiring is left so that owners could simply add the rear light and toggle switch panel as was possible on R56 and late R53 cars.</p>
<p>MINIUSA is responsible for the US market losing rear fogs. Other markets will continue to offer them. Hell there are plenty of markets where they are mandated.</p>
<p>Are the rear fog lamps really gone on the F56/F55? … I ask because, even if you didn’t select that option, the car came with the housings and bulbs for rear fog lights, you just didn’t have a button in the cabin.</p>
<p>Perhaps MINI is just taking away the option and giving everyone the button? (I hope)</p>
<p>I also am surprised the garage door opener option will be gone for 2016. I have it on my F55S & prefer that over having the loose opener remote clipped on my visor.
As for the rear fog lamps, although I have them, I seldom have needed to use them in the 3 MINIS I’ve owned over the past 8 years. I live in Florida & only use them in mod/heavy rains, seldom have fog here! But adding only $100 for that option wasn’t a large expense so I went for those rear fogs each time.</p>
<p>I’m glad I have them. I drive through parts of an area where the fog gets very dense. I’m thinking rear fogs would also help in white-out snow conditions.</p>
<p>Very sad news about the sport suspension. I suppose this means MINI enthusiasts have no chance for a LSD either.</p>
<p>Maybe they’ll put an LSD on the GP3? I dunno.</p>
<p>If they’re killing this stuff, at least MINI should offer a port-installed JCW package of the PRO suspension / Exhaust etc. If they already do, then great. If not they need to get on that.</p>
<p>I must applaud the guys at Mazda for offering the “club edition”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/01/2016-mazda-mx-5-miata-club-launch-edition-unveiled/#image-3" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/01/2016-mazda-mx-5-miata-club-launch-edition-unveiled/#image-3</a></p>
<p>If MINI really wants to attract and retain enthusiast drivers they need to do something like that.</p>
<p>Here is the option list for people who would rather not click:</p>
<p>The MX-5 Club heightens performance with trim-level exclusive:
– 17-inch gunmetal alloy wheels wrapped in 205/45R17 tires
– Limited-slip differential when equipped with SKYACTIV-MT
– Bilstein shocks when equipped with SKYACTIV-MT
– Shock tower brace when equipped with SKYACTIV-MT
– Front air dam and rear lip spoilers</p>
<p>Considering the mechanical LSD had a lower take rate than the sports suspension which was just killed, I doubt a LSD will appear as an option any time soon (especially with MINI believing DTC and EDLC to be a sufficient replacement for the LSD: <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2009/07/20/mini-to-remove-mechanical-limited-slip-for-2010/" rel="ugc">https://www.motoringfile.com/2009/07/20/mini-to-remove-mechanical-limited-slip-for-2010/</a>). The small glimmer of hope is that BMW has recently provided optional mechanical LSDs on non-M cars such as the M235i and the just announced limited edition 435i ZHP, in addition to there now being FWD BMWs (although only just recently and not performance oriented), but I wouldn’t hold your breath.</p>
<p>Yeah.. there should be no question in my mind that limited models like the GP3 <em>must</em> have an LSD, also an equivalent MINI Cooper JCW ZHP would be cool too. I’d be a buyer for either of those.</p>
<p>“I must applaud the guys at Mazda for offering the “club edition””</p>
<p>I imagine BMW views the JCW as their MX5 Club Edition equivalent.</p>
<p>The difference, it seems, is that Mazda doesn’t spread the proverbial marketing on as thick as BMW/MINI (JCW, JCW Pro, etc).</p>
<p>It’s close, but the diff is just not good enough.</p>
<p>I would have gone for the visual boost and CD player. BTW, when are the new transmissions coming? That was what held back the MPGs from what you were expecting, correct?</p>
<p>“No visual boost, now only Media & Wired Packages.” That sucks.</p>
<p>I’m very happy that I have visual boost (w/o Nav and no arm rest).</p>
<p>I didn’t care for the 3-4 line radio. With the standard radio, you lose out on some things too that come with visual boost. It also doesn’t help that very few dealer spec cars are ordered with Visual boost. Only if you get NAV. And speaking of NAV, the basic NAV (non XL) should come standard with real time traffic.
What is MINI going to do next year when backup camera becomes required on vehicles?</p>
<p>Problem with the wired package (besides the cost) is the Arm rest. Auto journalist from various media types all over the world have said the arm rest hampers the use of the “idrive” (MINI) controller. Plus if you put the arm rest up/back, items that you put in it bounce/fly around.
On top of that, the snap in phone adapter is only available for the iphone, Useless if you have an Android or Windows phone. If you get the media pkg, again it comes with the arm rest, no option to delete it.</p>
<p>“Auto-dimming exterior mirrors are now packaged with auto-dimming interior mirrors”
Does that mean you can’t get the interior Auto-dim without getting the pkg that includes the exterior auto-dim? If so, not good.
First it increases the price of getting item, second, I swore I would not get a new car without interior Auto-dim. I’m so happy I did. All the knuckleheads with their blinding high intense lights no longer blind me.</p>
<p>“Changes to window switches (from chrome to piano black)”</p>
<p>Instead of going on the cheap, MINI should fix the backwards way to raise and lower the windows. Currently its counterintuitive. It should be up/fwd to raise window, bk/dwn to lower window, not the opposite as it is now.</p>
<p>Discontinued:”Halogen fogs on Cooper” Does that mean fogs will be LED now?</p>
<p>“Secret storage compartment” As I understand it, the one in the F56 is smaller than the one that was in the R56. I like having one (just wish the height width was slightly more even/higher).
I wish MINI would have not made getting Anthracite headline required in the JCW Interior Pkg. One (along with other) reason I didn’t get that Pkg.
Regarding the Sport Suspension, it would be interesting to see how cars were ordered by buyers (not the dealer spec) for the US Market with Sport S. From what I’m seeing in my area (in which MINI’s are a big seller), the majority of people that buy a MINI aren’t enthusiasts. They don’t do track runs, or auto-cross. I believe they feel there is not need for Sport Suspension. I didn’t get it. I thought about the Damper but decided against it. #1 – $$$ for repair, #2 my budget.
While IMINI states no increase in the MSRP, by only being able to get Visual Boost in a pkg or interior auto-dim in a pkg, it does increases the cost of options, i.e. increasing the cost to buy a MINI.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It should be up/fwd to raise window, bk/dwn to lower window, not the opposite as it is now.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Don’t know about your car, but my F56 is up/bk to raise, dwn/fwd to lower … just like every other car I’ve ever been in with power windows. Are your rocker switches on backwards? :-p</p>
<p>They might be. I have a 2nd Date (visit) with my Dealer this Sunday. I’ll ask and show them. That would suck if the rocker switches were installed backwards. A friend of MINI has a Toyota Forerunner and his window switches function like you would think they should.</p>
<p>So what was the consensus on the rocker switches? Did you remember to ask them?</p>
<p>Seems the rocker switches were installed correctly. To me they seems counter-intuitive. I checked my friends Toyota Forerunner and to lower his window, you pull the rockers back (to rear). To raise window you push the rocker forwards.</p>
<p>While my R50 used the toggle switch, it was the same, push toggle up to raise window, push down to lower window.</p>
<p>Just something I’ll have to remember and get use to.</p>
<p>I did find out something interesting on my 2nd Date visit. The Camera based Cruise Control with Pedestrian warning/crash sensor, is available in the USA but not shown as an option in the Configurator. In fact the rep told me that even some MA weren’t aware of the option. You don’t have to get the parking option to get the ped/crash warning sensors.</p>
<p>To bad MINI USA doesn’t list that option. I would have ordered it.</p>
<p>“2016 all about streamlining options and option groups to make the process of ordering MINIs easier. Take it from us, this is a good thing.”
Yeah, I got hosed by MINI on this for my 2015 Cooper S. I was lead to believe that voice activation was part of Visual Boost and that passenger outside mirror dip down when in reverse was standard on all MINI’s (no mention in configurator or MINI USA You Tube that power fold mirrors were required.)
The biggest pet peeve and tick off though is not having voice activation. The button is on the steering wheel but doesn’t do anything, a waste. No mention that Enhanced Blue Tooth was required plus since I got Visual Boost it turns out EBT is a zero cost option. The configurator should have had a pop up when I chose VB that EBT was a zero cost option I could get.</p>
<p>Boy am I glad I got the 2015,got the visual boost, the 6 disc CD player, the universal garage door opener and the sport suspension. I also like the chrome window switches opposed to the piano black. Glad I was able to get my satellite gray leather seats with the mini tags too..I guess those are also gone…WOW!</p>
<p>Me too, glad I got my 2015. MINI also eliminated the Gold Union Jack outside mirror caps, when mirror caps choices went from dealer installed to factory option). GUJ look much better with VO and Black roof than the other caps.</p>
<p>I don’t care for the 3/4 line standard radio. I love the visual boost, especially the option to get is as a stand alone option. Of course I did get the backup camera so boost was part of it. Yeah piano black window switches – NO, too much black/piano black already. Chrome switches look much better.</p>
<p>I bet MINI will make that part of the interior chrome pkg. Another pkg you’ll have to get if you want a single item. Sad.</p>
<p>I didn’t get the 6 disc CD player as it took up too much room in the glove box. Do miss a single slot CD though.</p>
<p>I love the CD player…get more use out of it than I would have the glove box.</p>
<p>I use my glove box quite a bit to put stuff in, such as mp3 player, etc.</p>
<p>No sport suspension on a MINI Cooper/S? WTH? I have no words…</p>
<p>I have to agree Gabe, eliminating the option to order the sports suspension is a bad move as is dropping the rear fog lights.</p>
<p>You’ve mentioned what’s changing and what’s being dropped but what, if anything is being added? Any new options? Any new exterior colours being offered?</p>
<p>Do you know if there are any plans to offer special editions as they’ve done in the past?</p>
<p>Finally, when can we expect to see these changes on the configurator?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Fog lights? I only I ordered them for my ’15 was to elimate a blank. Turns out that the fogs are operated near the headlight switch. I will never use them. Also, I had the sports suspension on my ’08S. I ordered the standard suspension on my ’12R56S with ’16” wheels. Disclaimer, my MINI is my daily driver. The handling on my ’15F56S is better than both of my previous MINIs. And, if you want LSD, it has ELSD.
My ’08 would skid over expansion joints on corners on freeways and I just did not like that. My ’12 didn’t do it and my ’15F56S with ’17” wheels has never tramlined or hopped on expansion joints and handles better than both of my previous MINIs.</p>
<p>I ordered a 2016 manual JCW, but I’m going to hold off until I can reevaluate what these changes mean in regards to what I picked off of the 2015 list of options. I know I had the garage door opener and rear fogs picked, and the loss of those may be fatal to my order. I had a 2008 MCS that I had to personally add the rear fogs to since they weren’t available when I ordered the car. I had to install the rear fogs, the toggle switch, and get the car reprogrammed. It was a real pain in the rear. I don’t want to order now, and then have them switch everything up again in 6 months and add these options back in, and then I’m SOL again. Finally, I put the GP2 coilovers on my 2009 JCW, and maybe by the time I get around to rethinking this, they may have something like that available. In any case, it appears that MINI USA is being run by people that don’t take long time MINI enthusiasts very seriously. This was going to be my sixth new MINI, but looks like I’ll be holding on to my 2009 for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>Any word on when or if the JCW Pro Sports Suspension will be offered in the US? It is still not an option on the configurator nor is it on the Motoring Accessories section of MINI USA (only the JCW suspension for the R56 is available). Availability of the JCW Pro Sports Suspension would be about the only thing which could minimize the harm of taking away the option of a sports suspension on what is marketed as a sporting vehicle.</p>
<p>There are a lot of accessories which don’t appear on the website. Check with your local parts department, they will know if/when the JCW Pro suspension can be ordered. Haven’t heard of anyone with this yet, but some of the other Pro items have been slowly rolling out recently.</p>
<p>Holy moly. That’s like half the options on my F55 gone:
grey/truffle seats
fixed sport suspension
chrome mirror caps
rear fogs
UGDO/compass mirror
I don’t see a change w the dimming mirrors. Mine had inside/outside+folding all together as a package.</p>
<p>Was just on mini usa configuration and was surprised to see they have removed the auto transmission with paddle shifters…another reason I’m glad to have the 2015</p>
<p>Not for the S, it’s still shown. Paddle shifters were never available for the Base Cooper.</p>