Hi there - does anyone know why the new hardtop is a 2014 model year and not a 2015? Will there be a 2015 and does anyone know the differences / timing? I test drove yesterday and am seriously considering the S.

 

I may be wrong, but Mini runs their models on a calendar year, so we should know changes toward the end of 2014, and the new model will begin building in the beginning of 2015. Usually, it just includes new colors and appearance options along with a price hike.

 

That's wrong. Industry-wide (including MINI), a car's model year typically runs approximately from fall of the previous year to summer of the current year. For example, my 2006 model year R52 was manufactured in September 2005. The F56 started production later than the typical schedule because they needed more time to prepare the factory for a completely new model. The 2015 F56 should begin production in the fall or winter of this year.

 

From what I can tell from the 2nd gen introduction, Mini likes to bring out the hardtop a year before they update the rest of the line... so I would anticipate the vert and whatever models are left after the update (coupe/roadster going away?) will be 2015 model years... of course I could be totally wrong on this as I'm a newbie...

 

Your observations are correct - MINI brings out the hardtop as first in new model lineup (similar to 3 series four-door in BMW lineup), before releasing convertible and JCW version of the same car (similar to derivative 4-series and M cars in BMW lineup).

To be specific, the JCW F56 package is supposedly arriving late this summer as a 2015 model year package (per published MINI USA leaks), and full-blown JCW F56 later in Nov-Dec'14, as a 2015 model car (per published leaks and my dealer's info).

Other MINI hardtop derivatives (Paceman, Clubman, Coupe, Roadster, Countryman etc) follow their own model life-cycle and release schedule. Some of them may not live to see the second generation incarnation if you believe the poor sales #s and the rumors (e.g.: who needs 3 convertibles: Coupe, Roadster, and Convertible!?!).

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The Clubman died. The Coupe isn't a convertable. The Roadster is rumored on shaky ground because of sales and the Cabrio. The Big 2 are the HB and Countryman by far, I think the Cabrio a distant 3rd, and the Clubman dying since the Countryman came out. The next new model will be a 5 door version of the Countryman, sort of an SUV of sorts (I think).