Hear no evil = the guy that designed the new exhaust system, says the R56 had too much pop and burble.

Speak no evil = The PR guy at MINI who refuses to speak about the F56.

See no evil = everyone who hasn't seen the F56.

 

Now that is pretty darn witty

 

Couldn't resist. But hey, in all seriousness, I hope they tweak the F56 from what we've seen so far and make it a beautiful and highly sought after machine. I love MINIs and I want to see the brand be successful and stay around a very long time.

 

We are on the same page regarding the new MINI Cars.

I'm of the opinion that MINI is not going to make a completely New Car and it be some Dumb *** looking Machine.

That is just not going to happen.

But ........

Will everyone that has like me the R-56 Models Luv or Like the New Car ???

Probably not but that is just sort of the way it always is with a new car design.

As time marches by the new owners of the New MINI will be a happy contented lot I think.

Change takes time for people to adjust to but they usually do for the most part.

There are and will always be people that refuse to like new things.

 

Ever since the first spy shots came out, I have been worried that BMW is getting away from the MINI styling and appeal and making it more simple like... Well, a BMW. Having owned a BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0SI before, I can say that it was an absloute blast and I LOVED that car. However, I also love my MINI the same but for a completely different reason.


I am a little miffed with the spyshots of what the new MINI hatch will look like. Many components look like they were plucked right out of a BMW 1 or 3 series. I don't want the NAV controls to look like the ones in a BMW. I like my little joystick and home/page buttons. I also don't like the rectangular air vents in the middle and the lack of the center speedo is a complete tragedy. Keep the center Speedo and keep the circular air vents. Same with the climate controls... I love how mine are in the shape of the MINI badge. If you want to switch it up, then fine, but don't make it so bland and blah... Hopefully, the finished product will have more of the true MINI flavor which has more of an emphasis on style than simplicity. I did notice that the early spyshots had the same steering wheel as a BMW 3 series. The more recent one's show a more traditional MINI shaped wheel. I'll try to stay optimistic.

While they might take some getting used to and a good once over from all angles, the outside shots that I have seen have been okay from the back and the sides look okay. The front is very confusing. I'm not so concerned about the design of the grill and the headlights as much as I am about how much it seems to slant. It's almost as though they tried to copy the look of a Porsche nose. Perhaps it's just the angle of the most recent shots I've seen. Other's seem to have a more traditional snub nose. Which has pretty much always been a BMW and MINI/Mini core design since their early beginnings. It does look like they've jumped on board with everyone else in copying the "Audi lights" around the headlamps. Ever since Audi introduced them a few years ago, everyone seems to be jumping on board. I'm okay with that though as I think it looks really cool.

On a side note, has anyone else noticed the new Scion's have the light up emblem on the hood? I'm not a Scion follower or anything... Never even driven one. I just noticed it in a commercial a few days ago. I've been saying that MINI should have done this for years! It's one of those things that MINI should have pulled the trigger on and set the tone. Much the same way they did with the two-tone body/rook/mirror caps... and the multiple colors of interior lighting... bonnet stripes... center Speedo... etc. Those things were never on any cars in the USA until MINI came along.

Okay... I'll stop venting...

 

MINI Responds to F56 Leaks With Its Own Look At MINI’s Future (Video)

Sections: Design | F54 Clubman | F55 Five Door Hatch | F56 Hatch | F57 Convertible | F58 Spacebox | F6X Countryman | Official News | Video Jul 25th, 2013 71 Comments



A few weeks ago MINI’s carefully planned launch for the 3rd generation MINI (aka the F56) was rudely taken off script. Over 25 photos were taken of the F56 in various states of undress during a marketing photoshoot. And the reaction to what was seen wasn’t good. Due to the angle, lighting and the fact that the photos we’re taken using extremely long zoom lenses from far away the F56 did not come out looking good.
From what we know of the car the photos didn’t do the overall shape and design justice. And apparently MINI agreed immediately releasing a rather cheeky PR response. But today MINI is giving us much more on not just the new F56 MINI but the entire future of MINI design. Make no mistake this is a concept car. But the overall shape and many of the design features here are lightly disguised versions of what we’ll see on the F56.
With Anders Warming now fully leading the design team there’s never been a better time to take a step back and look at the future of the brand. From what we see here and what we know, it looks pretty bright to us. But we’ll let you be the ultimate judge after seeing the gallery, reading the interview and watching video after the break.
Official Release: At today’s MINI Design@Home event Anders Warming, Head of MINI Design, previews a sampling of visionary design and innovative ideas. The MINI Vision, for example, showcases various elements of future MINI design. Here, MINI has developed a vehicle design laced with new creative impulses that advance the cause of premium quality in the compact class.
In customary MINI fashion, the MINI Vision seizes the limelight with creativity, individuality and a generous helping of versatility. Interactive gadgets such as the Driving Experience Control switch offer a glimpse of the future. This particular feature allows the whole of the car’s interior to be transformed into a variety of different colour and experience worlds in the blink of an eye.
The presentation of the MINI Vision is based around a virtual 3D hologram. This form of expression provides a window into how the MINI designers go about their business. Complementing their familiar toolset of sketches and 1:1 clay models, virtual reality allows them to test and fine-tune creative ideas quickly and under realistic conditions.

The exterior: a perfect balance between old and new.
The design of the MINI Vision reaches pointedly into the brand’s past and combines the underlying features and values of MINI with future-focused aesthetic and technical innovations. The hexagonal radiator grille is inspired by the classic Mini, for example, and the MINI Vision integrates both the bumper and auxiliary lights into the grille.
The traditional and unmistakable rounded MINI forms are reflected in the exterior through elements such as the elliptical full-LED headlights. Their outer ring emits a consistent light and fulfils a daytime driving light function.

Among the stand-out signature features of the MINI brand are the clear separation of the roof, glasshouse and body. The chrome strip wrapped around the top of the body, the distinctive side indicator element and the black band framing the lower edge of the car are all hallmark MINI styling elements.
The MINI Vision presents these three defining design elements as a flowing, interconnected unit – conjured from innovative and lightweight “organo metal”. This extremely mouldable but also very strong material is produced by pressing various fibres into a composite. Organo sheets have a unique texture comparable to that of fabrics.

Alongside lightweight construction techniques, aerodynamics also play a frontline role in the conceptual ideas behind the MINI Vision. The car’s body includes an aerodynamic air intake and outlet around each front wheel arch, airflow-optimised wheel rims and exterior mirrors, and an integral, air-channelling roof spoiler.
At the rear, muscular shoulders lend the MINI Vision extremely sporty and compact proportions. The finely drawn and clearly defined edging in the car’s bodywork is central to the exterior design language of the MINI Vision and underlines the concept’s precision and sporting intent.

The interior: originality and creativity packed into a very small space.
The interior of the MINI Vision stands out with its individual style, variability, functionality and aesthetic appeal. The fundamental idea behind the MINI brand – of providing maximum comfort within minimal exterior dimensions – filters through every detail of the interior.
A transparent and open cockpit, sweeping doors and a “floating” centre console allow the driver and passengers to experience the sensation of a wide open space coupled with the benefits of a space-saving small car. Lounge seats featuring dynamic piping add the finishing touch to the unique interior ambience.

The creative design solutions have been brought together with established pillars of MINI design. For example, the elastic fabric straps on the insides of the doors – arranged like the stripes of the Union Jack flag – are a nod to the brand’s British heritage. However, the stretchable straps have a functional as well as stylistic role: these flexible retaining devices are designed to hold a magazine, mobile phone or drinks bottle within easy reach.
The fresh layer of variability added by the MINI click system offers additional scope for customising the interior. Smartphone holders, a storage box, cup holder or small safe can be attached and removed in a single movement as and when required.

The interior of the MINI Vision as a whole can also be adapted to a variety of interaction requirements with similar flexibility and immediacy.
The Driving Experience Control switch allows the driver to choose between a pure and focused or fully-interconnected mode. The two modes are expressed in different colours using calm, clear light and dynamic, energy-charged shades. Another highlight of the fully-interconnected mode is the “MINI Disco” floor. Here, an expressive interplay of colours, light and forms transforms the footwells as the MINI Vision appears to come vibrantly to life. As well as turning the ambient colour scheme of the interior on its head, the Driving Experience Control switch also changes the face of the familiar MINI circular central display. Depending on their selection, drivers will be met by either a classic, analogue-style view or an impressive 3D look, which gives the full suite of display elements an unaccustomed depth.

Colours and materials: structures form characters.
The Glamorous Gold paint finish – a shimmering gold-tinged orange tone – has never been seen before in the history of MINI design. And the use of organo metal creates an intriguing contrast to this gleaming metallic shade. The organo metal adds highlights not only to the outside of the car, but also to the interior, its unique structure lending the MINI Vision a cutting-edge character.

A tough, dark-blue fabric recalling the properties of a high-quality suit is employed for the seats and sections of interior trim. The seamless transitions of the various materials between the interior and exterior bring consistency to the MINI Vision despite the use of different materials and textures.
Its unbeatable scope for personalisation and an extremely sporty and precise design make the MINI Vision the perfect partner for the road, tailored to the needs and preferences of the individual driver. This design vision demonstrates that MINI will continue to use intelligent variability, imagination-capturing technology and a compact sporting presence to deliver unrivalled driving fun over the years to come.

 

I thought the engine in the 2014 was going to be a 2.0 litre, and hence would think more power. I just built a 2014 clubman JCW on the MINI USA website configurator and it is still 208hp. The front end looks the same to me. The big speedo is still in the middle of the dash...did I miss something? I would hate to build a 2014 and download the pdf...only to have a car delivered that was a lot different. I must be missing something.

 

Only the New F56 Hatch will have the 2.0 liter. All other MINIs for the next few years will remain the same.

 

I belive the Clubman redesign is coming 2015

 

vent on brother....can't agree enough with the above. We have only been with our first Mini for 5 days and already we are enamored with the way Mini does things.....it's not always about efficiency....it's about doing things differently from every other car maker, because, well....it's fun

 

Can we all just take a step back and really look at the car market on a global scale again?

Every single car company wants to prove they are different, unique and innovative. Every car company wants to prove you are getting value and premium for your dollar.

I can also tell you this. Every single successful car company moves forward with their designs and changes. There are only a handful of companies that doesn't stray too far away their originality - Porsche? People need to understand that modern technology and culture sets a new standard in what becomes a basics of a car. Car companies that don't move, that doesn't innovate, or change usually fail. Of course there are companies that release a new car that will receive a back lash (2012 Honda Civic) but I honestly don't think this is the case with MINI.

Person A's basic needs of a car might be a engine on a seat to get you from point A to point B. It's fast, it's got performance with no frills attach. ****** air bags, forget the bluetooth HD radios, and no need for the heavy GPS.

Person B will want the creature comforts of being able to connect to a smart phone that just about any ones has. They want premium for their hard earned dollar. They also want the performance and the safety.

Which which one of these persons dominate the car buyer's market? Person B. While in this thread, there are definitely a lot of people who want to have a raw, connect to the road type of car, we represent a very small market in the actual world of buyers. MINI is trying to become a even bigger brand to make even more money. There's a reason why there are smaller companies who sell cars like the Ariel Atom, the Lotus Elise, the KTM X-Bow, because they target a much smaller audience.

For me personally, I think MINI has one of the hardest tasks of a car production. They have to create a somewhat small car while sticking to it's heritage and still meet current safety laws and pedestrian impact compliances. That's NOT-EASY. I hear the arguments about how "Fiat made a small car" yeah well Fiat cars are s**t. "Smart cars made a even small car" yeah well they are NO WHERE as safe as a MINI. Compare MINI to it's competition, and it'll easily out pace them in design, difference and performance for the value (maybe not so much in reliability regrettably.)

I think no matter what, people are always going to bash on the next generation MINIs. MINI Classic owners hated the R53, but people grew to love them. R53 owners bashed on the R56 and called it disconnected, but people grew to love them as well. Here we are again. To me, the most important asset MINI has is it's community. It's the community of great owners and great people that really drives the MINI home for me. The car will always change, but it's really us that cannot.

 

 

Although I agree with MrCooperS's sentiment about initial reactions of current owners to new models, I'm glad I placed my order for an R56 a week ago. That interior is a bit space-age for my tastes.

 

Compare these shots to the show car.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2013/04/...mini-interior/

 

Excellent & well said

 

Mostly you're missing the fact that the on-line configurator always lags reality, especially for major changes. Often for minor ones, as well, like which colors are offered. The on-line configurator seems to take months to be upgraded with the latest information--it happens every model year.

 

 

BJM, that pic is simply gorgeous IMHO.

 

I think the difficulty I'm having with this "MINI Vision" design is the amped up femininity. The overall design seems even more cutesy in appearance. I think the MINI brand has consistently been attractive to the female persuasion, so why the increased focus. You will find men asking this question in thread after thread, "Is this MINI too girly." I honestly don't think that some men will be in harmony with this new MINI brand vision. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

They say same about MX3 yet there are series all around and probably 90% or more are guys. If the car drives and performs people will want it. Mr.Cooper is right no one designs a car without a ton of research too much at stake to gamble on. But if MINI/BMW did it's research and did not penny pinch they will have a winner.

The F56 has a lot riding on it. The 1 series will be based off this car and they are predicting close to 1MM sales for a combined MINI and BMW for this F56 chassis alone.

 

I would just black it out like I did with my R56, looks more manly. But like I said in a different thread, I won't be returning to the MINI brand, I will go after the new Subaru WRX STi, looks fantastic compared to this third generation MINI. But each to their own, I guess lol.

 

Gonna be a difficult task to personalize this one....I don't even see tow hook covers. No tow hooks = no place to mount a license plate holder...

It would look better if the lower trim was black to match the roof instead of that opaque looking gray color. It sort of reminds me of the plastic on some SUV's like the Honda ELEMENT....not a big fan.

 

But Harley's customization tool is generally ready to go when a bike launches. It is just a matter of planning so when you announce, the tools are there at the same time.

 

Well that's just not cricket!