I read articles about new models coming out and some will include 2.0 liter engines. The R56 was just a tad bigger and only slightly heavier. It had a similar 1.6 engine. Anybody think we will be seeing a bloated mini like Mazda has done with the MX 5?

 

Yup they will get bigger and heavier. The new laws in Europe will have this effect.

 

"Sources are telling us that power ratings should be slightly higher than the current range on both the three and four cylinder models. But it’s the efficiency gains and the weight losses that are the big story. We’ve been told to not be surprised to see US Spec Cooper achieve upper 40 mpg figures on the highway. Additionally the engines should be measurably lighter and allow for better weight distribution front to rear."
http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/09/...linder-engine/

 

On my modified R53 I have seen 42.5+ MPG on the highway doing 65MPH on my way to Boston from NY.

 

Of course they're going to get bigger/heavier. It follows the trend of every single car maker out there. They get bigger and bigger with all the bloated "features" that people THINK they want in their cars until the cars are so big and slow they have to release new smaller models to get back to the car's original size. Think Mazda 2/Honda Fit/Ford Fiesta/etc. It's so frustrating. Weight kills efficiency and performance at the same time!

I loved it when I was purchasing my STI. I got to pick what color I wanted and what color I wanted the wheels to be. And whether I wanted navigation or not. That was it.

 

yup, you see a trend? http://www.ifweassume.com/2013/01/vi...n-of-cars.html:

 

The R56 got slightly lighter, and the F56 is expected to be lighter again. However, the size grows slightly in both cases.

 

I think its inevitable for all cars to grow larger. weight may be increased or decreased.

R56 S is 2668 right? What was R53?

 

Great chart BTW.

I saw a 1st gen 5-series parted next to an 8th gen Civic. The 5 was slightly smaller.

reminds me of when I bought my RSX. pick color that's it.

Then again I kind of like having choices.

 

The r56 is lighter than your r53 and the f46 is going to be lighter yet. Where do you get your info???????? You have made a great effort to malign the f56 via some totally false statments. Do you fear the depreciation of your hallowed r53?

 

Not according to any and all specs that I can find.

R53 2003 Reference vehicle weights are: official base curb weight 1140 kg / 2513 lbs,
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/ma...er_s/2003.html

R56 2007 Reference vehicle weights are: official base curb weight 1155 kg / 2546 lbs
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/ma...oper/2007.html

R56 2013 Reference vehicle weights are: official base curb weight 1150 kg / 2535 lbs
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/ma...er_2/2013.html

 

2006 GP 2469lbs
http://www.carfolio.com/specificatio...ar/?car=176451

2013 GPII 2535 lbs
http://buyersguide.caranddriver.com/...specs#features

 

You must be a R56 Elitists. So where are my false statements?

 

Weight went down slightly in the manual S, up slightly in the manual non-S.

2006 Owner's Manual


2007 Hardtop Owner's Manual


Sometime around '09 or '10, MINI changed the measurement to conform to industry standards (something to do with how the car is equipped and how much gas is in the tank during measurement). I don't remember whether it caused numbers to go up or down. In any case, the official numbers for newer R56 shouldn't be compared with official numbers from the 1st gen.

 

There is a very pronounced general tendency for cars to grow in size and weight over the years. Mostly driven by people who want "just a little more"--just a little more headroom, or hiproom, or cargo space, or cupholders, or whatever. Plus safety regulations, which get more stringent as the years go on (with a few exceptions)--and the cheapest way to meet most of those safety requirements is to add more weight.

When you see a manufacturer gleefully inform everyone of how much weight their car is losing for its new generation, notice that they almost universally compare the most stripped-down version of their new car to the heaviest version of the previous model. Or sometimes, they only mention the weight of one component--like the engine.

That said, sometimes a redesigned model truly is lighter than its predecessor in all ways. But you shouldn't count on it, and you should realize that the next year's car will almost certainly be a little heavier.