side and rear shots make me think of the Veloster and Juke.

 

The more I look at the F56 front end, I thank God I ordered a '14 MCS Roadster. I hope the Gen 4 looks better (couldn't look worse).

 

Oh, please don't tempt fate (and the designers) like that!

Heck, they could hire Chris Bangle back! :(

 

The dark spots in the middle of the headlights & tail lights make it look bug-eyed and kinda freakish. I don't think that's the camera's lens distortion either. Yikes.

 

Front end looks better than it did in the original undisguised spy shots. The tail lights still look too big.

 

they also move the gas cap to the other side

 

I think I hate it...at least for now. Theres too much chrome everywhere. The headlights are absolutely hideous. Still rooting for the JCW to set itself apart from that disappointment. I DO like the grille and the spoiler. And the hood got longer making it more sleek, so theres still hope for this brand

 

I don't really like it, nor do I hate it. It still looks like a MINI...kinda. Too much chrome, but that can be easily changed. I'm more curious how the new engines are going to turn out.

I'm also REALLY glad I bought my '13

 

Despite the look of the f56. That's some pretty high end technology implemented into this "little" car, AWD, and air suspension. I would love to see how these suspension performs comparing to the existing setups.

 

I think that the simplicity of the R50 series that drew me in. Making the MINI too sophisticated takes away from that appeal to me. With that said, I think it looks like an evolved MINI and to most out there it will be easily identified as a MINI. I passed a new, new VW Beetle tonight at dusk and noticed the headlights had that LED treatment and thought to myself...that looks like the headlights I saw on this F56 picture. Hmmm, now that every new car has LED headlight treatment it has losses it's appeal to me.

 

The more I look at it, the more I accept it
BUT I still can't get over the face. Too busy. Too many elements cramped in such a small package. I'm sure the next iteration will be better.

 

If they make the camo wrap from the spy shots a no cost option, I might give it a second thought.

 

Among all the other things I don't like about it, most of which have already been mentioned, it appears the roof slopes downward from front to back. That takes away from the aggressive look of the car, IMO.

I don't think the F56 will ever grow on me like the R56 did. And as much as I love my '13 JCW Hardtop, the Gen 1's still look better in my eye. Seems each generation gets further and further away from the simple and aggressive design that attracted me to MINIs in the first place.

 

I can't stop thinking that this new front end looks like a cartoon.

 

It looks like 5 different designers put the front end together without consulting one another in the process. Ugly is an understatement.

 

I agree.

 

I'm going to wait until I see it in person to pass judgment. I think MINI is fooling us all by using realistic-looking fake bodywork instead of camouflage.

 

Oops-Duplicate message!

 

Someone mentioned proportion; to me, the doors and body look taller while the window and roof is shrunk down a bit compared to previous minis.

I had an older car that was sort of like that. An 1800S. It did give sort of a 'driving around in a large claw-foot bathtub' feel to it.

 

OH! And that hood scoop is tiny!

 

Sad to see those awful headlights. Wish this was not the new cooper I was so patiently waiting for. This was going to be my chance to upgrade to a new JCW. Hopefully they can make the front end look better with the aero kit. Otherwise, anyone know of a JCW clubman I can get my hands on?

 

You can still order a JCW Clubman. If you want an F56 JCW Hardtop, come back in 2015.

 

I went on a MINI Plant Oxford factory tour yesterday with a local UK MINI club and we saw several random F56 coming down the final assembly lines mixed in along with all the current MINI's.
Also saw a couple of 5 door F56 MINI hatches on the production line (white and orange body colours) and some finished 3 door F56 MINI hatches parked up inside the plant, only one was disguised with the yellow/black vinyl. Look good in the metal.

 

*hugs his R53*

Having said that though, the front grille is what makes it not so good looking, which is at the same time good news, because I can see some aftermarket grilles coming out soon to help with that big mouth it currently has.

 

haha Wow, so much lost with each generation...

I like my R53 and will keep it...

This F56 is really losing the uniqueness of the MINI Cooper...