Courtesy of JALOPNIK:

 

This has been posted in the other thread as well but its an interesting pic regardless. Curious to see that the filler cap has been moved to the passenger side. I guess they went with the whole "its safe this way because if you run out of gas on the side of the road you fill not on the traffic side". As note that this picture is of the UK MINI, so thats why the exhausts on the middle 2 are on the left (driver side UK) and filler cap on the right(passenger side UK).

 

Also god lord those tail lights are ugly. And its face:

 

2015 MINI S Interior from Net Car Show

 

2015 Cooper(red) Cooper S (yellow) from Net Car Show

 

2015 MINIs from Net Car Show

 

Here is a good shot showing new filler cap location from Net Car Show

 

Technically it's a 2014...

 

I'm not sure they are correct proportional in the picture but the new F56 looks way too big now!
I'm gonna keep my R56 Cooper S for 100% sure now!

 

The "F" in F56 stands for "fatty"

 

I thought it was for "fugly".

 

So funny...I remember the same conversations on here when the R56 was introduced.....I own a R56 and still think the R53 is the best looking of the new generation.

 

HAHA

Yeah I agree. I have a R56 as well but think the R53 still retains much of the "classic" Mini styling before getting a bit modern with the R56.


IMO, the R56 --> F56 is a drastic change. Why make it so big? It's becoming PT-Cruiser-esque! It no longer has what people like about the Mini. The Clubman and Countryman already fill the niche for a bigger vehicle. Why keep the circular center control console if there is no speedometer there? The reason Mini has been so successful is because they've kept the car mostly the same all these years. I say keep the body style, give us an updated aerokit and the new engine

 

The front grill treatment is "Mazda" like, something I have refered to as a "clown car" since they started putting all that black plastic in there....don't care for it at all!

 

Agree with your last sentence

But... people complained like it was the end of the world when the R53 came out about how big it was (at least they did in the UK). Most of the comments re the styling (e.g. big lights) will probably be ameliorated with aftermarket mods... I believe the F56 won't look bad after the initial shock has worn off

 

Looks are entirely subjective, but my opinion is that this revision continues the downward spiral ever since the 1st R50 coupe shipped. Each revision is more clown-like and ridiculous, less handsome and understated. They're trying too hard.

One interesting thing to do is to lay a straightedge through the center of the right headlight on all four models; you get almost a perfect straight line trending upwards with the later models. I think this reflects the continued effort of the stylists to make the car seem more SUV-like, "jacked-up" and tough-looking. It is the current trend to make cars look bigger, bulkier, and more fortress-like with a higher beltline; something you can better hide from the world and keep the outside world more outside. I don't understand it, but it appears to be what the market wants. It doesn't attract me, but then I ride a motorcycle.

I wish Mini would hire some of the people that created the new Alfa Romeo 4C:



- Mark

 

The best looking is still the original. The r53 is going to be the only true mini that MINI will produce. Its a small, light and nimble car. Something that every generation is starting to degenerate.



Thank you MINI for keeping my r53 value.

 

Gruesome.

 

Some of the changes are due to the European Pedestrian Safety Laws that require a taller front end that tends to knock down the people instead of scooping them into the air and throwing them over the car causing more serious injury. That law was the primary reason for the 2007 design change which took all of the shape out of the bonnet and fixed the headlights in the fenders and not in the bonnet. The higher belt line then became necessary to try and maintain the original MINI lines.
I traded my 2002 for a 2006 over concerns of what the design changes did to the appearance of the car, still have my '06 and probably will for quite a while.

 

Not sue I could believe this. there are many cars smaller than the mini in Europe. Are they all going to start looking like a fat kid holding water?

 

And Hyundai like. Don't forget about them!

 

Think modern cars look bloated? Of course you do. Part of what you're seeing is the effect of European and Asian pedestrian-protection requirements that went live last decade. The idea is to leave enough space beneath the hood to keep a struck pedestrian's head from caving it in far enough to hit the top of the engine. So, you'd expect higher hoods and taller noses. But that little bit of air over the intake manifold ripples through and changes everything.

Political intervention changes everything

 

Pedestrian protection issue is true...that is why cars are all getting the high hood line. Look at the new Fiesta, Fiat etc...they all have that stupid high hood look, which is exaggerated in smaller hatchbacks...I also don't like the new look and sadly this may be a deal breaker for me on a new mini after my current cooper gets stale (I have a bad car habit -requiring new cars every few years)..what to do what to do...if I did not have 1.5 years left on my lease or if Mini could forgive it I would jump over to a "on the lot" 2013 or 2014 Cooper S or JCW....but if not maybe time to go for a BRZ or other class competitive auto x car.

 

What about a Lotus? Porshe? TT? ... they don't look very tall to me.

 

Porsche, Lotus, mid-engine. TT might have enough engine-bonnet clearance. Who knows, but it is an interesting reason/point/debate.