These are the best photos I've seen:

http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphoto...-mini-cooper-s

**I hope this isn't a report.

 

Is it just me, or do they look photoshopped? The wheels are blurry and the passenger side door and window seem to be lighter colored than the rest of the body and the rear windows...

 

I do not like the proportions that the new cars has. The front seems a lot bigger. The rear bumper looks so empty that it looks like the car is taller than it is. I do not like it. The curbs on the hood seem flatten out. Not for me.

Bomboasy

 

At a quick glance exteriorly there really not much changes except the front bonet and the rear bumper. Wooooooo Hoooooooo I like it

 

is the middle part of the front grille gone altogether now? Also, I'm not a big fan of the way it looks like there is a huge hole in the rear bumper

otherwise, looks pretty similar to the old one, the bonnet being flattened out is another thing I don't like though, the curves it has give the mini its unique face

 

im pretty sure the car has hardly changed, its that its still mostly taped around so you cannot get the finner look of it. Also the lenght of the MINI has not changed either so the engine bay is the same size, its just odd pictures

 

It's looking better and better as each round of spy pics come out!
Mike

 

the bonnet does appear to be a bit taller but that may be to accomadate the new engine. looks ok for a tin top s, curious to see if there is a cabrio model. i like my plane jane cooper because she doesn't have the hole in the bonnet, wonder if the newer ones will also have a taller bonnet.

 

So the most noteworth changes I can see are:

Single, larger front grill replaces one large/one small from current model

Chrome beltline extends to the outside of the wipers, probably has aerodynamic benefits

There appear to be vents on the C-pillars, that is a design I have never liked

The muffler will exit straight out the rear, which will be great for performance exhausts, but means the battery is possibly moved back under the bonnet or is offset in the boot

The side vents/signals appear to be smaller

The Side Mirrors are larger

The bonnet is taller, and also has a wider, flatter look to it

The wheel arches appear to be slightly larger

The reverse lights are positioned in the blacked out area of the rear bumper

The taillights might be LED equiped

The rear quarters appear to be larger, probably for increased interior width and cargo space

And the obvious, the bonnet will open around the headlights, which appear to be redesigned also.

Drew

 

Hmm... outside of the specs on the engine, weight, etc. The design doesn't elicit much excitement for me. Granted I just ordered an '06 and did so after viewing the earlier spy and interior pics of the '07. Also, I just love the sound of that supercharger!

 

This re-do is a disaster. I most regret (disgust, really), integrating the running/turn indicators into the headlight cluster, just like EVERY OTHER VEHICLE on the road. This was intentionally avoided by the original design team, as a nod to the 60s- (end, really) roots of the car. What a relief, that they deliberately, (after much internal "combat"), went against conventional build techniques and avoided succumbing to the "demands of modern manufacturing," which dictate these sort of things. How boring this new version is. And, I would I would also posture, less safe, (face it, a small car NEEDS separate lighting-- who can SEE turn indicators, when they abut xenon headlights?). I nearly expected the tail lights to abut the shut lines of the rear hatch, (perhaps that is next time!). The interior, perhaps George Jetson would be comfortable-- to me, it seems overdone, absurd. I'm 6'2, and have NEVER had space issues, nor have any of my (front seat) passengers. Why the OBSESSION to make more footwell room?? And of course, the car is bigger-- (NATURALLY!)-- neglecting its name. BMW seems determined to "Americanize" the MINI, with these foolish, awful results. Most of this nonsense cannot be layed at the feet of new British pedestrian safety rules, (did that dictate dispatching BMW's "Z" rear linkage, to which they drew much attention in 2002??), this is linked to endless, nonsensical focus group testing, (where the drumbeat for larger cupholders was labeled several years back as the #1 "quality" complaint, along with a "too harsh" ride), and the relentless desire to cut costs. I refuse to believe that separated running lights result in that much lost profit, and wish BMW would afford me the opportunity to simply PAY MORE to maintain some of the individuality the original design had. I bought this car because it was DIFFERENT-- and bitterly resent seeing it homoginized/focused to death. I had hoped to replace my current, (second!) MINI with an S-type, but finances won't permit that in time this fall. I am truly distraught, this will be my last?

 

I miss the scuttle panels on the hood.