Just got my new Road and Track mag, (Sept issue), and it has the first completely undisguised photo of an 07 MINI I've seen.

Sorry I can't post a picture for you.

Looks great to me...I want one.

 

No need for a pic, just describe it using 959 more words and that will be worth a picture!

Heading over to MotoringFile now. . .

edit: not posted there yet either. . . .

 

The one picture they had was blue/white top, and shown from the front/side. As has been said before, most people wouldn't notice much change at all. The thing I noticed right off of was the taller hood. The headlights blend very well with the front fenders, something I wondered about from some of the early pictures. Looking down the side looks pretty much exactly the same as current model.

I don't think it looks "better" than my 03, just slightly different. What I'm looking forward to checking out is the new engine.......I'm still not sure if both the Cooper and Cooper S will be turbocharged.....maybe someone knows for sure.

Update...update, a closer look reveals the picture to be as S...don't know if this was already known, but no hood scoop. I suppose there is no need with a turbo........

 

Also shows a picture of the Traveler, with two wipers on the two back doors.

Should be interesting to see the 06 and 07 side by side.

regards,
Red

 

its called a scanner

 

It's called copyright infringement.
I want final specs! Good news is the USA will get 3 months of reviews before we even need to decide to buy. No uninformed impulse buying.

 

I know this isn't a good excuse, since I do have a scanner....but, I'll be 63 next month and I need a 12 year old to help me do this computer stuff.

 

all the spy photos of the next gen S had a hood scoop on them. i'm hoping thats just a regular Cooper instead...

 

It has S side skirts and an S emblem in the side marker light grill. Still, I guess we can't yet be 100% sure.

 

Saw the magazine today. Here are some observations:

The R55 pic is a rehash of last year's MINI Wagon concept. All they did was change some details and add dual rear wipers that MotoringFile broke the existence of earlier this year. Beyond that it looks mainly based on an Autibilde rendering from 2005.

The second pic is one of the worst R56 renderings I've seen. It's a butchering of a 2005 Hyper Blue MCS press pic with styling details that are in no way indicative the R56. Truly a feeble attempt. AutoExpress has even done it better.

Again a major publication swings and misses (badly). If you want to read the real scoop you know where to go...

And speaking of that, look for some real R55 related news on MotoringFile this week.

 

I guess that proves what I know, they had me fooled.

Thanks for the clarification.

So, does the 07 S have a hood scoop and does the Cooper have a turbo?

 

I thought motoring file reported that the base was going from 115 to 120hp and the S was going to 170hp... I presume that means the base is not turbocharged.... As far as the scoop goes, I'd guess they would keep it even if they don't need it - it's an s staple isn't it?

 

Hey no worries! You know more than Road & Track

Yes the 2007 Cooper S has a hood scoop. You can see some real spy photos here.

Will the MC have a turbo? According to sources just last week the answer is no, the 2007 Cooper will not have a turbo. It will have a variable valve timed ultra high-tech 120hp 4 cylinder (the basis for the turbocharged 2007 MCS).

 

Checked out the pictures, my first impression is I like Road and Tracks version better.

We'll soon get to see the real thing.

 

This drip feeding of spy shots and piecemeal info from BMW is just ****. It's not like the car is a year or more away and we need teasing; it's out in a few months...wtf is the big mystery about this car? Some of us have put money down on an 07 sight unseen and expect a soon to be released car to be in the public domain by now. C'mon and show us the car already. Then again, the Brit auto show is soon isn't it? :impatient

 

Actually, the Brit show was last week. But the new Mini will be unveiled at Paris in September.

 

I'm attaching the article from R&T... weird seeing a MCS with no hood scoop! I still don't like the Traveller... yuk!

 

well at least they got the front bumper design to closely match what we are seeing in the spy photos... but it needs a hood scoop and the now standard (or not?) "aero grill" to make it believable.

 

I'm not sure that's supposed to be an S, though. The brief text doesn't indicate. To my eye there's the taller hood and not much else significant has changed, if this is a true photo and not a rehash -- after all, the badge/vent on the side is narrow, not tall, and all the spy shots I've seen at least appear to have a tall one. (But that's sort of the point of the black tape and cardboard for camo...)

I don't mind the Traveller so much -- of course I drive a 4Runner right now , so I'm coming from the other end of things. (The MINI in the family is my wife's. 2004 SG/B) But I'd insist on a JCW Traveller...

-W-

 

if u look closely it has the "S" chrome side grill

 

Also has the "S" side skirts.

 

that photo looks like a current generation Cooper with some S bits ... total Photoshop job if you ask me ... or an actual pic from someone that did that to their MC, which is not uncommon.

 

Yep, I called Road and Track and they said look closely along the edge of the picture.

I did and it says this, " Photo-Illustration by Brenda Priddy.

So, while it may be a Priddy good illustration, it's not necessarily an actual unretouched photo.

I Googled "Brenda Priddy" and it appears she is one of the top providers of spy shots to various sources.