Latest Autocar mag has some artist impression pics of the new lineup. Three door hatch looks really mean with pointed up headlights and a huge buldge on the hood. 6(!)door estate with suicide doors! I don't know about this one. Good news is that they are sticking to the current suspension/chasse setup Check it out.

 

Got a scanner? Would love to see pics...

 

Never mind, found their website...





Article at AUTOCAR website

 

I like it:smile: It seems MINI will keep much of what makes the current car intact and will continue to improve its powertrain and driving dynamics. Kudos for the 5 door hatchback and MINI Traveller station wagon versions, but too bad we will have to wait another 3-4 years before we see them..BIG MISTAKE (Consider that Scion, Mazda, etc already have small 5 door hatchback alterbatives in the market).

 

I saw a picture of the actual car in a UK magazine last week. I don't remember what magazine it was....I think it is simply called CAR.

It shows the big bulge in the hood, ala Mits. Eclipse.
The new headlights and something else which I can't remember.
The grill didn't look anything like that rendition above...it looked really close to what we have now.

 

Don't liek teh bulge in the hood, they should have a scoop whether functional or semifunctional aka, it actually has a hole., not plastic liek the mustangs.. just something I like about the S, a buldge looks like a pimple. I'd rather see one large smooth buldge than a small one in the middle. and the clubman idea is cool, I'd actually liek to see a two tone on the side tho istead of jsut wood slats

 

Chollomo, I really and truly have a hard time reading your posts buddy.....

 

Has the Mini been bought out by Aston Martin? I mean...why are they doing an Aston Martin grill then Don't get me wrong...Aston Martin is a great mark. Just wondering what is going on with Mini's design team. First they go "rice" with their 05 lamps to match the ever popular Alteza rears...now this Oh...don't forget about the "black" backup lamp plugs too...mmmmnnnn....very tasteful, barf. Even if it was body colored, it still says "sorry, you don't get this anymore" loud and clear to everyone behind you...aakkk

That's probably why Frank left for Ferrari

I like the way you spell "liek", Chollomo Reminds me I need some to make my corned beef and cabbage tonight

 

That frontal pic is just an Autocar artists speculation about what the next MINI will look like. Don't expect it to actually look like that. I think they were just trying to show how the styling will be different yet familiar. I think it looks pretty bad myself.

And the future 'S' will not be supercharged eh? I agree with getting rid of the hood scoop in that case. I hate non-functional bits on cars to make them look like something they are not (aka the mustang looking like it's not a junkpile ) This should take some wind from the sails of those people who think the "S" stands for "Supercharged" (hint, it doesn't stand for "sport" either, read up on your Mini history!)

 

Sorry about the posts, I suck at typing and think twice as fast as I type. When I instant message it's pretty bad or when I'm on here and only have limited time to respond my posts can look like dookie. I swear I'm typing dyslexic. The scary thing is I was an editor for 4 years and I've also been a published writer, and I won a spelling bee. I'm sorry, I love posting here, but sometime I just don't have the time to refine it. If it's any consolation, you should know my handwriting is worse, but it is spelled correctly.

 

Keep in mind Autocar is notorious for doing "photo-chop" design jobs...just as pure speculation. I've spent a lot of time on vwvortex over the years and their stuff pops up all of the time for "future" VWs...the stuff hase rarely been right. Another photochop magazine is Autobild...same kind of stuff

 

Do a little math, guys. They are talking about cars to be built in 2 years - that makes them 2007 models. A new convertible 2 years after introduction? Not economically feasable - the prototypes would already have to be driving around.



This is one of those pure speculation and photoshop articles that means nothing. The economics of the car business mean that basic chassis design and engine design have to be a least a 5 year cycle. Remember when VW was still selling Cabriolets based on the Rabbit when the hardtop Golf had already been introduced?


We might see some new engines in 2007, but it may be a case, like the One D, where they will not be available in the U.S. - If the S engine is normally aspirated, I could see them cutting out the Mini Cooper completely in the U.S. - just selling he "S" models. Right now, in most of the world they have a choice of 6 or more Mini models, from the One to the "S," and even more choices will cause havoc in the parts department. I do not look for "Clubman" or "Estate" models to be sold here. Simply do not make sense in the U.S. except as a cult car.
If you watch "Fifth Gear" on cable, and see the type of cars available in Europe due to their weird tax structure and expensive gas prices, you understand the need for these things over there - but in the U.S. they simply are not what American buyers want. They are nice to look at, though.