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That said, looks OK too me!

 

Looks like the headlights are completely round now as opposed to being somewhat oblong. Not a bad change, but they should have left the 'bump' in the middle of the hood - even if it didn't need it!

 

Spy-shot or not, it's getting close to production so this is getting close to what it will look like. Knowing the lead times for automotive components like I do, car companies freeze design up to 10 months in advance. Only very small tweaks are entertained in the six month lead-up to production. My money is on that this is indeed the 2007 MINI.

I'm not crazy about it either, but I'll wait until the show to make a true judgement...

 

It's for the intercooler.




This thing has been photochopped (Check out the license plate, for starters). You'll see the standard grill slats--maybe the honeycomb grill will be an option (or not), but the grill slats will be there. Not sure about those oversized wheel arches either. And the bottom portion of the nose will be body colored; say goodbye to the black trim underneath the upper grill..

 

Coor blimey! keep ya hair on! im just saying atm it isnt floating my boat SPY SHOT OR NOT! other reasons are keeping me with the 06 spec mini besides just the looks!

ave a beer or somthing to relax mate!

 

I'm plenty relaxed thanks

Oh and it also looks like the color on the car itself is photoshopped on. Atleast that's my guess, something about it looks off

 

Where can I get those rims?

 

You might have to wait till '07

 

Hmm. I don't like the lines with the wheel well flaring out a bit in the rear. Maybe the red color just makes it look worse than it would with a different color? I never noticed this effect on current MINIs. I like the smoother lines of the current models.

 

Looks like a giant step sideways. I guess it's hard to replace such a perfect design. Will have to wait & see. I'm excited to see what the interior will look like.

 

more photoshop work

lowered the stance a little. Makes it look less like it's under braking...

 

Oh the power of photoshop!!! ..........it STILL looks good!!!

 

I think our buddy was being coy. Doesn't the new turbo engine come sans an intercooler, thus the hood scoop is vestigal?

 

How about with a blacked out trim, clear side markers, painted arches, no hook, difrent color and matching mirrors....a little better but, nope not convinced.

Still turbo right? not convinced

 

If I remember correctly, wasn't the headlight shape, position and angle change due to more restrictive pedestrian safety laws in the EU?

 

Can you put a checkered roof, mirror caps, M7 ultimate hood scoop, one black and one white bonnet stripe, and also paint the wheels black w/a silver lip??? J/K

 

Yup

 

Just for grins, I pasted in some slats. So is the base configuration slats for Cooper and mesh for S?

 

IMHO, it looks to much like an SUV. Mainly because of how it sits and the rear of the car. I hope it's just because of that angle though....I'm glad I got an 03' MCS.

-Cody

 

I will accept this car as the next generation MINI. I would welcome it just like I would welcome any other Mini or MINI. BUT it does not mean that I will be trading up to a 2007 from my 2004. This makes me think about driving my baby until she can drive no more!

My 0.02

~Neal

 

I deffinitly don't like the headlights...and why no xenon's? I like the look of the current post facelift xenons.

-Cody

 

When I look at the picture my eye is drawn toward the rear of the car. There is just something about that hump below the back window I don't like.
I also don't see that cool curved area between the headlight and upper grill.
I bet when it actually comes out and you go down to the dealer to see it they will have one with all the goodies on it and it will be sharp. Just my opinion.

Shawn

 

In addition to all of the prior points made I am concerned about the gap between the front wheelarch and the bonnet. Also I disapprove of the recent trend by automotive designers to make the sides of cars flatter with decreased wheel flares. I will not be replacing my 2003 MCS, with the new gen MINI, hardtop MX-5 sounds very intriguing now... Likely I will drive it until it quits or I become tired of traveling out of state past the nearest dealer due to their shoddy business practices...

 

I tend to agree. I think I will miss the more deeply-drawn bonnet but then it always was a technically controversial pressing. I'll adjust to the new car, no doubt, but now you know how us Cooper owners felt back in '05 when that model got a major facelift. Reservations...preferences? Yup, there were plenty...but in the end though things gotta move on.

 

I think that MINI is making a mistake! The headlights, to me look a bit too Impreza WRX. It is all about the oval on an angle. I don't like the way the hood looks and the grill looks bad. I know that this is just a spy shot but I think that MINI shouldn't have changed the car. The classic mini cars were almost the same until 1999. I think that the design of the MINI was great and they won't be able to make a better car than the 2006. Change is good, but I would rather pay more for a better car and not less for a car that is cheaper to build.