http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/16/s...mini-cooper-s/

"Autobild is guessing that BMW has added an additional 25 centimeters to the car's length."

 

Hmmm. Maybe Autobild's information for the extra 10" was confused with the traveler concept car?

Anyway you slice the '07 w/ or w/out an extra 10", I'm confident and comfortable with my decision to go with an '06 craptastic MCS!

Slightly off topic but...

What's the logic behind shielding the wiper blades in the '07 design? I understand that it makes the car compliant with EU's pedestrian-friendly safety laws. What is the pedestrian being protected from? Getting an eye poked out on the wiper spindle, should they get run over by a MINI while jaywalking across the Champs Elysees? Granted, if the pedestrian were facing the MINI, I'd imagine that they would get a double knee-cap. but lose an eye, too?

I'm all for the sculpted contours of the current MINI & MCS hoods, even if they're "dangerous" by EU specs. Wow, if a MINI's hood is dangerous, how does one catagorize those popular HUGE chrome-plated brush guards that further fortify the supersized battle cruisers a.k.a. Excursions, Expeditions, Navigators, XLTs, Yukons, etc? Let's not forget to include Rams.

 

As well as Cadi's with texas longhorns on the grill.

 

LOL!

I suppose when you make a sweeping regulatory ordinance like that, you have to make it apply to all new automobiles, regardless of size (or cuteness ), and there's not much you can do about the behemoths already cruising about. Still, I'm with you, shielding the wiper blades? That's a bit excessive...

Also, what kind of crazy special interest groups do they have in Europe?! Do they actually have lobbying groups of people who have been run over or something?!

 

I don't know about 10", but yes it's going to be a bit longer. There is more front overhang than there is now. I've read that the boot is larger. Maybe extra crush space for wayward pedestrians & a bigger boot = 10". Guess we'll find out in a while.

 

Information that I have read put's the wheelbase for the new car at 99.0 inches, up two inches from the 02-06 versions. The overall length has been increase by two inches as well. The width of the new car is bigger by 0.75 inches, but the height is the same as the current car.

 

does anyone know if the 2007 will have 3 rear seat belts.

 

the 2007 MINI will continue to have two belts in the back seats.

For that matter, so will the Traveller based on the concept.