BMW maximises new Mini generation

[bmwmpower]

BMW has hatched a shock for Mini fans – a new version of the iconic car with a longer body. These exclusive shots show an engineering prototype undergoing early road tests. The extent of the stretch can be seen for the first time from the modifications made to the bodywork behind the rear wheels.

It would have been too expensive and time consuming to stretch the Mini’s wheelbase (as well as requiring costly changes to the production line), so it appears that a little extra length has been grafted in behind the rear wheels in an attempt to improve on the car’s dire boot space.

The extended disguise around the rear lamps and the new bumper position seem to indicate that the rear section of the floorpan has been stretched by a crucial few centi-
metres. Close observation of this prototype’s rear roof pillar shows that it too has been modified and disguised with black tape.

BMW’s engineers will probably design a new tailgate with more of a clamshell design than the current car’s. Its upper section will probably wrap around the corners of the glasshouse to dovetail with the modified C-pillar. The rear screen and rear panel will sit further out between the extended rear wing sections. It’s thought that the shaped plastic number plate surround riveted to the prototype’s rear in this picture shows how much further the tailgate will have to project outwards.

Some observers think that the 2006 Mini will also get new rear light clusters which stand proud from the rear wings, much like the original Mini’s. Other changes include what appear to be modifications to the rear suspension; freshly fabricated locating arms are clearly visible under the car.

Judging by the deep air intake in the bumper of the car caught here and the centrally mounted exhaust, it appears to be the new Cooper S, with its brand-new turbocharged 170bhp 1.6-litre engine. Sources have told Autocar that the Works version of the blown Cooper engine should be good for 230bhp. Its ability to get that power down will be improved by the modifications to the front suspension.

http://img93.exs.cx/img93/9606/141551024248mz.jpghttp://img124.exs.cx/img124/7725/141551025459dq.jpg
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cos im fan of mini, i had some articles, for example mini catalogue

3655 mm * 1688(1925)*1416

I got some experience with this car and i like it very much, but its got any space for bags and Rear seats are for trolls so if you want big space for bags, rear seats must away

[mv]

the all-new 1.6l turbocharged four is sweet...it will probably be used in the 207 GTI as well.

[BADMIHAI]

Fuck...if you want luggage space, buy a minivan. If you want a go-kart for the public roads, buy a Mini.

[bmwmpower]

Fuck...if you want luggage space, buy a minivan. If you want a go-kart for the public roads, buy a Mini.

Yes, mini is small go cart :D

[TT]

Actually the new Mini never was a go kart... it's fucking huge anyway compared to the real thing, so IMO the damage was already done :D

[GTO]

^ yeah I thought so too, if you put them side by side the new one dwarfs the old one. Its bigger than a small sedan eg Lancer. Its not a MINI but a MEDIUM :)

[bmwmpower]

Its not that big, its 3,6 m long

[5vz-fe]

IMO, BMW should shrink the 1-series platform for the mini, so that it will be a RWD :mrgreen: (I know I know, the original one is FWD, but hey, the beetle is FF, so why can't a mini be FR rite?)

[bmwmpower]

not bad that small car with RWD, actually that not a chance, it will be more expensive

[Anonymous]

I saw in this month's Automobile magazine BMW will make several more iterations of the mini, not just the extended one. They were talking about an Off-Road one as well.

[ikon2003]

Nice, hopefully this will herald in some Bimmer models that won't have the complementary design debacle as part of the package.

[ferrarif1fan89]

i like it, but they should really stop enlarging it. its going against the whole philosophy of the brand. its big enough dammit!

[Wutputt]

Some extra spy pics. As you can see the nose of the 2006 Mini is a bit higher. The reason for this is the car will have a better pedestrian safety figure and will comply with future pedestrian safety regulations. The changes aren't big, but still noticable. Some other changes will be done to reduce the manufacturing costs of the car. One of them are the headlamps who won't be attached to the bonnet anymore.

Other exterior changes for the 2006 Mini are minor as can be seen on these pics. As bmwpower already said. The 2006 Mini will use a new 1.6 petrol engine, which is co-developed with PSA. It'll produce 115 bhp in standard outfit, and 75 in the downtuned version. A direct injection turbocharged version will give 143 bhp. And 170 bhp will be available for the beefed up turbocharged version. Those engines will be manufactured in France. So the new new Mini will evade it's Chrysler (based) engines.

http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/images/32292.1.gen.jpg

http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/images/32294.1.gen.jpg

http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/images/32293.1.gen.jpg
pics: autotelegraaf

[mindgam3]

There was so many variants of the original, dont see why BMW cant do the same thing??

[dickhertz]

so when are they going to do the right thing and rename it...

perhaps the 'largey' :mrgreen:

[Anonymous]

There was so many variants of the original, dont see why BMW cant do the same thing??

Maybe cos they copied the original shape so much :roll: really it is just a bit more curvy and enlarged all the styling cues shout MINI!! I can understand wanting it to be bigger first off for practicality (still far bigger than it needed to be!) but if they don't stop pissing about with it it will lose its ONLY selling point and start to blend in with all the other boring euro/ Jap boxe hatches.

I still think the current model quite nice looking i'd even cosider one if i could afford it i just hope BMW treat the Mini name with the respect it deserves and eventually puts out the revised model with limited cosmetic differences :|

[sergei_dekker85]

i think BMW have ruined the mini really Big time...sad to say...they've killed the legend..despite that its fun to drive its too slow to uphold its name....BMW made it too heavy and now they've ruined it even further by extending its boot

[bmwmpower]

hmm, not that bad, Fift Gear British car today, yes its too heavy,but looks great, handling is ok, engines too, only price is not great , 1.6 S is not slow and atmosferice 1.6 Cooper with 125 hp too,yes original was better, but today Mini is really good copy of original HAWK

[sergei_dekker85]

the thing is that i cannot accept the fact that it clocked a circuit slower than a Honda civic Type-R!! a legend lose out to the boy racer?! gimme a break man

[Wutputt]

Some extra spy pics of the 2006 Mini shot during winter testing:

http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/66665.jpg

http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/66669.jpg

http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/66670.jpg

http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/66671.jpg

http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/66672.jpg

http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/66674.jpg

http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/66675.jpg
(autobild.de)




And some spy pics shot at the design department:

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Mini/Cooper2007/images/05.jpg

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Mini/Cooper2007/images/06.jpg

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Mini/Cooper2007/images/07.jpg

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Mini/Cooper2007/images/12.jpg

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Mini/Cooper2007/images/08.jpg

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Mini/Cooper2007/images/13.jpg

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars/Mini/Cooper2007/images/14.jpg
(wheels24.co)

[Sir_GT]

I don't understand why people hate the new mini so much. BMW couldn't keep the old size simply because of the required safety standards. You can't stuff airbags, torsion beams, and the lot in the old one... those are required in all new cars that are being made.

Throw in the upcoming pedestrian safety standards, and you've got a whole lot of things to think about.

Also, it may be large compared to the old car, but to everything else currently out there, it still is a "mini." It looks like a mini, drives like a mini, and is still made in England, like the mini.

[sergei_dekker85]

I don't understand why people hate the new mini so much. BMW couldn't keep the old size simply because of the required safety standards. You can't stuff airbags, torsion beams, and the lot in the old one... those are required in all new cars that are being made.

Throw in the upcoming pedestrian safety standards, and you've got a whole lot of things to think about.

Also, it may be large compared to the old car, but to everything else currently out there, it still is a "mini." It looks like a mini, drives like a mini, and is still made in England, like the mini.

in no way it handles like the old mini....one main reason is because of the weight...and its not that fast either....I don't hate it..I'm just disappointed with it...and being Fwd u can't put down 2 much BHP or there wil be torque steer...c'mon even the focus RS is way faster than this