The 'New Mini' Spotted

[Lawrothegreat]

Hello all,

I was in Oxford earlier this afternoon for a meeting, and when I left the area at about 5pm I noticed a car transporter full of minis. Nothing unusual here as the mini is manufactured in Cowley. However as I focussed on the transporter (which was about 20 cars in front in traffic) I noticed it was carrying something rather special.

I believe there were two specimens of the new mini on the back. It looked as though the others on the transporter were current versions (because there was a cabriolet and I'm purely guessing this won't be ready straight away). I saw the front of one mini in a dark colour that had a larger slightly more angular grill, and headlights that seemed to curve around the corners of the front more, and definitely placed closer to the sides of the car. I saw the back of a second car in white, and it looked similar to the current version but more square.

So therefore, has anyone else in the Oxford area spotted these today or indeed others recently? (couldn't see any other obvious threads). If I am right, which I'm sure I am, I guess mini may place a couple of pre-production cars on a transporter so someone might 'snap a photograph' for it to appear in auto express or autocar to heighten interest in the new car.

I lost the transporter (trying to catch up in stop start traffic in oxford is impossible) on the roundabout coming out of Oxford where you can take either the A34 northbound or southbound. I went southbound and never saw it again, so where did it go?!!

[dannit]

ooooooooooo, how cool!!! will be keeping my eye out up here in liverpool cause all the transporters going to the docks pass my house!!!! cheers for the heads up!

[Tinkerbell]

[MetalMiniMayhem]

someone needs to check this out.. too bad I'm across the pond or I'd be doing a little intel work to get to the bottom of this.. a good mystery.. thanks for sharing that!

[skrauze]

Be keeping an eye out down at the Docks here at Southampton as well!

[Spotty Dog]

I know Mike Cooper is getting his next week, so this has gotta be a 1st outside 'spy-shots', nice one!!

[Jordan210]

im oging spying in oxford or i might go book a factory tour and see what i can see

[richhamer]

I saw one a few months ago just up the road from the factory. I live a few miles up the A40 from Cowley so I expect to see more.
Just need to grab the camera phone a bit quicker next time

[AidenL]

We need pics !

[Paul]

I've checked a few times, managed to escape me and my zoom lens so far.

[KPKalle]

Shame you didn't get a photo. Exciting though

[Jordan210]

now every time i go to oxford im going to have my SLR camera ready we need a road block

[GR33NIE]

I live about ten mins from the plant and haven't seen any yet Expect to see more though especially around August time.

Heres an interesting fact sometimes upto 45MINI's can get made in an hour

[Lawrothegreat]

Quote: Originally Posted by KPKalle

Shame you didn't get a photo. Exciting though

Yeah I wish I had too. But the transporter was about twenty cars in front, and my phone has a 300k pixel resolution

[cooper-minx]

Still don't think they will be as good as the Minis out now .... my 55 plate is PERFECT!