New Mini Design Chief Gert Hildebrand states what features will remain on new Mini.

[johnsocal]

In the new March issue Motortrend magazine it states the following on page 20:

"Design chief Gert Hildebrand regards these design cues as sacred: bug-eye headlamps, grille shape, clamshell hood with a central bulge. Headlamps fixed to fenders rather than integrated in hood to cut costs"



In the article it also stated the next-gen Mini will start production in late 06 as a 2007 model and an AWD version will come out a few years later and JCW is planning to getting the new engine up to 230HP. The article also stated that 4-door hatch will come out a year later while a next gen convertible will be about 2 year later and that the rear multilink suspension has been simplified to allow for more wheel travel which helps create more rear seat space and will also make the ride smoother..

[DeadCanDanceR]

...if what Mr. Hildebrand says is true, then the 2005 facelift will be quite short-lived, and thus maybe rarer than previous MINIs!

[MrV]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeadCanDanceR

...if what Mr. Hildebrand says is true, then the 2005 facelift will be quite short-lived, and thus maybe rarer than previous MINIs!

Oh that's just great!! I've got a 71 Super Beetle, which lasted until 1972, everything on that car is just different enough to make it difficult to get parts. It once took me 2 weeks just to get a brake line.


Looks like a similar situation coming for my '05 MINI.

Might have to sell this one after 20 years, instead of my usual 30 (or so.... I still have the Beetle).

[johnsocal]

The interesting part of the article is that the design chief state the clamshell hood will remain which goes against current speculation even though the new car will have fixed lights instead of hood mounted ones.

[DeadCanDanceR]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnsocal

The interesting part of the article is that the design chief state the clamshell hood will remain which goes against current speculation even though the new car will have fixed lights instead of hood mounted ones.

That means that there will not be more jaw-dropping onlookers when you open the hood of a 2007 MINI???

[Cooper76]

What do you guys think about the new rear suspension planned??? Is that going to affect the great handling/suspension stiffness of the MINI adversely at all???

[johnsocal]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cooper76

What do you guys think about the new rear suspension planned??? Is that going to affect the great handling/suspension stiffness of the MINI adversely at all???

They will be most likely just refining it while reducing production cost at the same time. I doubt it will negatively effect handling since it should improve the ride quality and if the article is correct the new rear suspension is being designed to handle AWD (it might be RWD biased) and a 230HP JCW version.

[Dead Duck]

Aaargh!

I hope I'm not alone on this one... Why can't they just leave it alone! It's not like BMW needs to update the looks to shift metal, they're flying off the forecourts (and out of the factories) as they are.

Technical improvements and interior updates are understandable, but the styling of the exterior is so strong that I can't see why they'd want to change it. They're just going to dilute both the design, and the brand. IMHO, the new MINI is in real danger of becoming 'just another car' like the VW Golf or the Ford Fiesta.

As my mum once said "If you keep playing with it, it'll drop off"

JoN

(Proud to be the owner of a BMW MINI mk1)

[ButtonIt]

Fully agree with you DD, why mess about with something that is already incredibly attractive?

It's not as though the design is outdated (think of old school VW polo's) or the need for incresed safety.

Plus it would look odd with the lights lower down....

[Pepper-Cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dead Duck

Aaargh!

I hope I'm not alone on this one... Why can't they just leave it alone! It's not like BMW needs to update the looks to shift metal, they're flying off the forecourts (and out of the factories) as they are.

Technical improvements and interior updates are understandable, but the styling of the exterior is so strong that I can't see why they'd want to change it. They're just going to dilute both the design, and the brand. IMHO, the new MINI is in real danger of becoming 'just another car' like the VW Golf or the Ford Fiesta.

As my mum once said "If you keep playing with it, it'll drop off"

JoN

(Proud to be the owner of a BMW MINI mk1)

IMO - think of it as another 911 - just keeps getting better and better, with small updates

[johnsocal]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pepper-Cooper

IMO - think of it as another 911 - just keeps getting better and better, with small updates

I agree. While I think the next-gen Mini will be faster (230HP JCW) and handle even better (especially if AWD becomes an option) the only negative thing that I see that like-Porsche the Mini will become more expensive.

I wouldn't be surprised if the base Cooper with a turbo 140HP has a base price of $20,995 (in 2007 US dollars) and the MCS has a base closer to $24,995.00 and a "factory-built" 230 HP JCW (not dealer installed) with AWD will have a base price around $29,995.00.

[xplode]

i think the thing is they pretty much -have- to redesign the front end for the new pedestrian impact regualtions where the bonnet can't sit too close the hard parts (engine) etc... ?

also, does the clamshell + fixed headlights statement mean there's going to be holes in he bonnet but the light won't travel with it? that'd look weird, but if you check out the pictures of the mules recently it does look strange.

[Paul]

This was said last year when they launched the MINI Convertible. I did put it on MINI2 somewhere.

Gert Hildebrand is VERY hard to get good information from though, he's almost always giving tongue in cheek half answers, even if you ask him about somethign that you know is coming.



Always seems to be in a good mood though, even when he's being bugged by a million press people all evening.