|
Exterior
The new MINI has changed substantially in the exterior appearance, much like it has inside, and under the hood. The MINI has kept the same relative look over the last 5 years, but due to new regulations in pedestrian crash testing, the front end that we have all come to know and love will be altered to comply, while not losing that MINI look. The new MINI has also gone through some minor changes in the effort to save on build costs, thus saving on retail pricing. The headlights, while staying in the same relative shape and style in all of the MINI models, will be moved out towards the corners of the car. The hood has been lifted slightly, meeting the fenders more evenly where the current MINIs have a dip from the fenders to the hood. Some other new features are the larger, more rounded off front bumper; and the cowl area, which shows windshield wipers which are tucked down under the hood more, and where the current MINI has a pair of cowl vents, the new MINI will have one long vent, running the length of the cowl area. The turn signal/ parking lights have been moved from their current location (above the fog lights) will now be integrated into the headlight assembly, and fog lights will be enlarged to roughly two and a half to three inches. The newly turbocharged S will still come with the front mounted hood scoop, but it will be somewhat smaller. The S will also likely come with a meaner looking from air dam, and with a black grille instead of the chrome unit, and the lower grille section will be enlarged to match the top section, to give them a single unit look. The side view mirrors will change slightly in shape to give the car a more aggressive look, as well as bolstering aerodynamics. Like the front end, the rear end lighting will change as well. They will have a single unit which includes a large red center stop light, with the amber turn signal inside, with a small rectangle back-up light at the bottom, and this assembly will be shorter and fatter in comparison to the current tail light assemblies. To allow more options along the lines of rear aerodynamics and a spoiler, the 3rd brake light has been moved inside the lift gate, and a larger real factory spoiler will likely be seen on the S. The rear grille section, like the front grille section will be enlarged for a meaner look, and the center exit exhaust tips will still be on the new MINI but will likely be enlarged as well.
The side of the new MINI will be changed, but will be very subtle changes, unnoticeable to many who are not familiar with the current MINI. Eighteen inch wheels will likely be standard on the new S, and a regular option on the base model, and to allowed for a proper looking wheel opening, the current opening will be enlarged, but there will be little or no increase in the flare from the body. A glance above the rear wheel well will display a new BMW styled gas door, which has a push to open style as opposed to the current pull to open style. The sunroof option will remain, and to date, no great change has been seen in the styling of the roof or sunroof, even with the elongated new body.
Along the lines of dramatic changes is the possible offering of an all new line of MINI, and while being new to this modern day MINI, it is actually a concept over forty years old; the MINI Clubman. It carries all of the new options and features of the new MINI, with the added convenience or suicide style doors, and in the rear, instead of a lift gate, the Clubman comes with side swing split style rear doors. The Clubman carries more of a feel of a station wagon than it does the normal hatchback, and offers more usefulness in rear passenger entry and exit, as well as the ability to load cargo into the rear of the vehicle with more ease than the standard MINI line.
|
