The US auto magazine Motortrend joins the next generation MINI party with a load of info (and a photo) that seems vaguely familiar. To be fair, the magazine does manage to do a decent job of at least summing up what MotoringFile readers have known for awhile. Here’s an excerpt:
Great handling and roadholding remain a priority, but the current multilink rear axle will be simplified for cost-saving and extra rear-seat room. Increased wheel travel is designed to allow better ride quality.
…If you wanted a four-cylinder engine a decade ago, would you have gone to Chrysler? Somehow, BMW did, but by late 2006, it’ll be out of the Brazil-sourced joint venture with Chrysler. The new engine’s sophistication comes from BMW, and its frugality comes from cooperating on purchasing and design with Peugeot-Citroen, French master of cost savings. The other priority was fuel economy. Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulations commence in Europe in 2008, and the current Mini is thirsty for what it does.
The entry-level Mini One, not for U.S. import, will have a 114-horsepower 1.6 with a version of BMW Valvetronic in place of direct-injection and the turbo. Peugeot-Citroen will offer a variable-timed 1.4-liter version of the engine in 74 and 94 horsepower in its small cars.
Aluminum 170-horsepower, 1.6-liter direct-injection turbo four, with 10.5:1 compression ratio, more low-down torque, and freer revving up top, replaces current 168-horse iron lump. The twin-scroll turbo uses alternating exhaust pulses, the manifold pairing up cylinders one and four, two and three. BMW expects 15-percent-better fuel economy, which would be nearly 29 mpg and 37 mpg on the U.S. EPA cycles. The standard Cooper motor is a detuned direct-injection turbo making about 141 horses. Trannys are five- and six-speed manual and conventional automatic (no more CVT).
[ New MINI, New Engine ] Motortrend
That last paragraph may revive the debate on whether or not the Cooper will get the 140hp turbo 4 cylinder or if it will stay at the 115hp level. Originally it was assumed that MINI would use the middle range engine from the BMW/PSA joint venture as a way to bump up the power in the Cooper somewhat. However the most recent info I’ve heard had the Cooper retaining it’s 115hp number for the next generation car. Time will tell.
While much of what’s in the article has been revealed many times before on this site and others, it’s a nice introduction into what will be the next MINI. Of course, if you want all the detailed info on the R56, you’ll want to check out our previous article on the subject:
[Next Generation MINI Revealed ] MotoringFile
<p>The Cooper has to be getting the 140 hp variant if the CVT is gone. 115 hp stocked with a standard auto is going to be horrible-incarnate!!! NOOOOO!!! The CVT is what gives the 115 hp engine its guts and glory. Take that away and you have “booooring” written all over it. It HAS to be the 140 hp if the CVT is truly going away.</p>
<p>Better load up on the 2006 models. They will become collectors items after this monstrosity flops horribly.</p>
<p>The changes to the outside are bad, but minor, but that interior is completely disgusting. Who would want to even go in a car that looks like it was assembled with legos.</p>
<p>They are about to VW-Bugify the MINI. Everything that made it unique will disappear.</p>
<p>I like a lot of what I hear about the next MINI, but I’m really sad to hear about the end of the multilink suspension. </p>
<p>The current MINI has not been the fastest, it has not had the most sophisticated engine, it is not the most reliable, but you could say that it was by far the best handling car in it’s class. It sounds like the MINI’s unique handling is being dumbed down for the masses.</p>
<p>It’s losing the trim, fit lines. It looks bloated. Maybe it can get a roll on Kirstie Ally’s show “Fat Actress”. Too bad.</p>
<p>they are going to cut costs in the SUSPENSION!?!?!? </p>
<p>why?!?</p>
<p>people like the MINI for it’s handling…take that away and it’s popularity will take a dive</p>
<p>are they going for turbo’ing and less handling? …in other words, are they trying to make it more like the import cars that people like to mod and then drag race, not like the refined handling machines that are at home on the mountains?</p>
<p>how much will the loss of the multi-link affect the handling?</p>
<p>Just a reminder… the MINI in the photo above is just a testing mule and doesn’t show off any of the final styling or trim.</p>
<p><strong>For those worried about the handling</strong>… (for what it’s worth) I’ve been told by an insider that the next MINI will still focus on handling and despite any changes in suspension design, will perform the same if not better than the current car.</p>
<p>Speaking of lego MINI Coopers…</p>
<p>See this link:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.legogh.com/MOCpages/LEGO-Mini-Cooper-S.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.legogh.com/MOCpages/LEGO-Mini-Cooper-S.jpg</a></p>
<p>Dumbing down the suspension…glad I got my 2005.</p>
<p>Can anyone with the technical expertise explain how the suspension and handling can “remain a priority” and actually get better than the current model without the rear-link suspension? Can anyone elaborate on this?</p>
<p>Gabe, I totally trust what you are saying about handling/suspension in the next gen. </p>
<p>I guess the thing that surprises me about the change from multi-link is that it has always been a big part of their marketing campaign (you know the bit about “expensive rear wheel drive suspension on a front wheel drive car”)…seems a bit of an about face.</p>
<p>You didn’t happen to ask your MINI insider as similar question by any chance, did you. :)</p>
<p>No – in fact what I said above is almost word for word what the source said. Sorry to be ambiguous 🙂 </p>
<p>Frankly I’m also concerned by the potential downsides of a change. However if there was one automotive company I would trust to “focus on handling” despite some cost savings… it would be BMW/MINI</p>
<p>While Im no fan of the next-gen Mini’s interior the next-gen Mini/JCW with AWD will destroy the current car in the handling and performance catagory.</p>
<p>Losing a bit of its character, which is why we bought it! Sad. Perhaps the chrome grille will help “pretty it up”! A cheaper rear suspenion-not a good move. With 4-wheel drive coming a bit later, does it mean MINI will go back to rallying with this car? Lots of questions to be answered once it gets here…</p>
<p>If they are not changing the basic layout of the car, they would be stupid to replace the whole rear end suspension. The development of the new piece might costs more then keeping the more expensive multi-link and building it into the next 600,000 cars.</p>
<p>But hey, what do I know about building cars and cost savings….</p>
<p>It never ceases to amaze me the constant bashing of the TRITEC engine in part of the automotive press. My bet is that the rock solid and reliable tritecs will outlive and outlast the French PSA engines…..</p>
<p>All changes are good if they have a reason to be. I think BMW/MINI or MINI/BMW are going to dilute the brand by making it more massive. I personally would have liked that MINI made small incremental changes, a la Porsche 911, than a new car with a flexible plataform for x amount of variations(short base, long base, 4wd, etc). It looks like its time to recup the investment and milk the brand kind of plan. Just take a look at the 3 series, now the new 3 is the opposite of the original 3 in all aspects, but BMW is making tons of money. I am sorry I sold my old 3 but I am not making the smae mistake when a get my ’05 MINI. My 2 cents.</p>
<p>Im also willing to bet that the iron block tritec (especially the non-supercharged)will easily outlast the new aluminum PSA engines over the long run.</p>
<p>While I think the new PSA will perform better then the tritec Iam expecting them to be more fragile.</p>
<p>From page two of the article “Headlamps fixed to fenders rather than integrated in hood to cut costs.” </p>
<p>Now that is a shame. I liked that.</p>
<p>jake – I believe that info is incorrect. If memory serves, a previous article here stated that the headlamps were going to remain integrated into the hood despite previous rumors to the contrary. I think Motor Trend has some outdated info.</p>
<p>The 15% fuel efficiency gain has me interested. The beloved Tritec is no gas guzzler, but it could do a lot better, and in lieu of a hybrid MINI this gain will be welcome.</p>
<p>Pure speculation, but I think they are wrong on the timeline for AWD introduction. I think they’ll introduce it a year after the redesign is launched, two years tops. Launching it in the latter half of the 5-year design cycle wouldn’t make much sense.</p>
<p>I’m interested to see what this Freedom motor can do, but I’m scared to find out what the final interior and handling changes amount to.</p>
<p>“It never ceases to amaze me the constant bashing of the TRITEC engine in part of the automotive press. My bet is that the rock solid and reliable tritecs will outlive and outlast the French PSA engines…..”</p>
<p>Agree.</p>
<p>Also recall that Ward’s Auto named the Cooper S engine one of it’s “10 Best Engines” in 2003: “…almost every Best Engines judge proclaimed this engine a genuine hoot to drive.”</p>
<p>I think the Tritec is a reliable lump, but not sophisticated and definately not as BMW smooth as it could be. I do like it in my MC and it has a nice note too when it gets over 3500rpm. </p>
<p>And let’s not bash the the BMW-PSA engine. The flying propellor put most of the design and engineering into it and they REALLY know engines. So it will probably be just as reliable, and smoother, and more powerful, and more fuel efficient. The engine tech now is amazing and it will impress.</p>
<p>I also doubt that they’d regress with the rear suspension- maybe a simpler multilink or one that will handle AWD adaptation more easily, but I don’t think they’d risk throwing in some cheasy twist beam or semi trailing… even the new Golf/Jetta have mulitlink rears.</p>
<p>As we all should, I’m reserving judgments until I see the final redesign in the flesh. I was skeptical, but BMW impressed me with the 2006 3 series, so I’m confident they’ll do so with the next MINI as well.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t get too upset about the rear suspension changes. It didn’t specify what those would be, other than decreasing space. It could go to a slightly simpler unequal arm (like all the Honda’s) in the rear. Those require less space and cost less than multi-link suspensions. And as long as it’s independent, that’s really the most important part. </p>
<p>In truth the most important part of the suspension in a FF car is the front suspension, so as long as Mini doesn’t compromise it’s setup, the car should remain a very competent, class leading, handler.</p>
<p>Here we go again. The bean counters have become designers and engineers over night. The accountants have been the nemesis of almost every well engineered vehicles throughout the world. Look what they did to the American cars in lieu of saving a few pennies here and a few pennies there.</p>
<p>Please tell me that some of what is predicted ain’t so.</p>
<p>From a former Accountant who loves cars and excellent engineering.</p>