The imminent arrival of the four-door, four-wheel drive Countryman may be the big MINI news at the moment, but the BMW-owned firm are keen to show they haven’t forgotten their bread and butter model.
These spy shots show a hatchback Cooper S sporting minimal camouflage and a slight facelift to keep it looking fresh.
At the front, the lower grille has shed its chrome surrounding, in favour of two chrome rimmed air-intakes. This design is mirrored at the rear of the car, incorporated within an all-new bumper. Completing the updates are re-freshed light clusters.
Meanwhile, inside many of metal-effect finishes in the current car will make way for more upmarket materials borrowed from the Countryman.
No major mechanical upgrades are expected but a few minor revisions will concentrate on cutting CO2 emissions and improving efficiency.
Expect the updated MINI range to go on sale in August this year.
For an alternative review of the latest MINI Coupe Coupe visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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What is the point in putting a bit of tape over the MINI badge??
EVERYONE knows it's a mini
The tape is there simply because it is not official, nor is it on sale yet.
Well all i can say is ,they went all out on the changes (not) ,there was nothing wrong with the last refamp...
Lets hope the interior looks better,never been keen on current models that much,though in fairness all modern cars appear bland internally to me, lets also hope the engines are more efficient and deliver better as overall these cars appear a good package,drove an S once and it felt big carish..Might buy one if this comes up to scratch,like the hatchback idea.
Like the mild updates but let's be honest the Mini is an Icon so what ever you do with it it will always sell well. Not sure about the above comment's about efficent engines as I regularly get 35mpg average from a petrol 182bhp engine (climate on) which sounds pretty good to me. Still the car to beat for smiles per miles!.
I resisted the mini when it came out, especially when foxtons got hold of them. Fact is they are an absolute hoot to drive both the cooper and the cooper s. So well balanced, direct and good feel and feedback. Lots of grip and easy to get lift off oversteer if you fancy being a bit silly, yet all pretty safe. I did think the last interior used some crappy plastic, but its hard not to like the little mini, even if everyone thinks you're an estate agent.
In terms of the changes, car companies are more and more like F1 teams, they're continuely updating and adding new bits, no problem to me at all, even if only subtle.
Not a heck of a difference........but one thing for sure.....the older models will depreciate more........
Good job Mini!
Just continues to prove that BMW can't seem to get anything to look right if it isn't one of their big saloons. In my opinion, the original (BMW) 'MINI' concept was good but any tinkering they have done since simply makes the thing look like a boy racer's part-time project to me.
I remember the days of the orginal ADO 15 Minis and owning and driving the orginal MINI Cooper S in different versions up to 1275cc etc!
The present BMW Minis are simply not the real thing - its like the difference between fake and real OMEGA and Rolex watches!
A real ADO 15 Cooper S in super nick is a joy to drive and has real character whether on winding country roads or on ice or hard packed snow, these present BMW Minis are designed with crowds like the Sloan Rangers and similar in mind.
But thats progress!
The BMW Mini is nothing special anymore, they are far too common with every Tom, Dick & Harry owning one.
People who buy these lack substance, same with people with buy VW Golfs & Audi A4s.
What Facelift? Still looks Dull!
What Facelift? Still looks Dull!