BMW has revealed some details of the second generation Mini which makes its public debut at the Paris motor show in September with new engines, upgraded interior, and updated body.
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“Each and every detail has been changed or modified [but] the new model naturally retains all the proven and unmistakable features of the Mini clearly recognisable at very first sight,” BMW said.
Although the car looks to have had only a mild facelift (BMW taped over some exterior and interior details in the cars it revealed to consumer press this week and in photos), the key change is a higher bonnet line to allow more room between the panel and the engine, to meet new EU pedestrian injury rules.
As part of the more crash- and pedestrian-friendly structural redesign, the headlights, which rise with the bonnet (hood) on current models, are now attached to the body and shine through cut-outs in the bonnet and the front wheel arches are fixed to the wings.
BMW says the engines and transmissions, suspension and steering, plus brakes and safety systems are all “brand-new developments from the ground up”.
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By GlobalDataThe key change is a switch from the 1.6-litre petrol engines sourced from a joint venture with Chrysler in Brazil (and related to the engines in the US maker’s old Neon) to new units, also 1.6-litres, developed with PSA that BMW is building in-house at its four cylinder engine plant in Hams Hall, near Birmingham in the English Midlands. These are said to be both lighter and more economical than the US-designed unit.
The Mini Cooper (88 kW/120 hp) and turbocharged Cooper S (128 kW/175 hp) will be launched first, with the One ‘basic’ version following somewhat later. BMW is coy on that model’s engine details and has hinted that it may be smaller than 1.6-litres (1.4 is common on this size of car in Europe) with output around 90hp.
A turbodiesel will again be offered – Toyota supplies the 1.4-litre engine for the current car – and the consumer writers who have already tried new Mini prototypes say a version of the well-proven PSA-Ford developed and built 1.6-litre turbodiesel is the most likely choice.
The new 1.6 petrol engines have twin overhead chain-drive camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The engine block and cylinder head are cast aluminium alloy.
Innovations include a volume flow-controlled oil pump and a water pump that switches off automatically when not required to reduce fuel consumption. All comply with the latest Euro 4 emission standard.
The Cooper’s normally-aspirated engine has a maximum output of 88kW/120hp at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 160Nm/118lb-ft at 4,250 rpm and intake valves are controlled in a fully variable process by the BMW’s unique Valvetronic technology, allowing the engine to breathe freely, without the usual restrictions imposed by a throttle butterfly. Valve lift and opening times are adjusted by infinite electronic control.
The Cooper S has a turbocharged engine with direct petrol injection. Turbocharging is provided by a twin-scroll turbocharger fed with a separate flow of exhaust gas from two cylinders each. Benefiting from this configuration, the turbocharger cuts in at low engine speeds, which BMW claims almost completely eliminates the so-called ‘turbo lag’ when accelerating.
The model-distinguishing bonnet air scoop remains but is now a non-functional fake used only for appearance reasons.
Maximum torque of 240Nm or 177lb-ft comes at only 1,600 rpm, maximum output is 128kW/175hp at 5,500 rpm. BMW says the combination of a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection also ensures superior fuel economy and very efficient emission control.
Six-speed manual gearboxes will be standard and a conventiional six-speed automatic – critical for the US market – will be optional in place of the current Mini’s CVT unit.
New electrically-assisted power steering includes a ‘sport’ button for more response and feedback and, as seen on BMW brand models, modifies the electronic throttle to give a sharper response to the pedal.
Anti-lock brakes (mandatory in Europe), electronic brake force distribution and cornering brake control are also items familiar from larger BMW models along with newly added tyre pressure monitors. Stability and traction control is now standard for the Cooper S and optional on other versions. Safety gear includes six airbags with side curtains that now cover rear seat passengers.
Exterior length is up by 70mmm or 2.76 inches and the Mini retains its distinctive hexagon grille, large headlights, diagonal joint between the engine compartment lid and side direction indicators (a stylist’s link to the welding seam on the original Alec Issigonis-designed BMC Mini), and upright rear light clusters.
The new rear lights have LED elements rather than bulbs and have a circular turn indicator section incorporating a Mini emblem.
The dashboard has been redesigned with outer air outlets moved to the extreme ends and, through separate elements and dividing lines, allows greater customisation than before with inserts more ‘sporting, technical or elegant’ depending on colour and material chosen. This can be supplemented by up to 16 chrome-plated trim surrounds on the instruments and air vents themselves included in one of several option packs.
The central speedometer (another link back to the original Mini) is retained and now incorporates the navigation display (on current Minis, opting for satnav displaces the speedo to a separate steering colum-mounted dial) along with metallic-look toggle switches in both the centre console and, newly, in the roof lining.
The ignition key has been replaced by an electronic signal transmitter enabling the driver to start the engine simply by pressing a button after having inserted a round chip sensor in the opening next to the steering wheel.
Seats have been redesigned to give more comfort in front and more knee room behind and the steering column now has telescopic as well as vertical adjustment.
There are several new option packs and one includes coloured LEDs in the doors, dashboard and roof lining whcih can be switched beween orange, pink and blue. This is similar to the lighting pack offered by Toyota’s Scion brand in the US as a dealer option.
