SPY PHOTOS: BMW leaks spy photos of its OWN car?

Ho Hum... you've seen one Mini, you've seen them all... Yawn!

I don't see much of a difference. Granted they have to stay true to "Mini" style, so you probably won't see much of a change, but to be honest the outgoing model seemed to look more aggressive, if you can even use that word to describe a Mini.

The biggest change is in the engine, it is finally modern.

Maybe the point is to support sales of the existing model by showing the replacement is indistinguishable?

Actually, as this is only a extensive face-lift, the majority of exterior panels are untouched.

What you will find, however, when you park the current MINI next to the new one, is the totally new front-end. Yes, it looks similar to the old one, but look closer and you will see the headlights have been pulled right back into the flanks, making the front more convex than the flatter current shape, and the S versions benefit from more aggressive front and rear aprons.

Also, due to pedestrian safety regulations, the windscreen wiper arms are now tucked behind the bonnet rather then on top.

And as Chewy says, the lacklustre Chrysler-developed motor has been binned in favour of a PSA-BMW developed lump.

Old Mini 1.6 one of the best around? Maybe in the US but in the rest of the world its a pice of junk! As for the comment about this car being a face lift, OMG you are so unintelligent and ill informed! The New Mini is new from ground up & new engine range is state of the art not stone age American tech! As for the ho hum about the styling.. how much has the 911 changed over the years? This forum is full of arrogant idiots! Go read about what you are talking about b4 you vomit your thoughts out!

rnsaza (or God as he is otherwise known...)

Read the word 'extensive' in extensive face-lift. A face-lift because it is NOT an entirely new car. Yes, the interior has had a substantial rework, yes, the rear suspension is all new, yes, the engine is new, and yes the exterior has been fettled with, but it is not new 'from the ground up'.

So there.

Actually, the Mini is a "redesign" for 2007. The industry definition of a "redesign" is:

A model that features a new platform, new interior and exterior styling and may feature the same engine/transmission as the previous year.

In the case of the 2007 Mini, it also is adding the new engine to the rest of the changes. With it being all together "bigger" (wider, taller and longer) that covers the need to change the exisiting platform a bit. Add the cosmetic interior and exterior tweaks, as subtle as some of them are, and you now have a vehicle that can be considered new "from the ground up".