R56 Facelift

[RyanK]

Does anyone have any inside information as to when the facelift model of the current R56 is coming into production. I know theres been loads of speculation and also loads of pictures in blogs etc to back all of the info up but does anyone actually know when we will see things

Reason being is that I've been contemplating a Factory JCW. Would not like to buy one just now though if its the case of the facelift model coming out next year (as rumours state), its one of the reasons how I didn't go for that Pepper white one I had my deposit down on.

Hopefully someone will know, don't understand why mini are so secretive with regards to what they are up to. Is it just because if they released information of a facelift everyone would simply be holding off for the new releases? I don't know hahah

cheers!

[Forbes]

Baz this thread is your fault

[RyanK]

Not necessarily, GP is much more exciting. Just playing with ideas...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/4643241498_b9540822fa_o.jpg

:cool:

[Bazthemod]

LMAO I love how a 10 min drive in my car has caused this!

Ryan from what I understand it will be revealed in September and production by the following March. But this is rumor-ville!

You are exactly right about with-holding information - this is the same across all retail sectors - look how much Apple try to protect their products!

However remember that the changes never affected the JCW bodykit last time, you would only probably notice changes in headlights and taillights etc. Been reliably informed that the JCW Factory will start to come with challenge diffuser tho!

[Bazthemod]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4520932563_e91ef7b59a_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4429235246_004fdaa841.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4429200574_1dd0386ab3_o.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4395649019_33586c60e0.jpg

[GCA3N]

What are you like Ryan. Your GP is out of this world mate really smart....Baz what did you do to him, it certainly couldn't have been impressing him with your granny driving ;) :lol:

On topic I read yesterday the face lift R56 is due out at the same time as the countryman, but it never mentioned the JCW.

[Kren__]

Not to put a downer on anyones enthusiasm, but car manufacturers tend to hold off releasing the hot versions of their cars when they update them. Renault are notorious for this. Went to test the 197 Clio when it came out, I liked it but wanted a cup chassis. When I asked about it the salesman just said they weren't doing it. (Which was of course rubbish). So I walked out of the showroom and never went back. The point is they did do it eventually, but it took a while.

Of course I'm still new to the MINI scene so I may be speaking nonsense. MINI may be a bit more switched on for all I know and the JCW might be available straight away...

[AeroJonny]

Kren, they've already released the JCW, so they're not going to stop it being available while they introduce a facelift. It's a few new touches and alterations, not a model change like R53 to R56, so I'm pretty sure it will be available across the model range at the same time. It'll more than likely coincide with the release of the coupe models next year rather than the countryman as that's a whole new model range for MINI and they won't want one to overshadow the other.

ps. M3This' R56 was so awesome

[zimbo]

At last the new facelifted versions will have new rear light clusters which will be LEDs and they will look so much better and brighter and also last longer, so bonus all round :thumbs up:. I would have thought that they would have done something about the day running lights, because as far as I remember by 2011/12 it is going to be mandatory for all new vehicles to have them fitted as standard, but seeing as it doesn't look like they've done anything about that to the facelifted cars they must be leaving it to the last minute for the NEW MINIs which will be due in 2012 I think.

[Ally S]

At last the new facelifted versions will have new rear light clusters which will be LEDs and they will look so much better and brighter and also last longer, so bonus all round :thumbs up:. I would have thought that they would have done something about the day running lights, because as far as I remember by 2011/12 it is going to be mandatory for all new vehicles to have them fitted as standard, but seeing as it doesn't look like they've done anything about that to the facelifted cars they must be leaving it to the last minute for the NEW MINIs which will be due in 2012 I think.

maybe the side lights will become day running lights?

[KenL]

I really hope MINI do not go for DRLs like those OTT ones on Audis.

They are so bright and look "chavvy". They would put me off buying an Audi!

As to LED lights, sure they last longer but there is no need to make anyone's rear lights brighter. Brighter lights just make it more tricky to differentiate brake lights from tail lights. I never have any trouble seeing any cars with 5W bulbs.

[Stewart]

That seat leon (sporty Model) with the lights down the bumper looks naf in my view.

[Scottie]

I would just paint the body of your GP black Ryan maybe leave the roof silver.:smilewinkgrin::hand::hand:

[RyanK]

Thanks everyone for the input! Looks like its definately late 2011, still a while to go :D

Haha Scottie it may be done :lol:

[Mon the fish]

I really hope MINI do not go for DRLs like those OTT ones on Audis.

They are so bright and look "chavvy". They would put me off buying an Audi!



Completely agree. I used to be in charge of the company cars (all Audi's) in my last job, and any new ones that were delivered, I turned off the chintzy lights via the MMI. The drivers were all too thick to work out how to turn them back on!

[KenL]

Completely agree. I used to be in charge of the company cars (all Audi's) in my last job, and any new ones that were delivered, I turned off the chintzy lights via the MMI. The drivers were all too thick to work out how to turn them back on!

So, you can turn them off then - that's good.