Next generation (J01) MINI Cooper revealed

"Factory" seemed like an odd translation until I thought about it a bit more and realized it actually translates fairly well. Some manufacturers have factory racing teams and/or products — which is just another way of saying "works team"
https://www.ridefox.com/careers.php
https://www.ktm.com/en-us/ktm-world/news/ktm-factory-editions.html
https://www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road/community/rzr-life/factory-racing/
https://www.associatedelectrics.com/teamassociated/cars_and_trucks/RC10B4.1/Factory_Team/

 

Excited

 

Part of the attempt to make the just-revealed F66 gas-powered MINI Cooper S look like the electric MINI Cooper SE J01 was to eliminate the fake hood scoop! Unfortunately, the "power bump," which I like, is also gone. As with the J01, MINI moved the windshield-washer jets off the hood.

With all the proportions and angles the same as the F56, the clamshell hood, and the wheel-well surrounds, the F66 still looks a lot more like an F56 than a J01. The biggest external difference between the F56 and F66 are the tail-lights. The F66's interior, of course, is very different from the F56 (no comment).

 

No vents no bulges no side scuttles. Keeps the plastic fenders though.

I keep seeing the the wheels are wider but I can't see how if it's the same platform.

No M/T stinks, nothing here to get me out of my F56SE. I'll hold out for the J01 I guess.

 

Is it just lighting, or is there a subtle power bump?



I dislike having the power bump on the SE because it's an anachronism, but for the F66 with its petrol engine it seems appropriate. Removing the jets seems to make the front seem so plain. Maybe bonnet stripes will help.

 

I seem to recall that it is a groove/depression rather than a bump?

 

Maybe it's a matter of perspective, then. I'd say groves on the edges would be the same as a power bump across most of the hood . I guess seeing it in real life is the only way to evaluate the feature.

 

Good view on this YouTube. There's a depression between the fender and the rest of the bonnet.

 

Good video, but to my eye I'd call that a power bump. Overall I think the F66 isn't too bad of an update, although I don't know about some of the seat changes, like the adjustment handles.

On the J01 tour by Out of Spec Reviews I think the "power bump" is even more noticeable since the hood is not a clamshell. So boo. (I can't believe the video doesn't open the hood!)

 

Seems to look better roaming around city streets in this video but the triangular shape of the taillights looks terrible.They need to change those when they do the LCI.

 

That F66 ICE MINI is just a CG-edited J01 for that video. The blue J01 is the real vehicle and you can see the poor masking job on the video edit. Some lazy editing shows part of the blue J01 as an outline by the heel of the person.

I can't believe AI didn't even render the reflection of the foot on the bodywork.

 

So its just a fake digital image driving on the streets?

 

Electric J01 driving in Los Angeles for filming was real with CG markers (rendered in post). F66 is fake Forza Motorsport.

 

Those wheels looks like Chopsticks on a plate without any arrangement only the 2020-2024 looks like real Mini Cooper from old nostalgia of Mini brand

 

Trivial (to me), but this Jalopnik article on the F66 mentions radar sensors:

https://jalopnik.com/2025-mini-cooper-will-be-the-final-gas-powered-mini-1851233037

If correct, does that mean that the J01 will also get radar, instead of (just) cameras?

 

Are you seeing self driving capability on Mini SE ??? In $30000 price ?

 

J01 definitely has radar on the models with driving assistant plus.

 

Did I say anything about self-driving?

 

The current Mini Cooper really is the perfect design.British Racing Green for the win.We are very happy with ours.

 

I agree. The F56 captures more than 1/2 a century of MINI. Yes, it is bigger, heavier, more modern, but it still has the soul of a MINI. I actually love the scoop and bonnet bulge. It was the sign from yesteryear of a supercharged engine, which screamed performance. It is a cue to the driving dynamics of the car. Maybe a case of wolf in sabre tooth clothes, but fun nonetheless.

The j01 is, I consider, a facsimile, or a copy of you like of the original. Similar outside, but completely different otherwise. You can of course argue that when rover brought out the new MINI, it was the same. You could also argue that it deviated from the original more than the j01 from the F56. The difference is that it still had the same vibe as the original. I bought a MINI one back in the day and it reminded me of my 78 Clubman.

I think, for me, there is no one thing that I "hate" about the j01, but all the little tweaks add up. It is now just another small EV that follows the rest, but tries to look like the original.

I truly hope I am wrong, and would be thrilled to fall in love with the j01. For now, I can't see it happening though. There, I feel better now