The MINI Cooper wound up being quite a bit like this concept, but there are quite a few minor differences.



- Larger Mini Logo (not MINI)
- All White Mirror Caps
- White Antenna
- Different Center Caps on the Wheels
- Gold colored calipers
- All Clear Turnsignal
- No Side Turn Signal, just the black grille covering the access point
- What would turn out to be the Cooper S gas cap on the Cooper
- "dimples" in "chin" and wheel liner plastic



Additional differences:
- Dual side exit exhaust
- Mini script logo

That's the list that I came up with. Did I miss anything?

Would you rather have any of these items on your MINI, or did MINI nail the production version by making the changes they did?

 

twin exhaust on a cooper.......

The mini logo on the rear is nasty. I think I like my cooper how it is

 

I guess I was just glad it didn't look anything like the original concepts car..... or I'd be driving something else right now.





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It looks like the rear lights are smoked too.

I kinda like the little dimples in the plastic molding. Looks kool.

 

>>
>>The MINI Cooper wound up being quite a bit like this concept, but there are quite a few minor differences.
>>
>>
>>- Larger Mini Logo (not MINI)
>>- All White Mirror Caps
>>- White Antenna
>>- Different Center Caps on the Wheels
>>- Gold colored calipers
>>- All Clear Turnsignal
>>- No Side Turn Signal, just the black grille covering the access point
>>- What would turn out to be the Cooper S gas cap on the Cooper
>>- "dimples" in "chin" and wheel liner plastic
>>
>>
>>Additional differences:
>>- Dual side exit exhaust
>>- Mini script logo
>>
>>That's the list that I came up with. Did I miss anything?
>>
>>Would you rather have any of these items on your MINI, or did MINI nail the production version by making the changes they did?



Hey nice work DiD!

Ah this really brings me back. This was actually one of my first features on my website way back in 2002 if I remember right. Here's the page: http://www.bridger.us/mini/prototype if anyone is interested.

Notice the horrid logo front plate and the old Mini logo. If I remember right this was what Frank Stephenson designed before we left the project.

Tons of stuff here to digest but the thing that always stood out to me was that the eventual production ready Cooper had to be toned down a bit from the concept to give the Cooper S a bit more exclusivity.

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OMG! Bangle must've had a hand in that first concept car

 

the 3rd brake light is smaller then normal

 

Thank god the brake calipers aren't gold

 

I don't see anything on the concept I really don't like. The dual exaust and S gas cap on the Cooper look great. I would have liked it fine without the final production changes which were probably to save money and/or distinguish the MC from the MSC. Heck, I even like the rounded off looking concept with the big fender flares. I think it would grow on me kinda like the old bug-eyed Sprite did.

Imagine the value of one of those concepts. Do they destroy them or what?


R.E.

 

No they dont destroy them... They sell them on Ebay...

Alll I really have to say is, and you can quote me, YUCK! I love the look of the cooper the way it is!!!!

 

That MINI script logo is very very ugly, as is that other concept car.

 

Looks like the door handles are also 'backwards' compared to the production models.

As far as concept-to-production goes, the model shown is quite close to what we are driving now. Most of what changed ended up doing so for production and 'required equipment' issues. The side repeaters added for safety regulations, the turn signals being amber simply because of the amber bulbs behind, the fog lights looking different because of the reality of optical design.

Some changes occur because of dipping into parts bins of existing items, and last minute impressions from the public and internal design reviews. I am sure the toning down of the model insignias and badging as well as the smoothing of the plastic items were done to make the entire package look more integrated rather than tacked-on. The dimpled plastic make the fenders look like a Nissan pickup.

The single exhaust on the Cooper makes it look most like the legendary beer can pipe created during the clay mockups. I think that was more of a must-have for the design crew.

Minor differences to be sure, it's more spot-on than most concepts!

 

The bloody backlight wiper is on the wrong way, as well as the front wipers too. Must be a RHD or BDM (British Domestic Market) version.

 

Also noticed exposed "pop" rivets on the arches... I like the integrated look better!

 

Maybe I'm nitpicking, but the headrests also seem to be a different design (seats too???) looking in the window. The front fog-lamps also appear to be an opaque front lens, vs. a clear lens with reflector. Again, I like the production changes better :smile:

Tho... I do like the concepts wheels

 

Appears insect like to me, just my .02

 

Is the chrome bumper trim wider than the final version, or am I trying too hard to find things?

If it looked like the first concept, I'd be driving a Mazda 3 right now...lol