Tonight I got my first look at the R56 in the flesh (or sheet metal as the case may be). And yes – I did get to drive it 😉 Special thanks to Burton Levine of Vista MINI for taking the time out of his busy schedule to give me a personal tour of the new MINI. I must say that when I first walked into the showroom tonight, I almost did not notice the new car at all. The staff at Vista MINI cleverly parked an R56 Cooper alongside a 2006 MINI Cooper and, at a quick glance, you really can’t tell the difference. If it was not for the enlarged fog lights I never would have picked it out without really looking hard. The beltlines are slightly higher and the side markers and side view mirrors are larger as well. But again, none of these details will be apparent to the casual passer-by/non-enthusiast.

The colors I saw tonight were Laser Blue, Mellow Yellow, Astro Black and, of course, Chili Red. Now, yellow is not really a color that does it for me, however, I was surprised at how much I really liked the Mellow Yellow color on the new MINI. Laser Blue is definitely a cross between Hyper Blue and Electric Blue and will be a big seller. I still am curious to see Lightning Blue in person because I think that color will look sharp on the car as well.

Overall, I was impressed with the R56. I absolutely LOVE the programmability that MINI now puts into the hands of the owner. Gone are the days that you have to bring your car in for programming the little options like how long to keep the lights on after you turn off the car. These little items that used to be set up prior to delivery of the vehicle can now be programmed at any time by the owner using the new stalk on the steering column. Hold the tip of the stalk in and an array of menus are presented giving the owner complete control over various options.

The large speedometer was actually ok. I was expecting to dislike it, but it does work nicely with the car. The center stack, while I still am not in love with it, is better viewed in person than in pictures. I did find the radio controls to be a bit awkward. I am sure new owners will take some time to get used to where the volume knob is (I kept reaching for the top knob while it actually is the bottom knob that adjusts volume). Pairing my cell phone to the MINIís Bluetooth was straightforward and the call quality was actually very impressive. Both ends of the call sounded crisp and the voice recognition that allows you to dial using verbal commands worked pretty well too.

The interior lighting options are actually very cool. You can adjust shading intensity from blue to orange, giving you an amazing array of color choices for your MINIís interior mood. Seating was very comfortable and the new leatherette is a step up over the previous version. Those who use the backseats will appreciate MINIís new front seat design that cuts the back molding of the seats further forward, allowing for more legroom. I should note that in order for the back seat to be comfortable, you MUST raise the rear headrest to prevent having to see a chiropractor. For some reason the headrest sits at a very odd height that is just not comfortable for an adult to utilize in the down position.

So how does it drive? Well, I did not get to take it out on the track, but did take a spin around the block with an R56 Cooper S and I have to say that for the most part, I liked it. The Sport Button is a must and, if not engaged, gives the car an almost too relaxed feel. Throttle response is delayed and steering feedback is lighter. Once you engage the Sport Button, however, throttle response is noticeably more aggressive and the wheel feels a bit heavier. Braking was noticeably more aggressive than the R56 which I really liked. The only issue I really had with the ìfeelî of the car was the clutch. The clutch has almost no pressure feedback to it. You step on the clutch and it pretty much feels like you are pushing on air. I almost stalled the car because of this since I am used to the feedback I get on my R53ís clutch and had a hard time telling where the engagement point was. I am sure it is something you would get used to over time, but I can see where this would be an issue for those who expect a certain amount of feedback from their clutch. What I find humorous is that I was told my 2006 MCS had a soft clutch compared to the 2005 MCS. Just wait until those people who think that try out the R56!

All in all, I really liked the R56. Sure there are items I may not be crazy about, but like any new change, I am sure I will get used to it. For those who have an R56 on order, get ready for some good motoring fun. For those of us hanging on to our previous generation MINIs, letís make sure to welcome these new MINIs into our community. Letís not forget to wave while motoring by another owner and make sure to let these new owners know about the club activities in your local area. Keep the spirit of fun motoring alive! Thanks again to Vista MINI for their hospitality. For those in the South Florida area, come by next week on February 21 at 6:30pm for the Vista MINI R56 Launch Party. Hope to see you there!

[ R56 Sneak Peak Gallery ]
[ Vista MINI of Coconut Creek, FL ]