Mystery Machine – What’s With This MINI Cooper?

Maybe a hybrid? Increased cooling demand, etc?

AWD variant?

Looks to me like an unpainted body kit on a stock Mini. Any other suggestions?

this is just an aftermarket ground-effects company trialing new panels. They don’t want to tip off the competition, so they made it look like the manufacturer (check the plates).

I think these Mini Cooper mules are hidding the new Mini Cooper convertible, it ssems that now it will be offered with a hard top (look at the tepe on the side windows and the c pilar) or the other option is that these minis are sportier versions than the Mini Cooper S but who knows, this is really a mistery!

[…] imágenes de este extraño Mini Cooper: Vía: thecarconnection En Diariomotor: Cambios para el Mini Cooper 2007, menos emisiones y menos consumo, M […]

Round here, close to Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin development HQs, it’s not uncommon to see disguised test ‘mules’ being driven long after a new model’s release so this car may simply be one of those, possibly a hot weather test car previously driven in the CA desert. Or it might be hiding a still-secret new body kit.

[…] lgo superior, más potente que lo visto hasta ahora. Estaremos informando… Vía: The Car Connection

Etiquetas: MINI camuflado

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hopefully they brought back more curvature around the headlight fixtures from the first mini. they completely ruined the front of the car on the second generation mini.

[…] JCW car have unique styling. You can check out the photos below: [ What’s With This MINI Cooper? ] Car Connection Be sure to check out our previous JCW coverage from […]

From another reader - anonymously

The Clubman will almost certainly have unique headlights and taillights. Additionally, I have it from a reliable source (supplier base) that Mini will offer faux would cladding on the Clubman - now that’s retro!

I would of thought it was more obvious that it’s probably a test mule for the John Cooper Works MINI. That’s the most obvious explaination.

I bet you these are test mules for the new range of engines with BMW’s new Start/Stop feature that will help boost the MINI’s already great fuel economy and also emissions.

Im going w/ the dude who took the pictures 8 months ago finally got around to uploading them……case closed

Just another terrible bold on kit to make it look like something its not. A real car.

I think it is the NEW John Cooper Works. Seeing that the airscope on the current mini cooper s is fake why would they want to leave an opening on this test mule, to cool the new intercooler.

It looks lower to the ground compared to my Cooper S as well, new suspension??

dude I own this car! I dont like people taking my picture! It is just a bra to protect my car fro rocks and stuff! After I paid for this I dont want any rocks to hit it!

Oh i belive that is pure bullshit.. since.. why would there be another car beside it with the same “bra”..

The more I looked at the way the vinyl pieces covers the side the more I’m thinking a 4-door version.

Is there any significance to the fact that the one in picture 4 has a single exhaust coming out of the passenger end of the bumper while the other has the traditional duals out of the center?

Maybe a possible 2009 refreshening?

Ed: that has, since the launch of the R53 Cooper S, been one of the distinguishing cosmetical differences between the Cooper and the Cooper S; the Cooper has a single side exit exhaust, the Cooper S has a double center exit exhaust.

R56-Cooper S pictured nearly 20 months ago.

Looks like the Starbucks on PCH in Hermosa, no?

Coopers were really cute and stylish looking. But this one is just PLAIN UGLY! The owner could not afford to have a better paint job on the fenders? It looks like a PIECE OF CRAP!

It’s Darth Vader’s car. All that cladding is to protect it from Light Sabers.

Covering the hinges on a suicide 4-door?

Yes, Clubman. Makes sense. Tape to cover roll down windows on back suicide doors; plastic over hinges of black suicide doors. Rear plate covering swing aside center door seam. No idea about the front except Clubman unique headlights and taillights. Wonder if this was one of the AWD mules.

[…] photographed the very same MINI Cooper S shown in the original Car Connection photographs (still showing on their site), on the Southern California Pacific Coast Highway. Which once again begs […]