Spy Photos: 2013 Mini Cooper Gets All Serious Inside

The dual bubble cover over the speedometers isn't BMW-like. And why would they put a BMW interior in a mini rather than just using a Mini one? It would fit better and make more sense, even if it was the 2010 or 2011 model's. I'd be fine with them getting rid of it, as long as it still has plenty of mini-style in the rest of the interior.

I would think that the center speedo is actually more cost effective as BMW doesn't have to have two completely different dashes for RHD and LHD cars.

I wish they would keep the centre speedo but just improve the overall design and quality.

I sure hope that front overhang is just part of the mule cladding. Minis should have almost no overhang, and what you see here seems worse than even the average car.

I kinda liked the center speedo, but I know if I actually owned one and drove it every day that would get old very fast, so I think the conventional gauge thing is probably a good idea.

This doesn't make sense... every Mini concept focuses the interior around the speedometer and you think they'd introduce a new interior with the Countryman...

Fake dashboard prosthetics are not unheard of.

I hope they normal up the dash.
I absolutely hate the center speedo.

Don't know of many Cooper owners who whine about the center speedo. Seems to be an issue for people who have never driven a Cooper.

I second what dougtheeng said. The location isn't the issue, but the readability it is.

@ bakerdanny
They still have to engineer separate dashboards because the tach is behind the steering wheel.

I personally kinda like the center speedo. Makes it unique, plus it's convenient because now you and your co-driver can keep track of speeds, which is very important as pacenotes often mention the best speed to take corners at....

No hood scoop, either. Not that the last one did anything, though.

I have a 2004 Cooper S, and the center speedo doesn't really bother me... I just don't use it. I use the digital one on the tach, and it works fine.

The tach behind the steering wheel also displays a digital speedometer so the center analog one isn't even necessary, it's mainly there for style.

If this is true, that new Mini will find itself on my shopping list. Hopefully the rest of the central stack will adopt a more grown up look, instead of the Tonka look in the current car.

If you don't like the center speedometer, don't get a mini. Problem solved.

Penske, the tach is mounted to the column, not built into the dash. No real engineering required.

As a former Mini owner, I like the speedo. Just properly screw the dash together so it doesn't make clicking noises after 15k miles. A car has poor quality when a "rattle kit" is offered by the factory to fix a noisy dash.

WOAH. did anyone notice the Clubdoor on this thing? But thats not a clubman? Either I'm crazy or thats a door cut line long after the passenger area cutout in the camo has begun. Very interesting indeed. Makes me think that maybe the BMW i-lineup might be using a MINI mule to diguise the fact. I say this because I would be hard pressed to think MINI would just up and leave the center speedo justlikethat.

I vote that its a BMW just fooling us with its MINI body...

Oh and the fuel filler cap is on the passenger side?

I gotta call fake on this for several reasons. First, like the other person mentioned, the fuel door is on the passenger side and there's that extra cut for the club door. Second, that isn't extra cladding on the front bumper. It looks like the vinyl graphics are pretty tightly stuck to whatever that shape is, so I'd guess that's a new bumper for some other car. There's no way MINI would have a front overhang that big. But lastly, I don't think that dash is even the real one because the MINI's windshield is already short enough as it is. Why would they further reduce visibility with a big hump in the dash over the speedometer? I mean, look how big that bump is in relation to the windshield height. The driver is practically looking through a little slit.

@bkapps +1
I belive it´s going to be the next FWD BMW and since it will share mini´s platform is pretty smart to use a mini test mule.

Anyone that insists function triumph over form better own a Scion xb or a Volvo wagon. Erin hits hit right on, the issues related to the central mounted speedo are just like the "too many buttons" complaints of auto journos that jump into 25 cars every day.

If you actually bought one (or two as my wife did) because you loved the look of it and liked the way it drove and the way the exhaust cracked and popped that made it was a hoot to drive - then the speedo location wasn't relevant.

Besides, there's a little button that shows the speed in the tach display...so you can have both form and function!

Seems like blasphemy to me, but what do I know. ;)

actualsize says:
01:20 PM, 06/ 1/11
"Fake dashboard prosthetics are not unheard of."

hb22 says:
11:50 AM, 06/ 1/11
Doubtful, I'm sure the engineers just put a dash in there from a BMW...

One could dream.."

+100

As a matter of fact, it is a BMW dash fit for testing purposes. They used another one like this one for the 1er.

"If you don't like the center speedometer, don't get a mini. Problem solved."-

And that's why we've never even test driven a Mini. If it comes to market with the pictured dash it will be pretty high up on our list of considerations.

i don't see people's problem with the speedo in the middle... it harks back to the rally days when the passenger navigator needed to see speed of the vehicle, is it big yes, but the way the car's set up you can have a digital speedo on your tack right in front of your face... the two things you need right here you need them and nowhere else.. the middle one's just for show

plenty of others have similar setups... the tach is more important to the driving enthusiast than speed, and when you drive a car long enough you don't even need to look at the speedo, you can tell speed just by gear and what rpm you're at. The honda Civic for instance puts the tach right where it should be, speedo is a digital counter one tier above... causing a funky view of the hood and lack of front spacial awareness outside of driving the car for 4 months... the STI has a huge tach and significantly smaller speedo in comparison. same with old evo, new evo x isn't so much... it's more bmw styled same sized tach and speedo.

i have to agree wtih the overhang being a bit big... also this might be some kinda F55 clubman mule vs a F56 Cooper S reason i say that as a possibility is the second line of a potential club door behind the passenger side door... two pictures show two distinct lines... maybe the new F56 has a club door too?
Also the hood scoop isn't there, and there's some kinda funky molding of the headlamps, some dimple on the turnsignal which is now up top instead of down low like the current models..

btw, i still enjoy the "whimsical pie plate" ;) and 9 years of sales say the same thing. can't wait till the 3rd gen with 3 cylinder turbo engines making the same power in smaller package (come on Rocketman!!!!!!!!)

"i don't see people's problem with the speedo in the middle" you must have quieter passengers than I do. My wife already bi-- Complains if she realizes I'm *only* going the speedlimit. My parents will pipe up with disapproval if the realize I'm doing 84 in a 75 (different times obviously, my adherance to posted speedlimits and accepted tolerances varies with the situation). Plus it makes the dash in front of the driver seem empty.