What's the news?

The MINI, all of it. BMW is counting down the final few weeks between now and the end-of-year launch for the next generation of its hyper successful small car. It will be only the fourth complete redesign of the MINI since the original model was introduced in 1959. The current car (Countryman and Paceman excepted) rides on the same basic mechanical package that BMW introduced in 2000.

And the first photos have begun to emerge, with spy shots of a yellow-and-black three-door model landing on t'internet this week. BMW has responded with mock outrage, comparing the sneaky photos of the new MINI to paparazzi shots of British royalty on holiday.

'Aggressive and relentless papping is something British celebrities have had to learn to live with' said the official statement. 'Members of the Royal Family, as well as actors, footballers and top models are all familiar with the sensation of being caught in uncompromising situations, and now MINI is the latest victim. Absolutely unaware and without make-up, the youngest member of our family was caught by sensationalist photographers in a highly private moment. The young one was yellow and completely defenceless. We understand the worldwide interest in our family but it is not the British way to send such unfavourable pictures around the globe.'

The statement went on to say that such photos do not show the MINI's new styling in its best light, and the surprise is that the styling will be changing quite noticeably. The new MINI gets a more pronounced front end, with bigger lights surrounded by a halo of LED lights (very similar to that seen on the super-compact Rocketman concept). The back end is much more familiar, but what will definitely be all-new is the first ever five-door hatch version of the standard MINI. Up until now, the Countryman compact crossover had been the only MINI with more than two doors (let's gloss over the Clubman oddity).

It looks like there's been a stretch in the wheelbase too, which should be a boon for the MINI's usually quite tight cabin accommodation, while the interior styling will get a thorough makeover. Rumour has it that the big central speedo will be dropped, in favour of more conventional instruments mounted behind the steering wheel, but that a big, circular satnav screen will pay homage to the interior of the Issigonis original.

The MINI will also get an all-new engine in the shape of BMW's new 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit, which, in various states of tune, will power First, One and Cooper models. The existing 1.6 turbo petrol will carry over for the Cooper S and John Cooper Works MINIs, while the 1.6- and 2.0-litre diesels will be carried over at first too, before being replaced by newer units later in the model cycle. A six-speed manual gearbox will be standard on all models, while ZF's super-smooth eight-speed automatic will be an option.

Anything else?

The MINI's a hugely important model for BMW, and it's planning 12 spin-offs from the standard MINI hatch, all of which will be built on the new UKL1 platform, which will also underpin future front-drive BMW models - such as the 1 Series-based MPV. With the MINI's home plant in Oxford currently running at more or less full capacity, BMW will shift some production to its new factory in The Netherlands (formerly the home of the Mitsubishi Carisma and Volvo V40) where it will also build the Countryman once Austrian-based Magna Steyr has completed its contract to build the current model.