After seeing the new-new-Mini for a while, I've decided to just accept that the styling is a big step backward from the previous generation.
The styling details on the '07s are almost childish in execution. The "purposeful styling" that the Germans do so well (and why their cars age so well) is comparatively non-existent.
The '07 looks like a Japanese interpretation of the '06.
![Sad :(](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/sad.gif)