Two months ahead of schedule, the next-generation Mini Cooper has been spied in both stock and Cooper S guise stripped bare of any camo during a photo shoot. Up till now we've had to squint our eyes and draw assumptions of what new design elements the 2014 Mini would adopt. But now they are in clear view and the most standout feature is the LED DRL light ring encircling the headlight clusters borrowed from the 2011 Rocketman concept.

All three Minis sport baby power dome hoods, but the Mini Cooper S (in yellow and dark grey) come with double-spoke alloys, a rear roof spoiler, twin center-mount exhaust and air intakes in the hood. Codenamed F56, the 2014 Mini has grown, most notably the front overhang, while a raking front windshield affords the car a sportier profile. That extra metal comes from its new UKL platform, BMW's new front-wheel drive architecture Mini will share with the 1 Series GT and MPV. The other major change comes under the hood with the entire Cooper range moving to an all three-cylinder lineup.

The 1.5-liter inline-three will feature a twin-scroll turbo, direct injection and variable valve timing, and will be good for 120 to 200 horsepower. The BMW engine will be tuned to closer to 300 hp in high-performance variants, while it's been rumored at least one four-cylinder motor will be available for the first model year before moving exclusively to a three-pot lineup. Production of the new Mini Cooper will start by end of 2013.