This is the first official teaser for the new generation MINI. And because it is MINI, it had to be nice and cute, hence the giant zipper. The British company has just confirmed the car’s debut on November 18 MINI Plant Oxford, to be followed with an almost simultaneous unveiling in Los Angeles and Tokyo on November 20.

The debut day is Sir Alec Issigonis’ 107th birthday, the man who created the original MINI. The debut ceremony is going to be really special, as it also a tribute to the Oxford production plant, where automobiles have been built for more than 100 years. After that the car will go into winter hibernation until the first quarter of 2014 when it is scheduled to go on sale.

Not much is known about the new MINI’s technical details – although it will certainly get an engine lineup similar to that of the current model – but a few weeks ago spy photographers revealed the car’s appearance in full as they caught it undisguised.

The new car comes with a fresh new look that is obviously loyal to the traditional design cues, but is modern and as well thanks to some elements coming directly from MINI’s previous concept models. Same applies to the interior, with the layout of the dash retained to the classic specs with the big binnacle in the center, and modern elements such as a large touchscreen display added for convenience.