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For years MINI’s performance sub brand JCW has gone solo in designing and engineering its cars and the performance parts that power them. While they appear to follow in the footsteps of the BMW M division, there has rarely been anything performance related shared between the two. With the all new U25 Countryman JCW, that changes in an important way. The MINI Countryman JCW has two different brakes offerings. The standard set are similar in size to the F60 Countryman and F54 Clubman’s brakes in size and spec. Given our experience with both those cars we can attest to the performance on the street and track of this setup. However if you order the 20″ wheels on the Countryman you get a big upgrade in stopping power with discs and rotors noticeably different than before. And that’s where BMW M comes in. The F87 BMW M2The U25 MINI Countryman optional brakes come directly from the F87 BMW M2 Competition. More specifically the front brakes including the rotors, pads and parts of the caliper design all from the previous generation M2. There are a couple of small differences worth nothing. The Countryman carries over its four-pot rotor design (albeit larger than before) rather than adopting the six-pot set-up from the M2. Additionally because the front wheel drive bias and the weight distribution of the Countryman, there’s no real need for the larger rear brakes from the M2. What does it mean to have brakes from the M2? Everything is bigger and more track ready. The rotors themselves are vented and 380 mm, up from the non-vented 360 mm discs on the LCI versions of the F60 JCW, F54 JCW and the most recent JCW GP. The calipers are four pot like before but offer a larger swept area for more stopping power. The entire set-up should allow for not just for better stopping performance but more feel and a greater resistance to fade thanks to better heat dissipation. This is especially critical at the track where constant hard braking can elevate temperatures and reduce stopping power. The BMW M2 sourced brakes will be exclusively bundled with the 20″ John Cooper Works Flag Spoke option. Prices and availability will vary depending on market but they should be readily available at the launch of the Countryman JCW. The Other BMW M Connection While sharing of a BMW M braking system is a first for MINI, there has been some less overt parts sharing in the past. The biggest is what’s under the hood of the Countryman JCW. The 312 hp version of the B48 that powers Countryman JCW was developed by BMW and is not in any way a true BMW M engine. However there was collaboration in the design of this version of the B48 with the M Division in areas like thermal management and overall tuning due to it being offered in several BMW M Performance models like the X1 and X2 M35i. MINI has leveraged this design and engineering in its version of the B48 in F60 Countryman JCW, F54 Clubman JCW and the new U25 Countryman JCW. The post The MINI Countryman JCW Has a Secret Taken Directly From The BMW M2 appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The electric J01 MINI Cooper is a watershed moment for the brand. It’s the first ever dedicated electric vehicle from MINI and one that ushers in an entirely new era of design and technology for the brand. While we’ve seen a lot of the higher-end Cooper SE, we haven’t gotten a look at the base Cooper E. Until now. We’re looking at the all new MINI Cooper E with the Classic Trim finished in vibrant Sunny Side Yellow. In this trim level, the surfaces of the cockpit are covered with two-tone black and blue knit material. The seats are finished in Vescin and are available in gray or black with a perforated houndstooth pattern. Cooper E Performance As the entry point for the range, the Cooper E has a smaller 40.7 kWh (compared to the in the Cooper SE’s 54.2 kWh) which delivers 305 kilometers (190 miles) in the WLTP test cycle. This is down from the 402 km (250 miles) in the SE. Both offer the same charging speed – 28 minutes of charging with a DC output of up to 75 kW is enough to charge the MINI Cooper E battery from 10 to 80 percent. The 135 kW/184 hp electric drive can access the maximum torque of 290 Nm at any time allowing for 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. That’s off but not by much from the Cooper SE’s 6.7 seconds. For an exhaustive view of the specifications of the Cooper E and how it compares with the J01 Cooper SE and the previous F56 Cooper SE, check out our exclusive look at specifications below. ModelsJ01 Cooper EJ01 Cooper SEF56 Cooper SEJ05 Aceman SEPower184 hp 218 hp181 hp 218 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft199 lb-ft243 lb-ftTransmission1 speed1 speed1 speed1 speed0-100 kp/h or 0-60 mph7.3 sec (0-62 mph)6.7 sec (0-62 mph)7.2 sec (0-60 mph)TBARange 190 miles250 miles140 milesTBABattery Size40.7 kWh54.2 kWh32.6 kWh54.2 kWhLength (mm/inches)3858 mm / 151.8 in3858 mm / 151.8 in3850 mm / 151.5 in4079 mm / 161 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1756 mm / 69 in1756 mm / 69 in1727 mm / 68 in1754 mm / 69 inHeight (mm)1460 mm / 57 in1460 mm / 57 in1432 mm / 56.4 in1514 mm / 59.6 inWheelbase (mm)2526 mm / 99 in2526 mm / 99 in2495 mm / 98.2 in 2606 mm / 102.6 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1540 kg / 3395 lbs1605 kg / 3,538 lbs1440 kg / 3175 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbsWeight distribution (Front/Rear)F 58% / R 42%F 57% / R 43%F 54% / R 46%TBDFront Overhang746 mm / 29.3 in746 mm / 29.3 in757 mm / 29.8756 mm / 29.8 inRear Overhang586 mm / 23 in586 mm / 23 in681 mm / 26.8 in717 mm / 28.2 inLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down210 / 800 L210 / 800 L211 / 941 L450 / 1450 LThe Cooper E starts at €32,900 in Germany or £30,000 in the UK. The first reviews should hit in April with sales beginning in May. The post First Look: the Electric J01 MINI Cooper E With Photo Gallery appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The new MINIs have been announced and even priced but if you’re in the US there’s still no way to configure them. How long do we have to wait and what models will be in the new configurator? We’ve got all the details. MINIUSA will be launching its all new configurator in mid-March. The new experience will include the new F66 MINI Cooper, Cooper S, U25 Countryman Cooper S and Countryman JCW at launch.The Countryman SE, four door Cooper, Convertible Cooper and Cooper JCW following later in the year. F66 MINI Cooper US Market Details With a substantial upgrade in standard equipment, prices have risen a bit. The F56 Cooper had an MSRP of $25,800. That’s going up to $28,950. The Cooper S rises from $30,900 to $32,200. Standard equipment details will come soon but from what we hear there will be more performance and tech (heads up display for example) for that base price. Details to come. USA Specific MINI Cooper Performance Figure In the US power and torque can be measured slightly differently and thus we sometimes see variations of European figures. Interestingly that’s only the case with one model. The Cooper produces 156 hp the same as the UK and Europe. The Cooper S however is rated at 201 hp with is a 3 hp decrease from those UK and EU figures. However that’s very likely the result of measurement protocols and not output changes. The torque remains the same at 221 ft lbs. That takes the Cooper S to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds – JCW territory from a few years ago. MINI USA Launch Dates For The F66 MINI Cooper While both the Cooper and Cooper S begin production in March, the US won’t see the cars as quickly as the UK and Europe. For the US we expect the Cooper S to begin sales in late April or early May. For the Cooper the US should get deliveries from July production onward. That would mean dealers could see them in mid to late August. The 2025 MINI Countryman US Market Details The internal combustion (ICE) powered 2025 Countryman S will start at $38,900 in the US. That will get you a fairly well equipped car but certainly not loaded. MINI will not use all of the trim names and levels we’ve seen in the UK and Europe but instead create their own that will be similar to what we see in the We’d expect roughly a $10k swing between this new base S model and a fully loaded version. This new Countryman S model will have 241 hp and 295 lbs of torque 2.0 liter. That’s more than a 50 hp increase and more than the original F60 JCW model from just five years ago. One interesting note, the US will not incorporate a mild hybrid system into this engine due to cost and weight trade-offs. Since there’s less stringent efficiency standards in the US there’s really no need to. The 2025 MINI Countryman SE The electric Countryman SE will start at $45,200. That’s JCW territory but then again it has more than JCW performance. With 313 hp and a staggering 363 lbs of torque, this Countryman can get to 60 mph in only 5.6 seconds. Perhaps more important to many potential owners will be the range. MINIUSA is quoting a range of 245 miles. That’s substantially above our previous 225 mile estimate and coupled with 130 kW DC fast charging, is good news for would be owners. But it’s still not the final EPA figures so keep that in mind – those will come in early January. This 245 mile number is what MINI USA is estimating by looking at performance in the EU and doing their own calculations. The 2025 MINI Countryman JCW This new halo model will have an output of 312 hp in the US with 295 ft lbs of torque. That number, 36 ft lbs lower than the previous generation) has been reduced due to the limitation of the new DCT. However with the improved power and power delivery, acceleration is still just over 5 seconds to 60 mph. The JCW will begin production in March and will arrive to dealers in the US around the May timeframe. The post Exclusive Details and Timing on the New MINI USA Configurator appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Today, Formula E unveiled the NXT Gen Cup, an electric MINI based racing series that will travel the world to support Formula E. The series will include male and female drivers with an aims to foster the growth of emerging talent in an innovative electric format. Perhaps more importantly the car car will be based entirely on MINI Cooper SE. The NXT Gen Cup is set to headline all four European race events of Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, spanning Misano, Monaco, Berlin, and concluding in London for the season finale. Subject to final FIA approval, the NXT Gen Cup’s first appearance in the Formula E paddock will kick off in Misano, Italy, on the 13th and 14th April marking the start of the World Championship’s European tour and the first time it has raced at the World Circuit. The MINI Cooper SE Race Car While we don’t have confirmation, we expect this race car will be based on the F56 Cooper SE given the timing and specs that we’ve seen. The cars will be designed and engineered by Lestrup Racing Team. Weighing in at 1150kg, the Cooper SE will have 180bhp and pack an additional 60bhp during push-to-pass moments. This extra power comes from a 30kWh battery and an 800 V system. Other notable features include regenerative braking, adjustable ?hlins shock absorbers, and Hankook Semi-slick all-weather tires. With 20 race cars meticulously constructed for the series, each driver will equal equipment creating a level playing field and close racing. Charging operations will be managed in collaboration with ABB E-Mobility, the Official charging partner of the NXT Gen Cup. The post Formula E Unveiling Electric MINI Racing Series appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

After years of waiting we finally got hands-on with both the electric J01 and the petrol F66 MINI Coopers. Two cars with striking similarities on the surface and seismic differences lurking beneath. One that’s reinventing the entire concept of a MINI being driven by one key stat. The other, an older car thoroughly reengineered to carry the internal combustion torch to the end. Which is more impressive in person and are they really as visually identical as MINI tells us? Let’s find out. The J01 MINI Cooper and a ground-up EV which means it’s all new and designed with a skateboard chassis as a starting point. This has allowed the J01 to have subtle yet at times substantial differences in shape. At first glance it looks relatively similar to the F56 (and its successor the F66) in shape. Yet getting these two next to each other makes it clear just how much MINI has rethought the Cooper with the J01. That rethink is partially about moving into a new design direction MINI calls this charismatic simplicity. But perhaps an even bigger reason was that MINI was after a dramatic improvement in one key stat – drag co-efficient. The first thing that starring us in the face was the altered geometry of the J01. The cowl (where the windshield meets the bonnet) is further forward allowing the windshield to be more angled. This was critical in allowing the J01 to have a dramatic increase in aero efficiency. This was a big part of how MINI was able to reduce the drag co-effecient from 0.34 on the F56 down to only 0.26. For an upright small car that number is rather astounding. The more you look the more you see changes driven by the wind. If you could look from directly above the J01 you’d also notice a more tapered rear of the car where the F66 is much more square. This is especially evident if you stand just off the rear taillights looking towards the front of the car. The clamshell bonnet is gone thanks to pedestrian safety standards and the plastic wheel arches have been eliminated due to drag. The windshield wipers are now entirely hidden in the cowl as the result of both safety and aero. Looking at the F66, MINI has taken incredible steps to mirror these changes but couldn’t fundamentally change the shape. Luckily those changes satisfied the brief as MINI didn’t necessarily need to decrease drag on the petrol car. Instead the focus was creating a MINI that looked (to the average consumer) nearly identical to the electric model. The idea is that MINI wants consumers to have “the power of choice” as they say. That allows potential buyers to simply focus on the choice of petrol or electric and not styling or functionality. Inside we found the design and functionality of MINI’s new circular display and MINI OS9 to be identical. One area that was not however was the center console and seats. The F66 takes all of that from the new Countryman including the much larger center armrest. Our Take Having spend a fair amount of time with both cars we had a pretty good handle on the differences. So we thought. Few people in the world (outside of BMW employees) likely had a better grasp on these two cars than we did. Yet seeing both together was fascinating. The F66 looked startlingly new when we first saw it. Seeing it next to the J01 gave it away as F56 based pretty quickly. The J01 gave it immediate context we didn’t have before. The biggest difference is the shape of both cars. There are some fundamental changes that MINI made to its classic Cooper formula that are hiding in plane sight. Sure we understood them before. The short bonnet, higher belt-line and tapered rear. But with the F66 a few feet away you could better appreciate just how but o a departure the J01 is from the F56 and F66. Subsequently you can better understand just what MINI has done and how far they’ve taken the Cooper in an effort to cheat the wind and create more efficiency. But you be the judge. Check out the video above and tell us what you think. The post First Comparison: The Electric J01 MINI Cooper SE vs The Petrol F66 MINI Cooper S appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The F56 MINI Cooper is the last ever internal combustion Cooper model from the brand. Because of that MINI is carrying on the tradition of a few classic colors we’ve known for years. But there’s also a few surprises and one completely new color we’ve never seen before in the range. There are two solid colors (Chili Red and Sunny Side Yellow) and eight metallic colors to choose from. We expect the JCW Legend Grey to eventually show up with the JCW reveal in October and perhaps a unique launch color with the F67 Convertible around the same time. Blazing BlueBritish Racing GreenChili RedMelting SilverMidnight BlackNanuq WhiteOcean Wave GreenSunny Side YellowThe F66 2025 MINI Cooper Model Range Produced in Oxford, the F66 will take over as the F56 ends production in February of 2024. That means we’ll see the first F66 MINI Coopers roll off the line next March as the plant begins it’s pivots into a new generation of MINIs. The F66 MINI Cooper FamilyDrivetrainStart of ProductionF66 MINI Cooper155 HP (Petrol)03/2024F66 MINI Cooper S200 HP (Petrol)03/2024F66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP (Petrol)11/2024F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)07/2024F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)07/2024F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)11/2024F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)11/2024 F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)03/2025** unconfirmedAs you can see above the changeover will happen in three phases. The first is the iconic two door Cooper which is be available at launch in Cooper and Cooper S models (the Cooper C Comes to the US in the fall). Next will be the five door F65 MINI Cooper launch in both Cooper and Cooper S models. Finally the brand will launch its last F66 variant, the F67 convertible in Cooper and Cooper S models. We believe the JCW F67 will either launch simultaneously or follow in March of 2025. The highly anticipated F66 MINI Cooper JCW will likely launch this fall and begin production in November. Head over to our first hands-on experience with the all new F66 MINI Cooper if you want to hear our initial impressions. And make sure to let us know what you think of MINI’s last ever ICE powered Cooper in the comments. The post See All of The F66 MINI Cooper’s Eight Colors appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI USA has announced performance figures, pricing and some other surprises specific to the US market. Some of the news won’t be a shocker if you’ve been reading MotoringFile while some (the pricing) is news we’ve been waiting for. Let’s start with the name. The Cooper C that the rest of the world will get will continue to be known simply as the Cooper in the US. That’s likely for two reasons. First the US won’t get the Countryman C so the new naming convention really won’t have any precedent in the US. Second it will help avoid confusion and make it easier for potential buyers to shop against the previous model. The Cooper S will remain the Cooper S. MINI USA F66 MINI Cooper Pricing With a substantial upgrade in standard equipment, prices have risen a bit. The F56 Cooper had an MSRP of $25,800. That’s going up to $28,950. The Cooper S rises from $30,900 to $32,200. Standard equipment details will come soon but from what we hear there will be more performance and tech (heads up display for example) for that base price. Details to come. USA Specific MINI Cooper Performance Figure In the US power and torque can be measured slightly differently and thus we sometimes see variations of European figures. Interestingly that’s only the case with one model. The Cooper produces 156 hp the same as the UK and Europe. The Cooper S however is rated at 201 hp with is a 3 hp decrease from those UK and EU figures. However that’s very likely the result of measurement protocols and not output changes. The torque remains the same at 221 ft lbs. That takes the Cooper S to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds – JCW territory from a few years ago. MINI USA Launch Dates for the F66 MINI Cooper While both the Cooper and Cooper S begin production in March, the US won’t see the cars as quickly as the UK and Europe. For the US we expect the Cooper S to begin sales in late April or early May. For the Cooper the US should get deliveries from July production onward. That would mean dealers could see them in mid to late August. The post MINI USA Pricing & Launch Dates of the F66 MINI Cooper and Cooper S appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

As with the J01 MINI Cooper, some markets will be offering JCW (or sport) trim that will mimic the look of the full JCW model coming later this year. In other words this is our best look yet at how that highly anticipated petrol MINI Cooper JCW will look when it debuts later this year. Looking at these renders (pulled from the German MINI website) we can clearly see the J01’s JCW Trim design aesthetic was followed closely. The front bumper however has real ducts due to the need to cool the JCW B48 engine. There’s also functional brake ducts as we’ve seen on the F56. F66 JCW TrimJ01 JCW TrimIn fact the JCW front bumper is quite close to what we’ve seen previously on the F56 as you can see below. Elsewhere you can clearly see MINI has moved to gloss black side skirts on the JCW along with gloss black fender flares. This follows the trends towards gloss black we’ve seen elsewhere. F66 JCW TrimThe F56 JCW2025 MINI Cooper JCW – Power and Performance The headline is that the 2025 MINI Cooper JCW will not see an increase in horsepower. Unlike the Cooper or the Cooper S, MINI is holding the line on power output and instead bringing some upgrades elsewhere. ModelF56 CooperF56 Cooper SF56 CooperJCWF66 Cooper CF66 Cooper SF66 Cooper JCWPower134 hp189 hp231 hp156 hp 204 hp231 hp Torque162 lb-ft/1480 rpm206 lb-ft/1350 rpm 235 lb-ft/1450 rpm170 lb-ft/1,480 rpm221 lb-ft/1,250 rpm258 lb-ft/1,250 rpmTransmissionManual/DCTManual/DCTManual/Auto7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelLength (mm/in)3863mm/152.1 in3863mm/152.1 in3863mm/152.1 in3876mm/152.60 in3876mm/152.6 inTBAHeight (mm/in)1414mm/55.66 in1414mm/55.66 in1414mm/55.66 in1432mm/56.38 in1432mm / 56.38 inTBAWheelbase (mm/in)2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23Curb weight (kg/lbs)1256kg/2,769 lbs1289kg/2,841 lbs1289kg/2,841 lbs1260kg/2,778 lbs1285kg/2,832 lbsTBA Shortly after the F66 will be the F67 JCW Convertible Despite this the F66 will have a slightly revised B48 engine under the hood – more specifically the B48A20O2. So what is this revision actually getting would be owners? Torque which will increase from 236 to 258 ft lbs giving the car a touch more grunt. And it peaks lower in the rev range as well. Previously in the F56 JCW torque maxed-out at 1,450. The B48A20O2 sees this change to 1,250 rpm meaning maximum power is even more immediate. Why are we not seeing an improvement when the Cooper and Cooper S are getting modest power upgrades? Or the Countryman which gets even bigger power hikes? We don’t have great answers other than this lack of a JCW upgrade leaves room for MINI to eventually tweak software and hardware for a light refresh in a few years. And we know the DCT transmission can handle more torque so there appears to be no component related reason holding MINI back. A Few Surprising Changes in Size While the F66 JCW is based on the F56 JCW, the dimensions aren’t identical likely due to styling and even a few engineering changes. For instance the F56 JCW has a length of 3863mm vs 3876mm for the new F66 JCW. Why the change? From our information that’s due to the new bumper design (driven by either aero of new safety standards) might be the culprit. The height change is also interesting. The F56 Cooper JCW is 1414mm vs the F66 Cooper JCW which is higher at 1432mm. This is connected to larger standard tires with an increase circumference. It’s the width that is the most interesting to us. The F56 Cooper has a width of 1727 mm vs the F66 which is wider at 1744mm (both without mirrors). That 17mm difference may not sound like much but BMW and MINI don’t typically increase the width of a car solely because of aesthetics. This is due to the wheel and tire size increasing. Tires are now 10 mm wider at 215 and the wheels have been sized up accordingly. Which leads to… JCW Wheels That Finally Look Normal The F56 JCW is a great car with an engineering decision that has created an awkward styling issue. The because of the size of the front brakes and the wheel offset, all JCW wheels bow outward creating an unusual convex shape that looks very different than typical concave performance wheels. As you can see in these photos as MINI has clearly changed the geometry of the wheels which seems to have eliminated that issue entirely. MINI will offer the 17” JCW Sprint Spoke as standard (which we see above) and the 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone as an option (seen on the F67 convertible below). The new F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a mix of the new and familiar The current F56 Cooper S Exhaust design shows that the “dual exhaust” is nothing more than two small pipes from a single exhaust. 2025 MINI Cooper JCW To Feature Single Pipe Exhaust In another surprising move MINI is moving from a two pipe single exhaust to a larger single pipe exhaust. In the exclusive image below you can see a single exhaust pipe (with a stainless steel sleeve), the transversely mounted exhaust and even the aluminum shield underneath it. Look even closer and you’ll see the production version of the single LED reverse light just above the exhaust tip which (one could imagine) would look somewhat integrated with the cutout of the pipe. Why a single exhaust pipe? Let’s start with the exhaust itself. One thing that most don’t know is that the MINI Cooper S and JCW have had a single muffler system since the R56. The fact that two outlets came out the back has primarily been for aesthetics. In this exclusive zoomed in photo you can see a central exhaust and single pipe that looks to be in nearly final production form. In fact there have been more than a few MINI race cars over the years that have gone with the exhaust single pipe design. Why? When asked they consistently have told us it’s both more power efficient and lighter. So in other words exactly what you want in both race cars and modern performance cars. Why wouldn’t MINI have always had a single exhaust? It comes down to marketing and the very simple concept; two exhaust pipes means more power than one in the eyes of the car buying public. In fact you’ll see this on display later this year when the quad-exhaust JCW Countryman debuts. The F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible with the 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke wheelsThe Cooper JCW – Once Again Available in Two Flavors As before MINI will be offering the JCW model in the iconic three door F66 hatch and the F67 convertible. Once again MINI will not be offering its highest performance model in the five door configuration. Why? Product planners apparently made that call many years ago in the F56 generation and due to tight development budgets due to having to offer both electric and ICE models, they’re sticking to it. The F66 gear selector moves from the console to the dash in the form of a discrete toggle switch.The JCW Manual Transmission Is Gone For those reading MotoringFile this likely won’t be a total surprise as we’ve reported on this several times over the last 9 months. But it’s still a shocking development given the popularity of the option. In fact since we exclusively reported the news early this year, the MINI USA manual take-rate has gone up to over 50%. It’s devastating move for a lot of MINI’s biggest fans as it’s a huge part of the brand’s history and slots well into the MINI’s core philosophy of creating cars that are engaging the drive. Why would MINI eliminate manuals despite the fact that the F66 is mechanically identical to the F56 and could easily carry over the current Getrag 6 speed? It’s likely about simplifying drivetrains components and cutting costs within manufacturing. And for Europe (where CO2 targets are much more stringent) the manual is slightly dirtier. Corresponding with the move away from manuals is a completely new gear lever design that mirrors what we’ve seen on the electric J01 and U25 MINI Countryman. What will remain are revised paddle shifters which will be standard on all JCW models. However in markets like US, where CO2 targets don’t have the same impact, why not continue to offer it? That’s likely down to the business case. Offering it one country means that the volumes go down dramatically which means MINI is spending more per unit and MINI would lose a chance to simplify the production process just has it’s about to get more complex with new models. The 2025 F66 MINI Cooper JCW testing with full camouflage at the Nurburgring In its place will be a revised 7 speed dual clutch (DCT) with slightly more aggressive software for more aggressive programing which should decrease shift times. The revised dual clutch transmission is just like the one offered in current Cooper and Cooper S models combining two partial transmissions in a single housing. The core element of the system consists of two oil-cooled wet clutches: one of these is responsible for the even transmission ratios (2, 4, 6) while the other is for the uneven ratios (1, 3, 5, 7) and reverse. During travel, one of the two clutches is open and the other is closed. They interact when the driver shifts up or down: opening one clutch activates closure of the second at the same time. Chassis and Brake Updates This is where the F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a straight evolution from the F56 version. This starts with the braking system which will be carried over. That means we’ll see a 4-piston fixed caliper upfront with internally ventilated, drilled brake disk up front (335x30mm). In the back (where there’s less weight to worry about) MINI will continue with a single piston floating caliper and a disk that’s 259x10mm. All four calipers will be finished in the traditional Chili Red. The chassis and suspension will see subtle improvements with MINI further refining its adaptive suspension design. While we don’t yet have details we’re told this focuses on improving ride quality while not forgoing any performance. F66 JCW Trim2025 MINI Cooper JCW Launch Timing and End of Production Produced in Oxford, the F66 will take over as the F56 ends production in February of 2024. That means we’ll see the first F66 MINI Coopers roll off the line next March as the plant begins its pivots into a new generation of MINIs. We expect the F66 MINI Cooper JCW will go into production beginning in March of 2024. The F66 MINI Cooper FamilyDrivetrainStart of ProductionEnd of ProductionF66 MINI Cooper155 HP (Petrol)03/202412/31/30F66 MINI Cooper S200 HP (Petrol)03/202412/31/30F66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)07/202412/31/30F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)07/202412/31/30F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)11/2024 12/31/30F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30 The post the F66 MINI Cooper JCW Trim – A Preview of the Full JCW appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

What am I looking at. Those were the first words that came to mind as I walked into the secret room inside of the secret bunker where the F66 MINI Cooper laid waiting for me. With no phone in my pocket and no way to even take notes, I began walking around the new Cooper studying every new detail. The it hit me. This is (mostly) what the F56 should have been all along. Experiencing a new MINI for the first time is one thing. But seeing a new MINI with head of MINI Design Oliver Heimler next to you, is another experience entirely. “What do you think, and be Honest” Oliver asked me. My immediate response was one of shock at just how far MINI took the F56 in turning it into the F66. Walking up to the F66 MINI Cooper S for the first time is like looking at a F56 that has been honed and subtly smoothed like a stone in a river. It’s not just that MINI has taken aware the faux scoops and non-functional design elements. Look close and you realize the bumper, hood and even rear fenders have all been subtly reshaped. I asked Oliver about this and he told me the MINI Design team wanted to push the F56 as far as it could go to not just make it look like the J01 but to make it feel more modern. He didn’t say this but I could sense that these were changes that MINI designers had probably thought about for many years and hadn’t been able to execute. Let’s get over the lack of a manual. There’s no question it’s heartbreaking for many of us question. But let’s celebrate the fact that we are looking at an all new MINI Cooper powered by an internal combustion engine. The last one in fact. It’s a moment to celebrate that this car exists. New styling, updated engines, higher levels of performance and entirely new technology. And there’s so much more. MINI has checked so many boxes. There are finally wider wheels and tires. The ridiculous faux hood scoop and vents adorning the car are finally gone. In their place is (brace yourself) nothing. Simplicity. The core of the Mini philosophy is everywhere you look uninterrupted by gauche styling elements. The front overhang is still here. MINI designers have been able to alter its impact through subtle alterations but there’s no material change to the size and that’s disappointing. Oliver confirmed this is a resigned look. But his excitement grew the second we started to talk how much was accomplished with what we had expected was simply a refresh. And that’s really the big take away here. Yes this is a revised F56 if you think about the chassis underneath and the engines powering this car. But everything else (literally) has been altered. From subtle changes to complete rethinks the F66 feels new in surprising ways. You’re left feeling that MINI designers and engineers have pulled off the impossible. Revising the F56 into something that feels truly new. Throughout my walk around Oliver was still asking for feedback. What did I think about this or that? And is there something I wasn’t sure about. I mentioned that the exhaust choice would be hard for some and he nodded with agreement. But he also made it clear that MINI was moving into new directions with electrification and the brand had to be thoughtful about how it expressed that philosophy even in its ICE cars. I told him that the lights would be a challenge for some but I completely understand the rational. Then finally it hit me. I’m not a fan of the type face on the rear hatch. I shrugged my shoulder and told him as a designer that has worked with type of years I had to say it. He smiled and said he’d bring that feedback to the team. And with that I congratulated him and his team for such a shocking transformation. Leaving the top secret room and walking down the hall is when it hit me. A lot of these designers worked on the F56 and its siblings. Yet if you look at the concepts they’ve been producing since then (the Rocketman and Superleggera being two) its clear that, when left to their own devices they had a more refined vision of the MINI hatch than we’ve seen with the F56. That vision has finally become reality with the F66 MINI Cooper. We just wish it had a manual transmission. The post First Look Video: Hands-on With The F66 MINI Cooper appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

It’s here – the MINI so many of you’ve been waiting for. A new MINI Cooper with no plug, no range anxiety and plenty of gasoline in its veins. This is the F66 and it’s the last ever petrol powered MINI Cooper. What’s new, what’s old and how does it stack up to all the MINI Coopers that came before it? Today (finally) we find out. The F66 MNI Cooper may look all new to the casual observer but as you know if you’ve been reading MotoringFile, it’s not. Why? MINI is putting enormous investment in electrifying the product line-up with the J01 MINI Cooper, J05 MINI Aceman and U25 Countryman (available as both ICE and EV). This enormous investment prompted a decision; completely drop the ICE powered Cooper, spend billions creating a new one or thoroughly rework the current F56 adding performance, technology and a new design inside and out. In the end there was only one choice. The F66 is that answer. Today we not only get to see the F66 MINI Cooper for the first time. For quite a few markets ordering books are also now open as well. In fact MINI has never had such a tight window between debut and production as the F66 will begin rolling down the line in Oxford England on March 1st. The reason for this is not confirmed but we suspect that MINI would much rather focus attention on its all electric offerings and the new Countryman. As with the F56, the F66 will spawn two other variants; the five door hatch (F65) and convertible (F67). F66 MINI Cooper (three door)F65 MINI Cooper (five door)F67 MINI Cooper ConvertibleCooper C 2-door hardtop (F66)Cooper C 4-door hardtop (F65)Cooper C Convertible (F67)Cooper S 2-door hardtop (F66)Cooper S 4-door hardtop (F65)Cooper S Convertible (F67)Cooper JCW 2-door hardtop (F66)Cooper JCW Convertible (ICE)There’s also a revised name to go along with an entirely refreshed car; MINI Cooper C as well as the more familiar MINI Cooper S. What’s the “C” stand for? According to MINI it’s short for “Core”. The “C” and “S” model denotations will apply to all petrol powered MINIs while we’ll see “E” and “SE” on all electric models. Performance Upgrades for the F66 MINI Cooper C & Cooper S MINI has upped the ante in terms of power with both models. The F56 Cooper is getting a 14% power upgrade going from 134 hp to 156 hp in the F66 Cooper C. This change takes the C from 0-62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 7.7 seconds. The more powerful F66 Cooper S gets a less dramatic 7.4% horsepower boost from 189 to 204 hp but sees a significant torque increase to 221 lb-ft. This gets the new F66 Cooper S to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds (70 in 6.4 seconds). And keep in mind these are both likely a conservative numbers knowing how BMW calculates figures. ModelF56 CooperF56 Cooper SF66 Cooper CF66 Cooper SPower134 hp189 hp156 hp 204 hpTorque162 lb-ft/1480 rpm206 lb-ft/1350 rpm 170 lb-ft/1,480 rpm221 lb-ftTransmissionManual/DCTManual/DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTThe Design of the F66 2025 MINI Cooper Even though MINI made the decision to heavily revise the F56 rather than to create an entirely new car, there’s almost nothing that the designers left untouched. The exterior design is evolved to match the J01 MINI Cooper with the goal to make them look identical to the casual observer. MINI’s hope is that a potential buyer would be choosing ICE versus EV without styling differences to muddy the waters. This will extend to almost every aspect of the cars. As you can see the F66 has (almost) identical wheels, mirrors and even lighting (including those controversial taillights). But interestingly no exterior parts are shared between the two cars no matter how similar they look. The J01 MINI Cooper EV and the F66 MIMI Cooper (ICE)MINI designers have applied the minimal design language we’ve seen on the J01 MINI Cooper by eliminating all non-functional vents, scoops and design elements. The result is that the F66 has a clean and minimal aesthetic that at first glance looks refreshing. But more on our first hands-on impressions later. This is a car that is subtly new in almost every way. MINI has gone beyond just revising the bumpers, wheels and lights and have a completely new hood (with no faux hood scoop) and a rear hatch that’s been reshaped requiring an all new rear fender shape. So extensive are the changes that the only exterior piece of the F66 that’s identical to the F56 are the doors. The F56 vs the F66 – subtle differences aboundThe F56 vs the F66 The Surprising Differences While the F66 is based on the F56, the dimensions aren’t identical likely due to styling and even an few engineering changes. For instance the F56 has a length of 3863mm vs 3876mm for the new F66. The reason is the revised front and rear bumper design. But more interesting is the height change. The F56 is 1414mm vs the F66 which is higher at 1432mm. This is due to MINI increasing the standard wheel size of the Cooper from 15? to 16? wheels while increasing the tire size slightly as well. But most interesting is the width change. The F56 Cooper has a width of 1727 mm vs the F66 which is wider at 1744mm (both without mirrors). That 17mm difference may not sound like much but BMW and MINI don’t typically increase the width of a car solely because of aesthetics. This change is due to wider wheels and tires (205mm to 215mm) that allow for a more concave wheel design on the Cooper S and JCW (which we’ll see later this year). ModelF56 CooperF56 Cooper SF66 Cooper CF66 Cooper SLength (mm/in)3863mm / 152.1 in3863mm / 152.1 in3876mm / 152.6 in3876mm / 152.6 inHeight (mm/in)1414mm / 55.66 in1414mm / 55.66 in1432mm / 56.4 in1432mm / 56.4 inWheelbase (mm/in)2495mm / 98.23 in2495mm / 98.23 in2495mm / 98.23 in2495mm / 98.23 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1256kg / 2,769 lbs1289kg / 2,841 lbs1260kg / 2,778 lbs1285kg / 2,832 lbsThen there are the small styling tweaks that aren’t obvious at first. The headlight placement looks identical at first glance. But in person you can see how MINI has moved the lights very slightly forward and made them slightly more upright. This works in conjunction with the new hood and simpler face of the car to create a more upright silhouette. Headlight may look identical but it’s actually subtle different to work with the overall design of the car.A Small Weight Change One of the biggest critiques of modern MINI is that they appear to be getting larger and heavier with every generation. That’s actually not historically true. The R50 (manual) had a DIN weight of 2,535 lbs which then decreased to 2,513 with the R56 Cooper (manual). While that weight finally did go up with the noticeably larger F56, it wasn’t as much as most assumed. The F56’s DIN weight is 2,701 lbs in manual form and 2,756 with the DCT. Given that the F66 will only be available with the DCT, let’s compare those two numbers. The F56 Cooper DCT weights in at 2,756 lbs. The new F66 Cooper DCT has a curb weight of 2,778 lbs, a 22 lbs difference. Given the added emissions and safety additions (and not to mention the new tech), a 22 lbs increase feels like a win in a world of 6,000 SUVs. The Interior of the F66 MINI Cooper While the exterior changes on the F66 may be surprising given its F56 origins, the interior is downright shocking. MINI has turned the F56 into a completely new car with all the design language, materials and technology found in the J01 MINI Cooper. there’s a big environmental impact due to the production of leather in the quantities that companies like MINI need. So much so that MINI has made the bold decision to eliminate leather from its coming starting with the all new J01 MINI Cooper electric What’s wrong with leather? It’s complicated. While the leather industry is vocal about its use as a smart byproduct of livestock farming, there’s some serious concerns around its production and amount of impact it has on the environment. Converting animal skin to leather demands vast energy and involves hazardous chemicals like mineral salts, formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives, oils, dyes, some cyanide-based finishes. Suffice to say it’s not the most natural and environmentally safe process. It’s also not inline with MINI’s brand image of being environmentally conscious and animal friendly. But how do you replace something as iconic as leather seats? BMW and MINI are so confident in products like Vescin (BMW’s version I called Sensafin – an improved version of Sensatec) they they’re already being used in several cars with MSRPs well over $100,000. What’s it like in person? Getting into the new F66 MINI Cooper, it’s clear that Vescin is a step-up from what we’ve known as Leatherette. The off-white perforated seats in the F66 MINI Cooper we experienced were softer to the touch than leatherette and felt much more supple. But how do they compare with leather? In short very well. Compared with the standard Chesterfield or Cross Punch leather seating, Vescin feels softer and more premium. It’s not on par with the feel and softness of MINI’s Lounge Leather but then again that’s $2500 option on the Signature Trim. The physical controls in the new F66 are relegated to this strip below the circular display. The MINI Cooper Manual Is Eliminated As the F56 production ended over 50% of JCW hardtops sold in the US were equipped with the manual transmission. So this change is a big one for some markets and certain models. But the economic realities of complying with European legislation have forced MINI’s hand which means the F66 will have only one transmission across the line-up. That transmission is the familiar dual clutch 7 speed with some small refinements. Let’s hope that adds up to quick shift times. The move to replace the manual is all about the costs associated with meeting European emissions standards. While North America doesn’t have the same requirements, the case couldn’t be made due to investment required vs the expected sales. Even with a 50% take rate on the JCW for instance, that quantity can’t pay of the costs associated with further developing and/or maintaining the option. Making this change even more dramatic is MINI’s new dash mounted gear selector. Designers have replaced the center console mounted gear lever with a small dash mounted toggle. The rational is logical as the design simplifies the process of selecting park, reverse or drive while freeing up interior space for storage, screens or other functionality. More importantly MINI still offers wheel mounted paddles for manual control of the DCT. Read our first impressions of this new shift lever here. The Hidden Exhaust of the F66 MINI Cooper C & Cooper S MINI Designers have also hidden one important functional aspect of the F66 that would have differentiated from the electric J01 – the exhaust outlet. We can confirm the exhaust on the Cooper us is a single pipe tucked under the left side of the rear bumper, bent down, ending flush so it’s impossible to see without looking underneath. The idea of the MINI Cooper and Cooper S having hidden exhausts actually has some historical precedent. European automakers had a similar design solution years ago when they hid exhaust outlets on many of its V8 models in the late 90s and early 00s. It was a time that customers wanted performance models to have a more discrete look due to concerns of being too aggressive. The larger, most luxurious Audis, Mercedes and BMWs all did this at one point or another. Look for the new F66 MINI Cooper JCW to offer a different solution however. The F66 MINI Cooper JCW is coming later this yearThe F66 2025 MINI Cooper Model Range Produced in Oxford, the F66 will take over as the F56 ends production in February of 2024. That means we’ll see the first F66 MINI Coopers roll off the line next March as the plant begins it’s pivots into a new generation of MINIs. The F66 MINI Cooper FamilyDrivetrainStart of ProductionF66 MINI Cooper155 HP (Petrol)03/2024F66 MINI Cooper S200 HP (Petrol)03/2024F66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP (Petrol)11/2024F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)07/2024F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)07/2024F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)11/2024F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)11/2024 F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)03/2025** unconfirmedAs you can see above the changeover will happen in three phases. The first is the iconic two door Cooper which is be available at launch in Cooper and Cooper S models (the Cooper C Comes to the US in the fall). Next will be the five door F65 MINI Cooper launch in both Cooper and Cooper S models. Finally the brand will launch its last F66 variant, the F67 convertible in Cooper and Cooper S models. We believe the JCW F67 will either launch simultaneously or follow in March of 2025. The highly anticipated F66 MINI Cooper JCW will likely launch this fall and begin production in November. Head over to our first hands-on experience with the all new F66 MINI Cooper if you want to hear our initial impressions. And make sure to let us know what you think of MINI’s last ever ICE powered Cooper in the comments. The post World Premier: The F66 2025 MINI Cooper Revealed with Exclusive Details appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Today the last MINI Clubman was produced at the Oxford Plant in the UK. It’s a significant milestone as the final production run of the MINI Clubman concludes 55 years since its inaugural debut in 1969. And it’s a sad day for the fans of the modern Clubman – a car we’ve often praised as the best MINI made today. Due to moderate sales and a world that can’t get enough of small crossovers, there simply wasn’t room in MIIN’s product mix for the wagon-like Clubman. Beloved for its mix of utility and performance, the Clubman has become a cult favorite for the brand. Despite the passion of from owners, there wasn’t enough to save it as MINI plans to down on crossovers with its next generation of cars. Distinguished by its unique styling and iconic rear split doors, the MINI Clubman has maintained global recognition but never quite achieved the sales success hoped for. In fact outside of the Japanese market, it never achieved sustained sales volumes that MINI had targeted. With the Clubman ending production at Oxford, the plant now has additional space for other product lines including the forthcoming F67 MINI Cooper Convertible. Having produced over 1.1 million MINI Clubman models, with half originating from MINI Plant Oxford and exported to more than 50 countries, the Clubman has left an indelible mark on roads globally, with Midnight Black emerging as the preferred exterior color in the UK. As we bid farewell to the Clubman, we reflect on its iconic history, tracing its lineage back to the classic Mini Clubman of the early 1960s. Introduced as part of the British Motor Corporation’s initiative to streamline the Mini portfolio, the Clubman’s distinct design, longer chassis, and barn-style rear doors set the stage for its enduring legacy. The rebirth of the MINI Clubman in 2007 after a 25-year hiatus marked a significant moment in its evolution. Retaining signature styling elements, such as the split rear doors, engineers at MINI Plant Oxford faced challenges in integrating modern features, including the unique Clubdoor for easy rear passenger access. In 2013, inspired by the Morris Mini Van, MINI introduced the innovative Clubvan, the world’s first premium compact delivery van, catering to businesses with its spacious cargo area and flat floor. The original Clubman was a bit divisive. With the third door on the wrong side for right-hand drive markets, it was looked at as the “other” MINI even but the brand’s own marketing. While we loved the concept, it never really jelled for us as it felt too close to the R56 and didn’t find the sweet spot that the F54 ultimately did in terms of utility and performance. The third generation in 2015 brought further refinement, featuring four full-sized doors, a capacious boot with up to 1,250 liters of capacity, and the introduction of an 8-speed Steptronic transmission. The Clubman ALL-4, MINI’s first all-wheel-drive model, debuted in 2016. Then with the Clubman’s LCI came the 306 hp Clubman JCW. With a conservative 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed limited to 155 mph, it will likely be the fastest ICE power MINI of all time. The MINI Clubman Untamed EditionThe culmination of the Clubman’s journey came in 2023 with the launch of The Final Edition, a tribute limited to 1,969 units, commemorating the year of the original Clubman’s launch. This model featured distinctive design elements, including a Shimmer Copper radiator grille and side scuttles. Having tested and driven every MINI made since 2001 we don’t shy away from picking favorites. And the F54 MINI Clubman (especially in JCW guise) is at the very top. So much so that we’ve ordered one of the last ones to roll off the assembly line. And since it’s been a few years since we had a Clubman JCW as our daily, we are revisiting it in a three part series. The first was taking a Cooper Final Edition on a road trip through the Austrian Alps and a record snow storm. The second was testing a Clubman JCW on the mountain roads of South Carolina. The third and final test will happen shortly after we take delivery of our very own Clubman JCW. So the Clubman isn’t gone from these pages and certainly not from the MINI community. It’s only going to be a bit more rare. The post We Look Back As The Final MINI Clubman Rolls Off the Assembly Line appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

How does the MINI Aceman EV compare to the J01 MINI Cooper EV? We have an exclusive look at data that paints an interesting picture. Like our recent comparison between the new MINI Aceman EV and the new (and larger) MINI Countryman we dug deep to find dimensions and data points that are’t readily available yet to get a better picture of these two cars. What we found was two cars that were much closer to each other than you might initially realize. Looking at the specifications, the first thing you realize is that the Aceman is based on a stretched version of the J01 skateboard chassis. That means the J01 MINI Cooper substantially influences the dimensions and mechanical layout of the Aceman. So while the Aceman is 192mm (7.6″) longer and 130mm (5.1″) wider than the new Cooper, it’s only 23mm (1″) wider. What becomes very obvious the more you look is that the Aceman is truly just a stretched J01 with extra doors and a taller roofline. Another way to look at it is in terms of the F56 family of MINIs. Like the F55 MINI Cooper four door (itself a stretch version of the F56), the J05 is a longer, more spacious J01. Which in turn makes something else pretty obvious – the Aceman is not is a direct replacement for the recently departed and larger Clubman. The J05 vs the J01 – Mechanical Similarities Because of this close relationship with the J01 both the battery and the electric motor output are identical. This gives MINI great economies of scale but it also means the J05 has to use power units and batteries designed for a smaller car. Because of this (and the weight penalty that the J05 has over the J01) we expect a lower range and less performance compared to the new Cooper EV. Another carry over from the J01 the front wheel drive architecture that underpins the J05 Aceman. This is due to the J01 chassis not being designed to offer a two engine layout that would allow for which all wheel drive in an electric vehicles. This engineering choice unfortunately means the Aceman as little if no off-road credentials other than well groomed trails. One area where there’s a material difference is luggage capacity. As you can see above the Aceman has more than double the capacity with there seats up. That difference decreases slight when the seats are down but it’s still a respectable 1450 liters. That’s identical to the R60 Countryman with the seats up but 450 but the Aceman actually has 280 liters more space with the seats down. Comparing that to the more recent F60 Countryman the Aceman still holds it’s down with an identical luggage figure with the seats up and 60 more liters when the seats are folded down. Getting more space out of a smaller footprint is a huge advantage of skateboard chassis EV vehicles as the Aceman proves. ModelsJ01 Cooper EJ01 Cooper SEJ05 Aceman EJ05 Aceman SEPower184 hp218 hp184 hp218 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft214 lb-ft243 lb-ftTransmission1 speed1 speed1 speed1 speed0-60 mph7.3 sec6.7 secTBATBARange 200 miles250 milesTBATBALength (mm/inches)3858 mm / 151.8 in3858 mm / 151.8 in4079 mm / 161 in4079 mm / 161 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1756 mm / 69 in1756 mm / 69 in1754 mm / 69 in1754 mm / 69 inHeight (mm)1460 mm / 57 in1460 mm / 57 in1754 mm / 69 in1514 mm / 59.6 inWheelbase (mm)2526 mm / 99 in2526 mm / 99 in2606 mm / 102.6 in2606 mm / 102.6 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1540 kg / 3,395 lbs1605 kg / 3,538 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbsWeight distribution (Front/Rear)F58% / R 42%F 57% / R 43%F 57% / R 43%F 55.8% / R 44.2%Front Overhang746 mm / 29.3 in746 mm / 29.3 in756 mm / 29.8 in756 mm / 29.8 inRear Overhang586 mm / 23 in586 mm / 23 in717 mm / 28.2 in717 mm / 28.2 inLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down210 / 800 L210 / 800 L450 / 1450 L450 / 1450 LThe SE versions of the Cooper and the Paceman substantially up the power in comparison to the F56 Cooper S. Will the MINI Aceman Coming to the United States and the rest of North America? One benefit of these similarities is that putting these two vehicles down the same production line is relatively easy. While the MINI Aceman will initially be built in China, we expect it will expand to UK production at the same time as the J01 Cooper in 2026. The cars being produced in the UK will serve Europe and likely the North American markets. This will allow MINI to avoid tariffs as it likely begins US imports in the 2026 calendar year. The key word is likely as sources tell us final decisions on where the Aceman will be sold are still being made. MINI Aceman – Photo Gallery The post The MINI Aceman Vs J01 MINI Cooper EV – How Similar Are They? appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The last ever combustion MINI is Coming and we have Details on the Car, It’s Debut Timing and When We’ll see it at Dealers The MINI brand is going electric. But not quite yet. MINI has one more generation of internal combustion MINI Cooper’s planned and its debut is imminent. The F66 MINI Cooper will be heavily based on the F56 generation while taking on the design language and technology found in the new electric J01 MINI Cooper. In short it will look and feel completely new to 99% of the buying public. This move by MINI isn’t an easy one. The J01 electric MINI Cooper is on an entirely new platform while the F66 will still technically be based on BMW’s FAAR platform. The result will be a car that, deep underneath has the F56 mechanicals while have a look and feel that is almost all new. Almost because there will be some tell-tale signs of the F56 underneath. Based on the spy photography the clamshell bonnet and the plastic wheel arches that have become iconic will still be there along with the overall shape and more upright windshield. Our latest photos show the F66 without the heavy camouflage we’ve seen on its front and year lights. For the first time this allows us to see some of the final details of the design including the controversial rear taillights. As you can see below MINI will offer the same lineup that we see in the F56 generation. That means three distinct MINI Cooper models ranging from the iconic two door hatch to the four door hatch and finally the convertible. F66 MINI Cooper (three door)F65 MINI Cooper (five door)F67 MINI Cooper ConvertibleCooper 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper 4-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper Convertible (F67)Cooper S 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper S 4-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper S Convertible (F67)Cooper JCW 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper JCW Convertible (ICE)ICE = Internal Combustion Engine / EV = Electric VehicleMINI’s goal will be to make the ICE (internal combustion engine) F66 Cooper and electric J01 Cooper to look identical to the casual observer. That would mean a potential buyer would be choosing ICE versus EV without styling differences to muddy the waters. This will extend to almost every aspect of the cars. That means we’ll see (almost) identical wheels, mirrors and of course lighting. However these are substantially different cars underneath and that means we’d expect most if not all of these parts will not be interchangeable. There will be plenty of changes to get used to. The manual is gone from the option book as is an exposed exhaust, unless you opt for the JCW model. And even then it will get a single large pipe vs the double it’s had since the R53. The automatic gear lever moves to the dash and next to it will be a start/stop switch shaped like a key. Leather is also gone replaced with a rich synthetic leather called Vescin. And in the middle of it all will be MINI’s new circular screen and MINIOS9. For much more on the F66 read our entire section already devoted to the car with articles and videos detailing the it and its five door and convertible siblings. The F66 MINI Cooper Debut and Production Dates The F66 will debut next week with orders starting almost immediately afterwards. A few weeks later production will begin in March at Oxford with European deliveries scheduled for late March while US customers will have to wait until late April. Despite MINI’s talk of going electric with the all new J01 Cooper, the F66 is expected to have a full production run currently scheduled to end on 12/30. ModelProduction LocationPowerYearProd. MonthOn-Sale DateMINI Cooper S 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Cooper 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper S 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper S Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper JCW Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI JCW 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025The post F66 MINI Cooper Debut is Coming, Here’s what We Know and When We’ll See it appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

As you’ve probably gathered the new four door MINI Aceman EV is smaller than the Countryman. But just how small and where does it fit into the line-up exactly? Today we have an exclusive look at the dimensions of the Aceman and how it stacks up to the all new Countryman as well as the previous generations. Some of the figures may surprise you. Small Where it Matters & Big Where it Counts The Aceman is a small crossover that is effectively replacing the Clubman in the MINI line-up. But in reality it doesn’t replacement the Clubman at all. Rather it fills the void left when the Countryman grew in size from the original R60 model to the more recent F60 model. Case in point, the Aceman’s length. In photos it’s hard to tell because the tall belt-line and large wheels. But the length is actually bigger than you might think. The MINI Aceman measures in at be 4079mm / 161 in in length. That’s a full 14″ shorter than the 4444mm / 175 in new U25 Countryman. ModelsJ05 AcemanR60 Countryman (’10-’16) F60 Countryman (’17-’23)U25 Countryman (’24-’32)Length4079 mm / 161 in4097 mm / 161.3 in4298 mm / 169.2 in4429 mm / 174.37 inHeight1514 mm / 59.6 in1562 mm / 61.5 in1557 mm / 61.3 in1613 mm / 63.5 inWheelbase2526 mm / 99.44 in2596 mm / 102.2 in2670 mm / 105.1 in2670 mm / 105.11 inThings get really interesting is when you compare the Aceman to the original 2010 R60 Countryman. The R60 was 4119mm / 162.2in making that original Countryman actually larger than the new Aceman. When you look and height and wheelbase the Aceman is also fractionally smaller. However while the R60 has a larger footprint, things look a bit different inside. For instance the R60 Countryman’s shoulder width is 1341mm / 52.8in. Aceman actually has over an inch more room with a width of 1370mm / 53.9. Not surprisingly the same is true for front legroom. There the R60 is 1025mm / 40.4in while the smaller Aceman looks slightly more comfortable for taller drivers and passengers with 1045 mm / 41.1in of room in the front. Not unlike the original classic Mini, the Aceman is great at being small on the outside while being surprisingly rooms inside. This is a result of clever packaging thanks to MINI using a bespoke electric platform. Aceman Specifications vs the Electric U25 Countryman SE Now let’s take a look at the full specs and how that compares to the new electric Countryman SE. Here you’ll see some clear distinctions that MINI has made to separate these two products. The most obvious (beyond size) is power and number of wheels drive. Yes, the Aceman is a solely front wheel drive vehicle. ModelsJ05 Aceman E J05 Aceman SEU25 MINI Countryman SEPower184 hp 218 hp313 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft365 lb-ftTransmission1 speed1 speed1 speedWheels DrivenFront Wheel DriveFront Wheel DriveAll Wheel Drive0-60 mphTBATBATBALength (mm/inches)4079 mm / 161 in4079 mm / 161 in4444 mm / 175 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1754 mm / 69 in1754 mm / 69 in1843 mm / 73 inHeight (mm)1514 mm / 59.6 in1514 mm / 59.6 in1661 mm / 65 inWheelbase (mm)2606 mm / 102.6 in2606 mm / 102.6 in2670 mm mm / 81 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1645 kg / 3,627 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbs1735 kg / 3,825 lbsLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down300 / 1005 liters300 / 1005 liters450 / 1450 LWeight is interesting here as we see just how MINI has mitigated the heavy battery. While a 3,600 lbs car can’t be considered light, it is for a four door electric crossover. The other number that jumps out is just how close the wheelbase is to the Countryman. This shows MINI has pushed the wheels to the corners as much as possible. Next we’ll take a look at the performance and how it compares to the J01. As you can see MINI has carried one the drivetrain completely including battery size. While we don’t have range figures yet, it’s safe to say they will be lower than the J01 due to the increase in weight of the Aceman. 2025 J01 MINI Cooper E2025 J01 MINI Cooper SE2026 J05 MINI Aceman E2026 J05 MINI Aceman SEHorsepower184 hp218 hp184 hp218 hpRange (WLTP)200 miles250 milesTBATBABattery Size40kWh54kWh54kWh*32.6 kWhAll numbers provided by MINI except * which are confirmed only through unofficial sources.J05 MINI Aceman Release Info The MINI Aceman will initially be built in China by a joint venture with Great Wall Motors. We believe those vehicles will be sold in Asia and Europe exclusively. Then in 2027 MINI will move some of that production to Oxford along with the J01 MINI Cooper EV. These cars coming out of the UK will serve Europe and likely the North American markets and will allow MINI to avoid tariffs as it begins US imports in the 2027 calendar year. While it’s too early have a full picture of cost, we’d expect finally pricing to be 10-15% cheaper than the U25 Countryman EV. The Aceman is just one part of the 4th generation MINI family but a key one in its strategy to go all electric. Here’s a full view of the fourth generation MINIs and where it slots in. The New MINI FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionThe J01 Electric MINI CooperJ01 MINI Cooper EElectric32,900€ 11/2023J01 MINI Cooper SE Electric36,900€ 11/2023The U25 MINI CountrymanU25 MINI Countryman CICE (Petrol)39.900€ 11/2023U25 MINI Countryman D ICE (Diesel)42.900€ 11/2023U25 MINI Countryman E Electric43.500€ 03/2024U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4ICE (Petrol)45.900€ 11/2023*U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4Electric49.500€ 03/2024*U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4ICE (Petrol)56.500€ 03/2024*The F66 Petrol MINI CooperF66 MINI CooperICE (Petrol)TBD03/2024*F66 MINI Cooper SICE (Petrol)TBD03/2024*F66 MINI Cooper JCWICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F65 MINI Cooper 5 DoorICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F65 MINI Cooper S 5 DoorICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F67 MINI Cooper ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*F67 MINI Cooper S ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*The J05 Electric MINI AcemanJ05 MINI AcemanElectricTBDTBDJ05 MINI Aceman SElectricTBDTBD* Available in the USFor more coverage of the new generation MINIs, check out the following articles and videos. MINI Cooper EV: Premier | MINI Cooper EV: Hands-On Review | MINI Cooper EV: Video Review MINI Countryman EV: Premier | MINI Countryman EV: Hands-On Review | MINI Countryman EV: Video Review New MINI Family: 1st Look Video | MINI Circular Display & MINI OS9 Hands-On Review The post Exclusive: MINI Aceman Dimensions & How it Compares to the Countryman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The electric MINI Aceman nearly revealed in new photos and exclusive details ahead of its global reveal. What you’re looking at might just be the brand’s most popular model in a few years time. That’s what MINI is quietly predicting as it finishes up final testing of the all electric MINI Aceman. And today we have our first official look at the small crossover in prototype form. The Aceman the first all new model from MINI since the original Countryman. However this new crossover is actually based on the smaller J01 MINI Cooper EV. In fact it’s so heavily connected to that car that it will share all of its drivetrain including its electric motor, battery pack and electronics. In many ways the relationship between the J01 MINI Cooper and the J05 Aceman is not that different than the F56 two door hatch to the F55 four door hatch. The key difference of course is height and proportions which was likely much easier to alter with a skateboard chassis given it’s fully electric origins. Note the higher load floor and smaller rear hatch. This is likely due to the Aceman’s higher positioning of it’s J01 sourced battery packThe MINI Aceman Model Line-Up The electric MINI Aceman will initially launch with two models late this year. The entry level Aceman E will have 184hp and 214 lb-ft and would likely fall be in between to an F60 Countryman S in straight-line performance. The more powerful SE will pump out 218 hp and 243 lb-ft and likely see performance figured that eclipse the F60 Countryman S. ModelsJ05 Aceman E J05 Aceman SEJ05 Aceman JCWPower184 hp 218 hp*250 hp +Torque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft*280 lb-ft +* EstimatedThose two models will quickly be followed by a JCW variant that will go into production next January. This model will likely develop well over 250 hp and will offer a variety of upgrades such as larger brakes, a revised suspension and some unique styling elements. The Aceman might just have the best overall proportions of any new MINI.How Big is the MINI Aceman? We’ve known the Aceman will be smaller than the new Countryman but until recently we didn’t fully understand what that meant. And the numbers are interesting to say the least. Especially in how they compare to smaller MINIs of the past. ModelsJ05 AcemanU25 CountrymanF60 CountrymanR60 CountrymanLength4079 mm / 161 in4444 mm / 175 in 4297 mm / 169 in4119 mm / 162 inOne of the headlining data points of any MINI is length. Aceman measures in at be 4079mm / 161in in length which is (not surprisingly) quite a bit smaller than the 4444mm / 175in U25 Countryman. However what’s really interesting is comparing this new MINI crossover with the original 2010 R60 Countryman. The R60 was 4119mm / 162.2in making that original Countryman actually larger than the new Aceman. Going deeper we see that trend playout elsewhere; R60 shoulder width is 1341mm / 52.8in which is smaller than the 1370mm in the Aceman. Not surprisingly the same is true for front legroom. There the R60 is 1025mm / 40.4in. while the smaller Aceman looks for comfortable with 1045 mm / 41.1in of room for front passengers. The all-electric MINI Aceman opens new opportunities for customers who want a smaller crossover than our successful MINI Countryman. Stefanie Wurst, head of MINIYou get the idea. The Aceman has a small footprint but is magically larger inside than the original Countryman. This is a result of MINI using a bespoke electric platform and being able to rethink much of the interior design. MINI Aceman Specifications vs the New U25 Countryman Now let’s take a look at the full specs and how that compares to the new electric Countryman SE. As you can see MINI has made a clear distinction between the two modes in terms of power and performance. ModelsJ05 Aceman E J05 Aceman SEU25 MINI Countryman SEPower184 hp 218 hp313 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft365 lb-ftTransmission1 speed1 speed1 speed0-60 mphTBATBATBALength (mm/inches)4079 mm / 161 in4079 mm / 161 in4444 mm / 175 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1754 mm / 69 in1754 mm / 69 in1843 mm / 73 inHeight (mm)1514 mm / 59.6 in1514 mm / 59.6 in1661 mm / 65 inWheelbase (mm)2606 mm / 102.6 in2606 mm / 102.6 in2670 mm / 81 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1645 kg / 3,627 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbs1735 kg / 3,825 lbsLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down300 / 1005 liters300 / 1005 liters450 / 1450 LWeight is interesting here as we see just how MINI has mitigated the heavy battery. While a 3,600 lbs car can’t be considered light, it is for a four door electric crossover. The other number that jumps out is just how close the wheelbase is to the Countryman. This shows MINI has pushed the wheels to the corners as much as possible. MINI Aceman Performance & Range Details Next we’ll take a look at the performance and how it compares to the J01. As you can see MINI has carried one the drivetrain completely including battery size. While we don’t have range figures yet, it’s safe to say they will be lower than the J01 due to the increase in weight of the Aceman. Once again this drive home the point that he Aceman truly is just a large J01 MINI Cooper that sits higher and has four doors. While the bonus is a higher seating position and more interior volume, the clear trade off is weight and thus range. 2025 J01 MINI Cooper E2025 J01 MINI Cooper SE2026 J05 MINI Aceman E2026 J05 MINI Aceman SEHorsepower184 hp218 hp184 hp218 hpRange (WLTP)200 miles250 milesTBATBABattery Size40kWh54kWh54kWh*32.6 kWhAll numbers provided by MINI except * which are confirmed only through unofficial sources.That said this approach should tie the Aceman closer to the J01 in feel and performance likely making this the most MINI-like crossover from the brand to date. MINI Aceman Release Details and When It’s Coming ot North America The MINI Aceman E and SE models will go into production in China later this year. Initially be built in China by a joint venture with MINI and Great Wall Motors, it will be initially only exported to Asia, the UK, Europe and South America. Then in 2026 MINI will move some of that production to Oxford along with the J01 MINI Cooper EV. These cars coming out of the UK will be exported to the UK, Europe and likely the North American markets. This will allow MINI to avoid tariffs as it begins US imports (likely) sometime the 2026 calendar year. MINI Aceman Final Testing After the MINI Aceman has already successfully completed tests at the Arctic Circle, the J05 then moved to the desert with strong sunlight and heat. In addition to classic features such as driving dynamics and driving comfort, the test team focused on the demanding aspects of an electric vehicle in these conditions. For this purpose, the air conditioning, charging and cooling of the battery, drive and control devices are intensively tested at up to 122 F° in dusty desert sand. The post New Photos & Exclusive Details on The Electric MINI Aceman Ahead of its Reveal appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The new U25 MINI Countryman S represents a massive redesign for one of the most important products in the brand’s line-up. And today we’re getting one of our best looks yet at the Countryman S in Sport Trim in UK spec touring Iceland. If you’ve been on the fence with this new version of the Countryman, does this Chili Red example with the optional Sport Trim (JCW in Europe) change your mind? Check out the gallery below. We’ve seen the new Countryman S in the deserts around Palm Springs and now it’s the backcountry of Iceland. This variant is a UK spec Countryman S which means it has a mild-hybrid B48 four cylinder with 218 hp and 266 ft lbs of torque. It also has the controversial Sport Trim (branded the JCW Trim in Europe) which will turn any Countryman into a JCW visually. In North America the Countryman S will be sold with a B48 four cylinder delivering 241 hp and 295 lb ft of torque all without that mild hybrid assistance. Why the difference? The US doesn’t have the stringent requirements of the EU and can offer the simpler, lighter B48 without the mild hybrid assistance. 0-60 times have yet to be published but we’d expect that number to be in the low 6s. In Europe we expect the new international combustion Countryman C and S to begin deliveries in February with the SE following in late March. Production for the North American market begins March, 2024 with first units expected to arrive at dealers early May, 2024. The 2025 MINI Countryman Model Range The Countryman begins production this November in C, D and S All4 models for the EU and March for the North American Countryman S. The electric production should begin this March alongside the new JCW Countryman. MINI Countryman – Electric ModelsDrivetrainGerman PricingUS PricingStart of ProductionU25 MINI Countryman E Electric43.500€ N/A03/2024U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4*Electric49.500€ $45,20003/2024MINI Countryman – ICE ModelsU25 MINI Countryman CICE (Petrol)39.900€ N/A11/2023U25 MINI Countryman DICE (Diesel)42.900€ N/A11/2023U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4*ICE (Petrol)45.900€ $38,90011/2023U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4*ICE (Petrol)56.500€ $46,90003/2024* Available in the US2025 MINI Countryman Photo Gallery The post Best Real-World Photos Yet – the New MINI Countryman S in Iceland appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI isn’t just eliminating the manual. It’s completely changing how you select gears on the All New MINIs. We go Hands-on. MINI’s new interior is full of new ideas for the brand. Case in point MINI’s new “key” which replaces its toggle switch starter button. Today we’re giving you a sneak peek at MINI’s new radically different gear lever which is dramatically minimized and moved to the dash. We wanted to find out how it worked compared to the old school, centrally mounted gear lever and if it really is an improvement. While MINI’s interior is full of new ideas, they’re not all new ideas in the automotive world. The new gear lever design is a great example. Almost all European cars (BMW, Porsche, Audio and VW) are transitioning to a similar switch style drive selector as they phase out manuals and move to electric. So MINI’s change may seem radical but in reality it’s following an established trend. Why are automakers moving in this direction? The concept of a stick protruding from the console for an automatic or an electric car makes little sense when you consider the purpose of selecting reverse or drive. It’s a call-back to the manual transmissions (RIP) which doesn’t have much relevance in these new cars. If anything it’s the steering wheel mounted shift paddles that will matter more to enthusiasts in ICE powered automatics. Hands-On With the New MINI Gear Lever MINI’s new gear selector simplifies the process of selecting park, reverse or drive while freeing up interior space for storage, screens or other functionality. But how does it actually work in the real world? We got behind the wheel (albeit stationary) of the J01 MINI Cooper EV and the new U25 MINI Countryman to find out. The first you notice is its placement on the dash is surprisingly good and feels immediately intuitive. It’s both right next to the engine start switch and the steering wheel. That means it’s a very intuitive series of movements to start the car, pull the lever down to “D” and grab the wheel. It’s made even better by the quality of the materials. I never felt the F56 was particularly bad when it came to the chromed finished on the plastic toggles but the quality of the materials on the gear lever is a clear step-up. The U25 MINI CountrymanJ01 MINI Cooper EVJ01 MINI Cooper EVOne thing that does take a moment to wrap your head around is where reveres is. While identical to BMWs (and other European cars) it doesn’t follow the PRnD pattern so many are used to. Instead park is actually in the middle with neutral and reverse above and drive below. This change has also allowed MINI to do is free up room in the center console for storage which the J01 and F66 Cooper and U25 Countryman use well. And in use the new layout is immediately intuitive and frankly an improvement over the classic layout. Pulling the lever up to go backward and down for forward is immediately intuitive and after one or two drives you’ll likely never think about it again. Yes the manual will be missed and we think it died too soon. But in our opinion if you’re going to go all automatic (and eventually electric) you might as well be smarter about functionality like the drive selector. The new MINI gear lever (or drive selector on the EVs) will be standard on the following new models and all their variants: F66 MINI Cooper (ICE) J01 MINI Cooper (EV) U25 MINI Countryman (EV & ICE) J05 MINI Aceman (EV) The post MINI Replaces the Gear Lever with a Toggle on All Models – We Go Hands-on appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

As part of its radical rethink of the interior, MINI has killed its iconic start/stop toggle switch and replaced it with something that we never thought we’d see again. A key. Sort of. MINI has done away with its iconic start/stop toggle switch and replaced it with a switch that harkens back to the original 1959 classic Mini. The switch is designed as an homage to the key that you’d turn to start the original Mini. While tie motion is the same, this new version is fixed and doesn’t even get removed. It also can operate by either turning the switch to the left or right. That means if the car is off you can start it by twisting the “key” to either the left or right. The applies when the car is on as well. Why the change? It’s a call back to the original Mini as is the entire interior. Yes it’s full of new tech, but MINI designers have gone out of their way to base the interior of this new generation of MINIs (and especially the Cooper) on the original from 1959 . The speedometer might be replaced by a giant circular display, but the layout and the control design below it are extremely similar. In fact if you look at that original Mini interior and the J01 you’ll see a striking similarity in overall design and focus on simplicity. That’s no accident. MINI designers actually started not with a clean sheet but a single photograph. A press photo of the original Mini interior in all its simplistic glory. Like the original there’s a center strip that houses most of the car’s controls. In the new MINI these are thankfully still physical switches, levers and buttons. But there are a few very new ideas in these controls. The MINI fob has grown slightly in size and lost it’s rounded shape.The new gear lever for example is a major departure as it both moves from the center console to the dash and sees a radical redesign. In our hands-on experience, it makes a lot of sense in the real world. The manual is gone and a lot of the new models are electric. So why not not rethink the placement and design to make it more intuitive? In total this area includes controls for the parking-brake button, gear selector, volume knob, on/off toggle, and Driving Experiences selector. Below that are several other safety related buttons and the defrost functions. But in our mind the biggest change is that key. What do you think? Does this change feel right given the MINI’s history? Or do you prefer the F56’s large toggle switch instead? How about the R56’s start/stop button or even the original F50’s key? Let us know below. The post The New MINI Cooper and Countryman Are Bringing Back The Key – Almost appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The Countryman is getting a massive update with the all new U25 generation. Based on a modified BMW X1 platform, the new Countryman is both larger and full of new technology. But there are massive changes in not just the car itself but the model line-up – including the first ever electric Countryman. And to make things even more interesting not all models will be available in all regions nor will have the same power. All of which makes a deeper dive into the new U25 MINI Countryman model line-up more important. Let’s start with why has the Countryman grown. The answer is simple – that’s what the majority of customers are asking for. MINI has reams of data showing that current Countryman owners are leaving the brand due to sizing out of the car. And time and time again these customers are doing so very reluctantly. So MINI’s answer was to increase the size of the Countryman while introducing a new model to bridge the gap from the Cooper. That model is the electric Aceman which will have a footprint similar to the original R60 Countryman. That strategy was key for MINI being able to grow longer by over 5” and taller by 2”. R60 Countryman (’10-’16) F60 Countryman (’17-’23)U25 Countryman (’24-’32)Length4097 mm / 161.3 in4298 mm / 169.2 in4429 mm / 174.37 inHeight1562 mm / 61.5 in1557 mm / 61.3 in1613 mm / 63.5 inWheelbase2596 mm / 102.2 in2670 mm / 105.1 in2670 mm / 105.11 inWhile the Countryman has grown, the Aceman will offer customers an R60 sized crossover.MINI designers were not tied in anyway to the BMW X1 despite sharing a platform. They were free to invent everything you see here and no visible parts are shared. One great high-ticket example is the windshield which most automakers would have shared to cut costs. Instead MINI created a deeper shape that gives the dashboard more clearance and the feeling of more space inside. 2024 MINI Countryman Internal Combustion Model Line-up The MINI Countryman model range will be quite different depending on which market you’re in. As expected not all models make it to all markets. But in a surprising several global models will have difference power figures depending on where you buy them. This is due to the increasingly stringent emissions regulations in the EU and the UK. The result will be lower power figures for those markets compared to North America (among others). Countryman ModelCountryman C (Europe)Countryman S (Europe)JCW (Europe)Countryman S (USA)JCW (USA)Power170 hp218 hp300 hp241 hp312 hpTorque206 ft lbs266 ft lbs295 ft lbs295 ft lbs295 ft lbsTransmission7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront wheel driveall-wheelall-wheelall-wheelall-wheelPowertrain typepetrol/mild hybridpetrol/mild hybridpetrolpetrolpetrolCylinders34444Displacement14991998199819981998Engine Power156 hp / 4700 – 6500201 hp300 hpTBD313 hpEngine Torque 177 hp / 4700 – 6500266 ft lbs295 ft lbsTBD295 lbElectric Power19 hp (temporary)19 hp (temporary)N/AN/AN/AElectric TorqueTBDTBDN/AN/AN/A0-60 mph8.3TBD5.2TBD5.1Maximum speed132 mphTBD132 mph132 mph155 mphCurb weight (LBS)3,571 lbsTBDTBDTBD3,825 lbsMINI Countryman C Let’s start with the last question first. Officially MINI hasn’t given a meaning behind the letter “C” in the name however we’ve heard some within the brand refer to it as “Core”. It also nicely lines-up with the previous Countryman Cooper in name and performance. With MINI smartly limiting the name Cooper to its iconic hatch, product planners had to come up with an alternative and “C” is it. Unlike the previous F60 Countryman Cooper, the entry-level Countryman C will not be available North America. Sales were tepid for the previous version and margins were low. The focus on the Countryman C will be in Europe, Asia and South America for the time being. At the heart of the MINI Countryman C is an evolution of the efficient 3-cylinder gasoline engine we’ve seen in MINIs for years. However it’s been upgraded with a mild-hybrid system that will creates less CO2 emissions while giving the new Countryman a more seamless start/stop system. With the revised engine the Countryman C does 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 8.3 seconds and achieving a top speed of 212 km/h or 132 mph. Helped by 206 ft lbs and the efficiency of TwinPower Turbo technology, we’d expect steady if not great mid-range performance. The innovative mild hybrid component of this revised engine enhances the vehicle’s eco-credentials, recuperating braking energy and providing 14 kW of electric drive power during accelerations. This synergy translates to reduced consumption and emissions that help it meet future EU emissions requirements. “As an entry-level model, the MINI Countryman C seamlessly integrates quintessential MINI traits, including agility and driving pleasure, with an opulent suite of standard features,” remarks Stefanie Wurst, the luminary figure at the helm of the MINI brand. The MINI Countryman S The all new, petrol powered MINI Countryman S is getting a big jump in power all the way up to 241 HP, 295 ft lbs. But only if you live in the US. In the UK and Europe MINI Countryman S ALL4 offers a mild hybrid version of the B48 to lower C02. It’s the same system a the Countryman C recuperating braking energy and providing 14 kW of electric drive power during acceleration. This set-up produces an output of 160 kW/218 hp and a torque of 360 Nm, a very noticeable decrease over the US spec. Why the difference in power? The US doesn’t have the stringent requirements of the EU and can offer the simpler, lighter B48 without the mild hybrid assistance. It also helps MINI USA better position the Countryman S against up-market against premium competitors. Pricing and Equipment Changes This is a ground-up rethink of the Countryman inside and out. And it’s inside where we see some real revolutionary moves. But before we get to that let’s talk about pricing. The all-new MINI Countryman S ALL4 will have a starting base price in the US of $38,900. There will be no Countryman models below the S in the US market which means the base price has moved up dramatically. But with that comes a huge increase in performance and standard equipment. How does that compare to the F60 generation Countryman S? First you have to look at what comes standard. The biggest news there is that MINI USA will be making MINI’s all wheel drive system, All4 standard across the range. Keeping that in mind the base price has increased $3,900. But that includes a lot more tech. MINI USA is making the heads-up display standard and of course including the incredible new circular OLED screen. That coupled with a big increase in size and performance at that $3,900 starts to looks a bit different. Production for European markets as begun with delivering expected in February. North American bound production begins March, 2024 with first units expected to arrive at dealers early May, 2024. The Countryman JCW’s optional 20″ wheels and 245/40/20 tires. The 2024 MINI Countryman JCW The MINI Countryman JCW is a big deal for the brand. It’s also a big MINI. But it’s not even as big as it could have been. We uncovered that surprising fact along with many others talking directly with the designers and MINI employees that helped bring it to market. Here’s our first impressions of MINI’s new 312 hp JCW halo The 2025 Countryman JCW has plenty new colors, options and performance to talk about. However there is one thing sadly gone from the line-up. That’s Rebel Green which we had become accustom to as JCW’s signature color. That is replaced by a dark grey called Legend Grey. These new colors underscore the fact that everything is new here. While we have extensively reported on the JCW specs for the last two months, we were still surprised by a few things. The first were the brakes which MINI will offer two versions of for the first time. The standard brakes will come with 19” wheels and are essentially the same as we’ve seen previously on the F60 Countryman JCW. However if you opt for the 20” wheels you’ll get larger, ventilated discs as well as massive calipers which offers a larger swept surface. I’m told by people who have driven the car that they are easily the best brakes MINI has ever offered. U25 MINI Countryman JCWJCW Power and Performance Now let’s talk about power. As we had reported the US version of the Countryman JCW will get 312 hp and not the 300 the UK or European versions output. What’s the differences? Our speculation was correct as the differences come down to tighter emissions standards in the UK and EU which results in MINI tuning down the engine slightly. Another area we speculated correctly on is why the torque figure has gone down 36 ft lbs from the previous Countryman JCW. We confirmed it’s due to the new Asian sourced DCT transmission which, unlike the previous 8 speed torque converter automatic, isn’t capable of supporting more than 295 ft lbs. While that’s a sizable downgrade MINI was quick to point out that drivers likely won’t notice the difference given the increase in power and other improvements made in the engine. We took that to mean we’ll see more immediate torque at take-off but that’s yet to be confirmed. The Entire New MINI Line-Up The New MINI FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionThe J01 Electric MINI CooperJ01 MINI Cooper EElectric32,900€ 11/2023J01 MINI Cooper SE Electric36,900€ 11/2023The U25 MINI CountrymanU25 MINI Countryman CICE (Petrol)39.900€ 11/2023U25 MINI Countryman D ICE (Diesel)42.900€ 11/2023U25 MINI Countryman E Electric43.500€ 03/2024U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4ICE (Petrol)45.900€ 11/2023*U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4Electric49.500€ 03/2024*U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4ICE (Petrol)56.500€ 03/2024*The F66 Petrol MINI CooperF66 MINI CooperICE (Petrol)TBD03/2024*F66 MINI Cooper SICE (Petrol)TBD03/2024*F66 MINI Cooper JCWICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F65 MINI Cooper 5 DoorICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F65 MINI Cooper S 5 DoorICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F67 MINI Cooper ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*F67 MINI Cooper S ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*The J05 Electric MINI AcemanJ05 MINI AcemanElectricTBDTBDJ05 MINI Aceman SElectricTBDTBD* Available in the USThe post Preview: the 2024 MINI Countryman Model Line-Up appeared first on MotoringFile. 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If you think the new J01 MINI Cooper EV is a radical departure, wait until you see what MINI was cooking up in the 1990s. As MINI ushers in an entirely new generation of the MINI Cooper along with a new Countryman and the debut of the Aceman, we wanted to look back at an even more transformative time for the brand. The 90’s were a crossroads for Mini as BMW was figuring out what direction to take the brand and what that actually looked like on four wheels. The concepts were radical and at times hardly distinguishable as Minis. Today we’re going back in time to take a look at what almost was and how the R50 MINI Cooper was born from it all. One of the original MINI design proposals – the “Spiritual” led by Oliver Le GriceThe idea of a modern MINI had been floating around since the late 60’s. But the Mini’s appeal and subsequent sales success kept it in production for two decades longer than originally anticipated. However the various government backed companies that manufactured the Mini through the years were less than successful on the business side of things. In fact British Leyland, Rover, etc tried to kill the Mini more than once (first to avoid converting the engine to run on unleaded, then to avoid increasing safety requirements) but English public opinion was too negative. So when BMW bought Rover and the Mini there was quite a bit of hope for the future. What happened next can only be described as organized chaos with two design studios, working separately, began to craft what each thought the future of the Mini should be. Here’s an excerpt from an account of this time period from Julian Rendell (taken from an article originally published in Autocar) that gives us a good overview of the design process and environment of the time: Despite the proclamation of the BMW CEO, that Rover would be allowed to get on with the business of developing the R59 (as it was called in the early years), stylists in Germany were also busily working on styling proposals for the new car. From the original perception that BMW and Rover both wanted the same thing from their new baby, it became clear that Munich and Canley had wildly differing ideas on how it should look. Predictably, Rover wanted to produce a car to replace the Issigonis Mini which was created with the same sense of radicalism, and David Saddington, freshly promoted to the role of MG and Mini design director, following his successful work on the R3 was keen to follow in the footsteps of Issigonis. With that in mind, Saddington’s team worked on a 10-foot long, four-seater Mini. Working on an icon like the Mini is any designer’s dream. And as you can imagine two designers tasked with just that, David Woodhouse and Oliver Le Grice were thrilled with the 1993 project. But they were very aware of the fact that the new Mini needed to be either an economy car, a performance car or a fashion icon. In their minds it couldn’t be all three. One of three original MINI proposals lead by Roy AxeBMW, under the direction of Chris Bangle had very different ideas. With teams in Munich and BMW’s California design studios working on competing proposals, Bangle laid down his edict; “we thought it unfair to put the new Mini in the shadow of the old one”, which meant that his idea of a replacement would not be a 10-feet long cube, but a car that paid merely lip service to the original. Critically BMW Board member Wolfgang Reitzle of the BMW Board agreed. The key difference between the two sides working on the new Mini was that BMW’s ethos was about evolution while the teams at Rover were full of (at the time) revolutionary ideas. To BMW the new MINI should follow Porsche’s design philosophy and look like it has been the subject of constant and careful evolution. In other words they wanted to create a car that looked like it had evolved over decades much like the 911 does when compared to the original. In this approach BMW also made it clear that they wanted a small sports car and not something that harkens back to the classic Mini’s economy roots. Which is precisely what the teams at Rover were aiming for. Now let’s pick-up the story as told by Julian Rendell in Autocrat. 1995 was the crunch year for project R59 and in the summer of that year during a management ride and drive appraisal of the opposition, Rover showed their idea for the new Mini. Technically, it followed the predictable (and some would say correct) path of a K-Series engine, subframes and Hydragas suspension, but BMW in Munich were cooking up an alternative, which comprised of a Z-axle at the rear and McPherson struts up front. As the year wore on and both teams continued development of their own versions of the Mini, it was becoming obvious that very soon BMW would have to ditch one of the design offices’ ideas and put their full weight behind the other. The date, where this decision would be made was the 15th October 1995, when Rover and BMW designers met up at the Heritage Motor Centre to present their rival full-scale proposals. Rover brought three cars to the shootout, it is unrecorded how many BMW brought along, although it is thought to have been between three and six. The original MINI Cooper R50 concept. Development on some of the Rover concepts had taken place independent of BMW which had created what would eventually become the E50 and then the R50 – the new MINI. Here’s another excerpt, this time from Graham Robson’s “New MINI” book, that gives us a slightly different angle of this time period: “Even as early as 1994, designers on both sides of the channel dusted off their sketches of Mini-sized cars and started turning them into models, both scale and full size. Though neither knew that the other was running rival projects, Fave Saddington looked after MINI work at Gaydon, while Frank Stephenson (an American citizen with much experience at GM and Ford before he joined BMW in 1991) forged ahead in Munich. Even so, it was not until an absolutely seminal date – Tuesday, 17 October 1995 – that the two teams faced each other, when their respective offerings were shown to BMW’s directors at a presentation and viewing at a top-secret meeting in the BMIHT Heritage Centre at Gaydon. Knowing that the integrity of the MINI brand had to be preserved at all costs, both teams – British and German – had thought in terms of evolution. After 1959 the Mini, as a style, had not advanced at all, so several ‘might have been’ re-generations had never taken place. Both teams, therefore, tried to think along the same lines. What might have happened, how might it have happened, and what should a forth or fifth generation Mini look like? The two concepts that came out of the Rover side of the design team were the Spiritual and the Spiritual2 (seen here in dark blue). The two Spiritual concepts were much more a radical departure from the design that eventually won out. They tried to be as revolutionary in the 90’s as the Mini was in late 50’s. Designers tried to envision a future of more cars, more people, less space and more expensive fuel. In a sense they tried to push the same set of circumstances that led to the original Mini a bit further. In one of the more radical departures in terms of original Mini design the Spiritual was to have a flat three cylinder located under the rear seats driving the rear wheels. Rover’s press release at the time called the Spiritual 2 “a full four-seat family car achieved in a package of just 3.1 metres [10 feet, the same as the original Mini and much shorter than the MINI]”, Interestingly even the press release that accompanied the prototypes at the time of release mentioned that they were never really meant to be the “new Mini”. They were meant to simply be “a free-thinking approach to the long-term challenges of a future generation.” Of course now we know that they were indeed proposals for the next Mini. In fact the Rover design team left that October 17th meeting with relatively high hopes that their design was to be chosen. Here’s another excerpt from Robson’s book: “Leaving the meeting with the impression that their offerings had been preferred over the massed ranks of MINI (BMW) offerings, they were soon cast down when it became clear that BMW’s designers thought that they, too, had been chosen to take their own projects a stage further. This meant, effectively, that the British designers then wasted much of the winter of 1995/1996 working on further refinements of the Spiritual concept. When Rover Group’s marketing staff realized that control of this project was slipping away from them, they were so distressed that they worked up, and issues, an internal document criticizing what the Munich studios were offering instead. The German E50, they suggested, had been styled first, and packaged second, was not thought to be an ‘Issignois way’ of doing things, was thought to be ‘only better than average’, and that it” doesn’t truly shock with innovation”. This of course is truly fascinating considering how successful the new MINI has become. While BMW may have designed the MINI backwards (shape first, engineering second) they did an amazing job with the execution of the final car. No one can argue with the success the new MINI has found in the last 3-4 years. the ACV 30 – The MINI That Almost Was ACV 30 was created by the BMW design team and was presented as one of the five ideas at that fateful autumn meeting in 1995. It traded much of the Mini’s functionality for a more aggressive, rally inspired look. In other words a small sports car. Obviously the market for such a vehicle probably wouldn’t have sustained its sales for very long. But it’s an interesting knowing how that concept could have evolved further. It’s also worth noting that who the creator of the ACV 30 was – Adrian Van Hooydonk. Adrian would go on to become head of BMW Design and eventually all BMW Group Design in 2009. In other words all modern MINIs from the F56 forward were done under the watchful eye of Van Hooydonk. The interior of the ACV 30The ACV 30 was a fully drivable prototype and debuted at the 1997 Monte Carlo Rally. I was going to school in England at the time and remember the ACV 30 being all over the papers for a day or two. It was quite exciting to see a reinterpretation of the then current Mini and I think many were just happy to see an English automaker looking to the future with something that felt truly exciting. However BMW was keen to let everyone know that this was not the new MINI that would be debuting later at the Frankfurt Auto show in the fall. That car was the now famous R50 MINI Cooper. Looking at the ACV 30 and what would become the eventual new MINI, one can’t help but get the feeling that great minds think alike. The interior design clearly became a point of inspiration for the R50 and all MINI’s to follow. When viewed with the benefit of time, each concept proved to be interesting and some truly ground-breading. The Spiritual concepts in particular represent a fascinating vision of the future for Mini. However, I think it’s fair to say the right car won. When the R50 debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 2000 it was global smash hit. And we all know what happened from there Note: Much more early “new” Mini information can be found in Graham Robson’s book “The New MINI” on Amazon. One of the original MINI design proposals – the “Spiritual” led by Oliver Le GriceOne of three original MINI proposals lead by Roy Axe The post MINI’s Secret Concepts From the 90s That Almost Changed the MINI Cooper Forever appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The MINI manual transmission is dead. Well almost dead. With February production, the manual will be forever gone from the MINI line-up. We exclusively reported on its demise early last year and MINI confirmed the news this past September. And then a strange thing happened. The manual became as popular as it ever has been. Awhile we don’t have global data we do have official numbers from North America. According to MINI USA, the manual take rate in the F56 Cooper JCW is currently at 54%. That’s one of the highest number MINI USA has seen since the introduction of the automatic in the JCW. The Cooper S take rate has also shot up to 22% – the highest seen in many years. Even the Cooper has seen a spike from the single digits to an 11% take-rate. The limited edition 1to6 MINI Cooper JCWIn general that’s the highest take-rate we’ve seen since the R50/R53 years. The big question is why? Obviously it has a lot to do with MINI fans grabbing the last of the manual before they cease production at the end of February. However we also can’t help but wonder if it’s a bit of backlash connected to the rise of electrification, automatic driving aides and the digitalization of the driving experience. Why Is MINI Killing The Manual? The DCT only F66 JCW Why would MINI eliminate manuals despite the fact that the F66 (the replacement of for the F56) is mechanically identical and could easily carry over the current Getrag 6 speed? It’s likely about simplifying drivetrains components and cutting costs within manufacturing. And for Europe (where CO2 targets are much more stringent) the manual is slightly dirtier when using WLTP testing procedures. The manual isn’t necessarily dirtier than the auto. However the way cars are tested for CO2 emissions makes the manual particularly vulnerable. Automakers can tightly control C02 emissions with an auto because there’s so much control to be had with software. The very nature of a manual is that the driver has control and thus there are more variables at play during testing – almost a limitless number. Some of those variables produce higher C02 emissions in testing – despite the fact that a manual is often not any more dirty than an automatic MINI. This is forcing European automakers hands and causing many to eliminate the option. While the F66 may be very closely related to the F56 mechanically, the interior will likely be a 1:1 copy of the electric J01 MINI Cooper thus will have no space for the manual gear lever. It may like something that could be overcome with some minimal design changes but the cost of having different layouts while producing enough scale (and in enough markets) to make it financially viable was likely too much for MINI to solve. And let’s not even get into the time and money that would be spent to test, validate and federalize a manual option for the US. While the manual take rates are almost as high as they’ve ever been, it’s a bittersweet moment as MINI moves away from the purest form of driver engagement offered in a car. The post Manual Transmission Popularity Spikes in MINIs as it Ends Production appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The Mini Monty Carlo Rally three-peat is a staple of MINI enthusiast culture to this day. While familiar to most, it’s not an accomplishment to be taken lightly. Severely out-classed, the Mini team showed what small can really do. Today MINI’s motorsports presence has evolved, but is no less accomplished. Racing in MINI-only leagues, the World Challenge, VLN and the Dakar, the MINI brand keeps having fun going fast. While the racing landscape has changed tremendously, MINI has kept racing a priority and that is a remarkable thing. From the nearly stock VLN JCW, to the highly specialized monsters of Dakar, we’re just excited that there are MINIs out there being driven in anger. Even better when they win! But the biggest win of them all was that first Monte Carlo win. The History of Mini at The Monte Carlo Rally On 21 January 1964, the Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. It was the pairing of Northern Ireland’s Patrick (“Paddy”) Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon that pulled off the big surprise, resisting the supposed superiority of significantly more powerful rivals in their small British car. Its faultless run over country roads and mountain passes, ice and snow, tight corners and steep gradients laid the foundations for the underdog-turned-giant-slayer to cement itself in both the hearts of the public and the annals of motor sport legend. Indeed, the classic Mini’s dominance of the Monte Carlo Rally continued over the years that followed, Hopkirk’s Finnish team-mates Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen adding two further overall victories – in 1965 and 1967 – to the British manufacturer’s collection. Years later Paddy Hopkirk’s eyes would light up when he recalled the driving qualities of his winning car: “Although the Mini was only a little family saloon, technically it had a lot of advantages. Its front-wheel drive and front-mounted transverse engine were a great advantage, and the fact the car was smaller and the roads were ploughed, they were quite narrow, so I suppose that was an advantage. We were very lucky – the car was right, everything happened at the right time and came together at the right moment.” It was the legendary “Night of the Long Knives”, the penultimate stage of the Monte, which put the Mini Cooper S with car number 37 and the now famous licence plate 33 EJB on course for victory that winter of 1964. Hopkirk crossed the finish line just 17 seconds off the pace set by his chief adversary Bo Ljungfeldt in the far more powerful V8-powered Ford Falcon. The handicap formula at the time – designed to even out the weight and power differences between the various cars – meant the classic Mini actually led the way in the overall standings. And Hopkirk defended his advantage in the sprint through the streets of Monte Carlo that rounded off the rally. At the winner’s ceremony he shared the cheers of the crowed with his team-mates. Timo Mäkinen’s fourth-place finish and Rauno Aaltonen’s seventh overall set the seal on the success of the Mini Cooper S and ushered in the era of the “Three Musketeers” in the Monte Carlo Rally. The classic Mini’s victory was celebrated with complete awe and excitement in its native Britain. Hopkirk received a congratulatory telegram from the British government and the Beatles were also among those leading the applause. “I got a telegram from the Beatles,” remembers Hopkirk. “That was followed by a photograph of the four of them autographed to me saying: ‘You’re one of us now, Paddy.’ And it’s very nice to have that nowadays.” The triumph of the classic Mini in the Monte was lauded as a sensation by motor sport fans around the world. But this wasn’t a success that came entirely out of the blue: the small car developed by Alec Issigonis, then Deputy Technical Director at the British Motor Corporation, possessed an inherent sporting talent from birth. The first person to spot this potential was John Cooper. The sports car designer was the driving force behind construction of a more powerful version of the car. The Mini produced only 34 hp at launch, but its front-wheel drive, low weight, wide track and comparatively long wheelbase made it an extremely agile four-seater and paved the way for its forays onto race circuits and rally courses. As early as 1960, big-name racing drivers like Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Jim Clark were spotted testing the cornering flair of the John Cooper-tuned small car on the Silverstone Formula One track. However, the classic Mini was most at home in rally racing. Patt Moss, sister of grand prix driver Stirling Moss, piloted it to wins in the Tulip Rally and Baden-Baden Rally in 1962. And by the following year, the diminutive British car was ready to burst into the public consciousness at the Monte Carlo Rally. Preceding years had been a tough learning experience for the works team, but now they would make people sit up and take notice. Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk drove the 55 hp Mini Cooper to a 1-2 finish in their class, which was good enough for third and sixth places overall. It was clear that the classic Mini was better equipped than any other car to pull off the classic David vs Goliath act. John Cooper had long suspected that the car had what it took. Back in 1959 he instructed Roy Salvadori to drive a prototype to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The journey itself turned into a race between Salvadori and fellow racing driver Reg Parnell at the wheel of an Aston Martin DB4. The result confirmed what Cooper had foreseen in his mind’s eye: the Cooper-prepared classic Mini arrived around an hour earlier than the much more powerful Aston. Identifiable from a distance with their tartan red bodywork and white roofs, the six small racers dispatched by the BMC works team for the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 were – at least on paper – fighting against the tide once more. The Mini Cooper S lined up at the start for the first time. Its new four-cylinder engine now had an increased 1071cc capacity and output had also been boosted to around 90 hp. This was a lot more than in previous years but still modest in the face of competition from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and Ford Falcon, whose six-cylinder and V8 units had three or four times more power at their disposal. The 33rd edition of the Monte Carlo Rally began – as was traditional at the time – with a nod to the origins of the event, the 277 cars starting from nine European cities before converging on the French city of Reims. The Hopkirk/Liddon partnership got their journey with the Mini Cooper S under way in Minsk, while for Rauno Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose the Monte adventure started in Oslo, and Timo Mäkinen and Patrick Vanson set off from Paris. The classic Mini successfully negotiated all these journeys and all six works cars were able to take their place in the 277-strong field in Reims. The first stage of the rally to Saint-Claude brought together the two cars which were to define the 1964 Monte from start to finish. Bo Ljungfeldt roared to the top of the time sheets in his Ford Falcon, but Paddy Hopkirk remained hot on his heels in his Mini Cooper S. The next leg of the rally was made up largely of mile-long flat-out sections, but Hopkirk refused to let his big-engined rivals build up a decisive advantage. The “Night of the Long Knives” would become the day of reckoning; this was the classic Mini’s chance to demonstrate its talents to the full. “It was quite snowy that year, so we had done a lot of practising and preparing,” explains Hopkirk. “The Mini was particularly good downhill, and all the tests were up and downhill, so what we lost going up, I think we made up for going downhill.” Irresistible handling, correct tire choice, Hopkirk’s gifts at the wheel and the snow – which slowed the bigger cars down – all came together and ensured that Hopkirk was able to take over the lead on the 1,607-metre (5,270 ft) Col de Turini. However, it remained a tight contest all the way to the finish, with Bo Ljungfeldt, as expected, again posting the fastest time on the final stage through Monte Carlo. However, Hopkirk was also squeezing everything from his Mini Cooper S once again and hung onto his advantage to wrap up the win. “It’s not like rallying today when you know where you are. I had to do the final circuit, then the journalists told me I had won and I couldn’t believe it. It surprised the world and us, so it was very nice,” recalls Hopkirk. The following year Timo Mäkinen and co-driver Paul Easter ensured the classic Mini would retain its title. They were helped by a new engine with capacity increased to 1275cc, but it was the Scandinavian’s driving skill that landed the decisive blow. Mäkinen was the only driver to remain penalty-point-free throughout the rally distance, despite the fact that the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally was providing one of the most exacting tests in the history of the event. Epic levels of snow and ice made the going seriously tough, but that didn’t stop the organisers including a second night stage through the Maritime Alps in the programme. Mäkinen and his Mini Cooper S appeared impervious to the deteriorating conditions. The Finn won five of the six special stages on the final leg of the rally and finished the event with a handsome margin over the second-placed car. The most impressive and also most dramatic Monte Carlo Rally for the “Three Musketeers” was to follow in 1966. Mäkinen, Aaltonen and Hopkirk dominated the event from the start, and it was in this order that they completed a clean sweep of the top three positions overall at the finish. The French race commissioners had other ideas and disqualified the trio on account of lights that allegedly did not conform with official regulations. This was also the reason given for removing the fourth-placed Lotus Cortina from the classification, which meant that the Finnish Citroën driver Pauli Toivonen was crowned the winner. It was one of the most brazen cheats in motorsports history. The dream of a Monte hat-trick lay in tatters, but the “Three Musketeers” resolved to return at the earliest opportunity. In the winter of 1967 Hopkirk, Mäkinen and Aaltonen lined up alongside two other BMC works teams for the Monte Carlo Rally. And this time neither the rules nor the other cars could stand between the Mini Cooper S and victory. Rauno Aaltonen was joined by Henry Liddon – Paddy Hopkirk’s co-driver from the successful 1964 Monte – for his latest assault on the rally. Aaltonen guided the classic Mini to what was this time an undisputed victory with 12 seconds to spare. And nobody was more pleased for the duo than Hopkirk: “Henry Liddon was really an outstanding co-driver. But the co-drivers never got enough credit, you know. They did a fantastic job in reading the notes and they were the office manager of the car.” Hopkirk finished the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally in sixth place and also drove the classic Mini to fifth overall the following year. Aaltonen was third in 1968. However, the era of the small car that stormed to the summit of rally racing was clearly approaching an end. Its rivals had grown just too powerful and the sporting zenith of the classic Mini was now behind it. Memories of that famous triumph in the winter of 1964 will forever burn bright and the “Three Musketeers” have written an indelible chapter into the history of motor sport. As for the distinctive lights that cost them victory in 1966, they live on in the form of the popular spotlights MINI owners to this day install on their cars. The post 60 Years Ago MINI Shocked the World by Winning the Monte Carlo Rally appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

An all new MINI model lineup is coming but when will we see it in North America? And perhaps the bigger question – what models will actually make it? We now have official answers with release timing for all models including new internal combustion and electric versions of the U25 Countryman and the internal combustion F66 MINI Cooper. We’ve reported at length about every member of the new MINI family and what to expect from exclusive news on technical specifications to hands-on impressions. But there’s a lot to remember especially when you consider that each market will have unique on sale dates and even alterations to the products themselves. So we’re putting together an exhaustive look at what is coming to North America in 2024 and when to expect it. First, here’s the full model lineup that we will see in the 2025 calendar year. U25 MINI CountrymanF66 MINI Cooper (three door)F65 MINI Cooper (five door)F67 MINI Cooper ConvertibleCountryman S All4 (ICE)Cooper 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper 4-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper Convertible (F67)Countryman JCW All4 (ICE)Cooper S 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper S 4-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper S Convertible (F67)Countryman SE All4 (EV)JCW 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper JCW Convertible (ICE)ICE = Internal Combustion Engine / EV = Electric VehicleOnce you get past what’s coming, you realize what’s missing. First the MINI Cooper SE is absent (more on that later). Then you might notice the Clubman isn’t listed here. Unfortunately it’s officially done as of February production. The U25 MINI Countryman SThe U25 MINI Countryman US Production and On-Sales Dates In the US, MINI USA will be importing only three models of the new U25 MINI Countrymam. The Countryman C (which takes over for the F60 Countryman Cooper) won’t be coming. Instead MINI USA will be focusing on higher equipped models with ALL4 standard across the range. That means the range will start with the internal combustion Countryman S and all electric Countryman SE. At the top of the range for 2025 is the Countryman JCW. ModelProduction LocationPowerYearProd. MonthOn-Sale DateMINI Countryman S All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Countryman JCW All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Countryman SE All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyBattery Electric2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024U25 MINI Countryman SU25 MINI Countryman SEU25 MINI Countryman JCWIt’s also worth noting that the North America market will have different power outputs than Europe when it comes to the Countryman. Dude to European regulations becoming more aggressive, several models will have lower outputs due to emissions regulations in the EU. For instance, the Countryman S ALL4 in Europe and the UK comes equipped with a mild hybrid version of the B48 to lower C02. MINI USA decided to not take the mild hybrid version of the B48 for several reasons. For one it’s not needed as the B48 easily meets emissions standards. Second MINI USA preferred to reduce the weight and complexity of the car for better overall performance. The upside is the Countryman S in North America will make 241 hp and 295 lbs ft, up from 204 hp and 266 ft lbs. The difference is less pronounced on the Countryman JCW. In the North America we’ll see 312 hp vs 300 in Europe and the UK. Notice the lack of the Cooper name in the Countryman models? That’s intentional as MINI has eliminated it from all cars except the iconic hatch to simplify the naming conventions. For much more on the Countryman, head over to the U25 section of MotoringFile. The F66 MINI Cooper JCWThe F66 MINI Cooper US Production and On-Sales Dates Despite MINI’s talk of going electric with the all new J01 Cooper, it’s releasing one last generation of ICE (internal combustion engine) MINI Coopers this year. Enter the F66, the last ICE (internal combustion) MINI Cooper. Heavily revised from the F56, it will have an almost identical design to the all new J01 MINI Cooper EV including the interior complete with circular screen, new materials and a very different layout. The F66 is in many ways a product created partially due to the North American market. Given the sheer size of the continent and its density, a full electric MINI Cooper range just doesn’t make sense with the current charging infrastructure. Therefore MINI has to come up with a solution that would allow them to design and engineer the all new J01 MINI Cooper EV while still selling a modern ICE MINI Cooper. The F66 MINI Cooper JCWModelProduction LocationPowerYearProd. MonthOn-Sale DateMINI Cooper S 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Cooper 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper S 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper S Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper JCW Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI JCW 2-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025As you can see the F66 will pickup where the F56 left off with a the same product line-up that we’ve had for the past 10 years with a couple of caveats. We’ll see power and torque jump on the Cooper and Cooper S and just a torque increase on the JCW model and production of the manual transmission finally ends with the F66. Cooper ModelF66 Cooper CF66 Cooper S F66 Cooper JCWPower155 hp 201 hp231 hp Torque170 lb-ft (1,480 rpm)221 lb-ft258 lb-ft (1,250 rpm)Transmission7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTThe electric J01 MINI Cooper SE won’t be coming to the US until at least 2026.Wait, MINI USA Won’t Offer an Electric MINI Cooper? As we’ve detailed for the last few years, due to the all new electric J01 MINI Cooper initially being built in China, the US won’t be importing the car due to high tariffs. The same goes for the J05 Aceman which is essentially a five door crossover version of the J01 MINI Cooper. But that will change as MINI expands production of both those vehicles to its Oxford Plant in 2026. Once that production is underway MINI USA will likely import slightly updated versions of both cars. This means that we will not see an electric MINI Cooper in the North America market for a minimum of two years. But when that changes we’ll likely see both the electric Cooper and Aceman in SE and eJCW forms. Until then, here’s a full list of the models we’ll see introduced (and when they’ll go on-sale) in the US and Canadian markets in 2024. ModelProduction LocationPowerYearProd. MonthOn-Sale DateMINI Countryman S All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Countryman JCW All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Cooper S 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Cooper 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Countryman SE All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyBattery Electric2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper S 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper S Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper JCW Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI JCW 2-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025The post MINI USA Release Timing for 2025 F66 MINI Cooper and U25 MINI Countryman appeared first on MotoringFile. 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The best selling MINI in 2023 was the ancient MINI Cooper SE with it making up 15.3% of total MINI sales for the full year. Looking further sales of electrified vehicles (incl. plug-in hybrids) represent 20.8% of total MINI sales. Those datapoints only get more impressive when you realize just how old both of those products are. It also makes MINIs bet to quickly become an electric brand look like a good one. In its last full year of availability, the current MINI generation experienced a surge in sales figures in 2023 totaling 295.474 vehicles, marking a 0,9% increase in comparison to the previous year. A big aspect of this success was the increase in the adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles. 45,261 customers bought the fully-electric MINI Cooper SE (including the limited production run MINI Cooper SE Convertible). This is a 3.5% rise in the sales of the Cooper SE despite its limited appeal due to range and size. The F56 MINI Cooper SE The all new J01 MINI Cooper SEThis bodes very well for MINI has they prepare to sell the all-electric J01 MINI Cooper SE and MINI Cooper E, the all-electric U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 and the MINI Countryman E imminently. Both models will have dramatically more range and higher performance leveraging a more modern platform and technology. They will be joined early next year by the Aceman crossover which is essentially a larger, four door version of the J01 Cooper. ModelsU25 Countryman EU25 Countryman SEJ01 Cooper EJ01 Cooper SEF56 Cooper SEPower204 hp313 hp184 hp 218 hp181 hp TorqueTBDTBD214 lb-ft243 lb-ft199 lb-ft0-60 mphTBDTBD7.3 sec6.7 sec7.2 secRange (WLTP287 miles270 miles190 miles250 miles140 milesThe U25 MINI CountrymanIn addition to this onslaught of electric vehicles, both the Cooper and Countryman will be available as internal combustion vehicles. However internal combustion version of the Cooper will not technically be all new and instead will be a heavily refreshed version of the F56. You can read much more on the new MINI generation below. The New MINI FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionThe J01 Electric MINI CooperJ01 MINI Cooper EElectric32,900€ 03/2024J01 MINI Cooper SE Electric36,900€ 03/2024The U25 MINI CountrymanU25 MINI Countryman CICE (Petrol)39.900€ 11/2023U25 MINI Countryman D ICE (Diesel)42.900€ 11/2023U25 MINI Countryman E Electric43.500€ 03/2024U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4ICE (Petrol)45.900€ 11/2023*U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4Electric49.500€ 03/2024*U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4ICE (Petrol)56.500€ 03/2024*The F66 Petrol MINI CooperF66 MINI CooperICE (Petrol)TBD03/2024*F66 MINI Cooper SICE (Petrol)TBD03/2024*F66 MINI Cooper JCWICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F65 MINI Cooper 5 DoorICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F65 MINI Cooper S 5 DoorICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F67 MINI Cooper ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*F67 MINI Cooper S ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*F67 MINI Cooper S ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*The J05 Electric MINI AcemanJ05 MINI AcemanElectricTBDTBDJ05 MINI Aceman SElectricTBDTBD* Available in the USFor more coverage of the new generation MINI released fall, check out the following articles and videos. MINI Cooper EV: Premier | MINI Cooper EV: Hands-On Review | MINI Cooper EV: Video Review MINI Countryman EV: Premier | MINI Countryman EV: Hands-On Review | MINI Countryman EV: Video Review New MINI Family: 1st Look Video | MINI Circular Display & MINI OS9 Hands-On Review The post The Electric MINI Cooper SE Was the Best Selling MINI in 2023 appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The F56 MINI Cooper SE production ended last year with one important exception – those destined for North America. Why? Due to global politics the US and Canada won’t see the all new all new J01 MINI Cooper EV for quite some time. That has left MINI USA and MINI of Canada in a bind with only one solution – build more of the F56 Cooper SE. MINI is solving this issue in two ways. For one they’re introducing the electric MINI Countryman to the North American market to help satisfy the EV need. Second MINI is extending production of the F56 MINI Cooper SE for an extra month. That means there should be a good supply for the first six months of 2024 at MINI dealers in the US and Canada. However that doesn’t mean the car will be around forever. Given the popularity of the model, we’d expect them to become relatively scarce by the 3rd quarter of the year. And once they’re gone there will not be another electric MINI Cooper in North American for quite some time. The F56 MINI Cooper SE and the all new J01 MINI Cooper SEWhy Is The Electric MINI Cooper Leaving North America? While Europe, the UK, Asia and South American will get the J01, MINI’s new electric Cooper won’t be available from MINI USA for years. While it’s not official, it’s all but certain that MINI USA won’t be importing the new J01 electric Cooper until it expands from its initial Chinese production to MINI’s Oxford Plant in the UK later this decade. That means we won’t see that car on US shores until likely 2027. So if you want a small electric MINI, there’s only one options for the next 3+ years. Suddenly a 3 year lease starts to make a lot of sense. The post F56 MINI Cooper SE production Extended for North America appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article