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The single pipe is real and it’s coming to the new F66 MINI Cooper JCW. It’s a shocking move that many didn’t believe was true despite photos and our reporting. However we can now confirm at 100% certainty that the 2025 MINI Cooper JCW will have a large diameter (for a MINI) single pipe exhaust. Why? Read on. The car pictured above and below is a F66 Cooper JCW however we’ve seen the single exhaust also on the F67 JCW Convertible our photographers caught testing earlier this year. At first it was rather crude and appeared to be temporary. However as the test mules have progressed, we’ve seen clear signs production intent design elements. What does this mean for the forthcoming 2025 F66 MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S? We’ll have more on that tomorrow. In this exclusive zoomed in photo you can see a central exhaust and single pipe that looks to be in nearly final production form. The current F56 Cooper S Exhaust design shows that the “dual exhaust” is nothing more than two small pipes from a single exhaust. In the meantime the exclusive image of a F67 JCW Convertible above clearly shows the single exhaust pipe and even some final production trim. Note the stainless steel sleeve on the outlet, 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 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. Bulldog Racing’s 2022 24 Hours of Nurburgring race car was one of many racing MINIs that had a single pipe.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. Single exhaust pipe or not, the next generation F66 MINI Cooper is coming very soon. Heavily based on the F56, the F66 generation will see the same engines (albeit only 2.0L four cylinders) and most of the same mechanicals. However there will be a move to restyle the car closer to the J01 electric MINI Cooper and add that cars radically new circular display and interior layout. The MINI JCW Team and its single exhaust at Road AmericaAs you can see with our exclusive look below, MINI will continue to offer a wide variety of ICE models alongside it’s all new J01 electric MINI Cooper and U25 electric (and ICE) Countryman. Most models will receive a notable power increase with the exception of the Euro Countryman JCW and the F66 JCW. Also note that the US will not be getting the Countryman C and will only receive the S and JCW. The New MINI Countryman FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionU25 MINI Countryman C (1)167 HP (Petrol)39.900€11/2023U25 MINI Countryman D (1)TBA42.900€11/2023U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4 214 HP EU / 241 HP US45.900€11/2023U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4300 HP EU / 313 HP US56.500€03/2024The New MINI Cooper FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionF66 MINI Cooper155 HP (Petrol)TBD07/2024F66 MINI Cooper S200 HP (Petrol)TBD07/2024F66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP (Petrol)TBD11/2024F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)TBD07/2024F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)TBD07/2024F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)TBD11/2024 (est)F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)TBD11/2024 (est)F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)TBD03/2025 (est)1. Not available in the US. 2. US HP figure – the EU will get 300 hp.For more coverage of the new generation MINI, 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: 2025 MINI Cooper JCW Will Have a Single Pipe Exhaust appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI isn’t going all electric. At least not yet. There’s one more petrol powered MINI Cooper coming and with it one more Cooper JCW. In this exclusive look we have final details on almost every aspect of the new Cooper JCW including power, performance and even styling details that might even shock you. 2025 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. Cooper ModelF56 CooperF56 Cooper SF56 Cooper JCW25 F66 Cooper C25 F66 Cooper S 25 F66 Cooper JCWPower134 hp189 hp231 hp155 hp 201 hp231 hp Torque162 lb-ft/1480 rpm206 lb-ft/1350 rpm 235 lb-ft/1450 rpm170 lb-ft/1,480 rpm221 lb-ft258 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? For one the Countryman’s B48 engines contain a mild hybrid power unit while the Cooper engines will not due to packaging restrictions. Otherwise 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. Yes, that is a single exhaust pipe you see2025 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. The current F56 Cooper S Exhaust design shows that the “dual exhaust” is nothing more than two small pipes from a single exhaust. 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 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 Cooper JCW – Once Again Available in Two Flavors As before MINI will be offering the JCW model in the iconic three door hatch and the 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 Dead 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. 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. In this exclusive zoomed in photo you can see a central exhaust and single pipe that looks to be in nearly final production form.2025 MINI Cooper JCW Wheel Options Similar to the F56 we’ll see several JCW option ranging from 17” to 18” wheels. However the design of those wheels will change. Tire sizes however will remain consistent with the F56. F66 ICE MINI CooperF66 ICE MINI Cooper SF66 JCW16” 4 Square Spoke17” U-Spoke grey17” John Cooper Works Sprint Spoke black17” U-Spoke vibrant silver17” U-Spoke vibrant silver18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone17” U-Spoke grey 17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone18″ John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone w/Sport tires17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone18” Night Flash Spoke 2-tone18” Slide Spoke 2-tone18” Slide Spoke 2-toneThe 2024 F56 Cooper SE and the 2025 J01 Cooper SE. The F66 will adopt the styling of the J01 inside and out.Why is MINI Refreshing the F56 rather than Replacing it? If you’ve been following MotoringFile you’ll know that MINI is splitting its core model – the Cooper – into two distinct products. That means we’ll see two next generation MINI Coopers (hatches) built on opposite ends of the planet on two different platforms; one a EV (J01) and one ICE powered (F66). This move will allow MINI to offer innovative electric offerings while still selling to the traditional ICE market for as long as possible. The J01 JCW trim. While not a fully JCW production, it gives us a clue as to how the J01 and F66 JCW model will look.The F66 will see styling changes that mirror the J01 and huge tech improvements inside the cabin. But mechanically it will be mostly the same car with just the Cooper S getting a noticeable engine upgrade (more on that soon). For much more on styling and technology changes, read our full report on the F66. The 2025 F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible2025 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)03/2024*12/31/30F65 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)03/2025*12/31/30* Unconfirmed The post Exclusive Look: The 2025 F66 MINI Cooper JCW – The Last Internal Combustion JCW appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Whiteroofradio is back! We close out the year with a look at the last few months of MINI news which, as you can imagine is a lot. We talk about everything from the new electric MINI Cooper, electric Aceman and the death of the Clubman. We discus why the current generation electric F56 Cooper SE might just be the best MINI buy of all time – if you can get the range to work for you. And you might find a few exclusive nuggets of new sprinkled throughout. And the best part, it’s the full WRR crew. Small note – due to some technical issues the audio isn’t perfect in this show. Oh and because we were having too much fun, we go a little long. Lots of news from Motoringfile.com including: Gabe Demo’s the new Car Play experience MF ordered one of the last Clubman More Aceman news The MINI SE BMW CCA Needs Your MINI The MF Coupe All JCW News Long show. Don’t forget to go over to BlackRoofRadio.com to download not 1, but 2 additional episodes! The first one has some great information on why we hate the sunroof, and sunroofs in general. The 2nd is for you, the true BRR fan. Enjoy the end of your year everyone! We look forward to talking about more MINI Cooper stuff in 2024! The post White Roof Radio 694: End of the Year Wrap-up appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI has officially been given the green light for construction to the Oxford Plant which is set to be radically transformed ahead of electric vehicle production. The end result will allow MINI to produce the new generation of electric MINI Cooper along with the forthcoming Aceman. The result will see the J01 MINI Cooper and J05 MINI Aceman being built along side the ICE powered F66 MINI Cooper family starting in 2026. This should bring the next generation cars to markets like North America around that timeframe. The plans include demolishing two of its building giving the plant more room to expand as its output increases. It also will extend its integrated logistics center and another logistics building on site. The investment will total £600m and will ensure future growth, future-proofing the plan and safeguarding jobs for the area. Currently the MINI Oxford Planet plant employs more than 3,400 employees and can build up to 1,000 MINIs a day. For a look at how MINI Coopers are made at the plant currently, make sure to check out our video tour. Video Tour: How MINI Coopers Are Made At It’s Oxford Plant The post MINI’s Oxford Plant Construction Approved For J01 MINI Cooper Production appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

We don’t often surface videos from other automotive outlets because, frankly they’re usually not that great. Sure they may have high production values and look great. But their facts and are typically a bit off and thus their perspective is usually skewed. But here we have a great walk through from Australia looking at both the old and new Countryman. For more on the new MINI Countryman, click over to the U25 Countryman section of MotoringFile. The post Video: Comparing the Old Countryman to the New Countryman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Just as MINI officially unveiled its petrol powered 2024 Countryman S last week, the brand is taking the wraps off its entry-level crossover model, the Countryman C. What is the Countryman C and where will it be sold? And what does that C even stand for? Let’s dissect. 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. 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 lbsIn terms of aesthetics, the new MINI Countryman looks almost identical to all other models. With MINI letting its different trims dictate styling rather than performance, only subtle badging will truly differentiate models in markets like the UK, Europe and Asia. To that point MINI will offer the Countryman C in four distinct trim variants—Essential, Classic, Favoured, and JCW (the latter making the C look identical to a JCW even down to the badges). Trim-specific features include paint and roof colors, interior finishes, and alterations to the design of the C-pillar element. For instance the Favoured trim you see here offers a contrasting roof, Vibrant Silver front grille frame, and 20-inch rims in the aerodynamically optimized Windmill Spoke 2-tone design. The interior of the Favoured trim has a two-tone color gradient on the textile surface, crafted from recycled polyester using an innovative knitting process. Additionally, the trim features a heated sports steering wheel and perforated Vescin sports seats, available in three colors with traditional accent stitching. The Interior Revolution MINI has a lot to talk about inside starting with that circular display. So we’ll let our recently published demo of the display and MINI OS9 do the talking. Aside from the infotainment system, MINI has made huge changes. The brand has moved away from leather and chrome and leaned into new materials in a way that we’ve never seen from other manufacturers. The result is impressive. The new Vescin leather alternative feels better than the typical leather found in MINIs. While it doesn’t quite match the suppleness of the Lounge Leather options, it’s very close. In fact the grade of Vescin on the steering wheel actually feels just as good. You can read much more about Vescin and why MINI has gone leather free in our exclusive report. We really liked the look and feel of the textiles but time will tell in terms the longevity. According to MINI the material is 90% recycled and should be easily cleaned with a damp cloth – no chemicals needed. One area that we’re eager to test is the center console. Gone is the storage under the armrest and in its place a very solid feeling extendable armrest. In fact it extends so far I could see someone propping a laptop on it and working. But we’re still at a loss for why MINI couldn’t figure out how to include storage in it. The console itself has a small cubby that acts as storage. Interesting we’re told it’s relatively easy to remove and potentially replace with different forms to storage. According to MINI we should watch this space for potential future accessories. While it’s big in the MINI world, the new Countryman is clearly not big when compared to a BMW X7How Big is This Thing? The U25 MINI Countryman is all new and based on the same platform as the new BMW X1 and X2. And since those two vehicles have grown, so has the Countryman. But that growth is more about what customers want. MINI tells us that the data clearly points to owners reluctantly moving away from the brand due size. It sounds obvious for a brand called MINI. But the brand feels they can grow the Countryman slightly while still appealing to those looking for something different and smaller in the segment. 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.It’s no secret that the U25 Countryman shares a platform with the BMW X1. However what we didn’t know is how it differs under the skin. When MINI Design evaluated the X1 platform they immediately realized that they needed to find a way to downsize it to better fit MINI proportions. More specifically the rear overhang had to shrink. The answer came in the form of leveraging the rear section of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (not a car we get in the US) and replacing what was there in the X1. The result are proportions that not only fit a MINI shape better but a reduction in weight where you really don’t want it. To our eyes this increase in size is hidden by the proportions of this car as well as clever styling. That “blade” in the c-pillar? One reason it’s there is to break-up the length of the roof so it didn’t look like a tall station wagon. Autonomous Driving Comes to MINIs One of the biggest tech additions to the Countryman is its autonomous driving features. Driving Assistant Professional is a massive improvement over the previous adaptive cruise and is a first for the brand. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the MINI Countryman enables partially automated Level 2 driving on highways for the first time. If you’ve been following MotoringFile all year you’ll remember us exclusively reporting on this feature last spring. However until recently we didn’t have some of the final technical details. When engaged, Driving Assistant Professional allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), as long as they have their eyes on the road (as determined by an eye tracker) and are ready to intervene at any time. The thin grey strip above “set” is one of the two LED lights that lets you know the system is active Once you reach 38 MPH the system switches modes and goes into a more simplistic autonomous setting which requires a driver’s hands to rest on the wheel. However the system works identically, following traffic, the curves of the road and will even change lanes based on the driver using the turn signal. However at these speeds the system requires hands-on the wheel or at least pressure of some kind. This feature has been optional on BMWs for years and in our experience is ideal for stop and go traffic. However MINI’s system adds a new wrinkle as it can identify gaps in traffic needed to change lanes to get to an exit. It then brings the vehicle to the optimum speed for assisted lane changes. The MINI will let know when it’s successfully on via two green lights on the steering wheel. When it can’t detect your eyes (in hands-free) or hands (at higher speeds) those green lights being to flash orange. While MINI is focused on that Level 2, hands-free mode intended mostly for traffic jams, it’s the higher speed (above 38 mph) that you’ll likely find much more useful. In this mode the system uses a combination of adaptive cruise and steering input to follow well marked highways without intervention. It uses steering and lane guidance assistant and also includes lane keeping, lane change assistant with active side collision protection and the emergency stop assistant. The 2025 MINI Countryman Model Range The Countryman begins production this November in C, D and S All4 models. 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 USMINI Countryman C Photo Gallery The post The MINI Countryman C – First Look at The New 3 Cylinder Countryman Base Model appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

If you’ve been reading MotoringFile for the past year you’ll know that there’s enormous buzz around the forthcoming electric J01 MINI Cooper. It’s a ground-up electric car built on a bespoke platform offering more range, new technology and an all new look. On paper it seems like a massive improvement over the current Cooper SE. But there’s a big catch if you’re in the US. 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. But we’ll come to that in a moment. Perhaps more importantly the F56 electric MINI Cooper SE will cease production at then end of January 2024. That means in less than six weeks the car you see here will go out of production and will begin to become scarce. In other words MINI will not sell an electric Cooper for over 3 years. Sure there new U25 MINI Countryman will eventually debut in the US next fall. But if you’re in the market for the classic Cooper shape powered by electric, you will have no options. With all of this in mind we wanted to get behind the wheel one last time with the current F56 electric MINI Cooper SE. Can it really compete with the J01 and is it still a good buying as it closes out its production? While MINI USA didn’t have a Chicago area press car in their fleet due to the holidays, there was an easy solution. They then rung up our local dealer (MINI of Glencoe) who quickly found a beautifully specced Cooper SE in the Iconic Trim complete with the gorgeous white multi-tone roof. Now all we had to do was to drive it. Making the Case for the F56 Cooper SE The first place we have to start is price. And by that we mean the lease price. But why would you lease? For one the deals are outrageous right now. But perhaps more importantly a 3 year lease is an ideal way to bridge the gap from this car to around the time period we expect the new J01 electric to be on sale in the US. Second a lease is a good way to financially insulate you from depreciation on a car that might be looked at as obsolete when the J01 finally reaches the US. Let’s talk cost. MINI USA is currently offering the Cooper SE at a three year lease at just $239 per month. Keep in mind this price includes a lot of standard equipment including Navigation, Heads-up display, Apple CarPlay, heated everything, Active Driving Assistant and more. That has to be the single best deal we’ve ever seen from MINI USA and quite frankly hard to pass up if you’re even slightly in the market. However with a car that’s about to be replaced (even if that replacement isn’t coming to the US for 3+ years) you can’t help but wonder if it’s a smart buy. If comes down to what you need in your MINI. If your requirements are a 220+ mile range between charges then there’s no question the current generation F56 Cooper SE won’t work. We’ve previously tested the Cooper SE in multiple occasions and in warm weather typically see a 120+ mile range. Based on our testing, that will degrade further. With temperatures hovering around 30F we’re seeing a range around 100 miles fully charged. But it comes back to how you intend to use it. MINIs are typically purchased as the second or third car in the household. According to survey data, more than 75% of Americans drive on average 50 miles per day. Using our Level 2 charger installed in or garage, we were able to top off after our 36 mile daily commute quickly. And if you’re lucky enough to have a Level 3 charger in your area you can go from 10%-80% in just over 30 minutes. In other words if you’re buying a MINI as a secondary car that is primarily used for commuting and driving around town the current Cooper SE checks all the boxes. Another area that we thought might be a weakness is the tech. Over the last 10 years MINI has massaged the current F56 tech stack bringing it up to a modern spec with fast wireless CarPlay and a host of driver’s aids. It’s impressive until the moment you see what’s in the forthcoming J01 or the U25 Countryman. But here’s the thing – it works perfectly. Everything from CarPlay to adaptive cruise just works. This is a system that’s honed to a point that seems devoid of bugs or lags. And if you prefer the older (and quantifiably safer) iDrive controller, the F56 is your best option as all new MINIs are going to a full touchscreen system. The F56 Cooper SE vs the J01 Cooper SESurprising Technical Data That Makes the F56 Cooper SE Attractive The data below tells an interesting story. For one the F56 Cooper SE is 363 lbs lighter than the new J01 Cooper SE. That weight gain is likely down to the amount of batteries the J01 has over the F56. But if you don’t need that extra range, you’re just carrying around extra weight. ModelsJ01 Cooper SEF56 Cooper SEPower218 hp181 hp Torque243 lb-ft199 lb-ftTransmission1 speed1 speed0-60 mph6.7 sec7.2 secRange 250 miles140 milesLength (mm/inches)3858 mm / 151.8 in3850 mm / 151.5 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1756 mm / 69 in1727 mm / 68 inHeight (mm)1460 mm / 57 in1432 mm / 56.4 inWheelbase (mm)2526 mm / 99 in2495 mm / 98.2 in Curb weight (kg/lbs)1605 kg / 3,538 lbs1440 kg / 3175 lbsWeight distribution (Front/Rear)F 57% / R 43%F 54% / R 46%Front Overhang746 mm / 29.3 in757 mm / 29.8Rear Overhang586 mm / 23 in681 mm / 26.8 inLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down210 / 800 L211 / 941 LLooking closer you’ll also see the J01 is larger in every dimension. Not by much but if you like your MINIs as small as possible the F56 clearly wins there as well. Then there’s the surprising weight distribution. Here the F56 is closer to that 50/50 ideal which should give it slightly more neutral handling at the limit. There’s more. According to the preliminary data the F56 has the same luggage space but actually more when the seats are folded down. It may sound small but it’s interesting to see how the two cars differ in their small details. What isn’t small is the extra power the J01 has over the F56. But looking closer that power doesn’t translate into a big increase in quickness as the J01 is only a half second quicker to 60 mph. As we mentioned above it’s the range figure that many have focused on. And there’s no question that the J01 wins there with a 250 mile range vs on the WLTP standard. But then again it comes back to that question – what do you need an electric MINI for? Conclusions In our time with this gorgeous F56 Cooper SE we really fell in love all over again with the concept of electric propulsion in a MINI. The immediate torque coupled with the quick turn-in just fits the Cooper so well. And that’s coming from someone who just ordered a JCW Clubman. But the love for both that 306 hp internal combustion Clubman and this electric Cooper SE can coexist. They solve two very different problem statements. And when it comes to that second car or perfect commuter that always makes you smile, we cannot think of a better choice than the one you can buy right now. The key phrase is right now. Supply is currently plentiful but it won’t be for long. And that incredible $239 lease deal only runs through the end of December. So if you’re at all curious about an electric MINI Cooper and cannot wait for 2027, you’ll want to move quickly. Even better, if you’re in the Chicago area we know of a gorgeous Midnight Black example that’s available. The post The Final Review of the F56 MINI Cooper SE – the Best Buy in the MINI Line-up appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

In a celebration of 65 years of the Mini brand, the BMW Car Club of America’s The Ultimate Driving Museum announcing a year long celebration. Titled MINIs To The Max: 65 Years of Spirited Adventures, the exhibition will feature key cars and memorabilia from the every generation of Minis and MINIs. But first they need you. Be a Part of the Exhibit The museum needs to fill its floors and display cases with cars, memorabilia and artwork. If you or someone you know is interested in loaning a car or memorabilia, please ask them to send an email to Michael Mitchell. What does it mean to load a car? Essentially it allows you to store a car in a climate controlled environment under your directives. Does it leak oil? No problem. Does it need to be started every week? No problem. In short the team at the Foundation is used to handling owners prized possessions and can take care of them as needed. Submissions should include a couple of pictures of the car or memorabilia, along with pertinent details such as the year, model, limited edition status, and the item’s origin. A view of the current BMW Motorrad ExhibitThe Exhibition MINIs To The Max is set to open on May 1, 2024, and run through January 18, 2025, the exhibition will feature an impressive array of approximately 30 cars spanning various categories, including Heritage, BMW Years, Motorsports, Variants/Special Editions, and a glimpse into the Future product range. The Grand Opening event on May 1st promises to be a great time to visit as it coincides with the famous Minis On The Dragon event. Additionally, the exhibition will extend its accessibility by remaining open on Sunday, May 5th, catering to those homeward-bound from MOTD. Conveniently situated in Greer, SC, The Ultimate Driving Museum offers easy access from both I85 and I26 highways. Making things even better the BMW CCA Foundation is working directly with MINI USA as a way to leverage its vast knowledge and archives. The coupling of MINI USA along with the grassroots support of owners should make this exhibition the largest we’ve ever seen in the US. The team at the Ultimate Driving Museum is eager to get submissions from MotoringFile readers to drive this exhibit. So please consider reaching out to the team at the Foundation The post BMW CCA Museum to Host Year Long MINI Celebration – And They Need Your MINI appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

It’s been months since the J01 MINI Cooper EV was revealed and yet we still don’t have a complete list of technical details. Until today. And there are more than a few surprises. For one did you know that the J01 Cooper is fractionally wider than the forthcoming J05 Aceman crossover? Or that the J01 Cooper SE is almost 400 lbs heavier than the outgoing Cooper SE? The latter isn’t so surprising given the almost double range and amount of extra batteries in the new J01 Cooper SE. But still these numbers really give you a better idea of some of the tradeoffs and very deliberate choices made by MINI when they designed the J01. As you can see below, it would see MINI went to great lengths to match many of the dimensions of the F56, down to even the front overhang. Yes that aspect of the F56 so many of us bemoaned initially is only slightly smaller in clean sheet design of the J01. That aspect is particularly interesting to us given that MINI a clean-sheet design and the opportunity to rethink the packaging with all the freedom of that a skateboard chassis allows. 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 speed0-60 mph7.3 sec6.7 sec7.2 secTBARange 190 miles250 miles140 milesTBALength (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 / 29.8TBDRear Overhang586 mm / 23 in586 mm / 23 in681TBDLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down210 / 210 / 800300 / 1005 liters450 / 1450 LAlso interesting is the weight tradeoff we mentioned above. Everyone wants more range but the downside of that is more batteries and thus more weight. While that matters less in an EV where the weight is so close to the ground, it’s still worth noting. We’ve also compared some of the latest exclusive Aceman technical above giving you a picture of just how related the J01 Cooper and the J05 Aceman are. It’s safe to say that the Aceman truly is just a larger J01 Cooper with four doors. In fact the more you look at it the more you realize the Aceman isn’t a replacement for the Clubman but instead a replacement for the current F55 five door hatch. The Small Design Differences Matter No matter which you prefer, it’s clear to see that the J01 is simpler and more minimal in its overall design language. And the dimensions of the J01 are hidden better with this new design. The higher belt-line makes the car look more aggressive and upright as does the taller but more angular hood. The J01 does away with the surrounding trim yet they somehow look smaller because of how simply they are in comparison. They also sit slightly higher on the car and thus feel more upright. Then there’s the clean sides which have real curve to them vs the very flat F56. The J01 introduced dimensionality we’ve never seen on a Cooper before. The result is a car that looks more athletic with being overly aggressive as so many modern cars are. And yet the sizes are nearly the same. What do you see in this data? Let us know in the comments below. The post Exclusive: J01 2025 MINI Cooper EV Technical Details & Specifications appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI won’t release an all electric JCW until 2025. Yet much of the automotive press is reporting that it just did. What happened? Last week MINI officially debuted the J01 MINI Cooper SE in what they are calling a JCW Trim appearance package. Not surprisingly seeing a car that looks like a JCW made most assume that’s exactly what it was. While we reported that this was a JCW in look only, many publications didn’t do their due-diligence and made some quick assumptions based on photos and a vague press release.The result is at best confusion and at worst damaging to the JCW brand. What you see below is just a quick glance at how the automotive press is covering the release. To clarify what MINI debuted last week was an official look at the optional JCW Trim which is available alongside “Essential”, “Classic” and “Favoured” trims. And to make matters even more confusing these trim names will only be used in some markets. For instance in the UK the name JCW Trim will not be used at all and instead will be referring to Sport Trim. Just a few of the headlines from the automotive press confusing the concept of JCW Trim and the full JCW models And in the US we’ll see something different entirely. In fact MINI USA is taking the stance that makes much more sense to us. In the US you will not be abe to get “JCW Trim” or even “Sport Trim” with JCW parts. MINI USA is taking the stance that, to get the JCW look, you have to buy an actual JCW model. Thankfully that will be the case across all future models in the US. The JCW rear wing can be head simply by checking the box for JCW Trim. Why would MINI ever bring the look of a JCW to non-JCW models? We asked head of MINI Design Oliver Heimler that question recently when previewing the full Countryman JCW. He said “that the team wanted to allow owners as much choice as possible”. In this case that means allowing them to get the look without the compromises made with a full-on JCW product. But to us those compromises are critical to the differentiation of the products and thus the specialness of the JCW brand itself. As you can see above MINI of Germany is offering the JCW Trim even on the lowest spec MINI Cooper E. This is also the case with the already release U25 MINI Countryman as well. In fact the only visual differences on the Countryman between the JCW Trim and the full JCW are the Chili Red vertical trim pieces on the corners of the front and rear bumpers and those massive brakes. What do you think? Should buyers have lower-spec models have the chance to make them look like JCWs? Or should that appearance be saved for the true halo cars of the brand – the real JCW MINIs? The post Opinion: JCW Appearance Packages Confuse Buyers and Hurt the Brand appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

In our quest to due a proper send-off for the MINI Clubman before it goes out of production, we’re testing three examples of the F54 across the globe. Last week we were in the Austrian Alps and Bavaria driving a Clubman S through the biggest December snowstorm in recent memory. This week we’re in the beautiful hills of South Carolina with a Clubman JCW. It’s all in a quest to find out if it’s still as good as we remember and still the best car MINI currently sells. Due to sales and a world that can’t get enough of small crossovers, the wagon-like Clubman is being killed by MINI after an 15 year run. Beloved for its mix of utility and performance, the Clubman has become a cult favorite for the brand. And it’s been a favorite of ours. Having run two longterm test Clubman over the past few years we’ve fallen in love with the blend of utility and performance. As a wagon (even if MINI won’t call it that) it has can deliver almost all of the utility a crossover offers with none of the performance trade-offs. Having driven a Clubman on everything from the Dragon to the track to snow covers mountain roads we can confidently say there is nothing that comes close to the broad capabilities of the Clubman – especially in JCW form. Saying it will be missed is a massive understatement. So journey with us to the hills of South Carolina where we have an Island Blue MINI Clubman JCW at our disposal. And stay tuned for part 3 in this series later this winter. The Brief (Modern) History of the Clubman The original R55 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 by 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 F54 Clubman on the other hand has been our favorite MINI model since its introduction in 2015. We’ve run three of them over the years – a manual Cooper S All4, the 228 hp JCW and most recently a 306 hp JCW. While all were great cars, the 306 hp JCW Clubman was and is a watershed product for the brand. MINI Clubman JCW Review Photo Gallery The post Review: The 301 HP MINI Clubman JCW – Is It Still The Best MINI Available? appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Last week we exclusively brought you the first look at the detailed technical specifications of the MINI Aceman. The small crossover looks promising with a size below the Countryman and more aligned with MINIs of the past. But we hadn’t been able to fully confirm it’s model line-up until now. The MINI Aceman will initially launch with two models; the base Aceman E and the faster Aceman SE. The entry level E will have 184hp ad 214 lb-ft while the SE will pump out 218 hp and 243 lb-ft. The big news is that we can now confirm the MINI Aceman JCW. This model will develop well over 250 hp along with a revised suspension and braking system. ModelsJ05 Aceman E J05 Aceman SEJ05 Aceman JCWU25 MINI Countryman SEPower184 hp 218 hp*250 hp +313 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft*280 lb-ft +365 lb-ft* Estimated The Aceman and the U25 MINI Countryman. As you can see the Aceman is much closer to the original R60 Countryman in size.The Aceman is slotted below the new MINI Countryman and effectively replaces the wagon-like Clubman. However the most interesting thing about it may be its size. 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. The same can be said inside; R60 shoulder width is 1341mm / 52.8in which is smaller than the 1370mm in the Aceman. Similarly the Aceman has more front legroom with the R60 offering 1025mm / 40.4in versus 1045 mm / 41.1in. One big distinctions between the Aceman and Countryman will be wheels driven. Unlike the electric Countryman which offers ALL4, the Aceman will be front wheel drive and likely share its drivetrain design with the electric Cooper. While MINI might eventually squeeze in a second motor creating an ALL4 capable car, its relation to the J01 Cooper means that could be unlikely. Production plans are still a little foggy but we believe we’ll see the E and SE models launch in Q1 of 2025 with deliveries destined for Europe, South America and Asia happening later that spring. The US market will not see the Aceman until it makes its production transition to the Oxford plant in the UK in 2026. That would allow the car to be sold without the tariffs associated with Chinese production and should mean at least the higher output models will be imported. That move will also allow for the Aceman to move to MINI’s historic Oxford home alongside the electric J01 Cooper and the legacy ICE F66 Cooper. For more information on the Aceman reach out exclusive report on it’s technical specification published last week: The post Exclusive: The MINI Aceman Model Line-up Reveled Including Full JCW Offering appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Before the MINI Clubman ceases production early next year, we wanted to travel the world to get re-aquatinted with the car that we’ve called MINI’s best four door ever. For our first trip we headed to Munich where we had the limited Clubman S Final Edition at our disposal. The plan was simple – head to Salzburg and the hills of Austria in our favorite MINI for roadtrips. What we hadn’t accounted for was being hit by the biggest snow storm in recent memory. The wagon-like MINI Clubman is (and soon to be was) the perfect blend of utility and performance. With as much room as a Countryman but with less weight, we assumed it would be just as at home on the mountain roads as it is on the Autobahn. What we didn’t account for was 17” of snow being dumped on us over the course of two days. Oh and there was one other wrinkle. The press car MINI had for us wasn’t the All4 version but instead the front wheel drive Clubman S. Luckily MINI knows how to equip cars for winter and thus they had a brand-new set of Pirelli Sottozero winter tires mounted on 17” wheels. So with places to go and snow to play in we grabbed the keys from an undisclosed BMW garage near Munich and headed towards Salzburg via the Autobahn. Physics matter. And that’s where the Clubman has one up over the Countryman. With more of weight lower to the ground it’s inherently more stable and eager to change direction. On the highway doing around 140 mph that shows up as stability and ultimately confidence. As we turned into an underground garage that night ready to sample some of Salzburg’s finest pilsners, we wondered what tomorrow would bring and more specifically what shape the mountain roads would be in? Or more pointedly could a front wheel drive Clubman cope with it all? We found out within the first minute of driving out of the city. With a virtual shrug of the shoulders our Clubman S powered through snow covered streets (some of them unplowed) and onto the main roads. We’ve extolled the virtues of winter tires for years on MotoringFile but they never cease to amaze us. Climbing into the mountains we found the 190 hp Clubman S was more than up to the task. While many roads increasingly snow covered, some were not giving us a chance to play a bit. This wasn’t a JCW and thus didn’t have the all wheel drive, more aggressive sport suspension or the bigger brakes. And in German spec with the engine detuned for emissions there’s only 175 hp on tap. But as a package it all felt great. Gentle body roll coupled with the taller sidewalls of our 17” wheels gave the car a very comfortable, predictable feel. At this point we were deep in the snow storm and loving every second. The scenery, the roads and the car all made for an incredibly engaging experience. And then there were the small villages each with their own idyllic Christkindlmarkts. The foothills of the Alps, the snow, the Christmas scenario everywhere, it was like a Disney movie had come to life. And then we drove through Hallstatt. If you’ve ever wanted to see where the concept of fairytales came from, visit Hallstatt Austria. Perched on the side of a mountain with an alpine lake on the other, it is the stuff of dreams. Yet it’s very real and with the snow flying and Christmas everywhere, probably the most charming village I’ve ever seen. Sometimes the mark of a great car in moments like this isn’t necessarily to dominate the experience but to seamlessly blend in. The Clubman never put a foot wrong despite the snow, the roads or the fact that I was relying on GPS and intuition to get us around. The Clubman simply became just another part of a perfect day. Nothing is perfect of course. Our particular Clubman was equipped with what I would call “comfort spec”. That meant small 17” wheels and no sport suspension. It was great for a relaxed trip on snowy roads but I’d definitely go with 18” or 19” wheels along with the more aggressive suspension option. According to MINI Clubman Final Edition is now out of production and officially sold out. The final Clubman will roll-off the assembly line in Oxford this February but the highly sought after JCW is almost entirely sold out with only a fraction of its final production still available. In other words if you are considering ordering a MINI Clubman, stop reading this sentence and call your local MINI dealer. After an epic series of drives through the mountain roads of Austria, we made it back safe to Salzburg and ultimately to Munich where the Clubman’s relatively small footprint helped tremendously in tight parking quarters. Eventually we headed back to that undisclosed garage outside of Munich to reluctantly hand-back our Clubman’s keys to a nice lady with a BMW badge. Luckily this is only one of three drives we have planned with the outgoing model. Next up, we’ll be behind the wheel of a Clubman JCW on the mountain roads of South Carolina. However we’re told not to expect snow. Given our experience in Austria, that makes us sad. The post The MINI Clubman Roadtrip Through the Alps and Into the Biggest Snowstorm in Recent Memory appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Since MINI announced they were going all electric y 2030 fans have been wondering what that will mean for the performance oriented JCW brand. Today we’re getting our first official view at what they will look like. No this isn’t the MINI Cooper JCW we’ve all been waiting for but sources tell us that the Cooper S with JCW Trim we see here is nearly it – except for some important details. Why is MINI offering the look of JCW without the performance? In the words of Oliver Heimler, the brand wanted to give customers the choice without having to compromise on range or comfort. However not all markets will follow this approach. For instance MINI USA intends to keep the JCW Trim you see here off the options list for all non JCW models. What Will The electric MINI Cooper JCW Look Like? A lot like this. The JCW Trim you see here has the JCW body kit on it with almost all the details down to the badging. But there will be a few important differences. One difference won’t be color as it was with Rebel Green. Both the electric MINI Cooper JCW and the Cooper SE in JCW Trim you see here will be available in an exclusive color called Legend Grey. Replacing Rebel Green as the JCW color, Legend Grey is a dark metallic grey that is designed to work well with black or Chili Red details. That also means we will not see the iconic white contrasting roof as an option on the JCW. At least not initially. Not exclusive are the 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke wheels you see here. They reportedly will be the optional wheel on the full JCW as well as the JCW trim. They will also be nearly identical on the petrol powered F66 JCW as well. Perhaps most important to JCW fans is how MINI has subtle changed the wheel size allowing for a better fit of the larger brake calipers. This means the new JCW wheels on both the J01 and F66 won’t bow outward as some do now. About those brakes. What we see here aren’t the JCW brakes we’ll see in the full JCW model. Those will be exclusive to the JCW and will feature four pistons calipers upfront along with a more aggressive brake pad. While there will be a slight change to some trim and the front splitter on the full MINI Cooper JCW those differences will be small and likely not entirely noticeable to the casual fan. The design of both the JCW Trim and the full MINI Cooper JCW take the minimal look of the Cooper and add quite a few visual elements. The two-piece front splitter, the piano black trim and the design elements on the corners are the distinctive features that set the JCW Trim apart from the standard car. Around the side there’s a new aero optimized side skirt that is the most aggressive from MINI to date. Finally around back MINI designers have added a small diffuser and subtle horizontal slats that connect visually to the front design. the New JCW interior The JCW seats combine MINI’s new Vescin synthetic leather with red stitching and multi-coloured knitted material in the shoulder section. The black and red color concept is continued on the 2d-knit covering the interior of the door and the dashboard – the passenger side of which is adorned with the JCW-specific pattern in style of a chequered flag. At launch there are no other interior options for the JCW Trim. Sources tell us to expect several unique design elements on the full JCW model. We’ll have more on the forthcoming electric MINI Cooper JCW in the months ahead along with a preview of the last MINI Cooper JCW in ICE form as well. MINI Cooper SE JCW Trim The post First Look at the Electric MINI Cooper JCW appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The MINI Oxford Plant is the spiritual home of the brand since new MNI production started in 2001. We’ve visited the plan previously in 2004 and found it full of new energy and incredible automation. But a lot has changed since then and there are a lot more MINIs and we wanted to see this change ourselves. This video details how MINI not only produces cars but how it’s able to product ICE, EVs and a variety of body styles on the same production line. When we last visited the plant in 2004 it was still ramping up various aspects of production. For instance the stamping that happened offsite back then is now in a separate facility on the plant grounds. There’s also a new level of automation – especially in that stamping plant. In fact it seems almost devoid of humans as we walked through a sea of busy robots twisting and turning metal and nearly complete chassis. The immediate take away in seeing this part of production is the precision throughout the process. BMW takes the structural design and build of its cars seriously as it had several high-profile issues in the late 90’s and early 2000s with sub-frames. Our guide explained the levels of engineering that goes into every weld and the safety checks that happen throughout the process. The result is a level of precision that wouldn’t seem out of place in an aerospace factory. The Future Is Now One of the most interesting aspects of Oxford’s current production line-up is the fact that the plan produces both ICE and electric MINIs side by side. This clearly foretells the future of the brand as MINI looks to aggressively move to become an all electric brand. Perhaps most interesting were the date codes I could clearly see on many components. Each component that BMW puts in their cars has a form of a date code that states the production date of the part and the range that the part is applicable in a vehicle. In other words you could clearly see when many of the core components for the current MINIs were scheduled to be end of life. That date was marked 2027 in many components were saw. Knowing that MINI will make versions some of these cars until 2030, that could coincide with a refresh of some parts or simply mean nothing as plans have changed since those parts were cast. However knowing what we know about the current generation MINIs we would expect that that means we’ll see some for of redesign and/or final LCI for the petrol powered F56 range. It also lines-up well with the rumored introduction of the all new electric MINI at Oxford. MINI’s plans are to expand production of the next generation J01 electric MINI Cooper and J02 MINI Aceman to the Oxford Plant in 2027 which will require additional investment and reconfiguration. But clear this plant is ready. The current mix of vehicles and drivetrains that come out of a single production line is nothing short of incredible. And exactly the type of innovation that will be required in the years ahead. The post An Inside Look at How MINI Coopers Are Made at it’s Oxford Plant appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

You might have read, we’ve ordered one of the last MINI JCW Clubman. After having two longterm test JCW Clubman over the years (and calling it the best car MINI sells), we wanted to our money where our mouth was. But it wasn’t easy. In fact it almost didn’t happen. Here’s the story as it unfolded over the course of 10 hours last week. Our Clubman JCW Build The build of a MINI is a very personal thing. While MINI has eliminated the ability to create very one-off cars, there’s still enormous variability compared to most other brands. After a lot of debate with the MotoringFile team I wanted to create something that played up the heritage of the brand and its English origins. That means forgoing things like JCW seats (which was hard) and leaning into a color-way that was a nod to the past. For us this mean something understated and British and there’s nothing better in the pallet to us than Rebel Green. And given it’s scheduled to end production this February it was a no-brainer. We had originally wanted to do something rather bespoke so we inquired about unique interior parts from the Final Edition Clubman. However they had all ended production and the parts were no longer in Oxford. So we decided to go with the most classic combination possible – Malt Brown Chesterfield leather seats with white piping and the MINI Yours illuminated Fiber Alloy trim. The Process of Buying our JCW Clubman I’m lucky living in Chicago because we have a handful of great MINI dealers nearby; Bill Jacobs, Patrick MINI and International MINI in Milwaukee. But our closest dealer is MINI of Glencoe and it’s the one we’ve gotten to know over the years since the Knauz Auto Group left the MINI brand. Thankfully MINI of Glencoe can make magic happen. And specifically Evan Williams who we worked with to create a JCW Clubman out of thin air. As you’ll see in the video MINI of Glencoe didn’t have an allocation for an F54 JCW. As I quickly learned there were eight Clubman JCW allocations left for the US as of Wednesday November 22th. That meant that dealers had specced the cars (most already sold) and were expecting them to go into production within days. Yes days. When we told you to order your Clubman asap we didn’t realize how right we were. As can happen, MINI moved up production end dates for certain models and one of those is the Clubman JCW. As it happened our dealer did have a Countryman JCW allocation and were ready to make a trade. Luckily Dreyer Reinbold MINI did and they were in the same region. So MINI USA helped facilitate a quick trade and the order was confirmed that night and went into the books. Fast forward only five days and the car is now officially in the production queue! The post Our Journey to Buy One of the Last JCW Clubman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

We have a world exclusive today with our first look at the technical details of the first ever MINI Aceman EV. We’ve known the Aceman will be smaller than the new Countryman but until today 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. The Aceman will be 4079mm / 161in in length which is not surprisingly quite a bit smaller than the 4444mm / 175in U25 Countryman. What’s really interesting is comparing this new MINI crossover with the original 2010 R60 Countryman. The R60 was 4119mm / 162.2in which is 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. The R60 is 1025mm / 40.4in. while the smaller Aceman has more with 1045 mm / 41.1in. You 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. The Aceman is slotted below the new MINI Countryman and effectively replaces the wagon-like Clubman. However the Aceman is electric only and will share much of the technology we’ve already in the J01 MINI Cooper EV. The new J05 Aceman will be available initially in E and ES variants with the JCW version to follow shortly after launch. The E will have an output of 135 kW/184 hp while the SE will offer 160 kW/218 hp and torque of 330 Nm. Aceman Specifications vs the U25 Countryman Now let’s take a look at the full specs and how that compares to the new electric Countryman SE. ModelsJ01 Aceman E J01 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 mm / 81 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1645 kg / 3,627 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbs1735 kg / 3825 lbsLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down300 / 1005 liters300 / 1005 liters450 / 1450 LNext 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. 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. This will allow MINI to avoid tariffs and sell the Aceman in the US sometime in the 2027 calendar year. Pricing will likely be 10-15% cheaper than the U25 Countryman EV. Here’s the The New MINI FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionJ01 MINI Cooper EElectric32,900€ 11/2023J01 MINI Cooper SE Electric36,900€ 11/2023U25 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*F66 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*J05 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 Aceman concept gives us a clue of what to expect for MINI’s new in-vehicle digital experience.The post Exclusive: J05 2025 MINI Aceman EV Technical Details & Specifications appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI is going all in on the circular theme with its introduction of the new MINI Countryman. Playing off of its industry first round OLED display, MINI is launching its first US media campaign around the digital experience of its new cars at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The brand has partnered with independent creative agency Pereira O’Dell to launch a creative campaign with Spike, MINI’s Intelligent Personal Assistant and digital companion within the New MINI family’s technology experience. Sebastian Beuchel, Head of MINI Global Brand Management spoke to the unique canvass MINI used; “Sphere presented us with a new kind of creative challenge. Both in a physical sense, and a contextual one. We wanted to think of this campaign as an art piece, not as an ad.” The campaign’s content kicked off on Sphere on November 27, featuring Spike interacting with the 2025 MINI Countryman Electric, running across the 366-ft. high and 516-ft. wide screen. The display also included the Las Vegas backdrop and all the spectators inside and outside of Sphere to highlight the interactive nature of the space. The takeover of Sphere will run until December 2, with a special four-hour takeover on December 1. To learn more about the new all-electric 2025 MINI family, visit MINI USA.com. The post MINI launches New Countryman Media Campaign at the Sphere in Las Vegas appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

We’ve called it the best car MINI makes so today we’re putting our money where our mouth is and ordering one of the last MINI Clubman JCWs. And when we say one of the last, literally one of the last eight allocations in the US. And the process from speccing to ordering to a build date was shockingly quick. Our Clubman JCW Build Let’s start with the build itself. This is one of the last ever Clubman and will be a daily for us. So we spared no expense with options. But first let’s talk about the colors inside and out. Consulting with other MF contributors the consensus was Nanuq White originally. However when we learned that MINI was killing Rebel Green with the F54, F56 and F60 JCWs, we couldn’t pass up a chance to have it before it’s gone. And truth is, it’s our favorite factory produced color. The only one better was the one that inspired it – Connaught Green, in the WC50. Our initial inclination was to make this as performance focused a Clubman as possible. That mean a sunroof delete and manual seats. However the change to Rebel Green and the fact that this was one of the last classic internal combustion MINIs got us thinking. What if we went as classic as possible and created a “modern heritage” spec? We had originally inquired about some unique interior parts from other limited edition models but unfortunately they had all ended production and the parts were no longer in Oxford. So we decided to go with the most classic combination possible – Malt Brown Chesterfield leather seats with white piping and the MINI Yours illuminated Fiber Alloy trim. To finish it off our first thought was a full white roof. However that Clubman roof is massive and white (or Chili Red) is a lot of roof color to deal with. Our solution came in the form of MINI’s just released Multi-Tone roof. We opted for the White, Melting Silver and Black combo which works perfectly with the modern heritage spec. It also visually reduces the roof and height of the car in back. And if we don’t love it we’ll have Motoringbadges.com wrap it. As we mentioned above, this will be a daily driver and one that we intend to use for everything from Chicago commuting to cross-country road-trips. Thus we wanted a loaded car with as many comforts as possible. That made MINI USA’s Iconic package a no-brainer as it fully options the car with just about everything conceivable. Key options include the Adaptive Cruise, 40/20/40 split rear seat, Harmon Kardon and the HUD. We would have loved manual seats but work to go through that and still get our order in (more on that in a minute) would have jeopardized the order itself. Finally a couple of key options for us. Having tracked the Clubman JCW quite a bit, we chose Sport Suspension instead of Adaptive Suspension as it slightly lowers the ride and creates a more eager and adjustable car at the limit. Similarly the 19″ Track-Spoke wheels and tires give the car a more razor edge and look fantastic. That said we’ll be grabbing a pair of winter tires and wheels to make this truly a year round car. Finally roof rails were essential as we plan on using this Clubman for just about everything possible. That includes bikes, skis and who knows what else on top. How The Hell Did We Get One of the Last Builds? It’s not because we pulled in any favors. We just followed our own advice and worked early (barely) with a MINI Dealer we knew could make it happen. In our case that was MINI of Glencoe and Evan Williams who simply would not accept defeat. Which was a good thing because we wouldn’t either. As I quickly learned there were eight Clubman JCW allocations left for the US as of Monday November 20th. That meant that dealers had specced the cars (most already sold) and were expecting them to go into production within days. Yes days. When we told you to order your Clubman asap we didn’t realize how right we were. As can happen it would appear that MINI moved up production end dates for certain models and one of those is the Clubman JCW. Initially our dealer didn’t have an allocation however they did have a Countryman JCW allocation and were ready to make a trade. Luckily Dreyer Reinbold MINI did and they were just 4 hours away. So MINI USA helped facilitate a quick trade and the order was confirmed that night. And one week later… our car has entered production. That my friends is just about a record. We’ll have more on our car as it goes through the production, shipping and delivery process. We’ll also be looking at modifications and accessories along the way. So if you have any favorites you think we should consider, let us know. The post We’re Ordering One of the Last MINI Clubman JCWs! appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The 20 year experiment of run-flats is over for MINI. After years of customer complaints about ride quality, performance impacted by weight and high replacement costs, MINI has decided to eliminates run-flats as it transitions into its 4th generation cars next year. BMW mobility kit, MINI’s is nearly identical. The plan for MINI is to offer run-flats in some models for those who specifically require them. We’re told that run-flats will likely still be available but only on specific tires sizes and could even cost more. And for those that don’t go out of their way to order them, MINI will add a tire mobility kit to every car moving forward. This kit will include a small air compressor a bottle of one-time use tire sealant and a pair of handy rubber gloves. This is a big change for the brand. Since the launch of the new MINI, almost every model and every tire size had runflats as standard. Part of this was due to the fact that the original R53 Cooper S and JCW models had no room for a spare due to the exhaust layout. MINI’s strategy was to borrow the run-flat technology from BMW (who had just introduced them as well) eliminating any concern from the buying public. It was also assumed that the technology would become closer to normal tires over time with prices being driven down as production increased. While that has happened to a degree, there’s still a material difference in feel and cost. Some current models like the Clubman JCW with the optional 19″ wheels have already moved away from run-flats.Runflats are a double edge sword for many of us. For those who own MIINI’s without a spare they offer peace of mind. However for anyone who cares about ride quality, performance and replacement cost, they’re a burden. Why? The rigid side wall that allows the tires to still function with no air pressure creates a harsh ride that is often cited as a complaint from owners and reviewers. Then there’s the added unsprung weight which, depending on the run-flat tire, can be noticeable. The Countryman JCW’s optional 20″ wheels and 245/40/20 tires. It’s also a performance issue as the tires don’t have the same “on the limit” tendencies as conventional tires. Where a typical performance tire will gradually lose traction, the stiff side walls on the run-flats make the transition more abrupt. Then there’s the replacement cost because run-flats can’t easily be repaired like conventional tires. They’re also not so great for MINI. They cost a lot, they produce cars with compromised ride quality and there also heavier which counts against the brand’s efficiency targets. But perhaps the most important data-point is that consumers don’t seem to care. Reportedly there’s a lack of consumer interest in run-flats once it comes time to buy replacement tires. The post Exclusive: MINI Is Killing Run-flat Tires in All Future Models appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

If you’ve been following our coverage on the new (U25) MINI Countryman internal combustion models you’ll notice an unusual discrepancy. The US spec versions of the Countryman S and Countryman JCW have noticeable more power than the European versions. Historically it’s been the opposite with US regulations affecting the output of European cars in order to meet emissions regulations. However things are changing in a big way. Now that European regulations are becoming more aggressive, we’re seeing a pretty major shift in what market has more power. Let’s start by looking at the recently release MINI Countryman S with ALL4. In Europe and the UK that car comes equipped with a mild hybrid version of the B48 to lower C02 and fall into compliance with the stringent emissions. 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 the US will make 241 hp and 295 lbs ft. It’s a similar story on the Countryman JCW however with no mild hybrid to confuse things. There European and UK versions of the Countryman JCW have their B48 tuned to 300 hp due to the same emissions compliance issues. The US market was able to stretch things a bit to 312 hp – a new high power figure for the MINI brand. Europe vs The US – MINI Countryman S and JCW Technical Specifications Countryman ModelCountryman S (Europe)JCW (Europe)Countryman S (USA)JCW (USA)Power218 hp300 hp241 hp312 hpTorque266 ft lbs295 ft lbs295 ft lbs295 ft lbsTransmission7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainall-wheelall-wheelall-wheelall-wheelPowertrain typepetrol/mild hybridpetrolpetrolpetrolCylinders4444Displacement1998199819981998Engine Power201 hp300 hpTBD313 hpEngine Torque 266 ft lbs295 ft lbsTBD295 lbElectric Power19 hp (temporary)N/AN/AN/AElectric TorqueTBDN/AN/AN/A0-60 mphTBDTBDTBD5.1Maximum speedTBD132 mph132 mph155 mphCurb weight (LBS)TBDTBDTBD3,825 lbsThis change will likely affect all petrol powered MINI including the forthcoming F66 MINI Cooper which will debut this February and go on sale in March. Check back for more details and technical specifications as we uncover them. The post Europe vs the US – Where The New MINI Countryman Has More Power Might Surprise You appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The 3rd Generation MINI Cooper (known as the F56) is ending production and with it the manual transmission. Replacing it will be the F66, an almost entirely new MINI Cooper that will be exclusively internal combustion and equipped with a DCT. But today we’re here to talk about the F56 and how you can grab one of the last ones (and a manual). How to Buy One of the Last Manual MINI Coopers Much like ordering a Clubman (which we detailed earlier this week), we’d recommend not waiting until the last moment. Yes production will go until February. However part availability might start to dwindle which could eliminate some options and even models. So the first step is immediately getting in touch with your favorite MINI store. The second is to spec your car and get it into the ordering system asap. While production should continue into February, it’s unclear what part shortages might start to appear as production winds down. If it were us ordering a Clubman we would want to get our order in no later than the end of December. That should ensure that options, colors and models are all still available. Another pro-tip as well. If you’re curious about things like roof racks and rally lights, even accessories will eventually of out of stock. We’d encourage you to pick those up over the next year if not sooner. Why is MINI Killing the Manual? Why would MINI eliminate manuals despite having over a 50% take rate in the US on JCw models? And making the case seem even more straight forward is the fact that the F66 (the replacement of for the F56) is nearly mechanically identical. According to our sources it’s about simplifying drivetrains components, cutting costs within manufacturing and for Europe (where CO2 targets are much more stringent) making MINIs pollute less. Well sort of. 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. 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. But more than that the amount of time and money that would be spent to test, validate and federalize a manual option for one market simply doesn’t make sense at the prices that MINIs are sold for. The F56 MINI Cooper Replacement The F66 will replace the F56 and will be the last internal combustion MINI Cooper ever. While it’s based on the F56, it will look and feel almost entirely like a new car. However it all do without the much loved manual transmission. Production will start in March which means Europe and the UK should see it towards the end of that month with US sales starting in Q2 of 2024. We’ll have much more on the F66 soon but in the meantime head to the MotoringFile F66 section to get up to speed on MINI’s new Cooper. The post Warning – Production of the 3rd Generation MINI Cooper (and Manuals) is Ending appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The MINI Clubman production is ending and with it our favorite current MINI made. Dealer stock is quickly dwindling and in some markets orders have already been completely shut down. However if you’re in the US or most of Europe there is still time to get a Clubman. Read on for tips on timing and the risks of waiting even another month. The beloved for its mix of utility and performance, the Clubman has become a cult favorite for the brand. In JCW form the F54 Clubman isn’t only the fastest current MINI (0-60 in 4.6 seconds) but will likely remain fastest petrol powered MINI of all time. How do we know? The Countryman JCW has more power in its new generation but lost a substantial amount of torque while gaining weight stunting its performance a bit. Why is MINI killing the Clubman? It’s unfortunately due to sales. In a world that can’t get enough of small crossovers, the wagon-like Clubman is getting squeezed out. However the passion of its owners haven’t been enough to save it as MINI plans to focus on crossovers with its next generation of cars due to customer demand. Winter tires, All4 and a lower center of gravity. The Clubman JCW is a snow monster.The Clubman in particular has had a hard time finding an audience. In fact the current F54 generation has only hit its sales targets in one major market; Japan. And despite MotoringFile calling the F54 JCW Clubman the best all around MINI ever made, it’s also been a hard sell for dealers. Especially next to the taller more SUV like Countryman – a shape that is clearly a consumer’s preference these days. The new multi-tone roof looks especially great in white and on a Clubman.How & When to Buy One of the Last Clubman First step is immediately getting in touch with your favorite MINI store. The second is to spec your car and get it into the ordering system asap. While production should continue into February, it’s unclear what part shortages might start to appear as production winds down. If it were us ordering a Clubman we would want to get our order in no later than the end of December. That should ensure that options, colors and models are all still available. Another pro-tip as well. If you’re curious about things like roof racks and rally lights, even accessories will eventually of out of stock. We’d encourage you to pick those up over the next year if not sooner. The Aceman will be a crossover roughly the size of the original R60 CountrymanThe Clubman’s Replacement But there is a replacement MINI is replacing the Clubman with the small electric Aceman crossover. The Aceman will have the same electric drivetrain as the J01 MINI Cooper which means we’ll see range and performance figures a bit lower than that car. So expect a range just one 200 miles in SE trim and 0-60 times in the low 7 second range. Crucially it will be small compared to the Countryman. In fact it’ll be roughly the same size as the R60 Countryman with more interior volume. The current, larger F54 Clubman on the left and the first (new) generation R55 Clubman on the right.The Modern History of the Clubman The original Clubman is a bit divisive. With the third door on the wrong side or 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 Clubman JCW is surprisingly capable on a track. The F54 Clubman on the other hand has been our favorite MINI model since it’s introduction in 2015. We’ve run three of them over the years – a manual Cooper S All4, the 228 hp JCW and most recently a 306 hp JCW. While all were great cars, the 306 hp JCW Clubman might just be out favorite new MINI ever made. You can read a collection of reviews of that car below. Why? Its mix of utility and performance is unmatched in the range. As a wagon (even if MINI won’t call it that) it has can deliver almost all of the utility a crossover offers with none of the performance trade-offs. Having driven a Clubman on everything from the Dragon to the track to snow covers mountain roads we can confidently say there is nothing that comes close to the broad capabilities of the Clubman – especially in JCW form. Saying it will be missed is a massive understatement. MotoringFile Take If you need something a bit larger than the two door MINI Cooper, but still want a MINI, we can’t imagine a scenario where a Clubman doesn’t make sense. Having had three of them over the years we are convinced by their blend of utility, performance and style that feels so unique in the segment. And if you can spring for the JCW version, you will have not just a great everyday performance car, you’ll have the fastest petrol powered MINI ever. We’ll have more on the Clubman as we review one of the last 2024 Clubman JCWs made in the coming weeks. Our Favorite MINI Clubman Reviews The post MINI Clubman Production Ending But There’s Still Time to Order appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

You’re looking at the all new MINI Countryman S for the first time. The 241 HP, 295 ft lbs brings substantially more while also delivering higher levels of tech and utility. While we’ve seen the electric Countryman SE and the petrol Countryman JCW, until today MINI had yet to officially show-off what petrol powered “S”. But the power increase is probably the least interesting thing here. Pricing and Equipment Changes Everything. 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 the US market begins March, 2024 with first units expected to arrive at dealers early May, 2024. Power and Performance In the UK and Europe MINI Countryman S ALL4 offers a mild hybrid version of the B48 to lower C02. That set-up produces an output of 160 kW/218 hp and a torque of 360 Nm in those markets. However. In US trim the MINI Countryman S ALL4 will offer 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. Quick ratio steering and the combination of single-joint McPherson strut front axle and multi-link rear axle are unmistakable traits of MINIs no matter how big they are. The Countryman takes this formula and refines it even further with an optional adaptive suspension which lowers the car in sport mode 15 mm for better response and weight distribution. The Interior Revolution MINI has a lot to talk about inside starting with that circular display. So we’ll let our recently published demo of the display and MINI OS9 do the talking. Aside from the infotainment system, MINI has made huge changes. The brand has moved away from leather and chrome and leaned into new materials in a way that we’ve never seen from other manufacturers. The result is impressive. The new Vescin leather alternative feels better than the typical leather found in MINIs. While it doesn’t quite match the suppleness of the Lounge Leather options, it’s very close. In fact the grade of Vescin on the steering wheel actually feels just as good. You can read much more about Vescin and why MINI has gone leather free in our exclusive report. We really liked the look and feel of the textiles but time will tell in terms the longevity. According to MINI the material is 90% recycled and should be easily cleaned with a damp cloth – no chemicals needed. One area that we’re eager to test is the center console. Gone is the storage under the armrest and in its place a very solid feeling extendable armrest. In fact it extends so far I could see someone propping a laptop on it and working. But we’re still at a loss for why MINI couldn’t figure out how to include storage in it. The console itself has a small cubby that acts as storage. Interesting we’re told it’s relatively easy to remove and potentially replace with different forms to storage. According to MINI we should watch this space for potential future accessories. While it’s big in the MINI world, the new Countryman is clearly not big when compared to a BMW X7How Big is This Thing? The U25 MINI Countryman is all new and based on the same platform as the new BMW X1 and X2. And since those two vehicles have grown, so has the Countryman. But that growth is more about what customers want. MINI tells us that the data clearly points to owners reluctantly moving away from the brand due size. It sounds obvious for a brand called MINI. But the brand feels they can grow the Countryman slightly while still appealing to those looking for something different and smaller in the segment. 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.It’s no secret that the U25 Countryman shares a platform with the BMW X1. However what we didn’t know is how it differs under the skin. When MINI Design evaluated the X1 platform they immediately realized that they needed to find a way to downsize it to better fit MINI proportions. More specifically the rear overhang had to shrink. The answer came in the form of leveraging the rear section of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (not a car we get in the US) and replacing what was there in the X1. The result are proportions that not only fit a MINI shape better but a reduction in weight where you really don’t want it. To our eyes this increase in size is hidden by the proportions of this car as well as clever styling. That “blade” in the c-pillar? One reason it’s there is to break-up the length of the roof so it didn’t look like a tall station wagon. Autonomous Driving Comes to MINIs One of the biggest tech additions to the Countryman is its autonomous driving features. Driving Assistant Professional is a massive improvement over the previous adaptive cruise and is a first for the brand. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the MINI Countryman enables partially automated Level 2 driving on highways for the first time. If you’ve been following MotoringFile all year you’ll remember us exclusively reporting on this feature last spring. However until recently we didn’t have some of the final technical details. When engaged, Driving Assistant Professional allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), as long as they have their eyes on the road (as determined by an eye tracker) and are ready to intervene at any time. The thin grey strip above “set” is one of the two LED lights that lets you know the system is active Once you reach 38 MPH the system switches modes and goes into a more simplistic autonomous setting which requires a driver’s hands to rest on the wheel. However the system works identically, following traffic, the curves of the road and will even change lanes based on the driver using the turn signal. However at these speeds the system requires hands-on the wheel or at least pressure of some kind. This feature has been optional on BMWs for years and in our experience is ideal for stop and go traffic. However MINI’s system adds a new wrinkle as it can identify gaps in traffic needed to change lanes to get to an exit. It then brings the vehicle to the optimum speed for assisted lane changes. The MINI will let know when it’s successfully on via two green lights on the steering wheel. When it can’t detect your eyes (in hands-free) or hands (at higher speeds) those green lights being to flash orange. While MINI is focused on that Level 2, hands-free mode intended mostly for traffic jams, it’s the higher speed (above 38 mph) that you’ll likely find much more useful. In this mode the system uses a combination of adaptive cruise and steering input to follow well marked highways without intervention. It uses steering and lane guidance assistant and also includes lane keeping, lane change assistant with active side collision protection and the emergency stop assistant. The 2025 MINI Countryman Model Range The Countryman begins production this November in C, D and S All4 models. 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 First Look: the 241 HP Petrol Powered MINI Countryman S appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The world is full of cheap plastic phone mounts that squeeze into a vent or stick on a dash. But one has earned a reputation as the opposite of that. The CravenSpeed Gemini phone mount looks and feels completely different because it is. But can this all metal mount live up to its $75 price? We wanted to find out. Designed and made in the US from 100% high-grade steel, the Gemini phone mount has all the hallmarks of a product that is made by people who care. Case in point, the brackets themselves are laser cut and powder coated steel. The result is incredible structural rigidity that keeps the phone stable. Then the bushings are press fit into the brakes which further adds to the overall stability of the mount. There are two components to the system – the mount and the bracket. The scissor mount is one we didn’t test but is the most universal as it can expand and contract to any mobile device. Given that we primarily use an iPhone 15 Pro Max we tested Cravenspeed’s two magnetic mounts; the CraveSpeed’s own Magnetic mount and the MagSafe version. It’s important to note that the MagSafe mount is actually just a round enclosure that is designed to place a MagSafe charger into. The MagSafe Mount is a thin enclosure that accepts a MagSafe Charger perfectly.The supplied Torx screw-driver was a nice touch.A magnetic grabber is a recommended addition to the tool list but not mandatory. Installation on our F56 took about 20 minutes and was extremely straightforward. The process revolves around removing the center cluster and reusing screw points where the plate is then mounted. CravenSpeed provides both the small Torx screw driver and longer screws that make the job extremely easy. That said I would highly encourage you have a magnetic grabber tool available just in case you drop a screw in the process. We say that because that’s exactly what we did when one slipped behind the plastic panel under the steering wheel. Luckily that piece is a press fit and easily removable. The Cravenspeed Gemini Mount with the Cravenspeed Magnetic Mount. And yes, there are two versions of the plate for either the analog or digital versions of the 3rd generation MINI cluster. For our first couple of days we used the MagSafe adapter which acts as a cradle for an Apple MagSafe charger you’ll need to provide. As an iPhone user it felt like a no-brainer as it would not only hold the phone but charge is. And on smooth highway roads the set-up worked perfectly. However on some of the more broken roads of Chicago we quickly found that the magnets in the Apple MagSafe Charger itself weren’t strong enough to keep the phone from flying (literally) from the magnet. The mount can be positioned to be more discrete or closer to your line of sight. It can also be pushed down to minimize it entirely. The mount can be positioned to be more discrete or closer to your line of sight. It can also be pushed down to minimize it entirely. After a few days of playing defense we decided switch from the MagSafe mount to Cravespeed’s own much stronger magnetic mount. That move transformed the experience in a few ways. On the positive side it’s rocking a 100% success rate for holding my phone over the worst roads. On the not so positive side I do have to stare at the Cravenspeed logo quite a bit. While it’s a great company and the logo certainly isn’t offensive, it would be nice to see it a touch smaller. But that’s coming from me, a fairly Type A designer who tries to eliminate as many logos as possible. There’s a good chance it won’t bother you. The Most Over Engineered Mount Possible The Cravenspeed Gemini mount has been a huge add to the cabin of our non-CarPlay F56. The placement, adjustability and quality puts it at the pinnacle of phone mounts we’ve tested or even seen. In short this thing is over-engineered in ways that is rare in consumer products these days. There’s simply nothing better on the market that we’d want in our MINI. It’s not cheap but for $75 you get the ultimate phone mount that will likely outlive your MINI itself. In our minds that’s not a bad bargain. The post Review: The CravenSpeed Gemini Phone Mount appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article