DimON

Admin
  • Публикаций

    8 793
  • Зарегистрирован

  • Посещение

  • Days Won

    41

Весь контент DimON

  1. The MINI manual transmission is dead. Well almost dead. With February production, the manual will be forever gone from the MINI line-up. We exclusively reported on its demise early last year and MINI confirmed the news this past September. And then a strange thing happened. The manual became as popular as it ever has been. Awhile we don’t have global data we do have official numbers from North America. According to MINI USA, the manual take rate in the F56 Cooper JCW is currently at 54%. That’s one of the highest number MINI USA has seen since the introduction of the automatic in the JCW. The Cooper S take rate has also shot up to 22% – the highest seen in many years. Even the Cooper has seen a spike from the single digits to an 11% take-rate. The limited edition 1to6 MINI Cooper JCWIn general that’s the highest take-rate we’ve seen since the R50/R53 years. The big question is why? Obviously it has a lot to do with MINI fans grabbing the last of the manual before they cease production at the end of February. However we also can’t help but wonder if it’s a bit of backlash connected to the rise of electrification, automatic driving aides and the digitalization of the driving experience. Why Is MINI Killing The Manual? The DCT only F66 JCW Why would MINI eliminate manuals despite the fact that the F66 (the replacement of for the F56) is mechanically identical and could easily carry over the current Getrag 6 speed? It’s likely about simplifying drivetrains components and cutting costs within manufacturing. And for Europe (where CO2 targets are much more stringent) the manual is slightly dirtier when using WLTP testing procedures. The manual isn’t necessarily dirtier than the auto. However the way cars are tested for CO2 emissions makes the manual particularly vulnerable. Automakers can tightly control C02 emissions with an auto because there’s so much control to be had with software. The very nature of a manual is that the driver has control and thus there are more variables at play during testing – almost a limitless number. Some of those variables produce higher C02 emissions in testing – despite the fact that a manual is often not any more dirty than an automatic MINI. This is forcing European automakers hands and causing many to eliminate the option. While the F66 may be very closely related to the F56 mechanically, the interior will likely be a 1:1 copy of the electric J01 MINI Cooper thus will have no space for the manual gear lever. It may like something that could be overcome with some minimal design changes but the cost of having different layouts while producing enough scale (and in enough markets) to make it financially viable was likely too much for MINI to solve. And let’s not even get into the time and money that would be spent to test, validate and federalize a manual option for the US. While the manual take rates are almost as high as they’ve ever been, it’s a bittersweet moment as MINI moves away from the purest form of driver engagement offered in a car. The post Manual Transmission Popularity Spikes in MINIs as it Ends Production appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  2. The Mini Monty Carlo Rally three-peat is a staple of MINI enthusiast culture to this day. While familiar to most, it’s not an accomplishment to be taken lightly. Severely out-classed, the Mini team showed what small can really do. Today MINI’s motorsports presence has evolved, but is no less accomplished. Racing in MINI-only leagues, the World Challenge, VLN and the Dakar, the MINI brand keeps having fun going fast. While the racing landscape has changed tremendously, MINI has kept racing a priority and that is a remarkable thing. From the nearly stock VLN JCW, to the highly specialized monsters of Dakar, we’re just excited that there are MINIs out there being driven in anger. Even better when they win! But the biggest win of them all was that first Monte Carlo win. The History of Mini at The Monte Carlo Rally On 21 January 1964, the Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. It was the pairing of Northern Ireland’s Patrick (“Paddy”) Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon that pulled off the big surprise, resisting the supposed superiority of significantly more powerful rivals in their small British car. Its faultless run over country roads and mountain passes, ice and snow, tight corners and steep gradients laid the foundations for the underdog-turned-giant-slayer to cement itself in both the hearts of the public and the annals of motor sport legend. Indeed, the classic Mini’s dominance of the Monte Carlo Rally continued over the years that followed, Hopkirk’s Finnish team-mates Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen adding two further overall victories – in 1965 and 1967 – to the British manufacturer’s collection. Years later Paddy Hopkirk’s eyes would light up when he recalled the driving qualities of his winning car: “Although the Mini was only a little family saloon, technically it had a lot of advantages. Its front-wheel drive and front-mounted transverse engine were a great advantage, and the fact the car was smaller and the roads were ploughed, they were quite narrow, so I suppose that was an advantage. We were very lucky – the car was right, everything happened at the right time and came together at the right moment.” It was the legendary “Night of the Long Knives”, the penultimate stage of the Monte, which put the Mini Cooper S with car number 37 and the now famous licence plate 33 EJB on course for victory that winter of 1964. Hopkirk crossed the finish line just 17 seconds off the pace set by his chief adversary Bo Ljungfeldt in the far more powerful V8-powered Ford Falcon. The handicap formula at the time – designed to even out the weight and power differences between the various cars – meant the classic Mini actually led the way in the overall standings. And Hopkirk defended his advantage in the sprint through the streets of Monte Carlo that rounded off the rally. At the winner’s ceremony he shared the cheers of the crowed with his team-mates. Timo Mäkinen’s fourth-place finish and Rauno Aaltonen’s seventh overall set the seal on the success of the Mini Cooper S and ushered in the era of the “Three Musketeers” in the Monte Carlo Rally. The classic Mini’s victory was celebrated with complete awe and excitement in its native Britain. Hopkirk received a congratulatory telegram from the British government and the Beatles were also among those leading the applause. “I got a telegram from the Beatles,” remembers Hopkirk. “That was followed by a photograph of the four of them autographed to me saying: ‘You’re one of us now, Paddy.’ And it’s very nice to have that nowadays.” The triumph of the classic Mini in the Monte was lauded as a sensation by motor sport fans around the world. But this wasn’t a success that came entirely out of the blue: the small car developed by Alec Issigonis, then Deputy Technical Director at the British Motor Corporation, possessed an inherent sporting talent from birth. The first person to spot this potential was John Cooper. The sports car designer was the driving force behind construction of a more powerful version of the car. The Mini produced only 34 hp at launch, but its front-wheel drive, low weight, wide track and comparatively long wheelbase made it an extremely agile four-seater and paved the way for its forays onto race circuits and rally courses. As early as 1960, big-name racing drivers like Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Jim Clark were spotted testing the cornering flair of the John Cooper-tuned small car on the Silverstone Formula One track. However, the classic Mini was most at home in rally racing. Patt Moss, sister of grand prix driver Stirling Moss, piloted it to wins in the Tulip Rally and Baden-Baden Rally in 1962. And by the following year, the diminutive British car was ready to burst into the public consciousness at the Monte Carlo Rally. Preceding years had been a tough learning experience for the works team, but now they would make people sit up and take notice. Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk drove the 55 hp Mini Cooper to a 1-2 finish in their class, which was good enough for third and sixth places overall. It was clear that the classic Mini was better equipped than any other car to pull off the classic David vs Goliath act. John Cooper had long suspected that the car had what it took. Back in 1959 he instructed Roy Salvadori to drive a prototype to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The journey itself turned into a race between Salvadori and fellow racing driver Reg Parnell at the wheel of an Aston Martin DB4. The result confirmed what Cooper had foreseen in his mind’s eye: the Cooper-prepared classic Mini arrived around an hour earlier than the much more powerful Aston. Identifiable from a distance with their tartan red bodywork and white roofs, the six small racers dispatched by the BMC works team for the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 were – at least on paper – fighting against the tide once more. The Mini Cooper S lined up at the start for the first time. Its new four-cylinder engine now had an increased 1071cc capacity and output had also been boosted to around 90 hp. This was a lot more than in previous years but still modest in the face of competition from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and Ford Falcon, whose six-cylinder and V8 units had three or four times more power at their disposal. The 33rd edition of the Monte Carlo Rally began – as was traditional at the time – with a nod to the origins of the event, the 277 cars starting from nine European cities before converging on the French city of Reims. The Hopkirk/Liddon partnership got their journey with the Mini Cooper S under way in Minsk, while for Rauno Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose the Monte adventure started in Oslo, and Timo Mäkinen and Patrick Vanson set off from Paris. The classic Mini successfully negotiated all these journeys and all six works cars were able to take their place in the 277-strong field in Reims. The first stage of the rally to Saint-Claude brought together the two cars which were to define the 1964 Monte from start to finish. Bo Ljungfeldt roared to the top of the time sheets in his Ford Falcon, but Paddy Hopkirk remained hot on his heels in his Mini Cooper S. The next leg of the rally was made up largely of mile-long flat-out sections, but Hopkirk refused to let his big-engined rivals build up a decisive advantage. The “Night of the Long Knives” would become the day of reckoning; this was the classic Mini’s chance to demonstrate its talents to the full. “It was quite snowy that year, so we had done a lot of practising and preparing,” explains Hopkirk. “The Mini was particularly good downhill, and all the tests were up and downhill, so what we lost going up, I think we made up for going downhill.” Irresistible handling, correct tire choice, Hopkirk’s gifts at the wheel and the snow – which slowed the bigger cars down – all came together and ensured that Hopkirk was able to take over the lead on the 1,607-metre (5,270 ft) Col de Turini. However, it remained a tight contest all the way to the finish, with Bo Ljungfeldt, as expected, again posting the fastest time on the final stage through Monte Carlo. However, Hopkirk was also squeezing everything from his Mini Cooper S once again and hung onto his advantage to wrap up the win. “It’s not like rallying today when you know where you are. I had to do the final circuit, then the journalists told me I had won and I couldn’t believe it. It surprised the world and us, so it was very nice,” recalls Hopkirk. The following year Timo Mäkinen and co-driver Paul Easter ensured the classic Mini would retain its title. They were helped by a new engine with capacity increased to 1275cc, but it was the Scandinavian’s driving skill that landed the decisive blow. Mäkinen was the only driver to remain penalty-point-free throughout the rally distance, despite the fact that the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally was providing one of the most exacting tests in the history of the event. Epic levels of snow and ice made the going seriously tough, but that didn’t stop the organisers including a second night stage through the Maritime Alps in the programme. Mäkinen and his Mini Cooper S appeared impervious to the deteriorating conditions. The Finn won five of the six special stages on the final leg of the rally and finished the event with a handsome margin over the second-placed car. The most impressive and also most dramatic Monte Carlo Rally for the “Three Musketeers” was to follow in 1966. Mäkinen, Aaltonen and Hopkirk dominated the event from the start, and it was in this order that they completed a clean sweep of the top three positions overall at the finish. The French race commissioners had other ideas and disqualified the trio on account of lights that allegedly did not conform with official regulations. This was also the reason given for removing the fourth-placed Lotus Cortina from the classification, which meant that the Finnish Citroën driver Pauli Toivonen was crowned the winner. It was one of the most brazen cheats in motorsports history. The dream of a Monte hat-trick lay in tatters, but the “Three Musketeers” resolved to return at the earliest opportunity. In the winter of 1967 Hopkirk, Mäkinen and Aaltonen lined up alongside two other BMC works teams for the Monte Carlo Rally. And this time neither the rules nor the other cars could stand between the Mini Cooper S and victory. Rauno Aaltonen was joined by Henry Liddon – Paddy Hopkirk’s co-driver from the successful 1964 Monte – for his latest assault on the rally. Aaltonen guided the classic Mini to what was this time an undisputed victory with 12 seconds to spare. And nobody was more pleased for the duo than Hopkirk: “Henry Liddon was really an outstanding co-driver. But the co-drivers never got enough credit, you know. They did a fantastic job in reading the notes and they were the office manager of the car.” Hopkirk finished the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally in sixth place and also drove the classic Mini to fifth overall the following year. Aaltonen was third in 1968. However, the era of the small car that stormed to the summit of rally racing was clearly approaching an end. Its rivals had grown just too powerful and the sporting zenith of the classic Mini was now behind it. Memories of that famous triumph in the winter of 1964 will forever burn bright and the “Three Musketeers” have written an indelible chapter into the history of motor sport. As for the distinctive lights that cost them victory in 1966, they live on in the form of the popular spotlights MINI owners to this day install on their cars. The post 60 Years Ago MINI Shocked the World by Winning the Monte Carlo Rally appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  3. An all new MINI model lineup is coming but when will we see it in North America? And perhaps the bigger question – what models will actually make it? We now have official answers with release timing for all models including new internal combustion and electric versions of the U25 Countryman and the internal combustion F66 MINI Cooper. We’ve reported at length about every member of the new MINI family and what to expect from exclusive news on technical specifications to hands-on impressions. But there’s a lot to remember especially when you consider that each market will have unique on sale dates and even alterations to the products themselves. So we’re putting together an exhaustive look at what is coming to North America in 2024 and when to expect it. First, here’s the full model lineup that we will see in the 2025 calendar year. U25 MINI CountrymanF66 MINI Cooper (three door)F65 MINI Cooper (five door)F67 MINI Cooper ConvertibleCountryman S All4 (ICE)Cooper 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper 4-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper Convertible (F67)Countryman JCW All4 (ICE)Cooper S 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper S 4-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper S Convertible (F67)Countryman SE All4 (EV)JCW 2-door hardtop (ICE)Cooper JCW Convertible (ICE)ICE = Internal Combustion Engine / EV = Electric VehicleOnce you get past what’s coming, you realize what’s missing. First the MINI Cooper SE is absent (more on that later). Then you might notice the Clubman isn’t listed here. Unfortunately it’s officially done as of February production. The U25 MINI Countryman SThe U25 MINI Countryman US Production and On-Sales Dates In the US, MINI USA will be importing only three models of the new U25 MINI Countrymam. The Countryman C (which takes over for the F60 Countryman Cooper) won’t be coming. Instead MINI USA will be focusing on higher equipped models with ALL4 standard across the range. That means the range will start with the internal combustion Countryman S and all electric Countryman SE. At the top of the range for 2025 is the Countryman JCW. ModelProduction LocationPowerYearProd. MonthOn-Sale DateMINI Countryman S All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Countryman JCW All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Countryman SE All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyBattery Electric2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024U25 MINI Countryman SU25 MINI Countryman SEU25 MINI Countryman JCWIt’s also worth noting that the North America market will have different power outputs than Europe when it comes to the Countryman. Dude to European regulations becoming more aggressive, several models will have lower outputs due to emissions regulations in the EU. For instance, the Countryman S ALL4 in Europe and the UK comes equipped with a mild hybrid version of the B48 to lower C02. MINI USA decided to not take the mild hybrid version of the B48 for several reasons. For one it’s not needed as the B48 easily meets emissions standards. Second MINI USA preferred to reduce the weight and complexity of the car for better overall performance. The upside is the Countryman S in North America will make 241 hp and 295 lbs ft, up from 204 hp and 266 ft lbs. The difference is less pronounced on the Countryman JCW. In the North America we’ll see 312 hp vs 300 in Europe and the UK. Notice the lack of the Cooper name in the Countryman models? That’s intentional as MINI has eliminated it from all cars except the iconic hatch to simplify the naming conventions. For much more on the Countryman, head over to the U25 section of MotoringFile. The F66 MINI Cooper JCWThe F66 MINI Cooper US Production and On-Sales Dates Despite MINI’s talk of going electric with the all new J01 Cooper, it’s releasing one last generation of ICE (internal combustion engine) MINI Coopers this year. Enter the F66, the last ICE (internal combustion) MINI Cooper. Heavily revised from the F56, it will have an almost identical design to the all new J01 MINI Cooper EV including the interior complete with circular screen, new materials and a very different layout. The F66 is in many ways a product created partially due to the North American market. Given the sheer size of the continent and its density, a full electric MINI Cooper range just doesn’t make sense with the current charging infrastructure. Therefore MINI has to come up with a solution that would allow them to design and engineer the all new J01 MINI Cooper EV while still selling a modern ICE MINI Cooper. The F66 MINI Cooper JCWModelProduction LocationPowerYearProd. MonthOn-Sale DateMINI Cooper S 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Cooper 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper S 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper S Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper JCW Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI JCW 2-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025As you can see the F66 will pickup where the F56 left off with a the same product line-up that we’ve had for the past 10 years with a couple of caveats. We’ll see power and torque jump on the Cooper and Cooper S and just a torque increase on the JCW model and production of the manual transmission finally ends with the F66. Cooper ModelF66 Cooper CF66 Cooper S F66 Cooper JCWPower155 hp 201 hp231 hp Torque170 lb-ft (1,480 rpm)221 lb-ft258 lb-ft (1,250 rpm)Transmission7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTThe electric J01 MINI Cooper SE won’t be coming to the US until at least 2026.Wait, MINI USA Won’t Offer an Electric MINI Cooper? As we’ve detailed for the last few years, due to the all new electric J01 MINI Cooper initially being built in China, the US won’t be importing the car due to high tariffs. The same goes for the J05 Aceman which is essentially a five door crossover version of the J01 MINI Cooper. But that will change as MINI expands production of both those vehicles to its Oxford Plant in 2026. Once that production is underway MINI USA will likely import slightly updated versions of both cars. This means that we will not see an electric MINI Cooper in the North America market for a minimum of two years. But when that changes we’ll likely see both the electric Cooper and Aceman in SE and eJCW forms. Until then, here’s a full list of the models we’ll see introduced (and when they’ll go on-sale) in the US and Canadian markets in 2024. ModelProduction LocationPowerYearProd. MonthOn-Sale DateMINI Countryman S All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Countryman JCW All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Cooper S 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Mar, 2024May, 2024MINI Cooper 2-door hardtop (F66)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Countryman SE All4 (U25)Leipzig, GermanyBattery Electric2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper S 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Jul, 2024Sep, 2024MINI Cooper 4-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper S Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI Cooper JCW Convertible (F67)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025MINI JCW 2-door hardtop (F65)Oxford, EnglandInternal Combustion2025Nov, 2024Jan, 2025The post MINI USA Release Timing for 2025 F66 MINI Cooper and U25 MINI Countryman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  4. The best selling MINI in 2023 was the ancient MINI Cooper SE with it making up 15.3% of total MINI sales for the full year. Looking further sales of electrified vehicles (incl. plug-in hybrids) represent 20.8% of total MINI sales. Those datapoints only get more impressive when you realize just how old both of those products are. It also makes MINIs bet to quickly become an electric brand look like a good one. In its last full year of availability, the current MINI generation experienced a surge in sales figures in 2023 totaling 295.474 vehicles, marking a 0,9% increase in comparison to the previous year. A big aspect of this success was the increase in the adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles. 45,261 customers bought the fully-electric MINI Cooper SE (including the limited production run MINI Cooper SE Convertible). This is a 3.5% rise in the sales of the Cooper SE despite its limited appeal due to range and size. The F56 MINI Cooper SE The all new J01 MINI Cooper SEThis bodes very well for MINI has they prepare to sell the all-electric J01 MINI Cooper SE and MINI Cooper E, the all-electric U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 and the MINI Countryman E imminently. Both models will have dramatically more range and higher performance leveraging a more modern platform and technology. They will be joined early next year by the Aceman crossover which is essentially a larger, four door version of the J01 Cooper. ModelsU25 Countryman EU25 Countryman SEJ01 Cooper EJ01 Cooper SEF56 Cooper SEPower204 hp313 hp184 hp 218 hp181 hp TorqueTBDTBD214 lb-ft243 lb-ft199 lb-ft0-60 mphTBDTBD7.3 sec6.7 sec7.2 secRange (WLTP287 miles270 miles190 miles250 miles140 milesThe U25 MINI CountrymanIn addition to this onslaught of electric vehicles, both the Cooper and Countryman will be available as internal combustion vehicles. However internal combustion version of the Cooper will not technically be all new and instead will be a heavily refreshed version of the F56. You can read much more on the new MINI generation below. The New MINI FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionThe J01 Electric MINI CooperJ01 MINI Cooper EElectric32,900€ 03/2024J01 MINI Cooper SE Electric36,900€ 03/2024The U25 MINI CountrymanU25 MINI Countryman CICE (Petrol)39.900€ 11/2023U25 MINI Countryman D ICE (Diesel)42.900€ 11/2023U25 MINI Countryman E Electric43.500€ 03/2024U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4ICE (Petrol)45.900€ 11/2023*U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4Electric49.500€ 03/2024*U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4ICE (Petrol)56.500€ 03/2024*The F66 Petrol MINI CooperF66 MINI CooperICE (Petrol)TBD03/2024*F66 MINI Cooper SICE (Petrol)TBD03/2024*F66 MINI Cooper JCWICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F65 MINI Cooper 5 DoorICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F65 MINI Cooper S 5 DoorICE (Petrol)TBD07/2024*F67 MINI Cooper ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*F67 MINI Cooper S ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*F67 MINI Cooper S ConvertibleICE (Petrol)TBD11/2024*The J05 Electric MINI AcemanJ05 MINI AcemanElectricTBDTBDJ05 MINI Aceman SElectricTBDTBD* Available in the USFor more coverage of the new generation MINI released fall, check out the following articles and videos. MINI Cooper EV: Premier | MINI Cooper EV: Hands-On Review | MINI Cooper EV: Video Review MINI Countryman EV: Premier | MINI Countryman EV: Hands-On Review | MINI Countryman EV: Video Review New MINI Family: 1st Look Video | MINI Circular Display & MINI OS9 Hands-On Review The post The Electric MINI Cooper SE Was the Best Selling MINI in 2023 appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  5. The F56 MINI Cooper SE production ended last year with one important exception – those destined for North America. Why? Due to global politics the US and Canada won’t see the all new all new J01 MINI Cooper EV for quite some time. That has left MINI USA and MINI of Canada in a bind with only one solution – build more of the F56 Cooper SE. MINI is solving this issue in two ways. For one they’re introducing the electric MINI Countryman to the North American market to help satisfy the EV need. Second MINI is extending production of the F56 MINI Cooper SE for an extra month. That means there should be a good supply for the first six months of 2024 at MINI dealers in the US and Canada. However that doesn’t mean the car will be around forever. Given the popularity of the model, we’d expect them to become relatively scarce by the 3rd quarter of the year. And once they’re gone there will not be another electric MINI Cooper in North American for quite some time. The F56 MINI Cooper SE and the all new J01 MINI Cooper SEWhy Is The Electric MINI Cooper Leaving North America? While Europe, the UK, Asia and South American will get the J01, MINI’s new electric Cooper won’t be available from MINI USA for years. While it’s not official, it’s all but certain that MINI USA won’t be importing the new J01 electric Cooper until it expands from its initial Chinese production to MINI’s Oxford Plant in the UK later this decade. That means we won’t see that car on US shores until likely 2027. So if you want a small electric MINI, there’s only one options for the next 3+ years. Suddenly a 3 year lease starts to make a lot of sense. The post F56 MINI Cooper SE production Extended for North America appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  6. MINI’s all new circular digital experience the first of its kind. But for those who rely on CarPlay, how does it work? We went hands on with a pre-production version of the software in a new U25 Countryman JCW to see. What we found out was compelling. MINI is reinventing every aspect of the brand and it starts not just with what’s under the hood but what’s on the dash. The OLED circular display is intriguing as a shape but the moment it turns on it gets really interesting. While it may seem like unusual design given the rectangles we’re all used to, it feels very natural in person thanks to the way MINI has organized the information and the UI powering it. And that intuitive experience extends to CarPlay in surpassing says. Using CarPlay Given the new circular OLED screen there’s been a lot of speculation on how CarPlay would work. Speculate no more because as you can see, it works very well. The CarPlay experience lives inside of the circular screen as a (roughly) 4×3 rectangle allowing for the critical drive and climate functionally to be present and functional. That means it has a slightly different layout from the CarPlay layout MINI has used in the past as it places the “dock” at the bottom. In our time with the sunset this make it feel all the more intuitive. While CarPlay doesn’t work perfectly with circular display (the map still sits inside of the CarPlay or Android Auto app) its design makes the entire experience feel near seamless. Key to this is how the wallpaper you choose bleeds past the 4:3 square and fills the entire screen. This is especially seamless if you choose a black or white background as it visually eliminates the 4:3 border. It’s not until you open up MINI’s own (exceptional) map software that you see the difference. With rich, 3D maps that go all the way to the edges, MINIs own mapping experience actually win us over quickly and felt superior to Google or Apple Maps in our brief use. However the real test will be how good its data and this search for POI is. Again in our brief time with it we came away impressed with its search functionality but we’ll withhold judgement until we live with it for a few days. The Pairing Process The initial pairing process is identical to what we’ve known in MINIs and BMWs for years but it’s faster from our initial testing. However the one new bit of functionality is how it exposes the progress of repairing. Once your phone is initially paired the concept is that CarPlay will subsequently initiative seamlessly (and wirelessly) when you start the car. However there can be a slight lag as the systems become aware of each other and do the typical digital handshake. In this new system MINI shows you that progress in a small pop-up that also makes it clear what type of connectivity you have chose. It’s also easy to then change that functionality on the fly. It’s a smart way to briefly expose the settings when you might need it while showing the progress of pairing itself. A quick view of CarPlay and it’s new layout.The Speed of CarPlay It’s fast. Really fast. In our initial testing the reaction to inputs was absolutely seamless. Perhaps even more so than the underlying MINI OS9 itself. While that may sound surprising remember that this was a pre-release version of MINI OS9 and speed improvements are likely on the production version already shipping with cars today. The Technical Architecture Making it Possible The real surprising aspect of the entire system is what it’s built on; Android. But it’s not the Android we know. It’s actually the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) software stack which does several things for MINI. For one it allows MINI to leverage the massive scale of the Android App store of which MINI will create their own subset. We show the MINI Connected store briefly in the video below. This will eventually be a MINI curated App Store leveraging Android apps that are made by MINI or by 3rd party developers. But more importantly AOSP allows MINI to leverage the army of Android engineers worldwide meaning that the platform MINI will rely on for future innovation is both open source and vibrant in terms of developer knowledge and interest. But don’t mistake the software stack as influencing the user experience. As you can see in our full demo below that is 100% MINI’s own thinking and built on top of what this invisible but powerful technology. This new system will come to all MINIs over the next few months starting with the U25 Countryman and J01 MINI Cooper EV. In March it’ll be a part of the petrol powered F66 MINI Cooper and ultimately the J05 MINI Aceman EVC crossover late next year. Full Demo: MINI OS9 & CarPlay Now let’s take a look at the full demo of MINI OS9 and CarPlay. This is pre-release software so keep in mind there is some small lags in the system as it’s not a final 1.0 release. A full demo of MINI OS9 including CarPlay integration The post First Look: How MINI OS9 Works With CarPlay appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  7. The MINI brand saw growth in 2023 despite an entire model range that was in tis last year on sale. In total the MINI brand sold a total of 295,474 vehicles (+0.9%) last year. In a telling data point, sales of fully-electric MINI models were up 3.5% to 45,261 units. By default that made the fully-electric MINI Cooper SE the best-selling MINI model for 2023 globally. In total fully-electric vehicles 15.3% of total MINI sales for the full year 2023. That’s impressive given that those numbers were on the back of just one model – the current Cooper SE with limited range and limited sales potential due size. 2024 sales will be fascinating to watch as the J01 MINI Cooper EV and U25 Countryman EV begins to rollout. The electric F57 sold out quickly and was never available in North AmericaTechnically the only new models in 2023 was the fully-electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible. However its sales impact was small given it was a limited edition of 999 units. However it was a success given that it sold out in most markets just weeks after it was announced. 2024 will be the biggest year in MINI’s history given the number of models rolling out. The new MINI family will be released onto the market over the course of 2024. The fully-electric MINI Cooper SE and MINI Cooper E will be joined by two further fully-electric models, the MINI Countryman SE and the MINI Countryman E. The internal combustion Countryman will hit showrooms this spring while the internal combustion F66 MINI Cooper will begin production in March. We’ll also see the gradual release of the ICE five door and convertible later in the year. The yet-to-be-unveiled electric MINI Aceman, a compact five-seater crossover, will debut later this year with sales begining in 2025. The post Global MINI Sales up .9% for 2023 with Strong Electric Sales appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  8. Yes it’s a big boy. But how does it actually weight and how does that compare to the previous generation Countryman? Ahead of getting behind the wheel next month, we wanted to take a deeper look at the Countryman’s size and weight and see just how much its changes over the generations. The new Countryman has grown in every dimension over the previous generations. But we’ve seen this before. The F60 Countryman debuted in 2017 and looked massive in comparison. It grew 8″ in length and offered much more legroom (especially in the rear) and a huge increase in luggage space. The new Countryman has grown almost 50% less than the F60 grew over the R60 yet it seems massive, why? Some of that is surely down to it being a new car, a new shape and a larger MINI than we’ve ever seen before. R60 Countryman Cooper (’10-’16) F60 Countryman Cooper (’17-’23)U25 Countryman C (’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 inWeight3,020 lbs3,318 lbs 3,571 lbsHaving spend a fair amount of time in the new U25 Countryman we’ve found a car that noticeably bigger on both the outside as well as inside. There’s a touch more legroom, elbow room and noticeably more luggage space in the back. You can see in the numbers above where that space comes from. The biggest change is the length and a lot of that is in the rear luggage area which has grown considerably. The new Countryman and Its Weight When we looked at the new Countryman’s technical specifications for the first time, thing that jumped out to us was the curb weight. It’s up as we anticipated but (also as we predicted) not as much as you’d think given the size dan equipment increase. For instance the F60 2023 JCW Countryman weighs 3,688 lbs. Compare that to the all new U25 JCW Countryman at 3,825 lbs and you have only a 137 lbs difference. We say only because there was a lot of us who assumed it would be quite a bit higher. This is likely due to the various weight savings measures that BMW built into the new FAAR platform including extensive use of aluminum and lighter steel. Countryman ModelCountryman E (EV)Countryman SE (EV)Countryman C (ICE)Countryman S (ICE)JCW (ICE)Power204 hp313 hp167 hp241 hp300 hpTorqueTBDTBD206 lb295 lb295 lbTransmission1 Speed1 Speed7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront-wheelall-wheelfront-wheelall-wheelall-wheelPowertrain typeelectricelectricpetrolpetrolpetrolWLTP l/100 kmN/AN/A40.9 – 46.3TBD34 – 36.2Length (mm/inches)4444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 175Width (mm/inches)1843 / 731843 / 731843 / 731843 / 731843 / 73Height (mm)TBDTBD1661 / 65TBD1665 / 66Wheelbase (mm)2069 / 812069 / 812069 / 812069 / 812069 / 81Curb weight (LBS)TBDTBD3,571 lbsTBD3,825 lbsFuel Capacity L/GallonsN/AN/A45 / 11.854 / 14.354 / 14.3Luggage capacity (liters)TBDTBD450 – 1450 LTBD505 – 1530 LEuropean Specs. MINI USA has different output numbers across the board.The new Countryman next to a true heavy weight – the BMW X7But this new, larger Countryman is still the largest and heaviest MINI ever. Perhaps MINI has followed BMW’s lead and engineered the new Countryman in a way that hides that weight and produces an F60 like driving experience? We won’t know the answer until next month when we get behind the wheel. But until then we can’t help but wonder just how MINI this new Countryman will feel. What do you think? Has the Countryman grown to the right size or is the F60 (or R60) your ideal MINI crossover? The post Let’s Talk about Just How Big the New Countryman Is appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  9. The name MINI Cooper is about to get a lot more rare. MINI is dramatically simplifying its product line-up and naming conventions. With the launch of the 4th generation MINIs, the brand is moving to a simplified model line-up and naming structure to help avoid confusion and make the model names simpler. Part of that is pulled the name Cooper from most of its cars. For years the general public in many markets have mistakenly referred to MINIs as Coopers creating confusion around the distinct models like the Countryman. This confusion has led to everything from a SEO issue for the brand to lack of understanding the broader product line-up. With the 4th generation of cars, MINI is doing something about it. The small MINI (in both electric and ICE form) will be known simply as the MINI Cooper with three different levels of performance and options; the Cooper C, Cooper S and the JCW. The Countryman and Aceman are following suit with their base models simply being called (you guessed it) the Countryman and Aceman. Get ready for the Countryman S on tailgatesThat means the Countryman or Aceman will not feature the name Cooper in its base model. Instead both models will have base models designated by the letter “C”. And instead of calling the mid-level a “Countryman Cooper S”, it will now be referred to as a “Countryman S”. The same applies to the forthcoming Paceman. The move is one we’ve pontificated about for years as an idea to avoid confusion and lean into the fact that the hatch is widely known as the “Cooper” (whether MINI likes it or not). It also further separates the iconic hatch from the Countryman and Aceman by making the Cooper name exclusive. This move also means the brand is killing the MINI One and other entry-level models it’s sold in various markets for over 20 years. What do you think? Is this shortening of the names going to solve confusion or add to it? The post MINI is Killing the “Cooper” Name In Most of its Cars appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  10. Our spy photographers have caught our best look yet at the last ever petrol powered MINI Cooper JCW as it wraps up development in Munich. Spotted near BMW’s engineering facilities, the new MINI Cooper JCW is a big departure from the F56 JCW it replaces and ushers in enormously improved technology along with complete design changes inside and out. Refreshed and Redesigned Inside and Out Despite MINI’s talk of going electric, there will be one more new generation of MINI Coopers. Well not quite all new. Based on the F56, the F66 will be heavily redesigned and will take on the same styling cues as the new electric J01 MINI Cooper. That’s not so easy given that the J01 electric MINI Cooper is on an entirely new platform while the F66 will still technically be based on BMW’s FAAR platform. But that’s not stopping BMW in massaging the F66 to appear as identical to the J01 as possible. These new photos show the F66 without the heavy camouflage we’ve seen on its front and year lights. For the first time this allows us to see some of the final details of the design including the controversial rear taillights. MINI’s goal will be to make the ICE (internal combustion engine) F66 Cooper and electric J01 Cooper to look identical to the casual observer. That would mean a potential buyer would be choosing ICE versus EV without styling differences to muddy the waters. This will extend to almost every aspect of the cars. That means we’ll see (almost) identical wheels, mirrors and of course lighting. However these are substantially different cars underneath and that means we’d expect most if not all of these parts will not be interchangeable. Why is MINI refreshing the F56 rather than replacing it with an all new model? it comes down to cost. Creating a new car from scratch can easily go into the billions. Given that MINI is aggressively moving to an all electric brand by 2030, they’ve decided to invest in the new J01 Cooper (and derivative J05 Aceman) and spend considerably less on heavily refreshing the F56 vs replacing it. That means we’ll see two next generation MINI Coopers (hatches); 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 F67 MINI Convertible like the F66 will bring the radical interior of the J01 to the ICE MINI range. The radical changes will extend inside where the F66 (including the F65 five door and F67 convertible) will apply minimal interior we’ve seen in the J01 MINI Cooper EV. That means we’ll see the same leather free, completely redesigned seats that we’ve already seen in the J01 MINI Cooper EV and U25 MINI Countryman. We’ll also see MINI’s new circular display, textile dash, new door design and completely rethought center console as well. The new F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a mix of the new and familiar2025 MINI Cooper JCW – Power and Performance The headline is that the 2025 MINI Cooper JCW will not see an increase in horsepower. Unlike the Cooper or the Cooper S, MINI is holding the line on power output and instead bringing some upgrades elsewhere. ModelF56 CooperF56 Cooper SF56 CooperJCWF66 Cooper CF66 Cooper SF66 Cooper JCWPower134 hp189 hp231 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-ft/1,250 rpm258 lb-ft/1,250 rpmTransmissionManual/DCTManual/DCTManual/Auto7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelLength (mm/in)3863mm/152.1 in3863mm/152.1 in3863mm/152.1 in3876mm/152.60 in3876mm/152.6 inTBAHeight (mm/in)1414mm/55.66 in1414mm/55.66 in1414mm/55.66 in1432mm/56.38 in1432mm / 56.38 inTBAWheelbase (mm/in)2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23Curb weight (kg/lbs)1256kg/2,769 lbs1289kg/2,841 lbs1289kg/2,841 lbs1260kg/2,778 lbs1285kg/2,832 lbsTBA Shortly after the F66 will be the F67 JCW Convertible Despite this the F66 will have a slightly revised B48 engine under the hood – more specifically the B48A20O2. So what is this revision actually getting would be owners? Torque which will increase from 236 to 258 ft lbs giving the car a touch more grunt. And it peaks lower in the rev range as well. Previously in the F56 JCW torque maxed-out at 1,450. The B48A20O2 sees this change to 1,250 rpm meaning maximum power is even more immediate. Why are we not seeing an improvement when the Cooper and Cooper S are getting modest power upgrades? Or the Countryman which gets even bigger power hikes? We don’t have great answers other than this lack of a JCW upgrade leaves room for MINI to eventually tweak software and hardware for a light refresh in a few years. And we know the DCT transmission can handle more torque so there appears to be no component related reason holding MINI back. The current F56 Cooper S Exhaust design shows that the “dual exhaust” is nothing more than two small pipes from a single exhaust. 2025 MINI Cooper JCW To Feature Single Pipe Exhaust In another surprising move MINI is moving from a two pipe single exhaust to a larger single pipe exhaust. In the exclusive image below you can see a single exhaust pipe (with a stainless steel sleeve), the transversely mounted exhaust and even the aluminum shield underneath it. Look even closer and you’ll see the production version of the single LED reverse light just above the exhaust tip which (one could imagine) would look somewhat integrated with the cutout of the pipe. Why a single exhaust pipe? Let’s start with the exhaust itself. One thing that most don’t know is that the MINI Cooper S and JCW have had a single muffler system since the R56. The fact that two outlets came out the back has primarily been for aesthetics. In this exclusive zoomed in photo you can see a central exhaust and single pipe that looks to be in nearly final production form. In fact there have been more than a few MINI race cars over the years that have gone with the exhaust single pipe design. Why? When asked they consistently have told us it’s both more power efficient and lighter. So in other words exactly what you want in both race cars and modern performance cars. Why wouldn’t MINI have always had a single exhaust? It comes down to marketing and the very simple concept; two exhaust pipes means more power than one in the eyes of the car buying public. In fact you’ll see this on display later this year when the quad-exhaust JCW Countryman debuts. The Cooper JCW – Once Again Available in Two Flavors As before MINI will be offering the JCW model in the iconic three door F66 hatch and the F67 convertible. Once again MINI will not be offering its highest performance model in the five door configuration. Why? Product planners apparently made that call many years ago in the F56 generation and due to tight development budgets due to having to offer both electric and ICE models, they’re sticking to it. The F66 gear selector moves from the console to the dash in the form of a discrete toggle switch.The JCW Manual Transmission Is 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. The 2025 F66 MINI Cooper JCW testing with full camouflage at the Nurburgring In its place will be a revised 7 speed dual clutch (DCT) with slightly more aggressive software for more aggressive programing which should decrease shift times. The revised dual clutch transmission is just like the one offered in current Cooper and Cooper S models combining two partial transmissions in a single housing. The core element of the system consists of two oil-cooled wet clutches: one of these is responsible for the even transmission ratios (2, 4, 6) while the other is for the uneven ratios (1, 3, 5, 7) and reverse. During travel, one of the two clutches is open and the other is closed. They interact when the driver shifts up or down: opening one clutch activates closure of the second at the same time. Chassis and Brake Updates This is where the F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a straight evolution from the F56 version. This starts with the braking system which will be carried over. That means we’ll see a 4-piston fixed caliper upfront with internally ventilated, drilled brake disk up front (335x30mm). In the back (where there’s less weight to worry about) MINI will continue with a single piston floating caliper and a disk that’s 259x10mm. All four calipers will be finished in the traditional Chili Red. The chassis and suspension will see subtle improvements with MINI further refining its adaptive suspension design. While we don’t yet have details we’re told this focuses on improving ride quality while not forgoing any performance. MINI Cooper JCW Wheels Finally Look Good The F56 JCW is a great car with an engineering decision that has created an awkward styling issue. The because of the size of the front brakes and the wheel offset, all JCW wheels bow outward creating an unusual shape that looks very different than a typical performance car wheel. Thankfully that issue is now gone. As you can see in these photos as MINI has clearly 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 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.2025 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)07/202412/31/30F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)07/202412/31/30F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)07/202412/31/30F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)11/2024 12/31/30F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30 The post Exclusive: The New F66 MINI Cooper JCW Drops Camo For Our Best Look Yet appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  11. MINI has made some big changes to every aspect of their product line-up. But the one that might have the biggest impact in your daily commute hasn’t gotten a lot of press – it’s new leather free massaging and ventilated seats. Redesigned from the ground up they are a big departure from what MINI has offered in the past. We recently spent some time testing various versions of the seats in both the new MINI Cooper EV and the new MINI Countryman JCW and have some early thoughts. Why A Completely New Design? MINI has completely rethought the design of their seats to accomplish several goals; save weight, reduce complexity and allow the seats to fit more body types more comfortably. While reducing some of the elements in the seats, they’ve also added a few; massage and ventilation options are now available. They’ve also made electric seats optional on all models – even the Cooper. Finally MINI has fully eliminated leather and have moved to a proprietary material called Vescin. In total that represents a massive shift in what MINI has offered since it’s relaunch in 2001. Optional Sport Seats in the J01 MINI Cooper EVOne quick note – while the seats in the J01 Cooper and U25 Countryman look identical, they are indeed very slightly different on paper. But in our experience they feel the same so we’re going to refer to them as a single design. Sport Seats vs Regular Seats Across all new MINI models there will be two different seats. But unlike the previous MINI seats in the F Series cars, they share almost same overall design. However there are a couple of differences. The standard seats have flatter bolsters on both the lower cushion and seat back. The Sport seats (which are identical to the JCW branded seats) also have an integrated headrests similar to the current F Series JCW seats. However crucially both do not offer extendable thigh-bolsters as previously in the optional sport seats. On paper that sounds like an unfortunate cost cutting move that would make the new seats less supportive. In our brief time we can tell you that doesn’t appear to be the case. The new seat cushion is longer and while doesn’t quite reach the length the extendable bolsters do, they’ll likely be close enough for most. In addition the electric seats we tested have the ability to move the thigh bolster upward which is intended to take the place of the manual extending bolster. And in our testing it all works pretty well. Despite being 6′ 2″ I was immediately felt comfortable and felt plenty of thigh support. Compare that to the R50 or R56 seats and these are noticeably longer and out of the box more comfortable. Optional sport seats in the U25 MINI CountrymanMINI has always widened the seats slightly. To do this MINI designers had to subtly shrink the width of the center console and completely rethink the armrest. The latter is now much smaller and attached to the driver’s seat. Again it’s a design choice that might sound like a bad idea until you experience it. In my time it felt totally both intuitive and completely comfortable. Active Seats Introduce Massaging and Ventilated Seats in MINIs Technically it’s a seat and not seats. Yes MINI’s first massaging seat option is only available on the driver’s seat. That saves weight and cost which makes some sense in a car like a MINI. The massaging function gently moves the spinal column of the person sitting in the driver’s seat to reduce muscular tension and fatigue and prevent lower back pain. The massaging function is tied to a couple of the experience modes and can also be turned on independently with varying intensity. The new seats are also optionally ventilated as well. Small fans in the seats cool both the seat cushion and backrest surfaces. The fans do not use refrigerated air so consider this as a way to circulate air creating a evaporative effect that can cool the body. I have always loved both massaging and ventilated seats for road-trips and in my time with MINI’s new Active Seats, I was impressed. While the massaging function didn’t feel as aggressive as the new BMW i7 for instance, they felt on part with the older massaging seats in the recent X5 and X7. The new MINI seats have a variety is interesting details the closer you lookVescin – MINI’s Vegan Replacement for Leather We love the smell and touch of high quality leather. But there’s a big environmental impact due to the production of leather in the quantities that companies like MINI need. So much so that MINI has made the bold decision to eliminate leather from its coming starting with the all new J01 MINI Cooper electric. But can the vegan only interior compete against leather? We went hands-on with the new MIIN to find out. What’s wrong with leather? It’s complicated. While the leather industry is vocal about its use as a smart byproduct of livestock farming, there’s some serious concerns around its production and amount of impact it has on the environment. Converting animal skin to leather demands vast energy and involves hazardous chemicals like mineral salts, formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives, oils, dyes, some cyanide-based finishes. Suffice to say it’s not the most natural and environmentally safe process. It’s also not inline with MINI’s brand image of being environmentally conscious and animal friendly. But how do you replace something as iconic as leather seats? Optional JCW seats (which are identical to the sport seats) have more aggressive bolsters and a fixed headrestOk so leather isn’t the best for the environment. But can there be a legitimate alternative that feels as good as MINI’s Lounge Leather or BMW’s Merino Leather? We spent time in the new 2024 J01 MINI Cooper Electric and talked to the people behind the new generation of MINI products to get some answers. Enter Vescin – synthetic leather that is made of recycled materials that is itself 100% recyclable. BMW and MINI are so confident in products like Vescin (BMW’s version I called Sensafin – an improved version of Sensatec) they they’re already being used in several cars with MSRPs well over $100,000. The JCW seats use a combination of textile and Vescin along with contrasting stitchingOur Take on Vescin What’s it like in person? Getting into the new J01 MINI Cooper electric it’s clear that Vescin is a step-up from what we’ve known as Leatherette. The off-white perforated seats in the MINI Cooper electric we experienced were softer to the touch than leatherette and felt much more supple. But how do they compare with leather? In short very well. Compared with the standard Chesterfield or Cross Punch leather seating, Vescin feels softer and more premium. It’s not on par with the feel and softness of MINI’s Lounge Leather but then again that’s $2500 option on the Signature Trim. What was on par with Lounge Leather and even the high-end Merino Leather on BMWs was the Vescin material on the new MINI’s steering wheel. In fact as I put my hands on the wheel for the first time I turned to one of the program managers of the new J01 and told him this clearly must be leather. He smiled and told me it was in fact a higher-end version of the same Vescin on the seats. Having experienced leatherette in various forms for decades in BMWs and MINIs, I simply couldn’t believe how it felt essentially identical to MINI’s higher-end Lounge Leather. While I only sampled a couple of different seats made of the new vegan friendly Vescin, it was clear that MINI was right to be confident about its ability to replace leather in terms of look and feel. Does it have the same smell? Naturally no. But then again the low-end leather on most cars (I’d put Cross Punch and Chesterfield in that category) doesn’t have much of a scent either. And when it does it’s often due to chemicals designed to replicate the scent of full grain leather. Elected Design Details The thing that stands out right away when you see various flavors of the new seats are the details. The patterns cut into the Vescin, the usage of textiles and the mix of colors stands-out as unique in the market. There are no boring seat options here and MINI has done a great job is creating designs that reveal more the longer you look. The New MINI Seats – Our Early Verdict We love simplicity. And the seating options of the 4th generations MINIs definitely follow that trend. There are some things we immediately were impressed with in our time sitting in the J01 MINI Cooper EV and the U25 Countryman. Surprisingly the synthetic leather Vescin jumps out as high on the list. While as supple as the Lounge Leather seats, it’s at least the same quality as the standard leather in the F series cars. And the grade of Vescin on the steering wheel is outstanding, even matching the quality of the Lounge Leather. What don’t we like? There’s not yet enough options. Currently with the JCW Trim in the J01 MINI Cooper and new Countryman you get only one option, a dark interior with red accents. While we love the look, MINI’s should be about individuality and the limited options list makes that tough. Also losing leather is tough. But the reality is real, full grain leather doesn’t exist in cars unless you’re well into the six figure price range. What we’ve all experienced with MINI’s standard leather is essentially a veneer applied to leatherette on about 80% of seat (the rest is just pure leatherette). And in our experience it can scratch, stain and eventually crack with use. While Lounge Leather is much higher quality, even that will suffer with age unless you like the patina of cracking bolsters. Vescin reportedly solves that problem while being lighter on environmental impact. One big win for us is the overall material usage. MINI has worked hard to create no boring seats. The closer you look the more you see interesting details, patterns and use of textiles that resonate with the spirit of MINI design. Finally the shape of the seats themselves. While we need more time behind the wheel to properly judge them, they feel very promising. Supportive, comfortable and full new new technology, they are promising. The post Review: MINI’s New massaging, Ventilated Vegan Seats Are Here But are they Good? appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  12. Following our recent article about the upcoming exhibition, MINIs To The Max: 65 Years of Spirited Adventures, the BMWCCA heard from a number of readers. Through this they’ve got some fantastic cars lined up for what looks to be the biggest MINI exhibit ever in the US. However they need a few more very specific models and are looking for help from MotoringFile readers. The museum is looking for the following cars to round-out their 2024 exhibit: R58 MINI Coupe The original R60 Countryman R61 MINI Paceman The rare and wonderful MINI R56 GP2 A pristine F56 hatch or F57 convertible – any model! A Redbull MINI A MINI that’s competed in motorsports What does it mean to loan a car to the BMWCCA Foundation Museum? By loaning the museum your MINI, it allows you to store it 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. All you need to do is get it there and they’ll take care of the rest. 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. 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. The post BMW CCA Museum is Looking for a Few More MINIs for its MINI Exhibition appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  13. Eighteen years ago when the JCW GP entered the automotive scene things were different. Turbocharged MINIs were only a tuner thing and fast meant under 6 seconds to 60. 13 years on and we have a different level of expectations around what is fast and what makes a great track car. Could the original JCW GP ever live up to those modern expectations? In a word – no. But first lets go back in time a bit. I remember quite clearly the first time I got into a GP. It was a 13 degrees day in November and had just snowed. Not ideal conditions but then again I had a GP for a week – how can you complain. Soon the weather would fade into the background as the whine of the supercharger and the immediacy of the whole experience drown everything else out. Such was the overwhelming nature of the GP that your senses were immediately heightened and your level of concentration increased. And in a word it was fun. The R53 itself was pretty special in stock form. But reducing weight, adding power and increasing the noise just made it all the more raucous and lively. Would we love the 2006 JCW GP as much in 2019? As we get closer to the launch of the 2020 JCW GP we wanted to find out and revisit where the GP lineage all started. With some coordination and luck we managed to end up with a museum piece; MINI USA’s own JCW GP. With just a few thousand miles and pampered throughout its life, it was the perfect time capsule for us to test. Entering the 13 year old cabin is almost shocking at first. Having come from testing the latest range of BMWs that day it was both refreshing in its simplicity and eye-brow raising in its lack of material quality. But at a high-level its design holds up. There’s beauty in the functionally driven design and honesty in the materials – even if they feel low-rent. Modern MINIs are better put together and look and feel much more high-end. Yet there’s a simplicity here that is undeniably charming. Turning the key (which feels weird these days) and the 1.6L Tritec four cylinder fires to life. It’s not the most pleasant sounding engine at idle but give it a bit of gas you there’s that beautiful whine. The Getrag 6 speed is a forbearer to the one found all the following MINIs, right up to the last manual – the 1to6 JCW. There’s got a great notchy feel and even a plenty of precision in the changes. Compared to the last manual MINI offered in the F56 this Getrag has much more of a mechanical feel. There’s much less thought given to ease of use in the design and components. While that makes it less forgiving in stop and go traffic, when you get it right, it’s far more rewarding. The same can’t be said of the clutch. While it has good weight (arguably better than modern MINIs) its engagement point is high and not quite in-sync with the transmission. But it takes all but two gear changes to get the feel down and forget about the imperfections. Then add a dose of heel to toe and it feels all the more rewarding. “Wow” and “holy sh*t”. Those were the first words I uttered to myself as I got underway. This car feels alive in ways that modern cars and even modern MINIs don’t. We talk about immediacy in MINI’s driving experience but this car shames anything new. There is a seriousness in driving experience here that you don’t normally get outside of high performance, track dedicated sports car. Yet there’s also joy to be had in driving the GP that only comes from small well sorted cars. It’s a rare combination and one that defines this car as fun beyond almost anything I’ve ever driven. Feedback is everywhere and the wheel feels alive in your hands. While the braking can’t quite compare to modern standards there’s unquestionably more feedback from this car. Every input has an immediate reaction and the GP feels eager to respond at any moment. It’s not fast as the power and torque build slowly. Combine that with a manual that is less fast than it is deliberate and you have a car that can easily be shamed by 6,000 SUVs at stoplights. Someone stepping into a GP who’s more accustom to modern MINI would likely feel like there’s more show than go in terms of noise vs speed. And there’s no mistake that the quality is no where near modern levels we see in MINIs. But taken as a whole this is a car that rewards tremendously. Whether it be at 20 mph or at the limit on a track, the original 2006 R53 JCW GP is a car that delivers an experience that is unique and simply not found in modern cars – even MINIs. If you have the chance to ever get behind the wheel of the original GP, find a way to do it. Or perhaps don’t. It might just ruin you. The post Review Revisited: The 2006 MINI GP appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  14. MINI USA just dropped the details for MINI TAKES THE STATES 2024, and it’s looking like the most scenic MTTS ever. The rally, where MINI owners unite, kicks off in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 13. From there the caravan meanders north ending in Seattle Washington on July 21st. But it’s what’s in the middle and where the route goes that has us really excited. MTTS has a history of amazing cross-country journeys. But this one look epic as it covers five states, nine cities, and landscapes ranging from the desert plains of New Mexico to the epic mountains of Montana to the lush forests of Washington state. Once the MINIs roll out of Albuquerque, they’re heading north, cruising through the scenic beauty of Colorado and Utah before making a stop in Salt Lake City, UT. Drivers get the chance to see perhaps the most scenery in the world; Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. Continuing through the breathtaking Big Sky country, MTTS 2024 will stop in Bozeman, traversing west of the Bridger mountains and onto Missoula, Montana. From there the group will head west through Idaho to Spokane, Washington before turning southwest and passing through the mountains and valleys of Yakima, Washington. MTTS will finish off heading west to Seattle complete with beautiful views of the legendary Mount Rainier. “We’re excited to reconnect with our MINI owners nation-wide to foster current relationships, forge new friendships and make lasting memories, this time in some of our incredible and majestic western states. Knowing the special nature of this event for our community, we’ve curated an extraordinary adventure that promises an unforgettable experience.” Mike Peyton, Vice President and Chief Motorer at MINI of the AmericasThe last MTTS was a massive hit, drawing in over 2,000 MINI owners with a fleet of more than 800 MINI vehicles, each with its own unique style in terms of shapes, sizes, and colors. The crew covered 1,700 miles along an inland route from Vermont to South Carolina, hitting up eight cities and taking in the scenery along state and country roads. It was more than just a road trip; it was a MINI party. This iteration looks like it could be one of the most epic yet. The post MINI Takes the States 2024 Dates and Epic Route Announced! appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  15. Despite a product portfolio that’s up to ten years old, MINI USA’s sales grew by an impressive 13.5% in 2023 compared to 2022. It’s a result that speaks to the product quality and the aggressiveness of lease and finance offers. But what models saw the most growth and what does that mean for the future models that are about to launch in the US? Let’s take a look. What Models Are Selling? Yes technically the convertible saw almost a 65% sales increase year over year. But it’s the Countryman’s 13.5% increase that made the bigger difference given how many units were sold. Add to that the increase in profit MINI makes on its largest car and you clear can see why MINI is eager to listen to consumers by making the Countryman larger and building more crossovers. Interestingly the two and four door Cooper saw a sizable decrease in sales overall. But let’s look at the Convertible again. An almost 65% increase in sales certainly supports MINI’s decision to continue to make an open top car with the forthcoming 2025 F67 Convertible. Could convertibles be poised to make a comeback as a response to a world dominated by large SUVs? The Clubman, the best car MINI makes limps off into the sunset. What’s amazing to us is just how poor the Clubman sells compared to the Countryman. We’ve gone on record many times in our preference for the Clubman over the Countryman but it seems that America cannot get enough of high-riding crossovers – including in MINI form. Now let’s take a look at the sales over the years. This is where it gets really interesting. Calendar YearsMINI USA Sales201558,514201652,030201747,105201843,684201936,272202028,138202129,930202229,504202333,497At first glance it seems awfully depressing. But keep in mind that MINI USA and its dealers have seen some of its highest profits ever over the last few years. More cars are being sold at sticker and profits have increased accordingly. In other words 2020 had the effect of reseting MINI USA and its dealers allowing them to focus more on having customers order cars and stocking less. According to MINI has the added effect of creating a greater bond between those customers and the brand. Similar to what they saw in the earliest days of MINI is the US. What This Means for 2024 What’s clear is that there’s renewed interest in the brand. We can see that in our stats alone. But more importantly MINI has a slew of new products coming to market that look poised to take these numbers even higher. The U25 Countryman is tailored for the US market and will likely eclipse the F60 sales numbers quickly. The new (almost) F66 MINI Cooper will be a huge leap for a lot of folks and (as long as you don’t want a manual) should see a positive reception. Add to this all new five door, convertible and JCW models and you have what looks to be MINI’s biggest year of new products for the US market ever. The post MINI USA Sales Up an Impressive 13.5% in 2023 appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  16. The all new 2024 MINI models will be the most technically capable MINI ever made. Whether it’s fully electric or ICE powered, they will usher in a fresh design and all new tech that we’ve never seen before from the brand. One of the biggest additions to the range will be the brand’s first autonomous driving features. Yes – MINIs that can (almost) drive themselves are coming. Here’s what models will get this new technology. While each market and models may apply specific options differently, broadly speaking there are three packages that make up MINI’s offerings; Driving Assistant, Driving Assistant Plus and Driving Assistant Professional. In some markets we’ll see the Driving Assistant package as standard and may also include rear camera, parking distance control and other safety features. The other two build on those options and add more than ultimately build to the Driving Assistant Pro and its nearly autonomous highway driving experience. Importantly MINI is only offering the Driving Assistant Pro in the U25 Countryman for 2024. We’d expect this to ultimately be added to the J01 and F66 MINI Cooper in the years ahead. Here’s how the three breakdown in terms of functionality: Driving AssistantDriving Assistant PlusDriving Assistant Pro (Countryman Only)Blind-spot detection Detects cars in blind-spots that are not typically see in the side mirrors Blind-spot detection Detects cars in blind-spots that are not typically see in the side mirrors Blind-spot detection Detects cars in blind-spots that are not typically see in the side mirrors Forward & side collision warning Detects a potential crash and warn you. Forward & side collision warning Detects a potential crash and warn you. Forward & side collision warning Detects a potential crash and warn you. Automatic Emergency Braking Working with collision detection system, applies brakes the it sense impending collision.Automatic Emergency Braking Working with collision detection system, applies brakes the it sense impending collision.Automatic Emergency Braking Working with collision detection system, applies brakes the it sense impending collision.Adaptive Cruise w/Stop & Go Keeps speed constant between 30–180 km/h and maintains the distance to the vehicle ahead. Includes Stop & Go function can slow your MINI down to a standstill in traffic and start it again when things move.Adaptive Cruise w/Stop & Go Keeps speed constant between 30–180 km/h and maintains the distance to the vehicle ahead. Includes Stop & Go function can slow your MINI down to a standstill in traffic and start it again when things move.Lane Keep Assistant Detects lane markings and if you are unintentionally straying it will help keep you in the centre by warning you with steering wheel vibration – and if necessary by initiating corrective steering interventionLane Keep Assistant Detects lane markings and if you are unintentionally straying it will help keep you in the centre by warning you with steering wheel vibration – and if necessary by initiating corrective steering interventionSpeed Limit Info identifies speed limits and no-overtaking zonesSpeed Limit Info identifies speed limits and no-overtaking zonesSteering & Lane Control Assistant When engaged as part of adaptive cruise, it actively follows the road only requiring hands to be placed on the wheel Lange Change Assistant When engaged as part of adaptive cruise, it will change lane by the driver activating the turn signal What isn’t here is BMW’s system called Highway Assist which has been rumored to be also offerings. It’s system offered in the technically identical BMW X1 and X2 and allows for hands-free driving at speeds up to 85 mph on controlled-access highways. Of course there’s a camera checking to see that the driver’s eyes are on the road and attentive for the system to work. It’s unclear when MINI will offer this option but we’d expect it’s a matter of time as the U25 has all of the necessary hardware with the Driving Assistant Pro package. Before this 4th generation of cars, MINI had only one light autonomous feature – adaptive cruise. While helpful it really does one thing – follow the car in front. MINI’s aim is to introduce this technology as an option meant primarily for highway purposes. MINI Driving Assistant Professional With or without Highway Assist, the Driving Assistant Professional (option 5AU) allows the driver to eat up miles with a bit less cognitive load on the driver. Yes your hands need to stay o the wheel but there’s really no input you need to give as the car will simply follow the car and the road ahead. And if you need to pass a slow car just tap the turn signal and the MINI will change lanes. The thin grey strip above “set” is one of the two LED lights that lets you know the system is active 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. 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. In our experience in BMWs it’s a great feature for anyone who does long stretches highway driving. While it doesn’t take over completely and your hands have to remain on the wheel, it lessens the cognitive load on those long road-trips. Note the black area on the center of the grille of this F67 test mule. This is where the radar portion of the systems sensors reside.Autonomous Options Coming the J01 and F66 MINI Cooper The Countryman won’t be the only MINI product with the new autonomous features. While we believe the entire range will eventually get the option, it’s the combustion F66 MINI Cooper that will get it at launch. Like in the Countryman, Driving Assistant Plus replies on several cameras mounted throughout the car. The system is actually made up of two options: Driving Assistant (5AS) and the Driving Assistant Plus (5AT). The U25 Countryman and the F66 Cooper will feature this system at launch while the electric J01 MINI Cooper and J05 MINI Aceman will eventually get them. You can see the full list of features above. The post new MINI Cooper & MINI Countryman to Have Optional Autonomous Driving appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  17. Recently we got a sneak preview of the first all electric MINI Cooper JCW via the J01 MINI Cooper with the JCW Trim. While it looks impressive, there’s a real electric JCW is coming in two distinct flavors and sooner than you might think. 2025 will see the introduction of both the first electric MINI Cooper JCW And the Aceman JCW. With these two models MINI will usher in new area of performance for the brand that will likely eclipse what we thought was possible from MINIs. The all electric J01 MINI Cooper JCW will be mechanically revised with a JCW specific software settings. Like the F56 Cooper JCW, it will have a more aggressive suspension, larger four pot brakes up front and (most importantly) more power. These same modifications will be carried over directly to the larger MINI Aceman JCW crossover. While the suspension tuning will be slightly different, our sources tell us the power output will be identical. The electric MINI Aceman JCW will be mechanically identical to the electric Cooper JCW J01 MINI Cooper JCW & J05 MINI Aceman JCW Power Output As you can see in the table below, the SE versions of both the Cooper SE and Aceman SE are nearly the same power as the current F56 Cooper JCW. And in fact it has more 7 lbs more torque. ModelsJ01 Cooper SEJ05 Aceman SEPower218 hp218 hpTorque243 lb-ft243 lb-ftTransmission1 speed1 speed0-60 mph6.7 secTBARange 250 milesTBALength (mm/inches)3858 mm / 151.8 in4079 mm / 161 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1756 mm / 69 in1754 mm / 69 inHeight (mm)1460 mm / 57 in1514 mm / 59.6 inWheelbase (mm)2526 mm / 99 in2606 mm / 102.6 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1605 kg / 3,538 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbsWeight distribution (Front/Rear)F 57% / R 43%TBDFront Overhang746 mm / 29.3 in756 mm / 29.8 inRear Overhang586 mm / 23 in717 mm / 28.2 inLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down210 / 800 L450 / 1450 LThe SE versions of the Cooper and the Paceman substantially up the power in comparison to the F56 Cooper S. What could this mean for the all hew electric MINI JCW? While we don’t have any hard data yet, we’d guess that we’ll see at least 260 hp and even more torque. The limiting factor will traction given that both the Cooper JCW and the Aceman JCW will remain front wheel drive only. This takes us to what’s under the hood – or under the floor. Our sources tell us that battery size will remain the same as the SE models. Because of the increased performance we’d expect range to decrease a bit – perhaps as much as 5-10%. 2024 J01 MINI Cooper E2024 J01 MINI Cooper SE2025 J01 MINI JCW2025 J01 MINI JCWHorsepower184 hp218 hp250+ hp*250+ hp*Range (WLTP)200 miles250 milesTBATBARange (EPA)150 miles (Estimated)200 miles (Estimated)TBATBABattery Size40kWh54kWh54kWh*54kWh*All numbers provided by MINI except * which are confirmed only through unofficial sources. 2025 MINI Cooper JCW & Aceman JCW Exterior Design What you see above will be extremely close to the final J01 Cooper JCW. The big changes over the standard Cooper SE is the body kit and wheels. A theme throughout is the new JCW logo which inspires stylistic elements in the grille and wheel designs. Looking at the car above you also see a distinctly more aggressive look thanks to the new aerokit. The front splitter literally is split with an interesting center separation that is certainly distinct. The side has some subtle horizontal lines that appear functionless which of course is a bit head scratching given how MINI has gone to great lengths to connect design elements to functional needs. However things get much better on the side with a subtle side skirt. Around back things get even more interesting with an aggressive looking diffuser and almost GP-like rear wing. The 18-inch wheels in Lap Spoke 2-tone design with ten spokes each will be offered on the new Cooper JCW but will have a larger system complete with red brake calipers. There will be unique Chili Red design elements on the front and rear which will mark the full JCW models out over MINIs with the JCW Trim. Finally colors. MINI has eliminated the much loved JCW exclusive Rebel Green and replaced it with a less exclusive Legend Grey. Why less exclusive? Because MINI is also offering it on the JCW Trim which adds all of these visual elements to any non-JCW car. Also gone is the optional white roof. Instead MINI will offer only the JCW roof in Chili Red, Black or body color. 2025 JCW Interior Design The JCW seats seen in the JCW Trim above are rumored be the final seats we’ll see on the full JCW model. They combine synthetic leather with red stitching and multi-coloured knitted material in the shoulder section. The black and red colour concept is continued on the 2d-knit covering the interior of the door and the dashboard – the passenger side of which is has the JCW-specific pattern in style of a chequered flag. The central, high-resolution OLED display with a diameter of 240 mm bundles vehicle-related data and provides information on navigation, media, telephone and climate settings. The JCW will have its own MINI Experience Modes – GO-KART Mode. This mode changes the display and interior lighting anthracite red. In addition to the special GO-KART sound, the optimized throttle response of the accelerator pedal in this mode enhances the sporty driving experience. The full JCW will likely have further driving enhancements like drift mode. 2025 Electric MINI Cooper JCW & Aceman JCW Production Timing The big news here is that MINI is already almost done with the electric MINI Cooper JCW and MINI Aceman JCW development. Both cars will debut later in 2024 and will begin production in January 2024 in China. Both cars will expand production to MINI’s Oxford Plant in the UK in 2026 paving the way for North American deliveries. Until then look for the electric MINI Cooper JCW and MINI Aceman JCW to be exclusively available in Asia, Europe and South America. But this isn’t the only new JCW offering MINI will be unveiling next year. MINI will be kicking off production of an entirely different Cooper JCW with the petrol power that you can read about here. The post Exclusive: Electric MINI Cooper JCW & Aceman JCW Production Dates and Other Details Revealed appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  18. For MINI fans the recently released book BMW by Design has a number of fascinating stories. But the one that particularly stands out is the story of the electric MINI Superleggera concept. It’s a story of a concept so beautiful that is almost defied all the odds and came to market. But what really happened and how close did it really come to being in showrooms? if you’re a longtime MotoringFile reader it’s also a story you might remember as we’ve reported most of the details over the last decade. So what happened and just how close to production did the Superleggera get? As detailed in the book the concept started in the mid-2000s with Anders Warming wanted to build something he considered a the Ferrari of MINIs or Miniari if you will. Fast forward to 2013 Anders was leading MINI Design and devised a plan to introduce Italian coaching-building techniques to bring to life his idea of the ultimate MINI roadster. MINI Superleggera Concept publicly debuted at the 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to dropped jaws. If MotoringFile comments can be counted as a key metric, this was by far the most successful MINI concept ever. MINI’s designers teamed with coachbuilder Touring Superleggera to create something not typically seen in the modern automotive world – an entirely modern and hand-made concept that felt just as futuristic as it was retro. The superstructure, crafted by hand and moulded over a lightweight aluminium frame formed into surfacing that was both simple yet had many intricate details that demanded attention. When we first saw the Superleggera in person we were stunned at these details that are often missed in the official photography. An elongated wheelbase and short overhangs were at odds with the F56 (release during the same time) and felt much closer to the R53/R56 in comparison. This was also the first time we had seen the Union Jack taillight design which we know has ultimately become a MINI trademark. With such a positive reaction globally, MINI knew they had to do everything they could to bring the car to market – even if it was a low volume, high price product. MINI Superleggera Concept – What Went Wrong? Not only was the Superleggera gorgeous, it was also full electric. But the electric propulsion story was never told as MINI was unsure how (if ever) it could come to market. Could MINI leverage the just released i3 chassis? Likely not. How about partnering with another manufacturer? According to the book MINI looked at that route very seriously holding talks and doing quite a bit of technical investigation. Yet nothing came to be. Could MINI have simply made it an internal combustion vehicle and base it on the then new F56 chassis? We can imagine that was on the table but proportionally that would have likely changed the concept too much. Reportedly Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW’s board member in charge of Mini at the time, had been “pushing” to get the Superleggera into production since 2014. There was a lot of enthusiasm throughout MINI as many felt it would serve as an ideal halo product for the brand. Yet making a case for an electric Convertible within the business climate at BMW circa 2015 likely wasn’t easy. MINI had just ended production of the R58 MINI Roadster with mediocre sales. And the convertible marketing was continuing to shrink. And don’t forget, MINI was just a few years from launching the F57 convertible replacing the R57. The Superleggera Lives On In many ways the spirit of the Superleggera lives on. The recent shift in MINI design direction towards simplification begin with the various MINI LCIs from 2019 onward. Looking broadly it’s easy to see that each of these changes have moved MINI closer to the simple aesthetic from the Superleggera. It’s also even more clear to see some of this influence on the minimalistic philosophy of the 4th generations MINIs – the J01 and forthcoming F66. Taken as a whole the concept represented what MINI Design Head Anders Warming (who now leads design for Rolls Royce) had been prepping us for – a more modern design language with clear links to the past. In many ways this was the boldest change we’ve seen from MINI design since the R50 debuted in 2001. Official Photo Gallery: The MINI Superleggera Concept Exclusive Real World Photo Gallery: The MINI Superleggera Concept The post The Electric MINI Superleggera And How MINI Almost Built It’s Most Stunning Concept Ever appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  19. Everyone knows that the John Cooper name is been synonymous with Minis since the early 60s. But did you know the same John Cooper was one of the most successful F1 team owners in the early days of the sport? Or that the R53 JCW was really just a bolt-on tuning kit created by the Cooper Car Company that BMW agreed to sell to jump-start enthusiasm in the rejuvenated brand? It’s been 20 years since the introduction of the first JCW tuning kits for the R50 and R53 MINIs so we thought what better time than now to look back at their history. For those of you who were along for the ride back then, you’ll enjoy the trip back in time. For those who weren’t, get ready for a wild story. John Cooper in the pitsJohn Cooper and Jack BrabhamJohn Cooper with one of his race winning F1 carsThe Cooper name originates from John Cooper, an engineering legend linked to the golden age of British motor racing throughout the 1960’s. Back in the early 1950s, it felt like every young British racer jump-started their career behind a car built by John Cooper. And success followed all the way to Formula 1. Cooper’s iconic and successful Formula 1 cars boasted legendary drivers like Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant, and Bruce McLaren. Over nine thrilling years, the team notched up an impressive 16 Grand Prix victories, 11 poles and 14 fastest laps. But most impressively Jack Brabham won consecutive World Championships in 1959 and 1960 with the dark green Cooper. During their time in Sebring, Florida, for the 1959 United States Grand Prix, Cooper crossed paths with American driver Rodger Ward. Ward, the reigning USAC national champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, was blown away by the agility of Cooper’s little cars on the road course. Excitedly, he proposed a test at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, declaring, “You’ve got to try out your car around the Oval. Indy’s waiting for you!” In the fall of 1960, Cooper brought one of their Formula One cars to the Speedway. Attracted by the legendary large Indy 500 purses, John Cooper brought Jack Brabham and a Cooper to the 1961 Indy 500. He altered the car slightly by increasing the size of the engine to 2.8 litres, tilting it to the left, and adding some fuel tanks on the left of the car for better weight balance for the left corners. The Cooper ran well, qualifying on the fifth row ultimately finishing ninth. Many believe if it wasn’t for its second rate Dunlop tires, the Cooper could have challenged for the win. But it didn’t matter. Just the appearance of the radically mid-engined Cooper ushered in a revolution at Indy, away from the front-engined layout that had dominated for decades. The Modern MINI John Cooper Works With the introduction of new MINI in 2001, the Cooper name was reborn under the guidance of John’s son Mike, who began developing aftermarket tuning kits for the new MINI at the original John Cooper premises in East Preston, West Sussex. With official blessing from BMW, the kits were installed at the Cooper garages and at MINI dealers in the UK, Europe and eventually North America. The kit was relatively simple making it easy to install after a customer had purchase the top of the line Cooper S. This dealer or port installed arrangement and friendly working agreement between BMW and John Cooper proved to be almost immediately successful paving the way for a much more official relationship. R50 & R53 John Cooper Works tuning Kits For most new MINI fans, the JCW name is directly connected to the tuning kits and eventually factory JCW MINIs. Let’s go back in time and take a look at those early tuning kits that helped shape the brand as we know it. 2003 R50 MINI Cooper Tuning Kit UK sales: Unknown Technical specifications Machined cylinder head Cat-back” sport exhaust system Improved-flow air filter Cover injection tube Updated ECU programming Engine cover Rear, and side vent badges Performance Data 126 bhp at 5750 rpm Peak torque is 114 ft.lbs. at 4750 rpm Higher curve than stock between 2500 and 3500 rpm. 2005 R50 MINI Cooper JCW Sound Kit UK sales: 525 Technical specification Air filter system Stainless steel sports exhaust Modified engine control unit Engine cover finished in silver with John Cooper Works emblem John Cooper Works badges John Cooper Works certificate of authenticity Performance Data No performance improvements 2003-04 R53 Cooper S – John Cooper Works 200 hp Tuning Kit UK sales: 1197 Technical Specification Complete John Cooper Works air filter system Modified cylinder head including valve drive and gaskets Sport rear silencer in stainless steel Modified supercharger Injection nozzles with increased throughput High power spark plugs Modified engine control unit John Cooper Works badges Engine cover finished in silver, including a John Cooper Works emblem John Cooper Works certificate of authenticity Performance data 200 hp 245 Nm peak torque at 4,500 rpm 143 mph top speed 0-62 mph in 6.6 seconds 2004-06 R53 Cooper S – John Cooper Works Tuning 210 hp Tuning Kit UK sales: 1209 B172S6B9 Technical specification Same as the 2003-04 John Cooper Works 200hp Tuning Kit for MINI Cooper S, but with: JCW upgrade kit to increase power output JCW air filter system Injection nozzles with increased throughput Modified engine control unit Performance data 210 hp 245 Nm peak torque at 4,500 rpm 143 mph top speed 0-62 mph in 6.6 seconds 2006 R53 MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works GP UK sales: 454 (Limited production of 2,000 models for worldwide sale) Technical specification Limited Slip Differential ASC+T EBD DSC as a no-cost option Rear seat bench removed to accommodate a polished reinforcement tube connecting the spring strut domes on the rear axle 16-inch John Cooper Works disc brakes Thunder Blue/Pure Silver paintwork with red caps on the exterior mirrors Adapted air filter Modified outlet ducts Modified injection nozzles and spark plugs Sports exhaust system with chrome finish tailpipes Modified engine control unit 18 inch light alloy wheels with low profile tyres John Cooper Works GP Aerodynamic Kit Recaro leather seats in Panther Black (not available in the US) Bose audio system with CD player John Cooper Works GP badges Our first road test of the 2006 JCW GPPerformance data 1.6 litre supercharged engine 218hp 250 Nm peak torque at 4,600 rpm 149 mph top speed 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds BMW Buys the John Cooper Works Brand In December 2006 BMW Group acquired the rights from Mike to the John Cooper Works Brand. Early in 2007, this transaction became effective and gave BMW Group the opportunity to develop this sub-brand and its products in-house. This meant all future JCW products were to be developed in-house at BMW with much more elaborate engineering, design and testing capabilities. The deal was agreed with the then owners of the John Cooper Works brand and in 2008, Mike Cooper remains as a consultant on the BMW Group’s John Cooper Works brand strategy. Mike carried on and was involved in the design and production of the after-sales tuning kits available for the R56 MINI Cooper S. For several years Mike Cooper’s Cooper Car Company developed and supplied car accessories for various other corporate clients. The Cooper Car Company supplied BMW AG with hardware components for the R56 MINI Hatch after-sales tuning kit as well as sports air filters and sports exhausts for the BMW 3 Series. These parts bore the name John Cooper Works or BMW Performance respectively. The J01 MINI Cooper S with the JCW Trim. Visually identical to the forthcoming 2025 J01 MINI Cooper JCWJohn Cooper Works Evolves Fast forward today and John’s son Charlie has become a brand ambassador and official MINI race car driver competing in MINI JCW at the Nurburgring 24 Hours among several races. Given Charlie’s expertise on the track and connection to the brand, we’d be surprised if he didn’t behind the scenes input into the brand’s direction. Today the brand is completely integrated into MINI with engineers and designers in Munich working on future JCW daily. The development is all done in house and most production is integrated directly into MINI factories. In 2025 MINI will be releasing its first ever all electric JCW production with the J01 MINI Cooper JCW. That move foreshadows the JCW sub-brand moving to all electric by 2030. Conclusions – The R50 and R53 JCW Tuning Kits Unique in their Own Time, Even More Today It’s amazing to look back at all this data with almost 20 years since the first tuning kits were released. Yes MINIs have gotten faster with more power and torque thanks to higher performance turbocharged engines. But no MINI since the R53 ceased production can quite match the driving experience of those first JCW products. The immediacy and old-school design and engineering mentality of the original R50 and R53 JCW Tuning Kits simply doesn’t exist in the world of new cars in 2024. We love modern the JCW products. They can do things the R50 and R53 JCW Tuning kits could never match. But there’s no question that there’s an experience that they just can’t quite match. Perhaps electrification will add some of that back with better weight distribution and even higher performance. Or perhaps they were truly that special. Gallery: 2002-2006 MINI John Cooper Works Tuning Kits B172S12B3B172S12B1B172S6B9A 112570The 2013 R56 JCW GP, the 2019 F56 JCW GP and the original 2006 R53 JCW GPOfficial MINI USA Press Release Announcing the R53 JCW Tuning Kit Warrantied by MINI, 200 HP Kit Makes U.S. Debut At 2003 New York International Auto Show The Big Apple witnesses the debut of an exciting enhancement to the MINI Cooper S for the U.S. market ? the John Cooper Works package. Produced by the legendary aftermarket company, John Cooper Works, this exciting 200 hp package comes just 12 months on from MINI’s U.S. launch at the 2002 New York International Auto Show. Now, the John Cooper Works package offers customers yet another way to individualize their MINI – this time with real performance in mind. Developed by the legendary John Cooper Works Company for a global market, the unique package will be sold exclusively through MINI dealers and will be covered under MINI’s comprehensive new car warranty. The package includes a reconfigured cylinder head, uprated supercharger along with special engine electronics and a performance exhaust. This enhancement takes the regular 163hp MINI Cooper S to over 200hp. Importantly for existing MINI owners, the package can be retrofitted to their current MINI Cooper S. The complete package comes with an MSRP of $4,500 plus dealer installation. Performance is at the heart of the MINI Cooper S and the John Cooper Works Package takes this philosophy one step further. The cornerstone of the package is an enhanced Eaton supercharger with specially coated vanes that generate increased flow pressure. The unit comes with a new pulley design that allows the unit to spin at a higher RPM, generating an increase in power. A high performance head is also a key ingredient. The modified head has improved port flow and, crucially has been especially designed for the increased compression and heat produced by the supercharger. The package also includes a reprogrammed Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which manages all engine control functions including airflow, combustion, fueling and spark advance. The enhanced ECU has been recalibrated to optimize power output and drivability, resulting in a lively throttle response and increased acceleration in the mid-range torque band. Also included in the package is a stainless steel sport exhaust system. The system is a parallel-flow, low backpressure system with superb interior and exterior noise quality. The system adds a throatier, more powerful exhaust note has distinctive looking twin chrome exhaust tips. The John Cooper Works Cooper S package promises enhanced performance and it delivers. With the package, power is increased to an impressive 200 bhp at 6950 rpm from the same 1.6 liters of displacement. In comparison, the already impressive MINI Cooper S produces 163 bhp at 6000 rpm in unmodified form. Torque is also up, rating at 177 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm for the equipped car versus 155 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm for the unequipped car. The John Cooper Works equipped MINI Cooper S sprints from 0-60 in an improved 6.5 seconds with a top speed increased to 140 mph. This compares to a 0-60 time for the unequipped MINI Cooper S of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 135 mph. The performance upgrade with the John Cooper Works package is very noticeable in all driving conditions and is an ideal compliment to the superb handling and chassis dynamics of the MINI Cooper S. Visual cues are understated and will appeal to the MINI enthusiast. A unique chrome John Cooper Works badge adorns the rear deck lid and, when raised, the bonnet reveals a visually appealing silver intercooler surround with John Cooper Works logo. An individually numbered valve cover plaque tops it off and commemorates the exclusivity of this special package. John Cooper Works has engineered this kit so that it can be offered in all markets where the MINI is sold around the world. Therefore, a MINI Cooper S equipped with the John Cooper Works Package must be able to withstand extreme temperatures and variations in fuel quality, but still offer enhanced power in an extremely reliable package. The John Cooper Works package is sold and professionally installed through all MINI dealers in the U.S. A MINI Cooper S equipped with the dealer-installed package is fully backed by MINI’s 4 year 50,000 thousand-mile new car warranty. And the John Cooper Works package is not just limited to new cars. Owners of an existing MINI Cooper S may also visit their local MINI dealer and have the kit installed at any time. The balance of the factory warranty will still remain in effect. John Cooper Works is no ordinary aftermarket company. Since the 1940s, the company has produced celebrated racing cars, notably the front-engine Cooper Bristol driven by Fangio and rear engine Coopers for Formula 1, driven by Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren and Stirling Moss. Under John Cooper’s direction, the Cooper Car Company won consecutive Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championships in 1959 and 1960. The Cooper name is forever entwined with MINI, originating with the 1961 MINI Cooper, which was developed by John Cooper. John recognized MINI’s inherent motorsport potential and his team produced cars that took numerous race titles, and the MINI Cooper S became the stuff of legend with 3 Monte Carlo Rally wins between 1964 and 1967, driven by greats such as Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen. The Cooper company continues to produce aftermarket parts for the classic MINI and played an active part in the development of the new generation MINI Cooper. John Cooper passed away just as the new car came to market and the company is now run by his son, Michael. Jack Pitney, general manager of MINI USA said: “We are thrilled to be bringing this exciting package to the U.S. MINI’s regular specification cars are exhilarating to drive in themselves, but the addition of this unique package takes the MINI experience to a whole new level.” Note: The Cooper version of the John Cooper package will not be offered for sale in the U.S. market. Official Global MINI Press Release Announcing the 210 HP 2005 R53 JCW Tuning Kit & Accessories MINI flexes its muscle at the Paris Motor Show with a 210bhp John Cooper Works kit for MINI Cooper S and new range of accessories Performance-hungry MINI drivers will be delighted to hear that a new John Cooper Works tuning kit for the MINI Cooper S has been developed to produce more power, greater performance and enhanced driving pleasure. The kit will be available worldwide, for both MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Convertible, following its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show. Performance-hungry MINI drivers will be delighted to hear that a new John Cooper Works tuning kit for the MINI Cooper S has been developed to produce more power, greater performance and enhanced driving pleasure. The new kit is capable of generating 210bhp of power, a 0-62mph of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 143mph. The kit will be available worldwide, for both the MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Convertible, following its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday, 23 September. Despite the increase in power, the price for the new John Cooper Works Kit will remain unchanged for the UK, at £2,999 (inc. VAT) + ten hours’ labour fitting time. The performance upgrade has principally been achieved through changes to the air filter system, allowing greater airflow at high revs (above 4500rpm) by triggering an extra air intake flap to reduce pressure losses within the intake system. New fuel injectors and engine management calibration are also required to ensure optimum performance and durability under all operating conditions. The arrival of the new Works kit was precipitated by the modifications made to the MINI Cooper S earlier this year, including changes to the gear ratios on the six-speed Getrag gearbox. In line with the enhancements experienced on the new Cooper S, the new Works Kit now accelerates from 50-75 mph in just 5.4 seconds as well as its improved speed off the mark. Mike Cooper, Managing Director of John Cooper Works commented: “Whilst it equates to only a small increase on paper, it feels like a considerably bigger hike. With the improved feel, throttle response and sound quality, we’re delighted with the results and can’t wait to pass the benefits onto our customers.” Great news for existing Works Kit owners is that they need not buy an entirely new kit to realise the new levels of performance, but can have an upgrade fitted (new air filter intake system, injectors and calibration) at John Cooper Works, or any other official MINI dealer, at a cost of £335 (inc. VAT) + one hours’ labour fitting time. Both the new kit and upgrade are fully approved by MINI which means that vehicle warranty and MINI tlc service pack remain unaffected. Every component of the John Cooper Works is the result of years of development work and innumerable road tests. The gutsy performance and first-class handling are testament to 150,000 road miles of durability testing and 20,000 miles of high-speed testing undertaken by experienced and exacting engineers. It has been put through its paces in 35-degree heat and a freezing minus 20 degrees. The post The Origins of the John Cooper Works brand and the First JCW MINIs appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  20. Our recent exclusive report on the F66 2025 MINI Cooper JCW revealed a number of interesting details about the next generation performance model from the brand. One of the more surprising design changes on MINI’s last ICE (internal combustion engine) JCW will be a move to a single exhaust outlet from the double we’ve seen since 2002. But what about the Cooper and Cooper S? The answer might shock you. Through a series of sources and spy photographs, we believe MINI has something even more radical planned for the exhaust of the F66 MINI Cooper and Cooper S. Over the course of the last year we’ve published a number of exclusive photos of MINI F66 prototypes and one thing that has remained constant; only JCW models (identified by red brake calipers) has a visible exhaust. The Move to Hidden Exhausts Could MINI be moving to hidden exhaust on all cars except JCW models? Based on spy photos and our sources we believe the answer is yes – MINI will hide the entire exhaust system on the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S. Based on photographs, we believe the exhaust will be discretely hidden with the outlet likely pointing downward just behind the bumper . Given that the MINI brand is aggressively moving into electrification, we believe downplaying the exhaust on ICE powered MINIs is a purposeful design decision. In fact it’s already started. MINI is already moving in that direction with the recently released ICE U25 MINI Countryman. MINI has officially confirmed this by saying they want to make the ICE and electric versions of the Countryman almost indistinguishable. The idea is that customers can focus on choosing the drivetrain and not the styling. It’s not hard to imagine MINI extending this design solution to the Cooper and Cooper S models as well. The idea of the MINI Cooper and Cooper S having hidden exhausts actually has some historical precedent. European automakers had a similar design solution years ago when they hid exhaust outlets on many of its V8 models in the late 90s and early 00s. It was a time that customers wanted performance models to have a more discrete look due to concerns of being too aggressive. The larger, most luxurious Audis, Mercedes and BMWs all did this at one point or another. With MINI moving this direction, it’s hard not to imagine the aftermarket not stepping in to offer an alternative solution. It’s not hard to imagine a company like Remus perhaps even partnering with another company to offer revised rear trim styling to bring the expose exhaust back. The F66 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Release Dates The ICE powered F66 MINI Cooper family is coming soon. While debuting timing is being kept under wraps, we know production will begin in March of 2023. That means we’ll see the new Cooper, Cooper S and JCW models all next year in most markets including North America. The F66 2025 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.As you can see with our exclusive look above, MINI will continue to offer a full range of internal combustion MINI Coopers in three and five door layouts as well as the convertible. Alongside this MINI will also sell the all new J01 electric MINI Cooper designed from up as an EV. However because this all new offering will initially be made in China, it won’t be coming g to North America due to tariffs. It won’t be until that car expands production to the UK in 2026 that North America will see the J01. MINI has also unveiled the all new U25 electric (and ICE) Countryman which will both be available globally starting early next year. For a full look at MINI’s next generation models, check out our 4th Generation MINI section. The post Exclusive: 2025 F66 MINI Cooper and Cooper S to Have Hidden Exhausts appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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