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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The single pipe is real and it’s coming to the new F66 MINI Cooper JCW. It’s a shocking move that many didn’t believe was true despite photos and our reporting. However we can now confirm at 100% certainty that the 2025 MINI Cooper JCW will have a large diameter (for a MINI) single pipe exhaust. Why? Read on. The car pictured above and below is a F66 Cooper JCW however we’ve seen the single exhaust also on the F67 JCW Convertible our photographers caught testing earlier this year. At first it was rather crude and appeared to be temporary. However as the test mules have progressed, we’ve seen clear signs production intent design elements. What does this mean for the forthcoming 2025 F66 MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S? We’ll have more on that tomorrow. In this exclusive zoomed in photo you can see a central exhaust and single pipe that looks to be in nearly final production form. The current F56 Cooper S Exhaust design shows that the “dual exhaust” is nothing more than two small pipes from a single exhaust. In the meantime the exclusive image of a F67 JCW Convertible above clearly shows the single exhaust pipe and even some final production trim. Note the stainless steel sleeve on the outlet, the transversely mounted exhaust and even the aluminum shield underneath it. Look even closer and you’ll see the production version of the single LED reverse light just above the exhaust tip which (one could imagine) would look somewhat integrated with the cutout of the pipe. Why a single exhaust pipe? Let’s start with the exhaust itself. One thing that most don’t know is that the MINI Cooper S and JCW have had a single muffler system since the R56. The fact that two outlets came out the back has primarily been for aesthetics. In fact there have been more than a few MINI race cars over the years that have gone with the exhaust single pipe design. Why? When asked they consistently have told us it’s both more power efficient and lighter. So in other words exactly what you want in both race cars and modern performance cars. Bulldog Racing’s 2022 24 Hours of Nurburgring race car was one of many racing MINIs that had a single pipe.Why wouldn’t MINI have always had a single exhaust? It comes down to marketing and the very simple concept; two exhaust pipes means more power than one in the eyes of the car buying public. In fact you’ll see this on display later this year when the quad-exhaust JCW Countryman debuts. Single exhaust pipe or not, the next generation F66 MINI Cooper is coming very soon. Heavily based on the F56, the F66 generation will see the same engines (albeit only 2.0L four cylinders) and most of the same mechanicals. However there will be a move to restyle the car closer to the J01 electric MINI Cooper and add that cars radically new circular display and interior layout. The MINI JCW Team and its single exhaust at Road AmericaAs you can see with our exclusive look below, MINI will continue to offer a wide variety of ICE models alongside it’s all new J01 electric MINI Cooper and U25 electric (and ICE) Countryman. Most models will receive a notable power increase with the exception of the Euro Countryman JCW and the F66 JCW. Also note that the US will not be getting the Countryman C and will only receive the S and JCW. The New MINI Countryman FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionU25 MINI Countryman C (1)167 HP (Petrol)39.900€11/2023U25 MINI Countryman D (1)TBA42.900€11/2023U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4 214 HP EU / 241 HP US45.900€11/2023U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4300 HP EU / 313 HP US56.500€03/2024The New MINI Cooper FamilyDrivetrainPricingStart of ProductionF66 MINI Cooper155 HP (Petrol)TBD07/2024F66 MINI Cooper S200 HP (Petrol)TBD07/2024F66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP (Petrol)TBD11/2024F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)TBD07/2024F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)TBD07/2024F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)TBD11/2024 (est)F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)TBD11/2024 (est)F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)TBD03/2025 (est)1. Not available in the US. 2. US HP figure – the EU will get 300 hp.For more coverage of the new generation MINI, check out the following articles and videos. MINI Cooper EV: Premier | MINI Cooper EV: Hands-On Review | MINI Cooper EV: Video Review MINI Countryman EV: Premier | MINI Countryman EV: Hands-On Review | MINI Countryman EV: Video Review New MINI Family: 1st Look Video | MINI Circular Display & MINI OS9 Hands-On Review The post Exclusive: 2025 MINI Cooper JCW Will Have a Single Pipe Exhaust appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI isn’t going all electric. At least not yet. There’s one more petrol powered MINI Cooper coming and with it one more Cooper JCW. In this exclusive look we have final details on almost every aspect of the new Cooper JCW including power, performance and even styling details that might even shock you. 2025 MINI Cooper JCW – Power and Performance The headline is that the 2025 MINI Cooper JCW will not see an increase in horsepower. Unlike the Cooper or the Cooper S, MINI is holding the line on power output and instead bringing some upgrades elsewhere. Cooper ModelF56 CooperF56 Cooper SF56 Cooper JCW25 F66 Cooper C25 F66 Cooper S 25 F66 Cooper JCWPower134 hp189 hp231 hp155 hp 201 hp231 hp Torque162 lb-ft/1480 rpm206 lb-ft/1350 rpm 235 lb-ft/1450 rpm170 lb-ft/1,480 rpm221 lb-ft258 lb-ft/1,250 rpmTransmissionManual/DCTManual/DCTManual/Auto7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelLength (mm/in)3863mm/152.1 in3863mm/152.1 in3863mm/152.1 in3876mm/152.60 in3876mm/152.6 inTBAHeight (mm/in)1414mm/55.66 in1414mm/55.66 in1414mm/55.66 in1432mm/56.38 in1432mm / 56.38 inTBAWheelbase (mm/in)2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23Curb weight (kg/lbs)1256kg/2,769 lbs1289kg/2,841 lbs1289kg/2,841 lbs1260kg/2,778 lbs1285kg/2,832 lbsTBA Shortly after the F66 will be the F67 JCW Convertible Despite this the F66 will have a slightly revised B48 engine under the hood – more specifically the B48A20O2. So what is this revision actually getting would be owners? Torque which will increase from 236 to 258 ft lbs giving the car a touch more grunt. And it peaks lower in the rev range as well. Previously in the F56 JCW torque maxed-out at 1,450. The B48A20O2 sees this change to 1,250 rpm meaning maximum power is even more immediate. Why are we not seeing an improvement when the Cooper and Cooper S are getting modest power upgrades? Or the Countryman which gets even bigger power hikes? For one the Countryman’s B48 engines contain a mild hybrid power unit while the Cooper engines will not due to packaging restrictions. Otherwise we don’t have great answers other than this lack of a JCW upgrade leaves room for MINI to eventually tweak software and hardware for a light refresh in a few years. And we know the DCT transmission can handle more torque so there appears to be no component related reason holding MINI back. Yes, that is a single exhaust pipe you see2025 MINI Cooper JCW To Feature Single Pipe Exhaust In another surprising move MINI is moving from a two pipe single exhaust to a larger single pipe exhaust. In the exclusive image below you can see a single exhaust pipe (with a stainless steel sleeve), the transversely mounted exhaust and even the aluminum shield underneath it. Look even closer and you’ll see the production version of the single LED reverse light just above the exhaust tip which (one could imagine) would look somewhat integrated with the cutout of the pipe. The current F56 Cooper S Exhaust design shows that the “dual exhaust” is nothing more than two small pipes from a single exhaust. Why a single exhaust pipe? Let’s start with the exhaust itself. One thing that most don’t know is that the MINI Cooper S and JCW have had a single muffler system since the R56. The fact that two outlets came out the back has primarily been for aesthetics. In fact there have been more than a few MINI race cars over the years that have gone with the exhaust single pipe design. Why? When asked they consistently have told us it’s both more power efficient and lighter. So in other words exactly what you want in both race cars and modern performance cars. Why wouldn’t MINI have always had a single exhaust? It comes down to marketing and the very simple concept; two exhaust pipes means more power than one in the eyes of the car buying public. In fact you’ll see this on display later this year when the quad-exhaust JCW Countryman debuts. The Cooper JCW – Once Again Available in Two Flavors As before MINI will be offering the JCW model in the iconic three door hatch and the convertible. Once again MINI will not be offering its highest performance model in the five door configuration. Why? Product planners apparently made that call many years ago in the F56 generation and due to tight development budgets due to having to offer both electric and ICE models, they’re sticking to it. The F66 gear selector moves from the console to the dash in the form of a discrete toggle switch.The JCW Manual Transmission Is Dead For those reading MotoringFile this likely won’t be a total surprise as we’ve reported on this several times over the last 9 months. But it’s still a shocking development given the popularity of the option. In fact since we exclusively reported the news early this year, the MINI USA manual take-rate has gone up to over 50%. It’s devastating move for a lot of MINI’s biggest fans as it’s a huge part of the brand’s history and slots well into the MINI’s core philosophy of creating cars that are engaging the drive. Why would MINI eliminate manuals despite the fact that the F66 is mechanically identical to the F56 and could easily carry over the current Getrag 6 speed? It’s likely about simplifying drivetrains components and cutting costs within manufacturing. And for Europe (where CO2 targets are much more stringent) the manual is slightly dirtier. Corresponding with the move away from manuals is a completely new gear lever design that mirrors what we’ve seen on the electric J01 and U25 MINI Countryman. What will remain are revised paddle shifters which will be standard on all JCW models. However in markets like US, where CO2 targets don’t have the same impact, why not continue to offer it? That’s likely down to the business case. Offering it one country means that the volumes go down dramatically which means MINI is spending more per unit and MINI would lose a chance to simplify the production process just has it’s about to get more complex with new models. In its place will be a revised 7 speed dual clutch (DCT) with slightly more aggressive software for more aggressive programing which should decrease shift times. The revised dual clutch transmission is just like the one offered in current Cooper and Cooper S models combining two partial transmissions in a single housing. The core element of the system consists of two oil-cooled wet clutches: one of these is responsible for the even transmission ratios (2, 4, 6) while the other is for the uneven ratios (1, 3, 5, 7) and reverse. During travel, one of the two clutches is open and the other is closed. They interact when the driver shifts up or down: opening one clutch activates closure of the second at the same time. Chassis and Brake Updates This is where the F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a straight evolution from the F56 version. This starts with the braking system which will be carried over. That means we’ll see a 4-piston fixed caliper upfront with internally ventilated, drilled brake disk up front (335x30mm). In the back (where there’s less weight to worry about) MINI will continue with a single piston floating caliper and a disk that’s 259x10mm. All four calipers will be finished in the traditional Chili Red. The chassis and suspension will see subtle improvements with MINI further refining its adaptive suspension design. While we don’t yet have details we’re told this focuses on improving ride quality while not forgoing any performance. In this exclusive zoomed in photo you can see a central exhaust and single pipe that looks to be in nearly final production form.2025 MINI Cooper JCW Wheel Options Similar to the F56 we’ll see several JCW option ranging from 17” to 18” wheels. However the design of those wheels will change. Tire sizes however will remain consistent with the F56. F66 ICE MINI CooperF66 ICE MINI Cooper SF66 JCW16” 4 Square Spoke17” U-Spoke grey17” John Cooper Works Sprint Spoke black17” U-Spoke vibrant silver17” U-Spoke vibrant silver18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone17” U-Spoke grey 17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone18″ John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone w/Sport tires17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone18” Night Flash Spoke 2-tone18” Slide Spoke 2-tone18” Slide Spoke 2-toneThe 2024 F56 Cooper SE and the 2025 J01 Cooper SE. The F66 will adopt the styling of the J01 inside and out.Why is MINI Refreshing the F56 rather than Replacing it? If you’ve been following MotoringFile you’ll know that MINI is splitting its core model – the Cooper – into two distinct products. That means we’ll see two next generation MINI Coopers (hatches) built on opposite ends of the planet on two different platforms; one a EV (J01) and one ICE powered (F66). This move will allow MINI to offer innovative electric offerings while still selling to the traditional ICE market for as long as possible. The J01 JCW trim. While not a fully JCW production, it gives us a clue as to how the J01 and F66 JCW model will look.The F66 will see styling changes that mirror the J01 and huge tech improvements inside the cabin. But mechanically it will be mostly the same car with just the Cooper S getting a noticeable engine upgrade (more on that soon). For much more on styling and technology changes, read our full report on the F66. The 2025 F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible2025 MINI Cooper JCW Launch Timing and End of Production Produced in Oxford, the F66 will take over as the F56 ends production in February of 2024. That means we’ll see the first F66 MINI Coopers roll off the line next March as the plant begins its pivots into a new generation of MINIs. We expect the F66 MINI Cooper JCW will go into production beginning in March of 2024. The F66 MINI Cooper FamilyDrivetrainStart of ProductionEnd of ProductionF66 MINI Cooper155 HP (Petrol)03/202412/31/30F66 MINI Cooper S200 HP (Petrol)03/202412/31/30F66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP (Petrol)03/2024*12/31/30F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)07/202412/31/30F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)07/202412/31/30F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)11/2024 12/31/30F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)03/2025*12/31/30* Unconfirmed The post Exclusive Look: The 2025 F66 MINI Cooper JCW – The Last Internal Combustion JCW appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

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

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

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

Just as MINI officially unveiled its petrol powered 2024 Countryman S last week, the brand is taking the wraps off its entry-level crossover model, the Countryman C. What is the Countryman C and where will it be sold? And what does that C even stand for? Let’s dissect. Let’s start with the last question first. Officially MINI hasn’t given a meaning behind the letter “C” in the name however we’ve heard some within the brand refer to it as “Core”. It also nicely lines-up with the previous Countryman Cooper in name and performance. With MINI smartly limiting the name Cooper to its iconic hatch, product planners had to come up with an alternative and “C” is it. Unlike the previous F60 Countryman Cooper, the entry-level Countryman C will not be available North America. Sales were tepid for the previous version and margins were low. The focus on the Countryman C will be in Europe, Asia and South America for the time being. At the heart of the MINI Countryman C is an evolution of the efficient 3-cylinder gasoline engine we’ve seen in MINIs for years. However it’s been upgraded with a mild-hybrid system that will creates less CO2 emissions while giving the new Countryman a more seamless start/stop system. With the revised engine the Countryman C does 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 8.3 seconds and achieving a top speed of 212 km/h or 132 mph. Helped by 206 ft lbs and the efficiency of TwinPower Turbo technology, we’d expect steady if not great mid-range performance. The innovative mild hybrid component of this revised engine enhances the vehicle’s eco-credentials, recuperating braking energy and providing 14 kW of electric drive power during accelerations. This synergy translates to reduced consumption and emissions that help it meet future EU emissions requirements. “As an entry-level model, the MINI Countryman C seamlessly integrates quintessential MINI traits, including agility and driving pleasure, with an opulent suite of standard features,” remarks Stefanie Wurst, the luminary figure at the helm of the MINI brand. Countryman ModelCountryman C (Europe)Countryman S (Europe)JCW (Europe)Countryman S (USA)JCW (USA)Power170 hp218 hp300 hp241 hp312 hpTorque206 ft lbs266 ft lbs295 ft lbs295 ft lbs295 ft lbsTransmission7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront wheel driveall-wheelall-wheelall-wheelall-wheelPowertrain typepetrol/mild hybridpetrol/mild hybridpetrolpetrolpetrolCylinders34444Displacement14991998199819981998Engine Power156 hp / 4700 – 6500201 hp300 hpTBD313 hpEngine Torque 177 hp / 4700 – 6500266 ft lbs295 ft lbsTBD295 lbElectric Power19 hp (temporary)19 hp (temporary)N/AN/AN/AElectric TorqueTBDTBDN/AN/AN/A0-60 mph8.3TBD5.2TBD5.1Maximum speed132 mphTBD132 mph132 mph155 mphCurb weight (LBS)3,571 lbsTBDTBDTBD3,825 lbsIn terms of aesthetics, the new MINI Countryman looks almost identical to all other models. With MINI letting its different trims dictate styling rather than performance, only subtle badging will truly differentiate models in markets like the UK, Europe and Asia. To that point MINI will offer the Countryman C in four distinct trim variants—Essential, Classic, Favoured, and JCW (the latter making the C look identical to a JCW even down to the badges). Trim-specific features include paint and roof colors, interior finishes, and alterations to the design of the C-pillar element. For instance the Favoured trim you see here offers a contrasting roof, Vibrant Silver front grille frame, and 20-inch rims in the aerodynamically optimized Windmill Spoke 2-tone design. The interior of the Favoured trim has a two-tone color gradient on the textile surface, crafted from recycled polyester using an innovative knitting process. Additionally, the trim features a heated sports steering wheel and perforated Vescin sports seats, available in three colors with traditional accent stitching. The Interior Revolution MINI has a lot to talk about inside starting with that circular display. So we’ll let our recently published demo of the display and MINI OS9 do the talking. Aside from the infotainment system, MINI has made huge changes. The brand has moved away from leather and chrome and leaned into new materials in a way that we’ve never seen from other manufacturers. The result is impressive. The new Vescin leather alternative feels better than the typical leather found in MINIs. While it doesn’t quite match the suppleness of the Lounge Leather options, it’s very close. In fact the grade of Vescin on the steering wheel actually feels just as good. You can read much more about Vescin and why MINI has gone leather free in our exclusive report. We really liked the look and feel of the textiles but time will tell in terms the longevity. According to MINI the material is 90% recycled and should be easily cleaned with a damp cloth – no chemicals needed. One area that we’re eager to test is the center console. Gone is the storage under the armrest and in its place a very solid feeling extendable armrest. In fact it extends so far I could see someone propping a laptop on it and working. But we’re still at a loss for why MINI couldn’t figure out how to include storage in it. The console itself has a small cubby that acts as storage. Interesting we’re told it’s relatively easy to remove and potentially replace with different forms to storage. According to MINI we should watch this space for potential future accessories. While it’s big in the MINI world, the new Countryman is clearly not big when compared to a BMW X7How Big is This Thing? The U25 MINI Countryman is all new and based on the same platform as the new BMW X1 and X2. And since those two vehicles have grown, so has the Countryman. But that growth is more about what customers want. MINI tells us that the data clearly points to owners reluctantly moving away from the brand due size. It sounds obvious for a brand called MINI. But the brand feels they can grow the Countryman slightly while still appealing to those looking for something different and smaller in the segment. So MINI’s answer was to increase the size of the Countryman while introducing a new model to bridge the gap from the Cooper. That model is the electric Aceman which will have a footprint similar to the original R60 Countryman. That strategy was key for MINI being able to grow longer by over 5” and taller by 2”. R60 Countryman (’10-’16) F60 Countryman (’17-’23)U25 Countryman (’24-’32)Length4097 mm / 161.3 in4298 mm / 169.2 in4429 mm / 174.37 inHeight1562 mm / 61.5 in1557 mm / 61.3 in1613 mm / 63.5 inWheelbase2596 mm / 102.2 in2670 mm / 105.1 in2670 mm / 105.11 inWhile the Countryman has grown, the Aceman will offer customers an R60 sized crossover.It’s no secret that the U25 Countryman shares a platform with the BMW X1. However what we didn’t know is how it differs under the skin. When MINI Design evaluated the X1 platform they immediately realized that they needed to find a way to downsize it to better fit MINI proportions. More specifically the rear overhang had to shrink. The answer came in the form of leveraging the rear section of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (not a car we get in the US) and replacing what was there in the X1. The result are proportions that not only fit a MINI shape better but a reduction in weight where you really don’t want it. To our eyes this increase in size is hidden by the proportions of this car as well as clever styling. That “blade” in the c-pillar? One reason it’s there is to break-up the length of the roof so it didn’t look like a tall station wagon. Autonomous Driving Comes to MINIs One of the biggest tech additions to the Countryman is its autonomous driving features. Driving Assistant Professional is a massive improvement over the previous adaptive cruise and is a first for the brand. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the MINI Countryman enables partially automated Level 2 driving on highways for the first time. If you’ve been following MotoringFile all year you’ll remember us exclusively reporting on this feature last spring. However until recently we didn’t have some of the final technical details. When engaged, Driving Assistant Professional allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), as long as they have their eyes on the road (as determined by an eye tracker) and are ready to intervene at any time. The thin grey strip above “set” is one of the two LED lights that lets you know the system is active Once you reach 38 MPH the system switches modes and goes into a more simplistic autonomous setting which requires a driver’s hands to rest on the wheel. However the system works identically, following traffic, the curves of the road and will even change lanes based on the driver using the turn signal. However at these speeds the system requires hands-on the wheel or at least pressure of some kind. This feature has been optional on BMWs for years and in our experience is ideal for stop and go traffic. However MINI’s system adds a new wrinkle as it can identify gaps in traffic needed to change lanes to get to an exit. It then brings the vehicle to the optimum speed for assisted lane changes. The MINI will let know when it’s successfully on via two green lights on the steering wheel. When it can’t detect your eyes (in hands-free) or hands (at higher speeds) those green lights being to flash orange. While MINI is focused on that Level 2, hands-free mode intended mostly for traffic jams, it’s the higher speed (above 38 mph) that you’ll likely find much more useful. In this mode the system uses a combination of adaptive cruise and steering input to follow well marked highways without intervention. It uses steering and lane guidance assistant and also includes lane keeping, lane change assistant with active side collision protection and the emergency stop assistant. The 2025 MINI Countryman Model Range The Countryman begins production this November in C, D and S All4 models. The electric production should begin this March alongside the new JCW Countryman. MINI Countryman – Electric ModelsDrivetrainGerman PricingUS PricingStart of ProductionU25 MINI Countryman E Electric43.500€ N/A03/2024U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4*Electric49.500€ $45,20003/2024MINI Countryman – ICE ModelsU25 MINI Countryman CICE (Petrol)39.900€ N/A11/2023U25 MINI Countryman DICE (Diesel)42.900€ N/A11/2023U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4*ICE (Petrol)45.900€ $38,90011/2023U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4*ICE (Petrol)56.500€ $46,90003/2024* Available in the USMINI Countryman C Photo Gallery The post The MINI Countryman C – First Look at The New 3 Cylinder Countryman Base Model appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

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

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

It’s been months since the J01 MINI Cooper EV was revealed and yet we still don’t have a complete list of technical details. Until today. And there are more than a few surprises. For one did you know that the J01 Cooper is fractionally wider than the forthcoming J05 Aceman crossover? Or that the J01 Cooper SE is almost 400 lbs heavier than the outgoing Cooper SE? The latter isn’t so surprising given the almost double range and amount of extra batteries in the new J01 Cooper SE. But still these numbers really give you a better idea of some of the tradeoffs and very deliberate choices made by MINI when they designed the J01. As you can see below, it would see MINI went to great lengths to match many of the dimensions of the F56, down to even the front overhang. Yes that aspect of the F56 so many of us bemoaned initially is only slightly smaller in clean sheet design of the J01. That aspect is particularly interesting to us given that MINI a clean-sheet design and the opportunity to rethink the packaging with all the freedom of that a skateboard chassis allows. ModelsJ01 Cooper EJ01 Cooper SEF56 Cooper SEJ05 Aceman SEPower184 hp 218 hp181 hp 218 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft199 lb-ft243 lb-ftTransmission1 speed1 speed1 speed1 speed0-60 mph7.3 sec6.7 sec7.2 secTBARange 190 miles250 miles140 milesTBALength (mm/inches)3858 mm / 151.8 in3858 mm / 151.8 in3850 mm / 151.5 in4079 mm / 161 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1756 mm / 69 in1756 mm / 69 in1727 mm / 68 in1754 mm / 69 inHeight (mm)1460 mm / 57 in1460 mm / 57 in1432 mm / 56.4 in1514 mm / 59.6 inWheelbase (mm)2526 mm / 99 in2526 mm / 99 in2495 mm / 98.2 in 2606 mm / 102.6 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1540 kg / 3395 lbs1605 kg / 3,538 lbs1440 kg / 3175 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbsWeight distribution (Front/Rear)F 58% / R 42%F 57% / R 43%F 54% / R 46%TBDFront Overhang746 mm / 29.3 in746 mm / 29.3 in757 mm / 29.8TBDRear Overhang586 mm / 23 in586 mm / 23 in681TBDLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down210 / 210 / 800300 / 1005 liters450 / 1450 LAlso interesting is the weight tradeoff we mentioned above. Everyone wants more range but the downside of that is more batteries and thus more weight. While that matters less in an EV where the weight is so close to the ground, it’s still worth noting. We’ve also compared some of the latest exclusive Aceman technical above giving you a picture of just how related the J01 Cooper and the J05 Aceman are. It’s safe to say that the Aceman truly is just a larger J01 Cooper with four doors. In fact the more you look at it the more you realize the Aceman isn’t a replacement for the Clubman but instead a replacement for the current F55 five door hatch. The Small Design Differences Matter No matter which you prefer, it’s clear to see that the J01 is simpler and more minimal in its overall design language. And the dimensions of the J01 are hidden better with this new design. The higher belt-line makes the car look more aggressive and upright as does the taller but more angular hood. The J01 does away with the surrounding trim yet they somehow look smaller because of how simply they are in comparison. They also sit slightly higher on the car and thus feel more upright. Then there’s the clean sides which have real curve to them vs the very flat F56. The J01 introduced dimensionality we’ve never seen on a Cooper before. The result is a car that looks more athletic with being overly aggressive as so many modern cars are. And yet the sizes are nearly the same. What do you see in this data? Let us know in the comments below. The post Exclusive: J01 2025 MINI Cooper EV Technical Details & Specifications appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

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

In our quest to due a proper send-off for the MINI Clubman before it goes out of production, we’re testing three examples of the F54 across the globe. Last week we were in the Austrian Alps and Bavaria driving a Clubman S through the biggest December snowstorm in recent memory. This week we’re in the beautiful hills of South Carolina with a Clubman JCW. It’s all in a quest to find out if it’s still as good as we remember and still the best car MINI currently sells. Due to sales and a world that can’t get enough of small crossovers, the wagon-like Clubman is being killed by MINI after an 15 year run. Beloved for its mix of utility and performance, the Clubman has become a cult favorite for the brand. And it’s been a favorite of ours. Having run two longterm test Clubman over the past few years we’ve fallen in love with the blend of utility and performance. As a wagon (even if MINI won’t call it that) it has can deliver almost all of the utility a crossover offers with none of the performance trade-offs. Having driven a Clubman on everything from the Dragon to the track to snow covers mountain roads we can confidently say there is nothing that comes close to the broad capabilities of the Clubman – especially in JCW form. Saying it will be missed is a massive understatement. So journey with us to the hills of South Carolina where we have an Island Blue MINI Clubman JCW at our disposal. And stay tuned for part 3 in this series later this winter. The Brief (Modern) History of the Clubman The original R55 Clubman was a bit divisive. With the third door on the wrong side for right-hand drive markets, it was looked at as the “other” MINI even by the brand’s own marketing. While we loved the concept, it never really jelled for us as it felt too close to the R56 and didn’t find the sweet spot that the F54 ultimately did in terms of utility and performance. The F54 Clubman on the other hand has been our favorite MINI model since its introduction in 2015. We’ve run three of them over the years – a manual Cooper S All4, the 228 hp JCW and most recently a 306 hp JCW. While all were great cars, the 306 hp JCW Clubman was and is a watershed product for the brand. MINI Clubman JCW Review Photo Gallery The post Review: The 301 HP MINI Clubman JCW – Is It Still The Best MINI Available? appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Last week we exclusively brought you the first look at the detailed technical specifications of the MINI Aceman. The small crossover looks promising with a size below the Countryman and more aligned with MINIs of the past. But we hadn’t been able to fully confirm it’s model line-up until now. The MINI Aceman will initially launch with two models; the base Aceman E and the faster Aceman SE. The entry level E will have 184hp ad 214 lb-ft while the SE will pump out 218 hp and 243 lb-ft. The big news is that we can now confirm the MINI Aceman JCW. This model will develop well over 250 hp along with a revised suspension and braking system. ModelsJ05 Aceman E J05 Aceman SEJ05 Aceman JCWU25 MINI Countryman SEPower184 hp 218 hp*250 hp +313 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft*280 lb-ft +365 lb-ft* Estimated The Aceman and the U25 MINI Countryman. As you can see the Aceman is much closer to the original R60 Countryman in size.The Aceman is slotted below the new MINI Countryman and effectively replaces the wagon-like Clubman. However the most interesting thing about it may be its size. Aceman measures in at be 4079mm / 161in in length which is (not surprisingly) quite a bit smaller than the 4444mm / 175in U25 Countryman. However what’s really interesting is comparing this new MINI crossover with the original 2010 R60 Countryman. The R60 was 4119mm / 162.2in making that original Countryman actually larger than the new Aceman. The same can be said inside; R60 shoulder width is 1341mm / 52.8in which is smaller than the 1370mm in the Aceman. Similarly the Aceman has more front legroom with the R60 offering 1025mm / 40.4in versus 1045 mm / 41.1in. One big distinctions between the Aceman and Countryman will be wheels driven. Unlike the electric Countryman which offers ALL4, the Aceman will be front wheel drive and likely share its drivetrain design with the electric Cooper. While MINI might eventually squeeze in a second motor creating an ALL4 capable car, its relation to the J01 Cooper means that could be unlikely. Production plans are still a little foggy but we believe we’ll see the E and SE models launch in Q1 of 2025 with deliveries destined for Europe, South America and Asia happening later that spring. The US market will not see the Aceman until it makes its production transition to the Oxford plant in the UK in 2026. That would allow the car to be sold without the tariffs associated with Chinese production and should mean at least the higher output models will be imported. That move will also allow for the Aceman to move to MINI’s historic Oxford home alongside the electric J01 Cooper and the legacy ICE F66 Cooper. For more information on the Aceman reach out exclusive report on it’s technical specification published last week: The post Exclusive: The MINI Aceman Model Line-up Reveled Including Full JCW Offering appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

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

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

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