Вся активность

Join us over the next week as we look back at some of the biggest stories of our year – starting with the past imagining the future. One of the subjects that resonated most with our readers in 2025 wasn’t current or even future MINIs, but concepts from years, and in some cases decades, ago. So we wanted to step back and look at those stories that reveal just how central concept cars remain to MINI’s identity and to the questions enthusiasts are asking right now. The Backbone of the Conversation At the center of nearly every concept-related discussion in 2025 was our story The Complete History of MINI Concept Cars. 1995 to Present. What stood out wasn’t just the amount of clicks it got but the repeat visits we saw. It became a reference point. A way to connect decades of experimentation and understand how MINI uses concept cars less as styling exercises and more as strategic signals. That story quietly underpinned nearly every other concept piece we published this year. Rethinking the 1990s as a Turning Point Let’s start a true beginning of the new MINI – How Rover’s Futuristic Spiritual Concepts Nearly Rewrote MINI History. The article challenged the assumption that the 1990s were a creative dead end for MINI. Instead, it revealed a moment when the brand nearly took a radically different path. One defined by extreme minimalism, engineering purity, and efficiency above emotion. It was a future that made sense technically, but ultimately gave way to a more emotional, premium-led revival under BMW. The response made it clear that readers were just as interested in the roads MINI did not take as the ones it ultimately chose. The Concept That Set the Tone That alternate timeline flowed naturally out deep dive into a critical 90’s concept: The MINI ACV 30. A Look Back at MINI’s Most Wild Concept. ACV 30 continues to stand apart because it achieved exactly what a concept car is supposed to do. It convinced decision-makers. It established confidence. And it directly shaped the car that ultimately saved the brand. In hindsight, it reads less like a wild experiment and more like a perfectly timed intervention. When MINI Was Right Too Early Design-led passion reached a peak with the renewed focus on Rocketman and Superleggera. Our video – The MINI Rocketman Story. From Its Unlikely Origins to a Possible Future reignited interest in one of MINI’s most beloved modern concepts. Rocketman anticipated downsizing, electrification, and urban efficiency long before those ideas became mainstream. That conversation deepened further with The MINI Rocketman Story. How It Could Be Reborn, which explored why the concept feels more relevant now than when it first appeared. Readers responded to the idea that Rocketman was not a missed moment, but a delayed one. Alongside Rocketman, The Secret MINI Superleggera Prototype and How It Almost Went Into Production reinforced a familiar theme. MINI has often been right too early. The ideas were sound. The execution was viable. The timing was not. Rediscovering the Forgotten Ideas Even concepts once treated as curiosities found new relevance. The article – Forgotten JCW Concept. MINI Clubman Vision Gran Turismo surprised many readers with how forward-looking it now appears. What once seemed like a digital fantasy reads today as an early exploration of performance branding, aggressive design language, and capability that later became central to MINI’s identity. In hindsight, it feels less forgotten and more prematurely dismissed. But one historical concept story stood above all others. The single biggest concept car story of 2025 was MINI Superleggera Approved. The Electric Roadster That Never Reached Production. The revelation that the Superleggera was not just admired internally, but formally approved, reframed the car entirely. It was no longer a beautiful what-if. It became a genuine road not taken. Reader reaction was immediate and emotional (if not a bit frustrated). That interest deepened with our video The MINI Superleggera. How MINI’s Most Beautiful Car Almost Went Into Production, which added firsthand insight and visual clarity to a story that continues to resonate. You can read more in MotoringFile’s concept section https://www.motoringfile.com/section/design/mini-concept-cars The post 2025 Rewind: Looking Back at MINI’s History of Concept Cars appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

For a North America based site like MotoringFile, time behind the wheel of the new J01 electric MINI Cooper has been frustratingly limited. And until recently, the electric JCW variant had remained completely out of reach. That changed when one of our European contributors spent several hours driving both the electric J01 JCW and the petrol powered F66 JCW back to back. The result was a rare opportunity to experience MINI’s two performance flagships side by side. Same badge. Same intent. Very different execution. Here’s what we learned. Electric JCW vs Petrol JCW (F66) If you step straight out of the petrol powered F66 JCW and into the electric J01, the contrast is immediate. The petrol car feels alive in a way that builds with revs, noise, and mechanical interaction. The electric JCW does not build anything. It simply goes hard from the moment you hit the pedal. What’s really interesting is that many of us have complained about the new F66 JCW losing some of its soul. But back-to-back with the J01 JCW, there’s plenty of character, and in fact, that’s the first thing you notice between the two. Beyond how quick the J01 feels off the line. Acceleration is instant and forceful, especially at lower and mid range speeds. Around town and on short stretches of road, it feels quicker than the F66 because there is no waiting. No downshifts. No hesitation. You squeeze the throttle and the car responds immediately. What you lose is escalation. The petrol JCW eggs you on. The electric JCW delivers its best work early and then maintains it. It is effective, but flatter in character. You are aware that you are moving very quickly, but the sensory drama is muted by comparison. Managing the Weight The electric JCW carries real mass, and you feel it before you see it on a spec sheet. MINI has done an impressive job hiding that weight most of the time, but when you’re pushing the J01 it never disappears entirely. Turn in is sharp and confident. The front end bites well and there is plenty of grip, especially on smooth roads. The car feels planted and secure, and at normal fast road speeds it comes across as very composed. Steering is quick and accurate, though lighter on feedback than past JCWs. Push harder and the weight starts to assert itself. Heavy braking zones and rapid direction changes reveal that this is not a playful car in the traditional MINI sense. It grips hard and stays disciplined, but it does not dance. Compared to the F66, which feels eager to rotate and adjust mid corner, the electric JCW prefers clean, committed inputs. Real World Range Driven normally, the electric JCW indicated a realistic range of roughly 180 to 200 miles. However as I learned into the throttle more and more and the range dropped quickly. This is not surprising given the car’s character. It invites frequent bursts of acceleration, and those moments come at a cost. Officially, the electric MINI Cooper JCW J01 is rated for up to roughly 250 miles of range on the WLTP cycle, a figure that looks respectable on paper but quickly reveals its optimism in real use. The JCW’s performance focus and wider tires take a toll on efficiency, and driven normally it is clear the usable range sits well below the headline number. Charging speeds are solid rather than standout, with DC fast charging peaking around 95 kW, allowing a 10 to 80 percent charge in roughly 30 minutes under ideal conditions. That makes quick top ups easy enough, but it reinforces the sense that this JCW is designed for shorter, high impact drives rather than long distance touring. Does It Feel Like a Real JCW? This is the question that matters most, and the answer depends on what you value in a JCW. In terms of intent, the electric JCW absolutely earns its badge. It is quick, focused, and feels engineered rather than merely upgraded. The suspension, brakes, and overall tuning clearly go beyond the standard electric Cooper. Emotionally, it is a different experience. Without an engine or gearbox, much of the interaction is filtered through speed and grip rather than sound and mechanical feedback. The synthetic sound adds some theatre, but it never fully replaces the connection you get from a petrol JCW working hard. The result is a JCW that feels as if its matured a bit. One that feels more serious and more controlled while being even more point and shoot in its performance output. Less mischievous. Less raw. More grown up. Final Thoughts While I only had a few hours behind the wheel I came away with the distinct feeling that the electric MINI Cooper JCW J01 feels less like a replacement for the petrol JCW and more like a parallel interpretation. It delivers real performance, impressive chassis tuning, and everyday usability, but it does so in a calmer, more composed way. For drivers coming from other performance EVs, this will feel engaging, distinctive, and properly quick. For long time JCW fans, especially those who love the character of the F66, F56, and earlier generations, the electric JCW will feel familiar in shape and intent but different in soul. This is JCW translated into a new language. Whether that feels like progress or compromise will depend on how much you value noise, drama, and mechanical involvement versus immediacy, control and effortless electric performance. The post Driven: The Electric MINI Cooper JCW J01 vs Petrol F66 JCW appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

With federal EV tax credits gone in the US, the electric vehicle market is entering a more uncertain and more telling phase. Incentives that once helped normalize higher EV pricing are disappearing, forcing brands and buyers alike to reassess value, demand, and long term commitment to electrification. For MINI USA, that transition is arriving at a particularly pivotal moment. Perhaps biggest change (other than pricing) is how MINI is stocking the Countryman SE for the US market. MotoringFile has confirmed that MINI USA is no longer building the Countryman SE for dealer stock. Going forward, new Countryman SEs will only be produced if a customer places a specific order. That effectively transforms MINI’s most important electric model in the US into a build to order vehicle, dramatically reducing on lot availability and making spontaneous showroom purchases increasingly unlikely. For many dealers, remaining inventory will likely be the last chance for walk in buyers to drive one home without a wait. This shift has meaningful implications. Limited dealer inventory reduces visibility, test drive opportunities, and casual consideration, all factors that have historically helped drive EV adoption. At the same time, the loss of federal tax credits removes a key financial incentive that previously helped offset the Countryman SE’s higher upfront cost compared to internal combustion alternatives. Together, those forces could dampen short term sales even if underlying interest remains. From MINI’s perspective, the move suggests a more cautious and disciplined approach to EV volume in the US. Rather than pushing cars into dealer lots amid softening demand and fewer incentives, MINI appears to be aligning production directly with confirmed buyers. That strategy reduces risk but also places more responsibility on marketing, education, and the ordering process itself. The broader question is what this signals for EV adoption more generally. As incentives fade and supply becomes more selective, EVs may increasingly appeal to intentional buyers rather than curious ones. For the Countryman SE, the next chapter in the US will be defined less by incentives and inventory and more by how compelling the product is on its own merits in a market that is no longer being nudged by policy. The post MINI USA to Build Countryman SE Only for Customer Orders as EV Incentives Fade appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

After years of waiting, MINI drivers can now access North American Charging Standard (NACS)–equipped charging stations, including Tesla Superchargers. But how does it all work? Let’s take a look. As you can see the video below, it’s all quite easy. The first part is getting an approved NACS DC charging adapter. BMW and MINI recommends the Lectron Vortex Plus DC adapter for use with BMW vehicles. You can purchase this adapter from Lectron here: https://www.ev-lectron.com/MINI MINI’s NACS to CCS adapter The Lectron Vortex Plus NACS to CCS adapter for MINI is a purpose-built plug that lets MINI EV owners connect their car’s CCS charging port to Tesla Superchargers across North America, unlocking fast DC charging at over 25,000 locations. Engineered with a MINI-approved interlock system and UL 2252 certification for safe high-power charging, it’s rated up to 500 A and 1,000 V (500 kW), giving you the ability to add up to 150 miles of range in about 15 minutes depending on charger and vehicle conditions. Because it’s designed specifically for MINI, it ensures a secure connection without extra steps; you simply plug the Supercharger into the adapter and then into your MINI, with charging initiating through plug-and-charge or your MINI app. A Massive Increase in Charging Network Tesla opening its Supercharger network to BMW and MINI marks a significant shift in the EV ownership experience, instantly expanding the practical charging footprint available to drivers. For BMW and MINI owners, it means access to one of the largest, most reliable fast-charging networks in North America, dramatically reducing range anxiety and making long-distance travel simpler and more predictable. Tesla’s network is known not just for scale but for uptime, ease of use, and consistent charging speeds, areas where public charging has often lagged. By tapping into this infrastructure through NACS adapters and future native support, BMW and MINI effectively leapfrog years of incremental charging build-out, giving customers thousands of additional high-power chargers overnight and accelerating EV adoption by removing one of the biggest remaining barriers to ownership. Related Stories: The post How to Charge your MINI Countryman SE at Tesla Superchargers appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The EU has effectively walked back its planned 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine sales, a cornerstone assumption behind MINI’s push toward an all electric lineup by 2030. With regulators now allowing multiple paths to hit emissions targets, the future just got a lot more flexible. What does that mean for MINI? More choice, more time, and far fewer hard deadlines driven by politics instead of customers. Here’s how. Under newly negotiated proposals, manufacturers will instead be required to cut CO2 emissions by 90 per cent compared with 2021 levels by 2035. That leaves room not just for battery electric vehicles but for plug–in hybrids, synthetic fuels and pure petrol or diesel engines to continue on sale in Europe beyond the end of the decade. This policy reversal reflects intense pressure from major EU car producing nations and industry lobbyists who argued the original mandate was unrealistic given current demand patterns, charging infrastructure gaps and global competition from Chinese EV makers. Under the new framework, vehicles with internal combustion engines will still count toward fleet targets so long as overall emissions are contained, with credits available for things like biofuels and low carbon steel. BMW & MINI’s Strategy Suddenly Looks Ahead of Its Time For BMW Group, this represents a validation of a strategy quietly in motion years ago. BMW’s power of choice strategy is built around flexibility rather than dogma, giving customers multiple paths forward instead of forcing a single solution. Rather than betting the company on one technology or one regulatory outcome, BMW has structured its product portfolio (including MINI’s) allowing combustion and fully electric offerings in parallel. This allows the brand to respond to regional regulations, infrastructure readiness and real world customer demand while continuing to reduce fleet emissions. The approach also preserves engineering know how in combustion and hybrid systems, supports investment in next generation EV architectures like Neue Klasse, and keeps BMW and MINI resilient in a market where political timelines and consumer adoption rarely move in lockstep. At the time, some saw that as hedging, others as realism. Today’s policy shift makes it clear BMW’s view was not just cautious but prescient. What it Might Mean for Future MINIs MINI’s future has been a subject of intense debate since the brand briefly flirted with an all-electric identity by 2030. Previously, MINI had signaled it would end combustion models by 2030. More recently MINI has walked that back saying that the future was more uncertain. This move solidifies that. With the EU’s 2035 ban effectively diluted, MINI now has far greater flexibility in how it approaches its next generation of cars. Rather than being forced down an exclusively electric path by regulation, MINI can make product decisions based as much on customer demand, as regulations. That means two could see the following: Combustion Cooper models could persist in Europe alongside electrified variants well into the 2030s Plug-in hybrids could become a core part of MINI’s portfolio, giving performance fans range confidence without pure EV compromises Future combustion engines could eventually be optimized for synthetic fuels and biofuel compatibility, keeping tailpipe CO2 in check This regulatory certainty removes one of the biggest strategic overhangs for MINI’s product planners. Instead of having to chase a politically driven deadline, MINI can evolve its range with a clear view of where customers actually want to go. A New Era of Choice Critics of the original 2035 ban argued it risked alienating buyers who were not ready or able to switch to EVs, particularly in rural areas or smaller markets where charging infrastructure is sparse. Supporters of the reversal say the new plan balances decarbonisation goals with technological diversity and consumer adaptability. From BMW’s perspective, having a flexible, multi-powertrain strategy was always about managing risk and preserving capability in an uncertain future. Now the regulatory backdrop matches that industrial reality. For MINI, a brand built on personality, fun and accessibility, keeping combustion engines in play means its products can continue to resonate with a broader range of buyers while the transition to electrification plays out at its own pace. Europe may still be on a path to dramatically lower emissions, but the route looks less absolute and more nuanced than it did a few months ago. For BMW and MINI, that could be the best news of all. The post EU Drops 2035 ICE Ban: How It Might Affect Future MINIs appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI’s interior material strategy has just received one of the highest validations possible from the industry. The brand’s knitted interior textile has been named the overall winner of the SPE Automotive Award 2025, also taking the Grand Award in the Body Interior category. It is one of the most prestigious honors in the plastics industry, with the Grand Award reserved for the single best submission across all categories. That recognition matters because it is not about styling or trend chasing. It is about material innovation. And at the center of it is textile. Across the current MINI generation, knitted fabric has moved from accent to architecture. Dashboards, door panels, and center consoles are now defined by a purpose built knit that is designed to be seen, touched, and used every day. This is not fabric applied for effect. It is a structural interior material developed specifically for automotive use, balancing durability, sustainability, and design expression. As we have covered over the last two years, this shift has prompted real questions from MINI owners. How will textile surfaces wear over time. How easy are they to clean. Do fabrics belong in areas traditionally dominated by leather and soft touch plastics. Those concerns are understandable, particularly for a brand whose cars are often daily driven and kept for the long term. While early experiences are promising, we won’t know how well the new material holds up long-term for a few more years. What tends to get lost in that conversation is how engineered this material actually is. MINI’s knit is abrasion resistant, structurally reinforced, and largely made from recycled polyester, significantly reducing CO2e emissions and water consumption compared to primary materials. It is also completely leather free, aligning with MINI’s broader sustainability goals without sacrificing tactile quality. Vescin, MINI’s high quality faux leather used in seating and select touch points, plays a supporting role. It provides familiarity where needed. But the defining material of MINI’s latest interiors, and the one now validated at the highest level, is textile. And now we’re seeing validation of the strategy in the form of an industry award. What do you think? Has MINI made the right move in innovating in this area or should they have stayed with more traditional interior materials? The post MINI’s Recycled Knit Interior is Now Award Winning Despite Early Criticism appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Over the last few years, MINI has quietly transformed how features are delivered, activated, and paid for. What once came bundled at purchase is now increasingly handled through software, digital services, and subscriptions that live inside MINI Connected. It is a shift that mirrors the wider industry, but it raises an important question for owners and prospective buyers alike. What are you really paying for, and is any of it worth it? In our latest video we walk through MINI’s current digital subscription offerings in detail. Not just what they are, but how they work in the real world, how much they cost, and where the value actually lands depending on how you use your car. If you have been confused by MINI’s digital offerings, wondering what happens when trials end, or questioning whether to tap the subscribe button at all, this video is for you. The post MINI’s Digital Subscriptions Explained: What You Actually Get and If They’re Worth Paying For appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI has begun rolling out a major software update for the electric Countryman SE that has the chance to radically change how owners charge their cars for owners in North America. Beyond the new charging flexibility, MINI is also updating apps, navigation while charging, and refinements to MINI OS 9. Here are the details. Tesla Supercharger Access Comes to the Countryman SE The headline feature for North American owners is official support for the North American Charging Standard, or NACS. With this update, the electric Countryman SE can now charge at stations equipped with NACS, including Tesla Superchargers, using an approved adapter. Once the adapter is purchased and set up in the MINI app, NACS charging locations appear directly within the vehicle’s navigation system and app based search. MINI is positioning this as a seamless extension of the existing charging experience rather than a separate workaround. Adapter availability details are expected to be communicated through the MINI app and email. For U.S. and Canadian owners, this significantly expands fast charging access and improves real world usability, especially in regions where CCS infrastructure remains inconsistent. Smarter Charging Breaks and Better Navigation Context MINI has also improved how the Countryman SE handles charging stops within navigation. A new Charging POI Nearby filter allows drivers to select charging stations based on what is around them, such as cafes, grocery stores, restaurants, or restrooms. This is a subtle but important shift in how MINI is thinking about EV ownership. Charging stops are no longer treated as dead time. The system now actively helps drivers make better use of those breaks based on personal preference. The navigation interface itself has been refined with clearer presentation and easier access to nearby amenities while charging. In Car Streaming Expands With Disney Plus The update also adds Disney Plus to the MINI Connected Store, allowing in car streaming directly on the circular OLED display. This feature requires the MINI Connected Package and an active Disney Plus subscription. It is designed for use while parked or charging and further reinforces MINI’s strategy of making the cabin a more livable space during downtime. It also aligns closely with the new charging nearby features, turning charging stops into something closer to a pause than an interruption. MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant Gets New Voices MINI’s Intelligent Personal Assistant has been updated with two new voice options, giving drivers the choice between a male or female voice. Setup is handled through the Personal Assistant menu or via the microphone button, after which the system responds as normal to the Hey MINI wake command. MINI notes that a required language package will download automatically following the update. While this is not a transformational change, it improves personalization and response accuracy and continues MINI’s steady refinement of OS 9. A Clear Signal of MINI’s Software First Approach Taken as a whole, this update reinforces MINI’s shift toward treating vehicles like evolving platforms rather than static products. The improvements are practical, owner focused, and delivered quietly through software rather than model year changes. For North American Countryman SE owners, Tesla Supercharger access via NACS is the most significant takeaway. It materially improves ownership and lowers one of the biggest friction points in EV adoption. Combined with smarter charging navigation, expanded in car apps, and continued OS 9 refinement, this update makes the electric Countryman easier and more enjoyable to live with. The post Tesla Supercharger Access Comes to the Electric MINI Countryman SE appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The Improbable Story of How MINI Outlasted the Rest of the British Motoring Industry British automotive history is littered with proud names that lost their way. Some drifted until the market forgot them. Others shrank, staggered or simply ran out of road. A few were propped up by foreign owners and waves of capital that promised reinvention but delivered little more than confusion. Through all that turbulence, MINI has refused to follow that script. It did not merely outlive the collapse of the British industry. It flourished. And it did so by letting BMW rebuild an English icon with surgical precision while protecting the irreverent spirit that made the original unforgettable. With next year marking the twenty fifth anniversary of the modern MINI, it feels overdue to call the brand’s rebirth what it truly is: the single most successful story in British automotive history since the turn of the century. No story highlights that contrast more starkly than Jaguar’s. Once the embodiment of British luxury, Jaguar has spent the last decade searching for relevance in a market that moved past the traditional sedan long before the company did. Its volumes have collapsed to under sixty thousand units a year worldwide. The brand’s attempted reinvention as an all electric ultra luxury maker has been slow to materialize. And the sudden firing of its head of design this year revealed just how unsettled things remain inside the house. It was a reminder that foreign ownership and capital can keep the lights on, but they cannot manufacture identity. Jaguar has ideas, but it does not yet have direction. Lotus is a different case but no less instructive. Under Geely, the brand finally has the capital it lacked for decades, and yet scale remains the mountain it has never been able to climb. The Emira is beloved but low volume. The all electric Eletre and Emeya gave the company a real chance at the mainstream, but so far have failed to connect in the volumes expected. The engineering DNA is still brilliant, but brilliance does not automatically become a business. Sales are way off this year. Aston Martin remains the most dramatic example of the British cycle. New leadership, new investors, new turnaround plans and new product strategies arrive like weather systems. Every few years comes another bold reset. Every few years the company must raise more capital to survive it. The cars are emotional and occasionally spectacular. The business is not. This is the story of a brand with global recognition but no stable foundation beneath it. Even Land Rover the strongest British marque by raw volume is facing its own reckoning. Defender and Range Rover are enormous success stories, but the company behind them is being reshaped by the cost of electrification and a complete platform overhaul that will stress every part of the business. JLR has winners, but its long term footing is not as certain as the product success might suggest. And then there is MINI. In the late nineties the original Mini was barely moving seventy thousand units annually. When BMW launched the modern MINI in 2001, sales more than doubled almost immediately, clearing one hundred sixty thousand in the first full year. Five years later the brand surged past two hundred thousand. By 2012 it topped three hundred thousand globally. At its peak MINI moved beyond three hundred seventy thousand units a year and became one of BMW Group’s most efficient profit engines. That profitability is not myth or nostalgia. In 2024 MINI’s global head Stefanie Wurst stated that the brand’s profit margin is now higher than BMW’s and even higher than Rolls Royce. To put that in context, BMW’s Automotive division historically targets an EBIT margin of roughly 8 to 10 percent. For MINI to exceed that benchmark means it is delivering margins above several mainstream BMW lines. MINI is a small car brand operating with luxury-brand efficiency. That is something no other British marque under foreign ownership has achieved. Even as the global small car segment shrank in 2023, MINI climbed to roughly two hundred ninety five thousand units worldwide. The electric Cooper SE became one of Europe’s best selling premium small EVs. Transaction prices rose. Mix shifted upward. MINI once again outperformed a market that has punished almost every other small car maker. None of this means MINI is free of risk. Oxford’s EV transition has shifted. The combustion lineup is living on borrowed time. Regulations are tightening around the segments MINI depends on. But the brand enters this next chapter from a position every British peer would trade for. A coherent identity. A loyal global customer base. A profitable business model. And the engineering and industrial discipline of BMW Group behind it. The reason MINI thrives is simple. BMW never tried to overwrite the brand. It sharpened it. The modern cars keep the humor and attitude of the 1959 original but pair them with engineering rigor the old British industry could not sustain. MINI stayed British where it mattered and became global everywhere it needed to. Heritage drags most brands backward. MINI turned it into propulsion. Jaguar wrestled with identity despite capital and reinvention. Lotus wrestled with reinvention despite finally having funding. Aston Martin wrestled with survival despite global recognition. MINI alone translated its past into a commercially healthy and culturally relevant future. In a British automotive landscape defined by volatility and stalled reinventions, MINI stands alone. The rare survivor. The one that grew. The one that proved an English brand can still thrive on the world stage when charm, engineering and clarity finally align. The post How MINI Became the Most Successful British Car Brand of the Modern Era appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI’s latest driver assistance technology has quietly become one of our favorite upgrades in years. However it can be a daunting system to use given that you’re handing over control of your car at highway speeds. So we created a quick video that gives all you need to know in under five minutes. Watch the video: How to Master MINI’s New Assisted Driving in Five Minutes The New Sensor and Software Platform Behind MINI’s Assisted Driving Key to getting the most out of the new system is understanding its operation and settings but also having a bit of trust in the tech behind it all. MINI’s latest assisted driving capability is built on a modern sensor fusion platform that brings the Cooper and Countryman closer than ever. A high resolution forward camera handles lane detection, vehicles, pedestrians, signs, and road edges. A long range front radar provides stable depth and speed data in conditions where cameras struggle, which is why adaptive cruise now feels so composed in heavy traffic or rain. Ultrasonic sensors manage close range mapping and the subtle corrections needed for smoother centering. The Countryman adds short range side radar to unlock hands off highway support and more reliable automated lane changes, hardware that has not yet arrived on the J01 or F66 Coopers. Where MINI has made its biggest leap is software. The new perception stack uses BMW’s latest machine learning models for lane prediction and object recognition. Driving Assistant Plus benefits from predictive longitudinal control that anticipates speed changes rather than reacting only to the car ahead. Lateral control is also substantially improved, delivering steadier steering support through curves and lane transitions. All of this is enabled by a higher bandwidth electronic architecture in the new Cooper and Countryman that moves sensor data faster and allows for the refined behavior we are now seeing on the road. Now Available on MINI Countryman – Soon on the Cooper Driving Assistant Pro, available across the entire Countryman range and soon expanding to the Cooper models, is far more capable than any we have seen from MINI with its previous generation. Bringing advanced lane centering, adaptive cruise, and hands off functionality to every trim level finally makes MINI competitive with the mainstream in daily usability. A couple weeks later we broke down the sensor package and software logic behind the new system in the Countryman and Cooper. That story highlighted how MINI’s move to a more modular sensor architecture prepares the brand for faster updates and over the air improvements. In other words, this is not a static feature set. MINI is building a foundation for continuous evolution. The modern BMW system mirrors most of what we see in the MINI The video above brings all of that reporting to life. We show what the system looks like in the real world, how it behaves when lane markings fade, how it reacts to cut ins, and what the limits are. Just as important, we explain the user experience. MINI’s interface for activation, disengagement, and mode transitions is surprisingly intuitive once you see it demonstrated. If you have a new Cooper or Countryman with the latest assistance package, this is the quickest way to understand the system. If you are considering ordering one, it gives you a clear sense of how MINI’s technology has grown well beyond the early lane assist systems of the previous generation. More videos are coming as MINI continues to expand its digital and driver assistance capabilities. For now, dive into the full guide and let us know what you want us to cover next. Watch the full video here: The post Video Guide: How to Master MINI’s New Assisted Driving in Five Minutes appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Every brand has its great what-ifs, but MINI’s biggest almost-car wasn’t just radical, it would have changed the brand forever. In the late 1990s, long before the reborn MINI took shape in Munich, Rover’s design team created a pair of concepts so radical they look even futuristic today. These were small cars built around pure packaging genius, with mid-mounted drivetrains tucked into ten-foot footprints and cabins pushed forward in a way that made the classic Mini feel almost conservative. They were not retro, not premium oriented and not what anyone expected from the future of MINI. Yet inside Rover there was genuine belief that these ideas might be the ones to carry the icon into the next century. Then everything changed. The Radical Reinvention of the Mini Formula The Spiritual program began inside Rover at a moment when the company was wrestling with how to evolve an automotive icon for modern regulations and customer expectations. Rather than start by sketching a retro shape, Rover’s team stripped the Mini idea down to its core principles. Maximum space. Minimum footprint. Clever engineering used not for novelty but for honest functional gain. The answer was radical. A one-box layout in both three and five door formats. A rear or mid-mounted powertrain. A compact ten-foot overall length that matched the classic Mini yet unlocked a cabin that felt a class larger. Rover’s design and engineering teams took Issigonis logic and extended it into something that bordered on futuristic. The concepts were lightweight, impossibly efficient and visually unlike anything the brand had ever produced. But there was a battle brewing for Mini’s future and it involved a completely separate design team working in Germany. nevertheless inside BMW, there was real admiration for what these cars represented. BMW Group boss Bernd Pischetsrieder was reportedly struck by how far ahead of the market they were. He was not wrong. The late 90s simply were not ready for this level of minimalism and unconventional engineering in the small premium space. The Italian Connection One of the most fascinating chapters of the Spiritual story sits far from the UK or Munich. At the beginning of the summer of 1995, Rover commissioned STOLA S.p.A. in Rivoli, Italy to produce two full see-through hard models for the upcoming 1996 Geneva Motor Show. The brief was clear. These were to represent a completely new, thoroughly English vision for a future Mini that would signal BMW’s ambitions for the brand. STOLA delivered the models on schedule. They were ready for Geneva. The concepts were polished, presentable and aligned with Rover’s belief that the world should see how boldly its design teams were thinking about the future. Then everything paused and the design battle begin, but more on that later this week. Not surprisingly BMW decided to postpone their public unveiling. The two models were quietly returned to STOLA at the end of 1996, repainted, refined and prepared for an introduction the following year. What should have been a 1996 reveal became a 1997 moment instead. The ACV30 next to the Spiritual Concept What MINI Lost and What MINI Gained Had the Spiritual line advanced into production, MINI today would look very different. The brand would likely have evolved into a leader in urban efficiency and advanced packaging rather than style-forward premium performance. Lightweight engineering might have been core to MINI’s DNA. Retro design cues might never have taken hold. Yet MINI gained something important by not choosing this path. The decision forced BMW to articulate what the MINI brand should stand for globally. Emotional design linked to performance, personality and playfulness. A premium experience in a compact footprint. The result was a completely different kind of success. The Spiritual concepts did not disappear though. Their DNA resurfaced in later MINI ideas such as the Rocketman, and echoes of their minimalist philosophy can be seen in modern urban EV design across the industry. Legacy of the MINI That Never Was The Spiritual and Spiritual 2 concepts remain two of the most revealing chapters in MINI’s development history. They were not hidden experiments. They were fully realized visions that nearly carried the icon into the next century with a philosophy rooted in purity rather than nostalgia. They were ambitious, advanced and genuinely ahead of their time. They were also a reminder that the cars that do not make production can be just as important as the ones that do. In another timeline, these concepts would have reshaped MINI completely. In this one, they stand as extraordinary signals of what might have been and what MINI chose to become instead. The post How Rover’s Futuristic Spiritual Concepts Nearly Rewrote MINI History appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The all new BMW iX3 is the first SUV built on the Neue Klasse platform and it is already drawing praise for its dynamics and tech. But it’s the underlying tech and how it will affect future MINIs that has us excited. MINI will share the platform, processors and battery tech from thew Neue Klasse vehicles like the iX3 on the Countryman and perhaps the rest of the range. But what it will not share is the iX3’s size. The Neue Klasse platform has been engineered to flex from the footprint of the Countryman all the way to the X7. MINI will use the smaller end of that spectrum which allows the Countryman to stay true to its proportions while taking full advantage of the newest engineering baked into the system. The iX3 Driving Experience Gives Us the Best Preview of MINI’s Future Early iX3 reviews published on BimmerFile have been surprisingly unified. This is not another incremental EV. It is BMW Group’s first real expression of what the next decade of electric SUVs will feel like. Reviewers highlight three major themes. Sharper dynamics. Autocar, Car and Driver and others point to steering precision that feels more natural and a chassis that seems lighter on its toes despite the size. A new generation of electric motors. Power delivery in the iX3 is smoother, more immediate and more efficient thanks to BMW’s sixth generation eDrive units. Better battery integration. The Drive notes how BMW’s new modular packs contribute to better balance and a more composed ride on rough roads. It also charges up to 400kW compared to 130kW on the current Countryman SE. You can see the full roundup here: Across all of them there is a consistent tone. Neue Klasse is a step-change moment for BMW Group. And because MINI will sit on the same foundation and use the same tech, that change is headed straight for the Countryman. How the iX3 Shapes the Next MINI Countryman MINI has confirmed that the next generation Countryman is moving to Neue Klasse and will launch in 2032. That gives MINI a full cycle of engineering maturation before the brand jumps onto the platform. The benefits will be significant. 1. A Massive Upgrade in Electric Drive Technology The sixth generation eDrive motors used in the iX3 will also underpin MINI’s future EVs. Expect more efficiency, more punch off the line and a driving refinement that has been missing from the current Countryman EV. A big part of this is the “Heart of Joy” processing unit which offers enormous processing power dedicated solely to driving engagement. 2. Lighter, Better Balanced Packaging Neue Klasse’s modular battery design does more than boost range. It allows engineers to lower mass, distribute weight more intelligently and sharpen handling. Everything reviewers praise in the iX3’s composure will help MINI deliver the most capable and predictable Countryman yet. 3. A More Agile, More MINI-like Feel The platform’s structural and suspension advancements make big cars drive smaller. That is exactly the trait MINI depends on. While the Countryman will grow only slightly compared to the current model, the architecture will allow MINI engineers to tune the crossover into something far more responsive than the present UKL-based version. 4. A Real Leap Forward in Tech Neue Klasse introduces a new electrical architecture designed for faster computation, higher bandwidth, better sensor integration and long term software updates. MINI has been candid that the next wave of its core models will take a major step up in digital experience. The Neue Klasse base makes that shift possible. Why Platform Sharing Does Not Mean a Bigger Countryman MINI fans often worry that platform partnerships with BMW will push the brand toward bigger footprints. In this case the opposite is true. BMW built Neue Klasse to be flexible. It can support the size of a Countryman, the footprint of an X3 and the mass and wheelbase needed for an X7. MINI plans to sit on the smaller end of the spectrum which allows the Countryman to grow only minimally while still inheriting the same tech, structural improvements and electric powertrain found in the iX3. The Updated Countryman Timeline Why the Wait Matters According to the latest from your October 2025 report: The current U25-generation Countryman will be extended, with production now confirmed to continue until at least 2032. Meanwhile, the switch-over to a full Neue Klasse–based Countryman EV has been pushed out four years — from what had been roughly 2028 to 2032. In the interim, MINI plans at least two life-cycle updates (LCIs) for the current U25 Countryman, the first of which begins with March 2026 production; that likely includes updates to the existing EV versions to improve range and charging performance. In short: the next “true” Countryman under Neue Klasse won’t arrive until around 2032 — which buys BMW Group time to refine the architecture, but also means MINI buyers won’t get the full benefits immediately. What the Delay Means And What MINI Stands to Gain The postponement might frustrate early adopters, but there are potential upsides. When the Neue Klasse Countryman finally does arrive, it will likely debut with a proven architecture — refined through use in models like the iX3 and possibly others — improving reliability, drive feel and long-term software support. By waiting until 2032 to roll out a Neue-Klasse Countryman, MINI and BMW Group can let the platform mature, fix early bugs, and perhaps improve battery and software infrastructure. The two LCIs before then give MINI a chance to keep the current Countryman competitive, possibly improving range, EV performance and features. Our Take The new BMW iX3 shows us exactly how transformative Neue Klasse is for BMW Group. The driving precision, the smoothness of the sixth generation motors and the stability of the modular battery design all point to a platform that is far more advanced than anything MINI has used before. For the first time since the original Countryman arrived in 2010, MINI is about to make a foundational leap in engineering. The iX3 is the preview. The Countryman is the beneficiary. And judging by the early reviews, MINI fans should be excited for what arrives early in the next decade. The post How the New BMW iX3 Sets the Stage for the Next MINI Countryman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Every few years MINI design circles back to the same source of inspiration. The ACV 30. The radical little concept that not only previewed the rebirth of MINI but helped reorient the brand around fun, simplicity, and that unmistakable go-kart feel. And this week it came back into the spotlight again, thanks to BMW Group Design head Adrien Van Hooydonk. On Instagram yesterday, head of BMW Group Design Van Hooydonk shared something we rarely get from the top of BMW design. A candid look at the origins of a modern MINI icon. “A first interpretation of a new MINI created by Designworks,” he wrote. “The proposal was sent to Munich and ended up being built as a show car and ran at the start of the Rallye Monte Carlo driven by Paddy Hopkirk. With it we paid hommage to MINI’s iconic rallying past and reestablished MINI’s fun and go-kart roots.” Adrian would know since he designed the ACV30 while he was part of DesignWorks when he was based in California. The ACV 30 Back Story By the early nineties BMW had started to grapple with the idea of reinventing the classic Mini. The world was changing and the beloved icon was being left behind by safety regulations, emissions standards, and the realities of modern packaging. Before anyone touched a production sketch, BMW commissioned Designworks to explore what a “spiritual successor” might look like. The directive was simple. Build something bold, something unmistakably Mini, and something that captured the spirit of Monte Carlo. ACV stood for Anniversary Concept Vehicle. The 30 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the original Mini’s 1964 Monte Carlo win. MINI’s own historical account confirms that BMW wanted to create a forward looking tribute that balanced heritage with innovation. The brief centered on three things. A celebration of Mini’s rally heritage. A test bed for modern proportion and stance. And an exploration of how technology could deliver the same playful personality that made the original car a legend. The result was a compact, mid engined showcase with exaggerated wheels, muscular arches, a wraparound cockpit, and a stance that looked ready to pounce. It was not intended as a preview of a production car. It was meant to provoke ideas and force designers to rethink what a Mini could be. BMW loved it enough to greenlight a fully functioning show car. That decision tells you everything. Something about the ACV 30 felt right even when it looked nothing like the original. When Paddy Hopkirk drove it at the start of the Monte Carlo Rally, it cemented what the concept stood for. A modern interpretation of Mini’s rallying soul. The Untold Images from MINI’s Internal Design Process What makes this resurfacing even more interesting are the photos that accompany his post. Some of these images have never been publicly seen before and our courtesy of the Eduardo Martinez Olivi (iamedd.thecooperguy). They show early full-scale models, taped-up surfaces, and color studies pulled straight from BMW’s internal design archive. Seeing the ACV 30 in this early state reinforces just how experimental it was. MINI was not yet MINI. None of what we know about the brand existed. There was no production car to anchor decisions. It was pure exploration. These photos also make it clear that the ACV 30’s form was not a one-off showpiece. The surfaces, stance, and front fascia are direct ancestors of the R50 Cooper that launched in 2001. The genes are unmistakable. How ACV 30 Set Up the E50 Project As we wrote in our deep dive into the car’s influence on modern MINI design, the ACV 30 was not simply a fun design exercise. Internally it acted as the spark that lit the E50 project, which ultimately became the production R50 Cooper. This was the car that defined MINI for the next two decades. Even though the R50 evolved into something more mature and more practical, you can feel the ACV 30’s fingerprints everywhere. The wide track. The upright greenhouse. The bold wheel arches. The playful proportions that give the car that crouched and ready-to-pounce attitude. MINI kept the simplicity of the ACV 30’s surfaces and the sense of tension and motion that made the concept look alive even at a standstill. The ACV 30 showed BMW that there was a path forward that balanced modern engineering with the authenticity of the original Mini. Without it, the R50 would have been a very different car. The fact that Van Hooydonk is still referencing the ACV 30 in 2025 tells you everything you need to know. When MINI talks about fun, heritage, and go-kart dynamics, it is talking about the values that were defined in these early design studies. The ACV 30 is part of MINI’s internal language. It represents creative freedom and a willingness to break away from convention. It is also a reminder that MINI’s identity was not created in a conference room. It was carved out in clay with passion and vision. The ACV 30’s Legacy With the brand heading into a new era of electrification, the ACV 30’s importance has only grown. MINI is again asking itself how to bring the classic spirit forward without losing what made it iconic. And once again designers are looking back at this strange, brilliant little concept car that refused to play by the rules. Rediscovering these images and hearing Van Hooydonk reflect on the project brings new clarity to just how foundational the ACV 30 was. It did not just preview a car. It established the blueprint for a brand that still thrives on charm and agility. And it set MINI on a path that still defines it today. The post The MINI ACV 30 – A Look Back at MINI’s Most Wild Concept appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Two years ago we created a plan for what we thought would be an epic holiday road-trip. We lined up a 2024 Final Edition MINI Clubman and headed to the Austrian Alps for great food, a few Christkindlmarkt and epic roads. What we had not planned for was the biggest snow storm in recent memory. Before the MINI Clubman disappeared from the order books, we wanted one last chance to get re-acquainted with the car we have long called MINI’s best four door. The idea was simple enough. Fly into Munich, grab a Clubman S Final Edition and head toward Salzburg and the Austrian Alps in what has become our favorite MINI for long-distance road trips. On paper it sounded perfect. In reality we were about to drive straight into a historic winter storm. The wagon-like Clubman has always felt like the sweet spot between utility and performance. You get almost Countryman levels of space, but in a package that sits lower, weighs less and feels more eager to change direction. In other words, more mini-like than a Countryman. We expected it to be as happy threading mountain passes as it is sitting at autobahn speeds. What we did not expect was seventeen inches of snow over two days. There was one more wrinkle. The press car MINI handed over was not an All4 but a front wheel drive Clubman S. Normally that would give us a moment of pause when the forecast starts talking about record snow. But MINI knows how to spec a car for winter. Our Clubman arrived on a fresh set of Pirelli Sottozero winter tires mounted on 17 inch wheels. With that bit of reassurance, we grabbed the keys from an unmarked BMW garage on the edge of Munich and pointed the Clubman toward Salzburg and the autobahn. On the highway the Clubman quietly reminds you why physics still matter. Compared to a Countryman, it carries its mass lower and feels more planted. At around 140 mph it is calm, stable and confidence inspiring. The steering has enough weight to keep you locked in, the longer wheelbase settles the car and you realize again how underrated this chassis has always been. That night we slipped into an underground garage in Salzburg, parked the now very salty Clubman and went in search of pilsner and schnitzel. The storm was already building and the forecast looked worse by the hour. The question was not whether tomorrow would bring snow. It was whether a front wheel drive Clubman, even on proper winters, could really cope with all of it once we left the city and headed into the mountains. We got our answer less than a minute after leaving the garage the next morning. The streets of Salzburg were covered, some barely plowed, yet the Clubman S moved through it all with a kind of casual shrug. Traction off the line, stability under braking, turn in on packed snow, it just worked. We have been preaching the virtues of winter tires on MotoringFile for years. They still manage to surprise us. Climbing into the foothills, the snow deepened and the roads alternated between freshly plowed, partially covered and untouched. MINI quotes 190 hp for the Clubman S, but in German spec this one was slightly detuned to around 175. It did not matter. The car felt perfectly matched to the conditions. The softer “comfort” setup on our car thanks to the taller sidewalls of those 17 inch wheels, gave it a progressive, predictable feel that was ideal for low grip. Body roll was gentle, feedback was clear and the Clubman telegraphed every change in surface. As the storm intensified, the drive somehow became even more special. The mix of winding roads, heavy snow and small alpine villages lit for Christmas felt almost unreal at times. Every town had its own Christkindlmarkt, its own church spire, its own glow in the snow. It was like driving through a film set. And then we reached Hallstatt. If you have ever wondered where the idea of fairy tales comes from, visit Hallstatt in December. Wedged between a mountain face and an alpine lake, it looks almost too perfect from behind the wheel. With snow blowing sideways and Christmas lights in every direction, it may be the most charming village I have ever driven through. It’s even better during a snow storm when normal tourists don’t dare venture out. In moments like that, the best car is not the one that dominates the experience. It is the one that quietly slots into the background and lets everything else shine. The Clubman was exactly that. It never put a foot wrong, even when we were relying almost entirely on GPS, intuition and the occasional road sign half-buried in snow. It just did the work and let the trip be the hero. Our particular Clubman was spec’d for comfort more than outright performance. No sport suspension, no 18s or 19s, just those smaller 17s and a softer setup. For a long winter road-trip it was close to perfect. If this were my own car, I would still be tempted by the sport suspension and a larger wheel and tire package for year-round use, but for this drive the spec made sense. Now comes the bittersweet part. Fast forward to 2025 and MINI Clubman Final Edition isn’t just gone, the Clubman itself has been out of is officially out of production since early 2024. MINI simply don’t sell enough during its run to justify a follow-up. The lone exception? The Japanese market where the Clubman has taken on a cult status. For us, our late 2023 Austrian trip was the first chapter in a farewell tour. After days of carving through snow covered alpine roads, the Clubman brought us back to Salzburg without drama, then on to Munich where its relatively compact footprint made tight city parking a lot less painful than you would expect from something this practical. Visiting Austria and Germany during the holidays feels like stepping into a living Christmas tradition, thanks to the Christkindlmarkts that seem to appear everywhere you go. They fill the big city squares with lights and music, but they also pop up in the smallest neighborhoods and quiet villages, each one with its own personality. You turn a corner in a major city and find a full market tucked between historic buildings, then drive twenty minutes and stumble onto another in a tiny town with only a few streets. Every stop offers something a little different, from handmade ornaments to regional food and mulled wine, but the feeling is always the same. Warm, inviting and just a little magical, the Christkindlmarkts become the backdrop to every journey and make the entire region feel like one connected celebration. Eventually we found our way back to that anonymous BMW facility outside Munich, handed the keys to a polite woman in a BMW jacket and watched the Clubman disappear behind a rolling door. It felt like a real goodbye, though not a final one. A couple of months later I took delivery of the last special order JCW Clubman headed to the US. And now, as I type this, the scene feels familiar. Snow is falling hard in Chicago, the Sottozeros are on and the forecast calls for a full foot by morning. All I need now are the right roads and a plate of schnitzel at the end of them. The post The MINI Clubman’s Last Adventure: Alps, Snow and a Final Goodbye appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

If you’ve spent any time with the new MINI Cooper, Countryman or Aceman, you know MINI OS 9 brings a completely different digital experience. It’s quicker, cleaner and far more capable, but it also changes how Apple CarPlay fits into daily driving. After spending months with OS 9 across multiple cars, we’ve uncovered a handful of pro-tips that make CarPlay feel more integrated and noticeably smoother to use. In the video above, we walk through the small tweaks that make a big difference. From reducing UI friction to optimizing layout choices and system settings, these are the adjustments every new-generation MINI owner should make on day one. Whether you live in CarPlay or switch between MINI OS and Apple’s ecosystem, this guide will help you get the most out of both. The post CarPlay in the MINI Cooper & Countryman – Pro-Tips You Need to Know appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI was recently in Japan for the debut of the Paul Smith MINI at the Japan Mobility Show. While they were there, they grabbed the keys to an F66 MINI Cooper JCW and headed into the mountains to tackle one of Japan’s most iconic driving roads: the Irohazaka. If you have never driven it, Irohazaka is actually two separate one-way roads that climb and descend the mountains of Nikko. Each hairpin is named after a character in the old Japanese alphabet and the road stacks these corners one after another in a way that feels almost intentional for small, quick cars. There are steep climbs, tight switchbacks, narrow ledges, and sudden openings that look out across the Nikko valley. In autumn the entire route transforms, with fiery reds and oranges framing every bend. It is one of those rare roads that blends history, culture, and pure driving rhythm. Put a MINI here and the place comes alive. Japan’s mountain roads reward cars with precision and personality. The F66 JCW feels built for it, with its compact footprint and quick reflexes letting you place the car exactly where you want on the narrow pavement. The updated chassis tuning brings a level of stability that inspires confidence when the road drops away on one side and a wall of forest rises on the other. There is a reason MINI ownership in Japan has always been strong. Roads like Irohazaka play directly to the brand’s strengths. The run from Tokyo to the base of Nikko National Park is about 180 kilometers. As the climb begins, the temperature falls, the air gets crisp, and the road begins to wrap around the mountainside. It is one of the most rewarding places on earth to get to know a JCW. Check out the full gallery below. MINI Cooper JCW Gallery in Japan The post Driving the MINI Cooper JCW on Japan’s Iconic Irohazaka Road appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

I’ve driven the Tail of the Dragon in more MINIs than I can remember. But the last time I was there just a few months ago was in a (forgive me) BMW X7. As I guided that beast through the flowing corners with epics views left and right, I was reminded of how otherworldly U.S. Route 129 is, why it may just be the best stretch of tarmac in North America and why MINIs are uniquely suited for it. Getting to the Dragon isn’t easy. Nestled along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the Tail of the Dragon is an 11-mile segment of U.S. Route 129 boasting a staggering 318 curves. While it may be a national road, it’s long been overtaken by regional highways as a main route. It’s truly a “if you know, you know” destination. Because of this, the Dragon (officially created in the early 1930s), remained a hidden gem for decades. It wasn’t until the 1990s that it gained notoriety among driving enthusiasts, thanks in part to motorcycle enthusiast Doug Snavely, who popularized the route through the Deals Gap Hot Lap newsletter and the formation of the Deals Gap Riding Society. It’s even a blast in an X7 – provided it has summer tires, four wheel steering and a steady hand at the wheel. The road’s moniker, “Tail of the Dragon,” aptly describes its sinuous path, which resembles a dragon’s tail. This challenging drive, devoid of intersections and driveways, offers 11 miles of uninterrupted thrills but demands respect; the infamous “Tree of Shame” at Deals Gap stands adorned with remnants of vehicles that failed to conquer the Dragon. Why the MINI is the Perfect Dragon Slayer There is a reason you see so many MINIs at the Tail of the Dragon, and it is not just because of MOTD. This road and those 318 curves are built for what the modern MINI does best. In many ways, it feels like the Dragon and the MINI were designed for each other. That time we took a MINI USA press car and took it to the Dragon for a full test. First, let’s talk about handling. The MINI’s signature go-kart feel is not just marketing language. It is real – especially the Cooper. The chassis is tight, the steering is direct, and the whole car feels eager to dive into corners. On the Dragon, that translates into instant feedback and the kind of agility you want when corners are coming at you every few seconds. There is no slack and no hesitation. It is simply grip, turn-in, and go. Then there is front-wheel drive. It might not impress anyone at a cars and coffee meet, but on a road like the Dragon it offers something far more important: predictability. You can push hard and still stay composed, especially in the tighter sections where rear-wheel-drive cars might step out. That natural stability at the limit gives you more confidence, which matters when you have a rock wall on one side and a drop-off on the other. Testing the refreshed F54 JCW Clubman at the Dragon in 2019. What really seals it is something no one really talks about; the Cooper’s size. The Dragon is not a wide road, and some of the corners feel more like alpine switchbacks than anything you would find on a typical U.S. highway. In a Cooper, the compact footprint means you can actually use the full width of your lane. You can place the car exactly where you want it without wondering if you are about to clip a mirror on a guardrail. It is one of the few places where being small is not just a characteristic. It is an advantage. The modern MINI is not just capable here. It is completely in its element. Whether you are driving a JCW, a Cooper S, or a well-loved R53, the Dragon brings out the very best in these cars. That is why so many of us keep coming back. On this road, a MINI does not just make sense. It feels perfect. Our 2005 MINI Cooper S at the MOTD in 2005 MINIs on the Dragon (MOTD): A Celebration of MINI Culture Not surprisingly MINIs and the Dragon have been synomous since the brand’s reintroduction to the US in 2002. In 2003, a group of MINI enthusiasts organized a modest gathering to tackle the Tail of the Dragon. This event, known as MINIs on the Dragon (MOTD), has since blossomed into the largest grassroots MINI Cooper event in the United States. Held annually during the first weekend of May, MOTD attracts over 900 attendees and more than 600 MINIs, both classic and modern. The Tail of the Dragon isn’t just a great road. It’s the kind of place that feels like it was made for the MINI. Tight turns, quick transitions, and narrow lanes bring out the best in the car’s handling and compact size. It rewards precision and confidence, which is exactly what a well-sorted MINI delivers. MOTD 2007 But the Dragon is more than just a driving experience. It’s become a cultural anchor for the MINI community in the U.S. What started as a few owners looking for curves has turned into a full-blown tradition. MINIs on the Dragon isn’t just an event, it’s a reminder of what makes this brand different. The road. The people. The cars. It all comes together here. And once you’ve done it, once you’ve taken your MINI through those 318 corners, you get it. The post Why the Tail of the Dragon Is the Ultimate MINI Cooper Road Trip appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

What to inspect, what fails, and how to spot the gems Few modern cars have aged into cult-classic status as quickly as the first-generation MINI. The R50 and R53 brought the brand back with a mix of charm, agility, and design that felt instantly iconic. Drive one today and that magic is still there. But so are the quirks, the aging components, and the hard-earned truths MINI owners and technicians have learned over twenty years. If you are stepping into the used market, this generation can reward you with one of the most engaging small cars of the past two decades. It can also punish you if you do not know exactly where to look. This guide is meant to separate great examples from the risky ones, expand on what we outlined in our original 2007 deep dive, and help you understand how to evaluate an R50 or R53 with confidence. Keep in mind this is a guide and not an exhaustive list of every potential problem that could befall these cars. The Big Picture: Why the R50 and R53 Are Perfect Yet Flawed These cars were never engineered for twenty-plus years of life. They were designed to bring MINI back and deliver something emotive. Most have been driven hard. Many have been modified. And the earliest builds had issues that BMW steadily fixed over the production run. That means two things: • Condition matters more than mileage • Later years matter more than early years Which brings us to what you should look for. The R53 Supercharger: The Heart of the Magic… and the Headache Nothing defines the R53’s drivetrain more than its Eaton M45 supercharger. It gives the Cooper S its character, its mid-range punch, and its unmistakable whine. It is also the single most important component to inspect because Eaton no longer produces replacement units and MINI has no plan to reintroduce them. A failing supercharger is not a small job. Rebuilds are possible, but availability is shrinking and quality varies. What to check: • Listen for bearing noise beyond the normal whine • Look for oil seepage around the nose cone • Confirm supercharger oil has been serviced at least once • Ask explicitly about rebuild history If the seller cannot answer those questions, proceed cautiously. A good buy might not be as good if the supercharger is failing. Engine & Seal Issues: The R50/R53’s Most Predictable Problems The first-gen new MINIs are known for oil leaks. The most common failure point is the crank seal and crank sensor O-ring. When either dries out, oil escapes rapidly. Inspect for: • Oil pooling around the crank pulley • Fresh oil splatter around the lower timing cover • Dampness near the crank sensor This is not a cosmetic leak. It can accelerate wear and lead to deeper mechanical problems. From our original guide, the crank-seal and crank-sensor leaks remain two of the most frequently documented issues across the entire production run. Cooling System Weak Points The R53’s coolant expansion tank is notorious. Even the updated version could split at the seams without warning. Look for: • Hairline cracks along the tank • Crusty residue on the seams • Signs of coolant mist around the firewall Overheating an R53 can be fatal for the engine. If you see a gear selector like the one above, walk away. Steering Pumps and Early CVT Transmissions The electric-hydraulic power steering pump was a weak point on early MINIs. Overheating, failure under load, and noisy operation were common. You want a car with documentation that the pump was replaced or inspected. If it whines, hums, or varies in tone with steering input, assume it needs work. On the transmission side, avoid the early CVT automatic in the R50 entirely. And the speaking of the early R50, tread carefully if it’s a manual as well. MINI launched with the old Midlands manual transmission which was both fragile and less than stellar to use. The Getrag 5-speed that arrived later is a huge improvement and one of the reasons 2005 and 2006 R50 Coopers are so much more desirable. Rust, Water Ingress, and the Sunroof Problem One of the most overlooked issues on this generation is water management. Early cars often collected water in the door sills, causing rust under the plastic step plates. But the bigger concern is the sunroof drainage system. If the drains clog, water spills into the headliner and runs into the passenger footwell where the Body Control Module lives. When that module shorts, the car becomes a very expensive paperweight. Check for: • Damp footwell carpet • A musty smell inside • Water stains on the A-pillars or headliner • Cracks or clogging around the sunroof drains A perfect-looking R53 can hide this problem, so lift the carpet or gently pull back the plastic door sills if you can. What Years to Buy And what years to avoid 2005–2006 The best of the best. BMW has taken control of parts sourcing by this time which introduced higher quality components. The result were things like the updated gearbox, improved interior trim and fewer electrical gremlins. 2004 A meaningful step forward from the earliest years. Cars were better built and are generally a solid middle ground. Steer clear of the R50 if you can. 2002–2003 The earliest cars can be great, but the risk is higher. Especially with the R50. The Shortlist: What You Must Inspect Before Buying • Supercharger condition and noise (R53) • Crank seal and sensor O-ring leaks • Expansion tank integrity • Power steering pump noise and operation • Gearbox and clutch quality – (in the R50 avoid CVT) • Sunroof drainage and footwell dryness • Rust under door sills and below the rear lights • Full service history If you check every box and the car passes, an R53 or even a well-kept R50 can still be one of the most rewarding used MINIs you can buy. Why a Well-Sorted R53 Is Still a Revelation in 2025 Drive a properly cared-for R53 today and it feels almost shockingly alive. The supercharger whine, the immediacy of the throttle, the mechanical feedback through the wheel, the compact size that makes modern cars feel bloated, the way the chassis rotates with a kind of playful precision you just do not get anymore. It is a reminder of what small performance cars used to feel like before weight, screens, regulations, and sound insulation took over. A well-sorted R53 does not feel old. It feels elemental. Get into the right one and the years fall away. The steering is full of feel and communication. The gearing is short and eager. The supercharged midrange punch is addictive. And the whole car seems to run on personality as much as fuel. In an era where every new model is chasing refinement, the R53 still feels raw and present in a way that MINI, BMW, and almost anyone else simply does not build anymore. That is why the homework matters. If you put in the effort to find an example with the right updates, the right history, and the right mechanical care, the payoff is huge. These cars are no longer inexpensive toys, but they remain one of the best smiles-per-dollar buys anywhere in the used enthusiast market. Sort one properly and it will remind you why this generation forged MINI’s reputation in the first place. It will also remind you why some cars become legends. MINI R50 and R53 Gallery 443S38B1 The post The Ultimate R50 and R53 MINI Cooper Buyer’s Guide (2001-2007) appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI has always delivered style, personality, and one of the most engaging small car driving experiences on the market. What the brand did not always deliver was consistency in long-term reliability. Owners of the R50, R53, and especially the R56 know this story well. But somewhere between the end of the R56 era and the beginning of the third generation, something changed inside MINI and BMW. Durability stopped being an afterthought and became a core engineering requirement. The result was the F56 and F60 generation, which quietly introduced the most reliable MINIs ever built. That progress continues with the fourth generation F66 Cooper family and the U25 Countryman. So we wanted to look at what went wrong and how MINI systematically fixed the issues to deliver one of the most trouble free small cars sold today. Below is the technical breakdown of some of the more common issues in the early years and how MINI engineered its way toward the most robust product line in the brand’s history. Keep in mind this is by no way exhaustive but it should give you a sense of how MINI changed its course in terms of quality. The R50 and R53: Brilliant fun with some predictable failures The R50 and R53 launched MINI back into the US with immediate cult status. But they also carried early BMW-era quirks. Common R50 and R53 failure points Power steering pump failures – The electric-hydraulic pump was undersized and poorly cooled, which often led to overheating and seizure. Midlands manual gearbox (non S) – Bearing wear and lubrication issues caused full gearbox failures long before 100K miles. The Aisin CVT (non S) – We’ve rarely seen this last longer than 120,000 due to internal failures. Chain tensioner wear – Later R53 production saw tensioners that hated MINI’s recommended extended oil service intervals. Interior material wear – Soft coatings and plastics on early MINIs simply did not age well. The R56: A clean-sheet design with serious early teething problems The R56 brought a new platform and brand-new engines, but its early reliability reputation never recovered. Key R56 issues N14 carbon buildup – Direct injection, inadequate PCV routing, and low-speed driving cycles created heavy valve deposits. High pressure fuel pump failures – The HPFP routinely failed well before 50K miles. Timing chain tensioner and guides – The infamous “death rattle” stemmed from tensioner pressure loss and brittle chain guides. Turbo oil supply line coking – Excessive heat around the line would cook oil and starve the turbo. Cooling system weak points – Thermostat housings and pumps routinely failed before 60K miles. MINI later revised many components, but the R56 era forced a total rethink for the next platform. How the F56 and F60 quietly fixed almost everything When the F56 launched, MINI never advertised it as a reliability overhaul, but that’s exactly what it was. During our first drive, we hinted at the shift in engineering philosophy: The B38 and B48 engines: MINI’s most reliable powertrains ever BMW’s modular engine family was engineered for longevity. Key improvements: • Completely redesigned timing assembly with more durable guides • Improved PCV and DI spray design that reduces carbon buildup • Better heat management around the turbo • Stronger water pumps, housings, sensors, and seals • More robust chain lubrication and routing • Ancillaries built to BMW’s higher long-term durability targets Revised cooling architecture Materials, routing, and pump strategy were all upgraded. Stronger transmissions Aisin 6 and 8 speeds became the default for longevity. These units are used across BMW, Toyota, and Lexus due to their reliability. Electric power steering The troublesome R50/R53 hydraulic pump was gone. Oxford production upgrades Oxford went through major retooling before F56 production. Assembly tolerances, supplier quality, and interior materials all improved. Fourth Generation: F66 and U25 push reliability even further F66: The final evolution of MINI’s most reliable platform The F66 may look familiar, but it is the most refined MINI ever built. It inherits a decade of reliability improvements and brings: • Updated electronics with fewer failure points • Improved B48 and B38 engines with better thermal management • Reduced component complexity • Further-modernized Oxford production U25 Countryman: Built on BMW’s fourth-generation FAAR architecture The U25 benefits from BMW’s latest global small-car platform and the billions spent on it. Notable reliability upgrades: • Updated B48 with improved oil flow and timing accuracy • Shared cooling system architecture with BMW’s newest crossovers • Reduced electronic module count • Higher assembly quality from Leipzig’s state-of-the-art plant The Bottom Line The era of quirky but failure-prone MINIs is long gone. The F56 and F60 marked a genuine turning point in MINI durability. The fourth generation F66 and U25 build on that work with even better engines, upgraded cooling, simpler electronics, and the most consistent build quality MINI has ever achieved. Despite the last decade of improved quality, the MINI brand still has a stigma of reliability issues. However for those in the know, buying a MINI today isn’t just about satisfying a fun to drive need, it may also be a smart move. The post From Quirky to Bulletproof: How MINI Reengineered the Cooper and Countryman for Reliability appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Welcome to White Roof Radio 702. We start off strong by going deep on the Superleggera concept and the new MotoringFile video. Then we dive into all the MINI news (complete that sweet news music) from the past few months on MotoringFile. And turns out, there was a lot of it. This week’s sponsor is me. Are you L&D or work with Elevenlabs and Powerpoint? Do you need to work with Elevenlabs with Powerpoint? I would like to introduce you to Voxsmith. I’ve worked really hard on it and will be expecting to ship it in December. And, as we near the crazy season, don’t forget any of the friends of the show; MotoringStripes, Detroit Tuned, OutMotoring.com and CravenSpeed. And, did you already catch Black Roof? Yea, Woofcast 21 will be in the feed later this week too. Show Links Superleggera Superleggera Video MINI Quality Deus Ex Machina Concepts With Holger Hampf How Leaving F1 And Launching The MINI E Made BMW An EV Leader The 2026 MINI Cooper Paul Smith Edition — MINI’s Biggest Special Edition Ever The post White Roof Radio 702 – The Superleggera & Latest MINI News appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

If you want to understand what the new all-electric MINI Countryman SE is really made of, don’t look at spec sheets or WLTP charts. Take it to Iceland. That’s exactly what MINI did, pointing the SE north from Munich and sending it across Germany, Denmark, the North Sea and finally into the lava-scarred, weather-shaped landscapes of the Westfjords. And in the process, MINI may be giving us the clearest hint yet that they have something a bit more off-road planned for the Countryman in the future. We first broke the news on MINI’s forthcoming off-road focused Countryman package in our exclusive story last year. While it may not rival a Jeep in off-road prowess, sources tell us that it will offer more ground clearance, off-road capable tires, revised suspension and recalibrated DSC. What MINI just drove to Iceland looks suspiciously like to might have the tires and wheels that could belong to that package. A Long Road to Iceland, But an Easy One for Electric Torque On paper it’s roughly 2,300 km of driving plus a two-day ferry from Hirtshals to Seyðisfjörður. In practice it’s the perfect proving ground for the Countryman SE’s dual-motor 230 kW output and 494 Nm of instant torque. We detailed the fundamentals of this drivetrain when the car debuted in our first look. The SE surged through Germany and Denmark like a proper grand tourer, leaning on its 432 km WLTP range, quick 130 kW DC charging and MINI’s newest Driving Assistant Professional, which we dove into in our autonomous driving coverage. Together they turned the long haul north into something surprisingly relaxed. Inside, the redesigned cabin continues to be a surprise. More shoulder and elbow room, a calmer design language and that circular OLED give the Countryman a maturity the previous generation never quite had. It feels built for this kind of trip. Off-Road Tires and Plenty of Kit This Countryman SE didn’t leave Munich wearing standard road rubber. MINI fitted proper off-road tires, bolted a luggage rack with a spare on the roof and strapped on sand plates, a spade and a jack. The result is a Countryman that looks far more capable than the family SUV it’s often typecast as. And from the moment it rolls off the ferry in a stormy Icelandic night, it starts proving it. Iceland Greets the MINI With Weather and Wind The North Sea served up eight meter waves on the crossing. Iceland answered with snowfall, freezing temps and low clouds. Perfect conditions to test a fully electric SUV wearing more bite than usual. As the SE pushed inland, the midsummer sun took over, lighting up endless stretches of lava rock and revealing one of the most surreal environments a MINI has ever tackled. The Countryman made its way through it all with a mix of calm electric torque and just enough ground clearance to survive the rougher bits. Although it would look a bit more proper in these conditions with more of it in our opinion. Route 622: A Proper Test of MINI’s Most Capable EV If you’ve never heard of Route 622 in the Westfjords, think of it as Iceland’s way of checking whether you’ve overestimated yourself. It’s narrow, steep, unpredictable and bordered by water that only backs off at low tide. It’s a bucket list drive. The Countryman SE headed out at dawn, heavily coated in Icelandic grime, and tackled the worst of it. It scraped here and there, tapped the turf on uneven sections and powered through water crossings that would make most EV owners flinch. Torque distribution from the ALL4 system kept traction predictable. We talked about this in our recent Montana off-road adventure with a Countryman JCW. And importantly, MINI reports that the gentle off-road pace barely dented the range. That’s not nothing for a 2.3 ton EV running off-road tires and roof gear. Not Every Adventure Ends with a Victory Lap Just before the beach section of Route 622, nature made the decision for the team. Waves had torn out the remaining path. Nothing short of a bulldozer was getting through. Even the sand plates and spade couldn’t alter the laws of geology. But that’s not failure. It simply underlines the point: MINI didn’t come to Iceland to conquer it. They came to show that a fully electric MINI can be a credible partner in adventure. And they succeeded. Our Take MINI produces stories like this for media outlets to write about every so often. They come with amazing photography but often not much else. But this one is quite different with a real challenge along the way. But more importantly for MINI fans, it points to how capable the standard Countryman is in less than ideal conditions with all-terrain tires. Now just imagine it with more ground clearance and a few other suspension modifications, and you might have the most interesting new Countryman variant we’ve seen in years. We’ll have much more on that package as MINI finalizes it, but it’s nice to see MINI giving Iceland a hint at what’s coming. And yes, it looks like a MINI that wants to get dirty.Gallery The post Electric MINI Countryman SE Goes Off-Road in an Icelandic Road-Trip appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI has spent the last decade with an uneven portfolio of driver assistance features. Some models nearly BMW level hardware. Others carried older systems that never quite matched what the parent company was capable of. That is rapidly changing. The latest Countryman and new Cooper families mark the start of a unified technology strategy built around modern sensor suites and scalable software. But how does it work and how can you get the most out of it? We have answers. While the J01 and F66 Coopers ship today with the base Driving Assistant package, the real leap is coming soon with the rollout of Driving Assistant Plus across the entire Cooper range next year – finally matching the new Countryman. Here is the full breakdown of the tech behind it and why it matters. The safety of warnings section of the MINI settings app give you an idea of what the various sensors are doing. A Modern Sensor Fusion Platform MINI’s new driver assistance capability starts with a modern sensor fusion architecture that pulls together multiple data streams. Forward camera: A high resolution mono camera mounted behind the windshield. It detects lane markings, vehicles, pedestrians, road edges, signs, and speed limits. It feeds the primary lane keeping and collision avoidance algorithms. Long range radar: A front mounted radar that provides depth and velocity information independent of lighting, weather, or road contrast. Radar is what stabilizes adaptive cruise in heavy traffic or rain when cameras alone would struggle. Ultrasonics: Used for low speed maneuvering, proximity mapping, and the micro adjustments needed for smoother lane centering in Plus and Pro systems. Short range side radar (Countryman only for now): The Countryman’s Pro system adds side radar that enables hands off highway capability and more reliable automated lane changes. This hardware is not yet on the J01 or F66 Coopers, which is why Driving Assistant Pro stays exclusive to Countryman for the moment. Bringing the Cooper and Countryman closer together required MINI to standardize the forward sensing suite. J01 and F66 now run similar camera and radar hardware, designed to scale into more advanced features as software rolls out. ADP launched with the Countryman but is soon coming to the Cooper family. The Software Layer: Where MINI Is Catching Up Fast The biggest leap is not hardware. It is the software platform built on top of it. New perception stack: MINI has adopted BMW’s latest object recognition and lane modeling algorithms. This is a major generational shift over the outgoing F56 systems. The new models use machine learning based lane prediction that better identifies boundaries in faded, broken, or complex road markings. Predictive longitudinal control: Driving Assistant Plus brings more sophisticated acceleration and braking logic. Instead of reacting only to the car ahead, the system anticipates speed changes based on multi vehicle traffic flow and curvature of upcoming road segments. High speed lateral control: The upgraded steering support in Driving Assistant Plus uses a blend of camera and radar to maintain lateral stability. It is not hands off, but the steering torque is smoother, more accurate, and far more resistant to lane drift than the basic system. High bandwidth communication between modules: This is key. The J01 and F66 architectures now move sensor data faster between cameras, radar, and control units. That enables cleaner corrections and the more refined lane centering behavior that MINI has never had before. J01 & F66 Getting Driving Assistant Plus Soon Both Coopers already have the baseline sensor suite in place. The missing pieces for full ADP have been the eye-detection hardware, additional software integration, and regulatory certification. That will change in the coming months as MINI phases in a new dashboard design that will accommodate the required eye-tracking hardware. Once activated, the J01 and F66 Coopers will match the capability already offered on the Countryman. Exact timing of this change is still unknown but we believe it will rollout with March production for the F6X family of cars and potentially Q1 for the J01. Unfortunately ADP will not be backward compatible with older F6X and J01 cars. Screenshot What Driving Assistant Plus Actually Adds For Cooper owners, the jump from basic Driving Assistant to Plus will be significant. Here’s what you get beyond the adaptive cruise already offered: • Hands-free driving under 37 mph • More advanced lane centering • Lane change with turn-signal • Automated lane change with navigation guidance. • More refined steering assistance at higher speeds • More predictive adaptive cruise with smoother responses • Ability to follow corners with higher accuracy and tighter lane geometry • Ability to analyze traffic flow better In practice, this brings MINI within striking distance of BMW’s well regarded Level 2 systems. The modern BMW system mirrors most of what we see in the MINI Why Driving Assistant Pro Was Countryman Only Pro depends on a wider sensor perimeter. Specifically: • Dual side radar modules • Eye detection hardware • Additional redundancy for hands off certification The J01 and F66 platforms weren’t equipped at launch with the full set of hardware needed for prolonged hands off operation or automated lane changes that meet market requirements. The Bigger Picture What MINI is doing now is laying a uniform technical foundation. The long game is clear. MINI models will evolve through software far more than hardware, with new capabilities delivered incrementally instead of waiting for the next product cycle. For the first time, the Cooper and Countryman families are aligned on a shared generation of sensing and processing tech. It finally feels like MINI is ready for the modern era of driver assistance rather than borrowing from the edges of BMW’s toolkit. Our Take MINI is not yet chasing full autonomy. That is not the mission. The goal is simpler. Build a smarter, more supportive MINI that still feels like a MINI. The upcoming arrival of Driving Assistant Plus on the J01 and F66 Coopers represents the biggest step in that direction yet. For those that look at this as MINI straying further from its origins, we get it. But for those who use their MINI in commuting scenarios and don’t mind the automatic equipped current generation, this added functionality is a game-changer. The post MINI Cooper & Countryman Driver Assist Systems Explained: Sensors, Software, and Upgrades appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

For MINI fans, “GP” has always meant something special. Long before BMW created its modern JCW GP models with carbon arches and Nürburgring lap times, the Cooper family defined what a Grand Prix Mini should be with a 1990’s special edition. Now Mike Cooper, son of the legendary John Cooper, the man who created the Mini Cooper and ran a championship winning Formula One team, is bringing that spirit and the car back to life. Thirty years after the original Mini Cooper Grand Prix became a cult favorite, the Cooper Car Company has reimagined it for today. The result is a hand-built classic Mini that blends performance, craftsmanship, and a second-to-none provenance in a way only the Cooper family can deliver. How the New Grand Prix Started: “We Built a Car and Realized… This Is Cool” When I asked Mike Cooper how this new project began, he did not talk about nostalgia or limited editions. He talked about parts. The Cooper Car Company has been preparing a new line of performance upgrades for classic Minis. Engine kits, suspension and brake upgrades, wheels, fuel caps and other components are part of a new line called GP Tuning. To show the full range, the team built a demonstrator car. While that first car was coming together, something clicked. That realization tied the story back to the moment the original Grand Prix began. So the plan changed. Instead of one demonstrator, the Cooper Car Company committed to 35 new Grand Prix cars. Each will be individually numbered and hand-built. What Is New, What Is Familiar, and What Makes It a True Cooper Car The new Grand Prix is not a recreation of the original, and it is not a typical restomod. It is a modern interpretation shaped by the Cooper family’s performance instincts and the new GP Tuning hardware. When asked what sets this version apart, Mike explained it simply. Under the bonnet, the car showcases the full GP Tuning program. The A-Series engine receives a substantial power increase, the suspension is reworked, the brakes are upgraded and the wheels and hardware all carry Cooper Car Company branding. The goal was to create a classic Mini that feels familiar yet sharper, smoother and more usable. This approach captures the way John Cooper built performance Minis decades ago. It relies on clever engineering, honest feedback through the chassis and a focus on driver involvement. A Family Story as Much as a Limited Edition More than anything, this project feels like a continuation of Cooper family history. It has the raw mechanical character that defined John Cooper’s work along with the craftsmanship that Mike Cooper has championed for decades. Mike made that emotional connection clear. Anyone who knows the Cooper story can feel the weight of that line. This car is not just a tribute. It is a family member carried into a new generation. Naturally, we asked if this opens the door for more Cooper Car Company special editions.“No plans!” Mike answered emphatically. True to Cooper tradition, the Grand Prix exists because it felt right, not because it fits in a corporate strategy. Our Take The new Mini Cooper Grand Prix may only exist in a run of 35 cars, but the significance goes far beyond the number. It continues the Cooper family approach to performance, which has always been personal, focused and deeply mechanical. In an automotive world filled with touchscreens, autonomy and efficiency targets, Mike Cooper has created something refreshingly analog. It celebrates the character of the original Mini and the tuning culture the Cooper family helped define. This is the Cooper legacy, alive and very much in motion. Mike Cooper summed it up best. His father, Charlie Cooper’s grandad and the creator of the Mini Cooper, would have absolutely loved it. If you’re interesting in grabbing one of the 35, you may want to be quick and express interest at Coopercarcompany.com. The post Mike Cooper Revives the Mini Cooper Grand Prix, a Cooper Family Tribute 35 Years in the Making appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

As MINI and it’s products evolve, one constant behind the scenes has been BMW Designworks, the California-based creative studio that’s had its fingerprints on the brand since it’s relaunch in the late 1990s. While most MINI fans associate the brand’s design with Munich or Oxford, much of its creative DNA has been shaped just outside Los Angeles. This year, as Designworks celebrates its 50th anniversary, it’s worth looking at how the studio’s work has quietly influenced MINI’s evolution from a revived British icon to a digital-first global brand. The Early Years: Defining the Modern MINI Designworks’ connection to MINI dates back to the brand’s rebirth in the late 1990s, when BMW began exploring what a modern version of the classic Mini could be. Working alongside BMW’s Munich design team, Designworks contributed to several early concepts, most notably the ACV 30, a rally-inspired prototype penned by Adrian van Hooydonk during his time at the studio. Many of the ideas developed in those early sketches helped define what became the 2001 MINI Cooper. The hexagonal grille, circular headlamps, and contrasting roofline were more than nostalgic callbacks, they were the foundation of a design language that would sustain the brand for decades. When that first new MINI arrived, it did more than reboot a beloved classic. It created a new segment, a small, premium car that proved character and quality could coexist. Designworks played a subtle but important part in that transformation. From Analog to Digital Over the past decade, Designworks’ role has shifted alongside MINI’s. What started as a styling and concept partner has evolved into a collaborator focused on strategy, experience, and digital interaction design. Today, many of MINI’s defining interior and UX elements trace back to ideas incubated at Designworks. The new circular OLED display, for example, represents not just a design flourish but a philosophy, turning a single interface into the emotional and functional center of the cabin. The same thinking helped shape projects like the MINI Vision Urbanaut, where Designworks reinterpreted “clever use of space” for an electric future, and MINI Mixed Reality, which blends real-world driving with digital environments. Each shows MINI experimenting beyond form, into experience. The Human Side of Technology What’s consistent through all of Designworks’ influence is a focus on the intersection of technology and emotion. The studio operates as an innovation lab for the BMW Group, but its California roots have given MINI’s evolution a particular warmth and accessibility that might not have emerged from a purely European perspective. “Designworks isn’t just about cars, it’s about culture,” said Julia de Bono of BMW Designworks. “By looking outside automotive, we capture the signals that shape how people live, move, and express themselves.” That broader perspective has helped MINI stay connected to the human side of technology, something the brand has built much of its identity around. Looking Forward Designworks remains a critical piece of the creative ecosystem guiding MINI’s evolution. Its role is less about dictating style and more about helping MINI translate its personality into new forms, from sustainable materials to connected experiences. It’s a reminder that MINI’s future isn’t being designed in one place but across several: Munich, Oxford, Shanghai, and yes, Los Angeles. And that global mix of influences might be exactly what keeps MINI fresh, relevant, and unmistakably itself. The post How BMW Designworks Has Quietly Shaped MINI’s Modern Identity appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

When the MINI Superleggera Vision rolled onto the lawn at Villa d’Este in 2014, it instantly became one of the most breathtaking concept cars of the modern era. A minimalist, hand-formed sculpture that captured MINI’s character while hinting at a future that felt both electric and emotional. But behind that sculpted aluminum body was a story very few people know, one about craftsmanship, engineering creativity, and how MINI nearly turned this stunning concept into a production car. In our latest MotoringFile video, we take you inside that story. You’ll see how the Superleggera was built in collaboration with Touring Superleggera of Milan, using traditional coachbuilding methods rarely seen today. We reveal how MINI secretly tested the design on a prototype before building the final aluminum car, and how BMW engineers slipped in an early i3 electric drivetrain to make it fully drivable. and rear-wheel drive. MINI came closer than most realize to putting it into production, exploring UKL-based variants and low-volume builds, before the realities of cost and complexity forced them to step back. Still, the Superleggera’s influence never faded. Its clean surfaces, minimalist design, and pure proportions helped shape the next generation of MINI design, visible today in MINI’s more minimal design language. Watch the full video below to see how one of the most beautiful cars in MINI’s history was actually built, by hand, by vision, and by passion. The post Video: The MINI Superleggera – How MINI’s Most Beautiful Car Almost Went Into Production appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article