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In an epic run to the front, the Bulldog Racing Team’s JCW 1to6 finished 2nd in their class at the Nubrugring 24 Hours this weekend. The stock JCW 1to6 (complete with a 6-speed manual) came from eight places down in production VT2 class and made it through the infamous race mostly trouble free. The effort was made all the more sweet given that one of the team’s three drivers was Charlie Cooper, grandson of John Cooper the inventor of the MINI Cooper itself.
The qualifying sessions were tough for all teams due to tire problems, and even Bulldog Racing had to withdraw their GP base JCW in the SP3T race car class on short notice. However, their black #126 MINI John Cooper Works performed exceptionally well during the 24-hour race, making up eight places in class and an impressive 49 positions in the 131-car field. They completed 114 laps, which is equivalent to driving approximately 2,893 kilometers, and made 15 pit stops along the way.
” I am very impressed by the whole atmosphere at the Nürburgring. The enthusiasm for motorsport is in the genes of our MINI John Cooper Works models. With the new MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition, we celebrate our legendary motorsport history. We couldn’t think of a more fitting opportunity to present this new edition to our fans here at the Ring and also surprise them with this excellent race result.”
Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI“Even more than the podium finish, I am delighted that we have succeeded in making the new MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition a crowd favorite,” said Alexander Schabbach, Managing Director of Bulldog Racing. “It’s impressive how positively people react to our MINI race cars and how quickly our “Made in Nürburg” racers have developed a fan base.”
“To start as an underdog and to be able to achieve such a great result right off the bat at the debut, that’s typical MINI, says Charlie Cooper. “It feels like history repeating itself back in the spirit of the early 1960s when my grandfather John Cooper was underestimated against a perceived superiority of much more powerful competitors, only to win the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967. I’m delighted that together with MINI and Bulldog Racing, we’ve opened the next chapter in our brand’s motorsport activities and given MINI its first podium finish in a 24-hour race.”
The Race – 24 Hours in the Green Hell
In the first stint, Sebastian Sauerbrei in the black MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition already made up numerous places and was significantly faster than in qualifying in his fastest lap with 10:16.362 min. After the first driver change it was Michael Mönch’s turn, Charlie Cooper took over the wheel for the first time after the second pit stop. In the evening hours Christoph Kragenings got behind the wheel and then Sebastian Sauerbrei drove a double stint into the darkness. In the meantime, the team had made up 25 places in the overall standings of the 131 starters. In its class of production vehicles with up to 2.0 liters of displacement and turbochargers the MINI climbed to 5th place, competing with a lot of cars with significantly more power.
As is usual, no team is spared setbacks at the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Shortly after midnight the MINI ran into a problem with a fuel line in the auxiliary tank and had to be towed back into the paddock. After a painful one-hour repair, the JCW 1to6 went back out on track and the chase to catch up began. Shortly after sunrise, Christoph Kragenings drove a new fastest time with 10:15.551 minutes. This charge up the field was made all the more sweet as the black JCW had by now become a crowd favorite. You could hear the cheer “MINI!” every time it went by crowds.
The black MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition seemed to feel more and more comfortable as the race went on – reliably and consistently it completed lap after lap and moved up to 3rd place in his class. In the final hours of the race a lot of competitors were not able to hold their pace or had to give up. Not the MINI, which had meanwhile been taken to the heart by the audience and was cheered for every time it passed by. In the last hour Bulldog Racing moved up to second place in class. Shortly before the race it even looked like a class win might be in the books, but the class leader crossed the finish line first with a clever strategy.
Considering that the black MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition was finalized only one day before the first qualifying sessions, the result is a huge success for everyone in the team. The JCW 1to6 #126 has the same output as the stock JCW at 231 hp and is equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The car, which was used on the approximately 25-kilometer racetrack, is based on a standard MINI John Cooper Works that has only been adapted to comply with safety features and standards for competition in the VT2 production car class.
Taking turns at the wheel of the MINI John Cooper Works with start number #126 were Charlie Cooper (GB), Christoph Kragenings (GER), Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) and Michael Mönch (GER).The post Bulldog Racing and MINI Finished 2nd in Class at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in a Manual JCW 1to6! appeared first on MotoringFile.
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The 51st running of the Nürburgring 24 Hours is just hours away and we already have our first big update. Last year’s crowd favorite, the GP based #112 MINI JCW, was withdrawn after persistent tire problems. But the team is hoping for better luck this year with the #126 manual transmission JCW 1to6.
The car is entered in the VT2 class, which is for production-based vehicles with a displacement of 1,600 to 2,000 cc and turbochargers. In the third qualifying session, the black MINI John Cooper Works with Sebastian Sauerbrei at the wheel was able to improve noticeably and set a fastest lap time of 10:37.787 minutes. This puts the car ninth in its class.
The #126 MINI John Cooper Works will be driven by Charlie Cooper (GB), Christoph Kragenings (GER), Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) and Michael Mönch (GER). Charlie Cooper is the grandson of the legendary John Cooper, inventor of the Mini Cooper.
The race will start on Saturday, May 20th at 10:00 AM and will run for 24 hours.
The post Nurburgring 24 Hours: The GP Based JCW Pulls Out While Charlie Cooper Preps JCW 1to6 to Go Racing appeared first on MotoringFile.
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Last year we checked-off something major from our bucket-list in attending the mythical Nurburgring 24 Hours. While the race lived up to the epic expectations, it also featuring the coolest MINI race car potentially ever – Bulldog Racing’s JCW GP. This year Bulldog Racing will not only be fielding that car but a manual MINI JCW driven by none other than the grandson of John Cooper, Charlie Cooper. Here’s how you can watch.
Why the Nurburgring 24 Hours is the Best Race In the World
That’s a heady claim given how many incredible motorsport events there are globally. But the N24 is as much a race as a festival dedicated to cars, culture and the insanity of German race fans. The paddock and the cars were impressive but seeing the crowd and the culture that has built up around this race was unlike anything in the world. Photos and words barely do it justice.
We’ve driven the track before but to see a race of this magnitude and fans this crazy was unlike any other race we’ve ever experienced. The German fans creativity with camp sites was something we had heard about but still were shocked by. The engineering that went into some of the buildouts were wild and the experience was electric – especially into the night. It was all made even better by how welcoming the entire crowd was.
The race will be broadcast on Youtube via the ADAC channel. It’s available with both German and English commentary with specific videos on the channel recapping portions of the race.
The Bulldog Racing Line-up
Bulldog Racing, MINI’s racing partner for all things Nurburgring has been gearing up for a this year’s 24 Hours of the Nürburgring with two entries. Expanding from last year’s single entry, the team is once again field a GP-like JCW. However new for this year is a manual transmission JCW co-driven by none other than Charlie Cooper, John Cooper’s grandson.
Fresh off their impressive performances in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and RCN, Bulldog Racing is a new manual transmission JCW entry (#126) in the VT2-FWD class. But that’s not all – the beloved red MINI John Cooper Works #112, a fan favorite from last year’s 50th anniversary 24-hour race, has been given a thorough upgrade during the winter break in Nürburg and will be back in action in the SP3T class.
Charlie Cooper (GBR), grandson of John Cooper – the inventor of the iconic Mini Cooper in 1961 – makes his 24-hour race debut. Charlie has already completed two NLS races in 2023 and successfully qualified for his DMSB Permit Nordschleife, so he’s more than ready for the challenge. Look for the rest of the driver line-up and technical details of the race cars set to be announced at a later date.
The 2022 Nurburgring 24 Hours Gallery
The post MINI is Racing at the Nurburgring 24 Hours And Here’s How You Can Watch appeared first on MotoringFile.
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In what could be a is being billed as MINI’s last manual transmission in Europe and potentially globally, the brand is unveiling the limited edition JCW 1 TO 6. Celebrating MINI’s heritage in motorsport, the 1 TO 6 pays homage to the brand’s racing legacy while delivering that rare thing in the modern automotive world – a manual transmission centered driving experience. And if what we’re hearing is true, this will be the last chance for Europe (and perhaps even the entire world) to get a manual MINI.
The JCW 1 TO 6 edition is limited to 999 units available worldwide and will begin production this September. MINI plans to sell the model in the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada and Mexico. Pricing will be announced closer to production.
Is This Really MINI’s Last Manual?
Head of MINI Stefanie Wurst herself commented recently that the brand is 99% sure that there would be no manuals in MINI’s next generation of cars. This despite the fact that the F66 (the replacement of for the F56) is mechanically identical and could easily carry over the current Getrag 6 speed. While the manual transmission take rate in cars like the JCW isn’t what it was 20 years ago, it’s still well over 40% of all buyers in North America as of the time of writing. So such a move would be a shock to a fairly large buying segment that is clearly ok spending a bit of money on a MINI.
We’ll hold out hope that that 1% chance could become something down the road. But for the time being it would appear the manual transmission’s days are numbered.
The MINI JCW 1 TO 6: Details
At the heart of the 1 TO 6 is a manual 6-speed transmission which allows for a direct and feedback rich driving experience. While this is still the standard 228 hp JCW, it’s complemented by a number of options and unique touches that mark the car out as exclusive.
The vehicle’s front end features the standard JCW radiator grille with large air inlets, designed to optimize temperature control for the engine and brakes. The grille is surrounded by Piano Black accents, seamlessly complementing the Midnight Black body color. The JCW’s signature side scuttles and belt-line trim are finished striking Piano Black design.
“The MINI John Cooper Works models have always been deeply rooted in the world of motorsport. Through the MINI John Cooper Works 1 TO 6 Edition, we celebrate MINI’s iconic racing history and amplify the brand’s distinctive driving experience.”
Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI.From the bonnet to the aerodynamic rear spoiler and rear apron, the edition-specific center-running Bonnet Stripe with custom graphic is meant to harken back to the rich motorsport history of MINI. An edition logo in silver, white, and red adorns the vehicle’s exterior with badges on the C-pillar and rear, as well as embedded in the side scuttles. Unique to this edition is the 18-inch Circuit Spoke rims in Jet Black.
Opening the vehicle’s doors a few more exclusive features. The door sills showcase an edition-specific 1 TO 6 logo design. A 3D-embossed decorative surface, in subtle tone-on-tone design, on the passenger side subtly echoes the edition logo. Additionally, there’s black lettering “One of 999” positioned on the left of the steering wheel. Then there’s the all important gear shifter which displays the colors of the edition logo with a red background graphic and red leather stitching.
Elsewhere inside the MINI central instrument incorporates the glowing red bezel and the lower spoke of the nappa leather sports steering wheel and the floor mats bear the MINI John Cooper Works 1 TO 6 Edition emblem.
The world premiere of this limited-edition model will take place at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on May 20, 2023.
Perhaps even more exciting is that Charlie Cooper, grandson of John Cooper, will race a specially modified MINI John Cooper Works 1 TO 6 Edition at the Nurburgring 24 Hours this weekend. Alongside the MINI John Cooper Works of the Bulldog Racing Team, the JCW 1 TO 6 will be aiming to take him class honors and (above all else) stay out of trouble at the world’s toughest race.
The post World Premier: The Limited Edition MINI JCW 1 TO 6 Is a Send Off to the Manual Transmission appeared first on MotoringFile.
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You get used to it. That’s not how you want to begin a review of any car let alone a BMW. Yet that was our overriding theme in the week and almost 700 miles we put on the all new 2023 BMW X1 28i. From the tech inside to drivetrain interfaces to the way it actually applied power from a standing start, the X1 is a bundle of new ideas that feel both compelling and a bit disorienting. Perhaps most importantly to MotoringFile readers, what does it tell us about its twin, the forthcoming Countryman?
The all new 2023 BMW X1 28i is offered with the familiar 241 hp, 295 lbs of torque B48 four cylinder turbo. That propels the car from 0-60 in 6.2 seconds – a respectable number but one that will improve with the forthcoming M40i model our sources have informed us about.
Unlike the previous X1, xDrive is standard and is offered exclusively with a 7 speed dual clutch transmission. All the more compelling when you consider the X1’s base price of $38,600 (at the time of publishing).
Those numbers bode well for the Countryman given that it will likely positioned below the X1 in cost but not necessarily in spec. But as you’ll see not all is perfect with this new X1. Or at least this example.
The all new X1 has also grown fractionally across every dimension; 1.7-inches (43 mm) longer, 0.9-inches (22.9 mm) wider, and 1.7-inches (43 mm) taller. The wheelbase has also grown by 0.9-inches (22.9 mm) and sits at 106 inches (2,692.4 mm). For what it’s worth we’ll see the Countryman also grow but not quite to this size.
The X1 28i we reviewed last November in and around Palm Springs was a very different car than this test car. That was an M Sport model with the adaptive suspension, performance tires and (critically) paddle shifters. Hopping into our test car we were a bit shocked to see such a low-level of spec on a press car. While this wasn’t the standard trim (literally what BMW calls the base X1) it had the xLine design as its base with the majority of options coming courtesy of the Premium Package. No adaptive suspension, paddle shifters or even adaptive cruise (the latter due to the early production of the car).
The difference between the car we drive at the X1’s launch and this one was night and day. What M Sport does to the X1 is give the driver more control and a touch more connectivity to what’s happening underneath you. Without it you had an X1 with dulled senses that you as the driver, had to work hard to wring any satisfaction out of.
The passive dampers themselves weren’t so much the issue as the throttle and shift mapping combined with rudder-like steering feedback. Which makers our original take on the M Sport equipped X1 all the more interesting. In our time with the X1 with M Sport we found steering and suspension tuning that were particularly improved over the previous generation. There was both more engagement and more versatility in the adaptive suspension.
In Comfort the steering resistance is noticeably lighter than before to the point of being surprising at first. The X1 we tested last fall had the Adaptive M Suspension which has more range than the previous generation. In Comfort the ride is more compose than the passive dampers this new X1 came with. This new range within the setting allows comfort to be more comfortable and sport to be more aggressive. In Sport we found that the X1 comes alive with an heavier steering that feels artificial but does provide positive feedback to the point that you can place the car with trust anywhere in a corner. Along with the hardware and tuning, the .8″ wider track definitely helped. There’s precision with this set-up that surprised us and is a clear step forward from the previous X1. The Sport suspension is also a noticeable improvement with better body control and less lean while being no more harsh over expansion joins or rough pavement.
None of that was present in this non-M Sport X1.
Yes this is an X1 and no most people won’t be attempting to even engage with it the way you might with a MINI hatch or even a 3 Series. But this is still a car that wears the Roundel and it wasn’t long ago when BMW was using the tagline the ultimate driving machine.
What’s really surprising is just how alive this car becomes with those options. In our first drive we called this new X1 the best since the first generation which was derived from the E90 3 Series. In fact the we said, “rarely have we seen such a dramatic increase in design, quality and performance from one generation to the next.”
One of the most glaring issues we had with this particular X1 and not our previous was the throttle lag on initial tip-in. With the start-stop on (which it is by default every time you start the car) there’s a very noticeable lag from the engine engaging and acceleration beginning. So much so that we found ourselves having to time it just right to cross busy streets. This hesitation was only felt from a dead stop with the start-stop system turned on. But when do you need more power than that scenario? This feels like software left unfinished to us and it’s something we didn’t experience in our X1 28i M Sport late last year.
Another area that felt less than sorted was the 7 speed dual clutch. The incredibly refined XF 8 speed and even to a lesser extend the Aisin 8 Speed found in the previous X1 (and Clubman and Countryman) are a lot to live up to. This dual clutch does not do that. While shifts are smoother, they’re also slower. While you could argue that the experience fits the use-case, that excellent ZF 8 speed proves that you can have both refinement and millisecond shift times.
However if there was one disappointment above all else it had to be the all new touch-based iDrive system. Gone is the multi-function iDrive controller and in its place a 100% touch experience. It’s an interesting move given that BMW has for over ten years proclaimed multi-function controllers as the safest way to use an infotainment system while driving. Yes consumers have become well acquainted with touch-based systems since those statements were made. But there is no denying that it takes more concentration to use a touch-based system on the move.
There are moments of excellence. The X1 28i comes standard with BMW’s excellent all wheel drive system xDrive and for the first time in the US. Dynamic Cruise control and Navigation are standard along with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. One interesting programming note that we mentioned previously – this early production X1 didn’t have Dynamic Cruise (adaptive cruise).
SensaTec is the only interior material available as BMW has quietly eliminated leather from the X1’s ordering books. While that may sound like a downgrade, BMW’s latest version of SensaTec is a clear step-up and feels better to the touch than mid-grade leather the X1 had before. It will also surely be more durable.
The X1 comes with 18” wheels as standard but can be optioned with 19” and 20” the latter exclusively with performance tires. And finally BMW is offering an optional trailer hitch with a towing rating of 3500 lbs. Expect this option to be available next year.
All of these changes serve to position the X1 better against its less premium rivals in the US while increasing both the quality and driving experience (when optioned correctly).
Inside the screen is phenomenal and the connectivity with CarPlay is excellent. But it’s BMW’s core OS interface that is one of the most awkward moments of UX. The fact that you have to go through a vertical scroll of only three rows of icons down the list of up to 20 to 30 different apps is usability nightmare.
Conclusions – Results Inconclusive
You get used to it. That phrase just kept coming back as we struggled with having to re-learn interactions that we’ve known for years if not decades. Do things get better when you get used to them? Let’s not lose fact that this X1 is a fundamentally better car than the previous version. Which makes a few of these issues all the more frustrating. This should be a huge win for BMW in so many ways. But without M Sport which its adaptive suspension, shift paddles and
If your X1 is specified with M Sport, you’re in a much better starting point. Throttle mapping is slightly better, you have shift paddles and it’s just generally easier for an enthusiast to get more out of the X1. And as much as we dislike this latest version of iDrive, there’s little question you will get use to it as an owner.
A week can reveal a lot about the car but rarely has it shifted opinions more. While we hold fast in our initial, glowing review of the X1, this latest version we tested underscores the importance of picking your options carefully. It also likely underscores the danger of allowing software to play such a huge role in the fundamental characteristics of a car. Get them just slightly off and the entire experience suffers.
The 2023 BMW X1 is a leap from the old one. In almost everything measurable this is a better car than what came before it. But BMW has some work to do in our minds. Certainly there are software fixes that could immediately alleviate the hesitation in acceleration. And we’d love to see some major UI re-thinking of this latest iDrive.
The good news is that this X1 like all modern BMWs is designed to take fairly large and critical updates over the air allowing for rapid and painless updates to not just what iDrive offers but how the car drives. And it could very well be the fact that our test car was from an early production batch that is the root of several issues we found.
Looking back at that initial drive we can’t help but the rose-tinted glasses back on and be impressed. The way that car drove coupled with the impactful changes in standard equipment and optional equipment and you have a $38,600 that’s genuinely appealing in this segment. And when optioned right, even compelling from a driver’s perspective.
The post 2023 BMW X1 28i Review – a Software Upgrade In the Making appeared first on MotoringFile.
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The next generation MINI interface will play a huge role in the overall experience for owners and we have an exclusive first look.
MINI’s interior has always been dominated by the center speedometer. Over the years that simple speedometer has morphed into the center of MINI’s modern interface and operating system. Now the brand is poised to go a step further. With these exclusive photos we now see how MINI plans to integrate the entire interface into the new, circular OLED screen.
This new interface will be present across the entire MINI line-up including. From the ICE powered F66 (which is a heavily revised F56), the ICE and electric Countryman, the all electric J01 MINI Cooper SE and eventually the electric MINI Aceman this new interface will be literally and figuratively at the center of every product.
Here’s what MINI itself says about this massive change: At the center of the visually simplified interior of the upcoming model family is the circular central instrument display, a classic hallmark of MINI. However, in this new model, the circular central instrument display will be reinterpreted as an OLED display, making MINI the first car manufacturer in the world to offer a touch display with a fully usable round surface. This innovative design enables a minimalistic user interface that controls the integrated infotainment and climate functions, providing a sleek and frameless look that exudes high quality.
Starting below the screen we several different buttons, toggles and switches. In order those are the parking-brake button, gear selector, volume knob, on/off toggle, and Driving Experiences selector. Below that are several other safety related buttons. And that’s it. Those are the only physical controls in the new MINI family. Gone are the heating and cooling buttons and even heated seat controls. For better or worse everything will now reside in this new digital interface.
How does it work? While these photos only show us a radio listing interface, they give away many aspects of the layout and interaction. For starters the white line at the bottom of the screen is intended to mimic the latest versions of iOS which allow the user to simply swipe up to go back to the Home Screen. We believe this will allow for quicker navigation that feels much more intuitive than most in-car interfaces.
One of our critiques of BMW’s current iDrive system (especially the all-touch version in the X1) is centered around the removal of physical buttons controlling climate and other functionality. However what MINI has done here appears to be a generation beyond that thinking as it looks much more intuitive. The data that will always be displayed will be vehicle speed, range, time, outside temperature, state of charge, performance, and cabin temperature.
What’s driving this radical change? In a word culture. The expectation of fluid digital experiences from the majority of consumers is driving MINI to make this massive change. But it also makes sense as the brand moves to an all electric model line-up over the next decade. These type of interfaces tend to lend themselves to the use case of electric cars more than ICE and have (in other brands) transformed customer satisfaction when done right.
Next Generation MINI Interface & Digital Personalization
Also driving this is MINI’s big bet on digital personalization. MINI is going all in on digital personalization with the next generation MINI Cooper, Countryman and Aceman. We’ve talked about the general concept but we now have some details as to exactly how this will come to life in both aesthetics and performance. Yes these personalized modifications have the ability to alter the way the car actually drives.
Drive modes have been around since the R56 and will continue with the new generation of MINIs. However on the electric J01 MINI Cooper, The U25 electric MINI Countryman and the J01 MINI Aceman we’ll see a dramatic increase in functionality. Called experiences, they will control not just the way the car drives but the overall mood. There will be Green, Core and Go-Kart. Yes Go-Kart. But this isn’t just about weightier steering and sharpening throttle response. With the latter setting the all electric J01 MINI Cooper SE will not only be quicker off the line but will adjust settings allowing for oversteer in corners.
In addition to the three Experiences, the powertrain and steering can be set to Comfort or Sport further tailoring the driving experience. MINI will also offer three mood settings; Calm, Heritage, and Vivid.
This personalization will extend to the interface itself we’re told. We also believe MINI will offer various themes that can personalize the entire driving experience even further.
We’re also told to expect much more to come via over-the-air updates, third-party app integration, new experience modes and even on-dash image projections. MINI will also integrate functionality like automatic radar-trap warnings and even multiple user profiles.
And all of it is housed in the new MINI interface. While it looks promising, we won’t have a real opinion until we go hands-on later this summer.
The post Exclusive: First Look at The Next Generation MINI Interface & Operating System appeared first on MotoringFile.
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MINI has unveiled a sneak peek of the design of its forthcoming all-electric model family, showcasing its Charismatic Simplicity design language. The reduced design language focuses on the essential elements of each MINI model, while also allowing for individuality and clear brand affiliation through distinctive design features. The use of sustainable materials is also integral to the new design language.
We’ll see these touches across the entire range, even the revised ICE powered F56 internally known as the F66.
According to Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design, the new Charismatic Simplicity design language represents a complete reimagining of the iconic MINI. The purist and progressive approach combines functional simplicity with the emotional appeal that MINI is renowned for, resulting in innovations that were previously unthinkable.
At the center of the visually simplified interior of the upcoming model family is the circular central instrument display, a classic hallmark of MINI. However, in this new model, the circular central instrument display will be reinterpreted as an OLED display, making MINI the first car manufacturer in the world to offer a touch display with a fully usable round surface. This innovative design enables a minimalistic user interface that controls the integrated infotainment and climate functions, providing a sleek and frameless look that exudes high quality.
The steering wheel of the next MINI model family has also been redesigned to incorporate a distinctive fabric finish as a third element in addition to a sporty geometry.
The upcoming MINI model family will also offer a range of seats that combine new colors and patterns with classic style elements like the houndstooth pattern. What we won’t see is leather which the brand has sworn off in an effort to be more sustainable and modern.
The light-alloy wheels of the new model family follow the principles of the Charismatic Simplicity design language, focusing on a graphic design characterized by strong color contrasts. The pared-back, two-dimensional wheel design improves aerodynamic qualities, resulting in increased range according to MINI
The new MINI design language is intended to combine quality, sustainability, and purist reinvention with the historic DNA of the brand. Does it deliver? Let us know in the comments below.
The post Design Elements of its Next Generation MINI Cooper and Countryman Previewed appeared first on MotoringFile.
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Bulldog Racing, MINI’s racing partner for all things Nurburgring has been gearing up for a this year’s 24 Hours of the Nürburgring with two entries. Expanding from last year’s single entry, the team is once again field a GP-like JCW. However new for this year is a manual transmission JCW co-driven by none other than Charlie Cooper, John Cooper’s grandson.
Fresh off their impressive performances in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and RCN, Bulldog Racing is a new manual transmission JCW entry (#126) in the VT2-FWD class. But that’s not all – the beloved red MINI John Cooper Works #112, a fan favorite from last year’s 50th anniversary 24-hour race, has been given a thorough upgrade during the winter break in Nürburg and will be back in action in the SP3T class.
Stefanie Wurst, Head of the MINI Brand, is excited about what Bulldog Racing’s two MINI John Cooper Works cars represent for the brand, saying “On our path to becoming an all-electric brand, we are working very intensively on concepts for John Cooper Works models with an electrified drivetrain. We are delighted that two MINI John Cooper Works race cars from Bulldog Racing are flying the flag for us in this 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.”
Charlie Cooper (GBR), grandson of John Cooper – the inventor of the iconic Mini Cooper in 1961 – makes his 24-hour race debut. Charlie has already completed two NLS races in 2023 and successfully qualified for his DMSB Permit Nordschleife, so he’s more than ready for the challenge. Look for the rest of the driver line-up and technical details of the race cars set to be announced at a later date.
The post MINI Prepping Two Entries for the Nurburgring 24 Hours Including One Driven by Charlie Cooper appeared first on MotoringFile.
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MINI USA and the MINI John Cooper Works Team cruised to a triumphant weekend at the 2023 SRO TC America series, bagging three podiums at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, La. In a stellar qualifying session, Cristian Perocarpi started Race 1 with the #37 MINI JCW Pro in second place and held steady, securing a well-deserved third place finish in the Touring Car (TC) class. PJ Groenke took home a third place finish in the #62 MINI JCW in the Touring Car A (TCA) class in Race 1. Clay Williams, on the other hand, rallied to a third place finish in Race 2 in the #60 MINI JCW Pro in the TC class.
The Brownsburg, Ind.-based LAP Motorsports team, which operates the MINI JCW Team, also had a fantastic showing thanks to the five qualified MINI Dealer technicians who worked alongside the team throughout the weekend. These expert technicians, hailing from dealers in the Southern Region, including one each from MINI of Pensacola, MINI of Clear Lake, Roadshow MINI in Cordova, Tenn., and two from Momentum MINI in Houston, Texas, were instrumental in supporting the team during practice, qualifying, and race days as part of the MINI Technician Race Crew Program. The race team relies heavily on the skill and knowledge of the technicians who work on MINI day in and day out, bringing that same expertise to the track.
Team owner, Luis Perocarpi, expressed his pride in the team and the MINI dealer technicians who worked hard throughout the weekend. He said, “It was a tough weekend, but the team ploughed through, and we came home with three podiums.”
The team finished as the runner up for the Manufacturer’s Championship in both the Touring Car (TC) and Touring Car A (TCA) classes in the last season. Clay Williams, who pilots the #60 MINI JCW Pro, also finished the 2022 season in second place in the Driver’s Championship in the TC class.
The next race of the 2023 SRO TC America series will take place on May 19 – 21 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Keep it locked on motoringfile.com for all the updates and insider news.
2023 SRO TC America
March 30 – April 2: Sonoma Raceway – COMPLETE
April 28 – 30: NOLA Motorsports Park – COMPLETE
May 19 – 21: Circuit of the Americas
June 16 – 18: Virginia International Raceway
August 18 – 20: Road America
September 22 – 24: Sebring International Raceway
October 5 – 8: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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Transformed. That’s how Autocar is describing the all new J01 electric MINI Cooper SE in an early preview drive. Select European publications had an early drive in the J01 electric MINI Cooper in Germany recently and came away impressed with the reimagined electric MINI. While these were very early prototypes, the words positive, impressive and even transformed show just how good this new electric MINI Cooper SE could be.
Autocar’s review captures the new car well so we’re going to focus on what they found first. And what they immediately were impressed by was the steering.
“The steering is transformed. The engineers say they’re still working on dialling in some on-centre feel, but it already felt pretty good to me. The leaden feel and limp turn-in that characterises many versions of the current Mini has been banished completely. It’s now actually quite light, even in Sport driving mode, feeling natural and delicately letting you know what’s going on.”
Autocar reports that the steering is just 2.2 turns lock to lock and is a direct rack with a fixed ratio. That along with the improved steering feel should go a long way in helping to create more consistent feedback and turn-in characteristics.
As we’ve reported previously power output is 215 hp with a WLTP range of 250 miles for the Cooper SE.
The chassis is another clear point of major improvement; “The chassis backs up the fast steering with grip and response, even on winter tyres in cold and wet conditions. The nose darts into corners in a way that the old car’s never did. You can easily load up the front end and then bring the rear out to play at will.”
It’s also in the fine tuning of the electronics and power management where there are big improvements. According to Autocar; engineers have put a lot of work into the traction and stability control systems, and it shows. Leave everything on and the systems will carefully mete out power to maintain traction while smoothly intervening to maintain the agile handling while keeping the rear axle firmly in line.”
But it’s DSC Sport mode that really impressed as Autocar explains; “it maintains the traction and nips at the individual brakes to subtly rotate the car into corners. It lets you play with the balance of the car and even encourages it, while still keeping an eye out to make sure that things don’t get out of hand.”
Autoexpress came away impressed by many of the same points but called out the brakes as some of the best they’ve ever felt in an EV; The best news, though, is the natural feel to the brake pedal, which is quite rare in an EV. The new MINI’s stopping power feels entirely linear and natural, giving us the confidence to hit the power and then brake heavily as we head into corners.
Interestingly MINI had a current generation F56 Cooper SE on hand as a benchmark. Again here’s Autoexpress; “First, MINI put us into the current-generation Cooper SE on the circuit and that still manages to put a smile on our face. But swapping into the new car instantly brings more performance, bags of grip and – whisper it – an unexpected ability to drift.“
Their take was that “body control feels a touch tighter than on MINIs of old (and it was already pretty good), while the steering still needs to be a touch quicker, especially when you let the rear end step out.” The latter is reportedly one of the last refinements MINI is still making in tuning.
Finally they end their driving impressions with this point; “MINIs have always been about fun, but the new model feels like fun. There’s a greater focus on the driver, but not to the detriment of comfort.”
Early Design Impressions of the J01 Electric MINI Cooper SE
Autoexpress had a chance to speak with lead Exterior Designer Thomas Sycha who talked about the differences this car has over the F56 and the forthcoming ICE F66;
“This new car has a more aerodynamic form. The droplet shape is ideal aerodynamically with a wider rear.” Even the wheels are flatter and more aerodynamic, with more space for the bigger brakes that are important for power regeneration in an EV.
“There are two characters to MINI. The engineering simplicity of Alec Issigonis and the emotional side of John Cooper. This new model covers both those bases.”
MINI Exterior Designer Thomas SychaWhile differences in stance and overall shape are hard to pick out in photos, they are more obvious hands-on. According to Autoexpress; even in camouflage, the more athletic stance of the Cooper is clear, with its wider rear and narrower glasshouse. That doesn’t mean there’s less room inside, though. It’s still not massively spacious, although we’d say there is a fraction more legroom and headroom in the back than before, with the boot roughly the same size.
The J01 Electric MNI Cooper SE Interior
Both authors commented on the new interior design. Gone is the digital display cluster behind the wheel. In its place is a circular OLED display that houses most functions. Having experienced BMW’s take on housing functionality like heated seats and drive modes in a display we’ve been very concerned how MINI’s approach would pay off. But early returns look a bit more positive. Here’s Autocar’s take;
As much as I like chunky old-school controls, I must admit that it looks quite cool and seemingly works okay, even running very buggy prototype software. Like in a Tesla, you quickly get used to looking slightly right for the speed, plus a head-up display is optional.
Just below the circular screen are traditional toggle switches include on/off, gear selection, power modes, audio volume and what MINI is calling ‘experiences’.
The seats are all new as well. Sadly the adjustable thigh-support is gone. The seats are slightly wider but reportedly more ergonomic with an adjustable armrest now attached.
The steering wheel is also heavily revised and is 20 mm smaller in diameter and has gone back to a two-spoke design with a strap acting as a third central spoke. And that strap theme continues inside in other places.
Chrome is gone as MINI has replaced with with a ‘vibrant silver’ that they say is fingerprint proof for those who are a bit Type A.
“We have fingerprint-proof buttons, too,” Sycha tells us proudly, “and the inside is chrome-free – we have a new ‘vibrant silver’ colour that we’ve used all over the car.” The revised MINI logo in the centre of the wheel is proof of that; it’s flatter, two-dimensional and not as shiny as before.
Launch Dates and Pricing
Pricing and availability is a bit murky but here’s what we know. The first version of this car will be made in China via. joint venture with Great Wall Motors. That car will be sold in Asia, Europe and the UK. By 2027 production will have expanded to the Oxford UK plant which will likely coincide with the J01’s launch in the North American market.
J01 MINI Cooper (BEV) / China Start of Production J01 MINI Cooper E 11/2023 J01 MINI Cooper SE 11/2023 J01 MINI Cooper JCW* TBD * Unconfirmed by our sources Pricing is still TBD but expect something very close to current MINI Cooper SE figures.
There’s no question it’s too early to reach any conclusions yet. But for a prototype drive this is as positive as you could imagine. Not just in the way it drives but the way it stays true to what has made the brand so successful for over 60 years.
We’ll have much more on the J01 electric MINI Cooper SE throughout the year. But if you want even more information now, head MotoringFile’s J01 Section.
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The JCW has been the halo car for the MINI range since it was a dealer installed kit in 2004. After MINI had fully acquired the sub-brand it moved from an accessory business to one that was fully integrated into production. That allowed for JCW version of almost every car offer – even theCountryman. However the brand’s core was always the Cooper, the smallest MINI. And now we have an exclusive look at when the last ever ICE (internal combustion) JCW MINI Cooper will launch and what to expect.
If you’ve been following MotoringFile you’ll know that MINI is splitting its core model – the Cooper – into two distinct products. In an unprecedented move there will be two next generation MINI Coopers (hatches) built on opposite ends of the planet on two different platforms. This move will allow MINI to offer innovative electric offerings while still selling to the traditional ICE market for as long as possible. But key to this will be upgrading the F56 to a more modern spec in terms of tech.
The F66 JCW will be an evolution of the F56 which is shared a chassis with. That means we’ll see familiar equipment like JCW brakes but revised elements such as suspension and engines which point to even higher levels of performance.
The F66 2025 JCW Production Plans
The last JCW MINI Cooper will begin production in November of 2024 and be sold as a 2025 model. It will the last F66 introduced and go online at the Oxford Plant at the same time as the F67 convertible begins production.
Finally the last ICE variant, the F67 JCW Convertible, will begin production in March of 2025.
F66 MINI Cooper (ICE) / Oxford, England Start of Production F66 ICE Cooper 3 door 03/2024 (07/24 – US) F66 ICE Cooper S 3 door 03/2024 F66 ICE Cooper JCW 3 door 11/2024 F65 ICE Cooper 5 door 07/2024 (11/24 – US) F65 ICE Cooper S 5 door 07/2024 F67 ICE Cooper Convertible 11/2024 F67 ICE Cooper S Convertible 11/2024 F67 ICE JCW Convertible 03/2025 
This is the J01 electric MINI Cooper SE and not the F66 JCW. However it does give us a preview of the basic design language we’ll see (plus plenty of air and brake intakes) Design Of The F66 2025 JCW
MINI is refreshing the F66 Cooper, Cooper S and JCW exterior design to better match the all new J01 electric MINI Cooper. That means we’ll the JCW offer revised lights front and rear and even a slightly shortened front overhang. The key theme appears to be creating design consistency with the future of the brand – the all electric J01 MINI Cooper. The goal is clearly to unify the design language across all models allowing consumers to have a choice that feels strictly about the propulsion system and nothing else.
What that means for the JCW remains to be seen but you can be sure that the MINI Design team will follow the form follows function design ethos we’ve seen in the leaked J01 Cooper S and U25 Countryman S. In other words the JCW will likely become a bit more minimal in design while allow the needed function or engine and break cooling to drive its exterior design. Additionally sources tell us to expect a bit more obvious nods to motorsports in certain elements of the car.
The J01 electric MINI Cooper SE and the F66 will have similar details including the rear light design. Around back we’ll see fully customizable LED rear lighting that be a big departure from what we’re used to. Additionally MINI will introduce plastic trim that will stretch across the hatch connecting the rear lights. All opportunities for MINI to differentiate the JCW more than the standard Cooper or Cooper S.
Finally it’s worth nothing that the Cooper models will have hidden exhausts and Cooper S will have a dual center exhaust. While we expect the same (albeit larger) for the JCW, it’s worth noting that MINI is going to incorporate quad exhausts on the forthcoming JCW Countryman (more on that soon). Could MINI do that on the JCW Cooper? We doubt it but there’s always an outside chance.
The all important wheels and tires options will stay the same as the F56 JCW but we’ll see three new designs ranging from 17″ to 18″ in size.
F66 ICE MINI JCW Wheel Options 17” John Cooper Works Sprint Spoke black 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone 18″ John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone with sport tires 
While these 18″ F56 JCW wheels won’t carrier over, the brakes and other components will. F66 2025 JCW Power and Performance
Being the last of the line in terms of ICE engines, the key will be evolution and not revolution. The petrol powered range will use an evolved version of the current B48 engine range with mild-hybrid added to decrease CO2, make stop and go more seamless and add performance. However since this is the last of the line in terks if ICE at MINI, every petrol powered engine is a revision of an existing one. So things will look familiar but we believe numbers might rise slightly. The 1.5 three cylinder could use a more powerful BMW tune that would see it rise to around 150 hp. Then there’s a series of 2.0 four cylinder that could also use various BMW tunes. But we believe we’ll see something around the 200 hp mark at launch.
F66 ICE MINI Models Engine Code Horsepower F66 MINI Cooper TBD 155 hp F66 MINI Cooper S TBD 200 hp F66 JCW MINI Cooper B48B20O1 (unconfirmed) 260 hp (unconfirmed) The power output for the F66 JCW remains a little foggy. We’ve heard rumors that MINI will be leveraging the 260 hp B48 used in the highly acclaimed 128ti sold in Europe. If MINI goes that route we might be facing a pivotal moment for the brand as there is no manual transmission that works with that version of the B48 in the BMW world. While they certainly exist, there’s simply nothing that BMW or MINI offers that could cope with the 295 lbs of torque tested, approved and ready for sale from the BMW Group.
The other scenario is that MINI would stick to the current 228 HP version of the car allowing the manual to be continued to be offered.
However there’s another bit of intel that’s makes us believe we’ll see this engine in the JCW sans manual. Recently the head of MINI let slip that we may not see manual transmissions in MINIs future. While sources tell us MINI will likely offer it on at least on the Cooper S in certain markets like North America, BMW is clearly not sentimental about manuals as it has unceremoniously killed it in all but two the M2 and M3/M4 twins. And the only reason it’s still offered in those two models was US market demand.
Of course there is an outside chance that MINI could go bonkers and offer something close JCW GP levels of output. The BMW Group has plenty of versions of the B48 that would do that and a couple of automatic transmissions that could cope with the torque. That could give the car up to 301 hp and potentially even 315 HP thanks to the revised B48A20T2. But we’ll only believe it when we hear something credible.
Will we see another JCW GP? Coping with a likely power increase sources tell us to expect subtle suspension changes to the car to further refine the ride and handling. Carried over will be the JCW brakes which have been excellence since their launch in 2015 on the F56 JCW.
Finally there’s always a chance that MINI will choose to send petrol powered JCWs out with a bang by bringing back the GP. However sources have told us at the launch of the last GP in late 2019 that there was nothing formally planned as a follow-up. Further they indicated that it was likely that the F56 GP would be the last ICE model to carry that name and we might see the electric J01 form the basis of a GP in the future. But we wouldn’t bet against MINI wanting to send off the ICE era in style around 2030.
Want more information on the new MINI family? We’ve got some links for you.
4th Generation MINI Family Overview
U25 ICE & Electric MINI Countryman Overview
J01 Electric MINI Cooper Overview
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Since its re-introduction, wheel design has been one of the more important factors for MINI models in how they differentiate themselves but also how it allows owners to customize their cars. That’s why when a new wheel option shows up, people take note. But we don’t have a new option to talk about to today, we have nine of them in this exclusive preview.
For those who have been following MotoringFile over the last year, you’ll know that MINI is rolling out massive changes across its line-up over the next 18 months. Perhaps none bigger than splitting its iconic Cooper into two models; one a revised F56 with an internal combustion engine, the other an all new electric model. The (initially) Chinese built J01 will be completely new while the UK produced F66 will be a heavily modified F56 with updated tech and a design that will mirror that of the all new J01. Thanks to sources a key part of that design is coming.
The J01 electric MINI above wears the 17″ U-Spoke wheels in vibrant silver One thing you’ll notice right away is the amount of consistency between the ICE F66 and the electric J01. True to MINI’s word they want these two radically different cars to appear the same to the casual onlooker. That means the same wheels and very similar exterior (if not shape).
We believe these are the 17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone camouflaged in all black First let’s look at the F66 ICE Cooper. Based on what we know we believe will be offering a subset of smaller wheels on the Cooper with at least one 18″ options.
F66 ICE MINI Cooper Wheel Options 17” U-Spoke grey 17” U-Spoke vibrant silver 17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone 16” 4 Square Spoke 18” Slide Spoke 2-tone As is typical for MINI, the Cooper S will get a largest variety of wheels starting at 17″ in size and even a few 18″.
F66 ICE MINI Cooper S Wheel Options 17” U-Spoke grey 17” U-Spoke vibrant silver 17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone 18” Night Flash Spoke 2-tone 18” Slide Spoke 2-tone Finally the JCW model will offer the most limited range but with a focus on 18″ wheels. From what we can tell, MINI will offer extreme sport tires on the 18″ JCW Lap Some wheels. It’s unclear if these are simply summer tires or more aggressive still.
F66 ICE MINI JCW Wheel Options 17” John Cooper Works Sprint Spoke black 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone 18″ John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone with sport tires 
The J01 MINI Cooper SE with the 18″ Night Flash Spoke 2-tone wheels Finally the electric J01 MINI will offer a subset of the same wheels. Our sources are unclear on how this will breakdown between the Cooper E and Cooper SE and eventual JCW versions of the J01 so there’s the full list as we know it.
J01 Electric MINI Cooper Wheel Options 17” U-Spoke grey 17” U-Spoke vibrant silver 17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone 18” Night Flash Spoke 2-tone 18” Slide Spoke 2-tone 
We believe these are the 17” Parallel Spoke 2-tone camouflaged in all black The F66 2025 MINI Cooper Background and Launch Dates
As you can tell by its codename, the F66 is an evolution of the F56 which is shared a chassis with. However MINI is refreshing the exterior design to better match the all new J01 electric MINI Cooper. That means we’ll see revised lights front and rear and even a fractionally shortened front overhang. The key theme appears to be creating design consistency with the future of the brand – the all electric J01 MINI Cooper. The goal is clearly to unify the design language across all models allowing consumers to have a choice that feels strictly about the propulsion system and nothing else.
As you can see below MINI will start production of the heavily revised F66 in March of 2024. Deliveries should start in April (for the UK and EU) and May for the US market.
F66 MINI Cooper (ICE) / Oxford, England Start of Production F66 ICE Cooper 3 door 03/2024 (07/24 – US) F66 ICE Cooper S 3 door 03/2024 F66 ICE Cooper JCW 3 door 07/2024 (11/24 – US) F65 ICE Cooper 5 door 07/2024 (11/24 – US) F65 ICE Cooper S 5 door 07/2024 F67 ICE Cooper Convertible 11/2024 F67 ICE Cooper S Convertible 11/2024 F67 ICE JCW Convertible TBD Where plans deviate for the US market, they’re noted For all of our reporting on the next generation F66 ICE MINI Cooper, check out the F66 section of MotoringFile.
J01 2025 MINI Cooper SE Background and Launch Dates
The J01 is MINI’s first car designed from the ground-up to be electric. It will be offered in in two flavors initially; the Cooper E and the Cooper SE. The E will have a 40kWh battery driving the front wheels and should see a range of around 200 miles on the WTLP testing cycle. The Cooper SE (also FWD) will have a larger 54kWh battery and should see a 240 mile range with WTLP testing. Our sources have told us that these figures are relatively conservative (as is BMW’s typical position).
However it’s production being based initially in China means the North American market won’t see the J01 until it expands to UK production in time for the 2027 model year.
The J01 MINI Cooper will debut at the Munich Motorshow this September. While production was to start later this year in China, rumors are pointing to it being delayed until May of 2024. Once it does start, expect sales to begin in the UK, Europe and Asia shortly after. As we mentioned above, expect a refreshed version to hit North America and other markets in 2027 and be made in the UK.
J01 MINI Cooper (BEV) / China Start of Production J01 MINI Cooper E 05/2024 J01 MINI Cooper SE 05/2024 J01 MINI Cooper JCW* TBD For much more on the all new J01 electric MINI Cooper, head over to MotoringFile’s dedicated J01 section.
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Big show for you this week! Lots about electric MINIs, but first, let’s begin by providing our thoughts about Spike, and we might not have had anything nice to say about it.
It’s almost time to remind you about the awesome that was Hammer and Coop. Then we get right into the electric MINI stuff, starting with Gabe’s latest opinion piece.
For those of you that are looking for our pre-show, you can find that, 100% free of charge, at BlackRoofRadio.com. While you are there, if you would like to support the show, awesome! If not, that is totally ok too!
Other links from this episode:
- What is wltp?
- First photos of the MINI Cooper SE
- The rainbox cladding
- MINIs on the Dragon
- MINIs on the Mac
- RSS Readers
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The Bulldog Racing team had one hell of a 24 Hours of Nurburgring last year. Hit but the same car twice, it was one moment of bad luck to the next. However the team is back this year running the Nurburgring Endurance Championship and has completed the latest race in the series; the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring 2023.
Official Release: Bulldog Racing’s MINI JCW Makes It Through Latest Test at the Nurbringring
A packed grid and demanding conditions at the second race of the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring 2023 challenged the Bulldog Racing team. Ideal testing conditions for the crowd favorite bright red MINI John Cooper Works, which has been continuously developed and improved by the team since the first season last year. The driver duo Marco Zabel (DEU) and Markus Fischer (AUT) proved their excellent form and put in 11 laps in the reliable MINI John Cooper Works. Using the RCN as a test program allows the Nürburg based team valuable insights into the performance of the MINI John Cooper Works, which is now equipped with Michelin tires.
The green hell at the Nürburgring did not make it easy for the Bulldog Racing Team. Among the 180 participants in the race, there were gripping wheel-to-wheel duels on the 24-hour race track variant of the Nürburgring, which consists of a combination of the Nürburgring GP circuit and the legendary Nordschleife.
In September 2021 the starting signal was given for the ambitious motorsport project of Bulldog Racing. In 2022, the private Bulldog Racing team brought the first MINI John Cooper Works back onto the racetrack after a ten-year break at the 24h race on the Nürburgring. The modified production car is currently being prepared for upcoming racing events.
The post Bulldog Racing’s MINI JCW Completes Latest Race at the Nürburgring appeared first on MotoringFile.
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Could MINI begin building the forthcoming electric MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman in Mexico at the BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosi. It’s an idea we’ve floated for a few years and one that has now being publicly mentioned by an owner of a prominent MINI dealer. But how real is this rumor and would it even be possible?
We’ve been reporting since last year that MINI was actively looking at alternatives for its Chinese production strategy for the J01 electric MINI Cooper and J05 electric MINI Aceman. And recently there’s been very strong indications that MINI is indeed expanding production to the UK as a way to get bring production closer to its largest markets and avoid Chinese tariffs that affect the US market.
In the latest Automotive News, Nicholas Alexander, president of Nick Alexander MINI in Los Angeles, said the China-made EVs are “desperately needed here.” But the import tariff “would make those models unsellable here,” he added, noting it would tack nearly $7,000 onto the sticker price. “China production immediately puts us from having a well-equipped, well-priced, well-loved car into something that’s just out of people’s price range,” Alexander said. “So if they could move that production to North America, I’m all for it.“
That comment has set the MINI internet a blaze. But there’s one problem. It’s a theoretical comment by a dealer principle and not a statement from MINI. Nor does it reveal any official discussions or plans. In fact it’s a statement that any one of us could make and one we even hypothesized last year.
However this feels a little different. For one it’s coming from Alexander MINI, a huge dealer for the brand over the years and if anyone might be in the know, Nicholas Alexander might. Could this suggestion be a thinly veiled confirmation that plans are underway?
Why Did MINI Decide to Produce Cars in China?
The J01 MINI Cooper and J05 MINI Aceman represent the fully electric future of the brand. While the current F56 electric MINI Cooper has been received well, it was always meant to be a stop-gap while BMW designed and built a new one from the ground up. However to make the economics work, BMW had to find a company to partner to help defray the enormous costs associated with creating a new vehicle from scratch. That company, Great Wall Motors seemed to be the perfect choice having quickly become an expert of electrified vehicles thanks to China’s stringent laws mandating their sales.
However just months after the agreement was signed, US/Chinese relations began to implode. One thing led to another and tariffs on goods were announced on both sides. For electric cars that meant a 25% tariff on any Chinese car imported to the US. For a small car with equally small profit margins, those tariffs have proven impossible for MINI USA to solve for.
And now things are getting even more complex. According to ‘Manager Magazin’, a German monthly business magazine, talks are ongoing between BMW, GWM and Chinese officials about exactly what will be built at the Chinese plant in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, with an annual capacity of 160,000 cars and production set to start this year. There is, however, a problem.
The essential NEV (New Electric Vehicle) production license for China has yet to be signed by the authorities. The papers will now be handed over at the China Development Forum at the end of March. However, Spotlight Automotive has yet to receive the go-ahead for the already complete Jiangsu factory.
How could this be happening? Given the push towards electric vehicles in China, there’s been a massive amount of start-ups over the last few years. That has created huge overcapacities, reportedly making MINI wait until one of these shoe-string budget operation fails and its precious license made available to the next inline.
With MINI’s volume target rising from 293,000 to 500,000 annual sales this decade, other plants were invited to make a case for investment. As we now know, Plant Oxford put forward the winning argument and so BMW will be refitting the factory to assemble the new generation ICE and EV models side by side.
A Mexican Built MINI Could Qualify for the $7,500 Tax Credit
The Inflation Reduction Act stipulates that not only the car be made in North America, but a large percentage of its components as well. Just producing the MINI Cooper and Aceman in BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosi doesn’t make it qualify for the tax credits. MINI would have to source other components like batteries and electric motors from plans in North America as well. In other words the investment isn’t trivial – especially since they’re likely going through the same process in the UK and the Oxford Plant.
The BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosi has been designed from the ground up to be flexible in what it produces but currently its focused on the 2 and 3 series line-up for the BMW brand.
But one thing that does make this rumor interesting is the pricing advantage that Mexico brings. Costs are dramatically lower than the UK. You could imagine the total savings for building and shipping the J01 and J05 to the rest of North America would be dramatically lower. In other words, the idea must be compelling enough that BMW and MINI have thought about the concept.
The post Rumor: Could MINI Expand Production to Mexico to Avoid Chinese Tariffs? appeared first on MotoringFile.
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Do people really hate the new MINIs design? If you look at the 100s of comments on MotoringFile over the last week you would come away with that impression. Yet we’ve seen this play out in identical fashion with every MINI to be released since the classic. Is this time different? Will the brand really die because of the new MINI design approach? We think not. In fact we believe the new J01 MINI Cooper and U25 Countryman are MINI’s most daring and future forward designs since the R50 MINI Cooper.
When the R50 was first shown there was both excitement and a chorus of groans from classic Mini owners. When the R56 first leaked there was unanimous reactions around its new design elements many calling them bulbous and exaggerated. Then is was the F56’s turn which was leaked ten years ago. Immediate reactions were also negative, especially in terms of the front overhang and increase in size.
The U25 MINI Countryman SE – Courtesy of InsideEVs Yet the common thing that all of these cars had is that they outsold what came before it. In other words, they proved MINI right every time by appealing and in turn selling.
Sensing a trend? Human reaction to a new version of a highly emotional object is often initially negative. Yet once people grow accustom to it, many tend to slowly change opinions.
Design is both personal and subjective which makes it the breeding ground for opinions. In other words design is hard. And in a highly regulated space like automotive and a highly emotional brand like MINI, it’s simply impossible to please everyone. Especially when it comes to owners and fans of the brand.
The J01 MINI Cooper SE Our First Take on the new MINI Design Language
Let’s get this out of the way. We love this new direction from MINI Design and Oliver Heimler. While there are aspects of the cars we’ve seen we’re still not sure of (those wheels above for instance), we love the overall design philosophy behind both the J01 and U25. In fact what MINI has done on the U25 in particular is an interesting stretch of the design language we first saw on the J01 Cooper.
While the U25 Countryman has that same, minimal look. MINI has added body forms and other styling elements that speak to the car’s utility and attitude. Instead of adorning it loads of plastic team to speak to ruggedness, MINI has used a more holistic approach starting with the shape and form of the metal. The squared fenders are the most obvious element as you can see below.
The U25 MINI Countryman SE – Courtesy of InsideEVs Also interesting is the design element sitting on the c-pilar. It will be an element that MINI will change the look of based on model and trim. But how it neatly integrates with both the c-pilar and the curve on the roof (that’s a direct evolution from the F60) is smart in our eyes.
The J01 MINI Cooper SE What isn’t so smart to us is the is size of the front overhangs on both these cars. The J01’s has shrunk slightly compared to the F56 but the U25’s is even larger than it’s predecessor the F60.
European pedestrian safety standards not only dictate space between the front of the car and hard-points sun as engines and suspension, but also the shape. Even the curvature of the overhang are dictated by regulation (which is why we’ll never see something like the R50 or R56 again).
But the length of the overhang could theoretically be smaller on a bespoke electric platform like the J01. Since electric engines are so small, we’re genuinely surprised MINI couldn’t have shrunk the overhang even more down to even R56 levels.
The J01 MINI Cooper SE What do we love is the honesty here. With this new design language, MINI is being honest about the form or the car based on the function of it. There are no more fake vents and hood-scoops. Gone is the side scuttle which were designed to look like vents. And as we’ll see soon, gone is the bulbous retro styling inside. In its place is minimalistic and above all else digital.
We can debate that removing physical buttons is good or bad (we strongly believe the latter) but what is clear is that the new interior will be a much more zen place to spend time.
This new design language isn’t just about the Cooper or the Countryman that have leaked in the past few weeks. The change we’ve seen will filter into every aspect of the brand. Next will be the F66 ICE MINI Cooper. Although based on the F56, it will appear almost identical to the J01 electric MINI we’ve already seen. Then the Aceman and after that, who knows.
The U25 MINI Countryman SE – Courtesy of Autocar Whatever comes, this new design language is what MINI is moving forward with. Clean and minimal, the new aesthetic moves away from the (at times) gaudy use of trim an is almost entirely functionally driven. Similar to brands like Porsche, styling is based in function and the overarching design is better for it.
And yet seemingly 80% of the early comments are negative. As someone who has seen this through four generations of MINIs, it’s all incredibly predictable. And I can logically understand many of the negative opinions. Some of them are driven by normal psychological reactions of a variation of a loved product. Some of them are credible stylistic issues – some of which I had shared (maybe one or two I still wonder about).
Yet we are incredibly optimistic after seeing these early looks at the new direction of MINI design. A return to functionally driven design was a core ethos of the brand in 1959 that had been lost along the way. This new direction is a return to that ethos while not feeling retro. In short, it’s everything MINI should be.
The post Opinion: The New Era for MINI Design Is A Return to Form appeared first on MotoringFile.
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The all new Electric MINI Countryman SE has been spied undisguised at a photoshoot revealing its final look. much like the electric Cooper SE, these photos are courtesy of a marketing photoshoot that was held in LA.
Stylistically the U25 MINI Countryman is a sharper, more bold design that has clearly grown in every dimension. More upright with a few technical looking details, MINI has tried to make the Countryman look for off-road worthy.
The front is more square and the new headlights are more dramatic in their angles. Like the J01 Cooper, the U25 Countryman follows a much more minimal aesthetic with design elements that are functionally driven first and foremost.
The Countryman will once again be positioned as the largest product in the MINI range. It will also be the only platform offered by MINI with both ICE and electric power. Designed with plenty of input from the American market, it will deliver more space and utility to ever before. But can it still retain the hallmarks of the MINI brand? While we don’t yet have an answer, we have some details that give us a clue.
How Big is the U25 MINI Countryman?
According to MINI we’ll see some noticeable increases in length on this new Countryman. Growing mostly behind the rear wheel wheels, we’ll see an additional five inches of length in total. The added length is designed to dramatically increase the rear cargo space putting it on par with other crossovers in the category. Note the wheelbase will not be changing over the F60 which could mean an even larger front over-hang.
R60 Countryman (’10-’16) F60 Countryman (’17-’23) U25 Countryman (’24-’32) Length 4097 mm / 161.3 in 4298 mm / 169.2 in 4429 mm / 174.37 in Height 1562 mm / 61.5 in 1557 mm / 61.3 in 1613 mm / 63.5 in Wheelbase 2596 mm / 102.2 in 2670 mm / 105.1 in 2670 mm / 105.11 in What about weight? Our sources are telling us that MINI will make use of advanced chassis design and plenty of new aluminum components to reduce the weight gain you might expect with the growth in detentions. We can get an idea of weight by looking at the new BMW X1 which has a 3,750 lbs curb weight. That’s only up 24 lbs over the previous generation despite being marginally larger and being offered with more standard equipment. Given this we’d expect the next generation Countryman All4 won’t be far off the current car’s 3,726 lbs curb weight (assuming equipment levels are similar).
Electric MINI Countryman SE
MINI will launch two electric configurations simply named the E and SE. The E will have a single motor driving the front wheels while the SE will offer a two motor set-up driving all four wheels.
Countryman E Countryman SE* WLTP Range – Europe 273 miles 261 miles EPA Range – United States (estimated) 213 miles 204 miles *The SE will be the only model imported to North America One important note about range that is almost always missed by commenters on social media. The WLTP testing protocol produces, on average 22% higher mileage figures than EPA testing by. However in our experience, real world performance often lies somewhere in the middle, a bit closer to the EPA numbers.
Another important point not factored into these numbers is BMW’s historically conservative published performance numbers. Given that the EPA figures are self reported by automakers, there is some flexibility in how they test and produce numbers. Third party tests have shown brands like BMW and Porsche are often under-reporting real-world range in order to accommodate for various conditions. Data has shown some other automakers don’t follow that same philosophy.
Countryman E Countryman SE* Horsepower 185 hp (140 KW) 264 hp (200 kW) Battery Size 64 kWh 64 kWh *US model. Leveraging the same technical layout as the BMW iX1, the Countryman E single motor variant will produce 185 hp and be offered in FWD only. The WTLP rated range for the Countryman E will be 440 km or 273 miles.
The Countryman SE will see an output of 265 hp via dual motors and AWD. The 64.7-kWh t-shaped battery pack in the SE will have a range of 440 km or 261 miles.
The 2025 MINI Countryman Production Timing
MINI will debut the 2024 MINI Countryman (labeled a 2025 in the US) in the second half of 2023 with an all-out model onslaught. Based on our sources, this is what we expect to see in terms of production timing:
U25 / Leipzig, Germany Start of Production U25 ICE Countryman 11/2023 U25 ICE Countryman S 11/2023* U25 ICE Countryman JCW 11/2023* U25 BEV Countryman E 03/2024 U25 BEV Countryman SE 03/2024* U25 BEV Countryman JCW TBD* *US market models The post All New Electric MINI Countryman SE Revealed in Undisguised Photos appeared first on MotoringFile.
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When the R56 was first launched ten years ago, it drew mixed reactions due to its styling and larger size compared to the the R56. However thanks in large part to critical acclaim and high build quality, history has been kind to the F56. and so have sales.
Today MINI is celebrating the 1 millionth F56 made, the highest number of any MINI model made since the classic.
Official Release: The original celebrates its anniversary: The one millionth MINI 3-door of the current generation.
Maximum interior space on a minimum footprint – Sir Alec Issigonis wrote automotive history in 1959 with this simple yet ingenious vehicle concept. The modern version of the MINI 3-door also breaks with conventions along the same lines, reinvents itself time and again, and stands out from the crowd with its unique design. In 2013, MINI presented the current reinterpretation of the compact 3-door for the first time, which has been available worldwide since 2014 and has remained true to itself over all these years. Now, in 2023, the one millionth vehicle of the iconic model will roll off the production line at the MINI plant in Oxford. Fittingly, the tradition-rich British plant is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. In addition to the British production site, the MINI 3-door was also produced for a time in Born, the Netherlands.
Unmistakably MINI.
The typical appearance of the MINI 3-door is characterized by dynamic lines, clear shapes and short overhangs, making the agile four-seater the ideal companion in dense urban traffic. For its market launch in 2014, the completely redesigned generation of the MINI 3-door presents itself with high recognition value and significant advances in the areas of technology, efficiency and power delivery. But while automobiles in almost all vehicle segments are becoming increasingly similar, the MINI 3-door has remained both rebel and icon over all these years. The typical face of the MINI with the characteristic headlights characterizes the purist front and, together with the Union Jack combination rear lamps, bonnet stripes and stylish side scuttles, stands for expressive design. To this day, the original, with its typical MINI driving pleasure, maximum quality and numerous options for customization, has a steadily growing fan base worldwide.
The original with great variety.
The MINI 3-door is the original in the premium small car segment. MINI fans have been able to choose between numerous configurations since the unmistakable model went into production. From the MINI One First with its original 55 kW/75 hp to the more powerfully powered MINI Cooper with 100 kW/136 hp to the racing-inspired MINI John Cooper Works models, the MINI 3-Door impresses with inspiringly agile driving characteristics and is the blueprint for modern small and compact cars.
From the outset, the MINI 3-door has been available with a diesel or gasoline engine, and since 2020 the highly successful MINI Cooper SE has stood for electrified go-kart feeling. The one-millionth vehicle is also an electric model and will be delivered to Canada in British Racing Green paint. Last year, MINI recorded a significant increase in sales of electrified models, with one in five MINI models now electric.
The next generation of the MINI family will also start with the MINI 3-door. The new edition of the original is geared to electric driving pleasure from the outset and has ideal prerequisites for inspiring agility and the creative use of space that is typical of MINI. In addition to maximum go-kart feeling for MINI fans, the focus of the new MINI 3-door is also on minimizing its ecological footprint. In this way, MINI is consistently developing the concept for urban driving fun that has been successful for more than 60 years.
Impressive racing history.
As a friend of Mini inventor Alec Issigonis, race car designer John Cooper first developed a GT model based on the classic Mini in 1960 and established the model’s motorsport history. To this day, the John Cooper Works brand name stands for outstanding performance. With 225 kW/306 hp, the 2019 MINI John Cooper Works GP is the brand’s fastest ever road-going model.
The powerful four-cylinder turbo engine of the MINI 3-door, limited to 3,000 units, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, citing MINI’s impressive racing history. From winning the British Touring Car Championships with the first Mini Cooper to three overall victories at the Monte Carlo Rally and numerous other appearances, the MINI 3-door has stood for sporting highlights time and again and carries racing in its genes. Most recently, the Bulldog Racing MINI John Cooper Works proved itself at the Nürburgring 24-hour race on the legendary Nordschleife and quickly became a crowd favorit.The post The One Millionth F56 MINI Rolls Off the Assembly Line appeared first on MotoringFile.
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As part of MINI’s shift to full electrification by the early 2030s, the brand is killing its Countryman plugin hybrid PHEV. While the Countryman Cooper S hybrid never accounted for a dominant percentage of global sales, it’s been a steady seller and in some markets even a big part of the product mix. MINI killing the model is a bold move that foreshadows its confidence in what will replace it.
The commitment MINI is making to an all-electric future of the MINI brand means that they will refrain from plug-in hybrid vehicles in the new generation of vehicles altogether. This is despite the fact that the Countryman’s base platform was designed to accommodate ICE, full electric and plugin hybrid models. Making it even easier, MINI could have simply borrowed the BMW X1’s plug-in technical setup and offered something similar to the xDRIVE30e which offers 177hp and 56 miles (WLTP) of full electric driving.
Yet MINI is on a mission to go full electric and that clearly means the brand isn’t interested in half measures. Yes all revised ICE engines have what is known as a mild-hybrid component, in reality that will simply allow for a better start/stop experience and potentially a subtle burst of speed at certain times.
MINI’s Countryman Hybrid Replacement Strategy
MINI’s strategy is to offer the best of the ICE and full electric with the Countryman. This move will allow MINI to make a clear distinction between the models and, in a sense, its past and future. Here’s an early look at those two models.
Electric MINI Countryman
MINI will launch two electric configurations simply named the E and SE. The E will have a single motor driving the front wheels while the SE will offer a two motor set-up driving all four wheels.
Countryman E Countryman SE* WLTP Range – Europe 273 miles 261 miles EPA Range – United States (estimated) 213 miles 204 miles *The SE will be the only model imported to North America One important note about range that is almost always missed by commenters on social media. The WLTP testing protocol produces, on average 22% higher mileage figures than EPA testing by. However in our experience, real world performance often lies somewhere in the middle, a bit closer to the EPA numbers.
Another important point not factored into these numbers is BMW’s historically conservative published performance numbers. Given that the EPA figures are self reported by automakers, there is some flexibility in how they test and produce numbers. Third party tests have shown brands like BMW and Porsche are often under-reporting real-world range in order to accommodate for various conditions. Data has shown some other automakers don’t follow that same philosophy.
Countryman E Countryman SE* Horsepower 185 hp (140 KW) 264 hp (200 kW) Battery Size 64 kWh 64 kWh *US model. Leveraging the same technical layout as the BMW iX1, the Countryman E single motor variant will produce 185 hp and be offered in FWD only. The WTLP rated range for the Countryman E will be 440 km or 273 miles.
The Countryman SE will see an output of 265 hp via dual motors and AWD. The 64.7-kWh t-shaped battery pack in the SE will have a range of 440 km or 261 miles.
ICE MINI Countryman
We expect MINI to use the 1.5 three cylinder engine in the base model with different tunes ranging from 137 hp to 170 hp. However MotoringFile has conformed that the US market will not be getting the base Countryman and instead will use the Countryman S as its entry-level model.
The ICE Countryman S
The Countryman S will feature a 2.0 four cylinder with varying tunes; 200 hp and 206 ft-lbs and 240 hp and 265 ft-lbs. Sources are mixed as to what we’ll see in the US market but there the 200 hp tune is likely for the standard Countryman S while we could see the All4 get the 240 hp version of the 2.0L. This shift is strategy mirrors what we’ve seen on the BMW size with the BMW X1.
The ICE Countryman JCW
The U25 Countryman JCW will carrier over its 2.0 four cylinder but will have an increased output. Sources tell us to expect 330 hp coupled with a mild hybrid system that enables a further burst in power.
All petrol engines will get a 48 volt mild hybrid system and will be mated to a revised 7-speed dual clutch with an all new gear selector design. Unsurprisingly the manual transmission will be eliminated in all ICE models.
The 2025 MINI Countryman Production Timing
MINI will debut the 2024 MINI Countryman (labeled a 2025 in the US) in the second half of 2023 with an all-out model onslaught. Based on our sources, this is what we expect to see in terms of production timing:
U25 / Leipzig, Germany Start of Production U25 ICE Countryman 11/2023 U25 ICE Countryman S 11/2023* U25 ICE Countryman JCW 11/2023* U25 BEV Countryman E 03/2024 U25 BEV Countryman SE 03/2024* U25 BEV Countryman JCW TBD* *US market models The post The MINI Countryman Hybrid Is Dead appeared first on MotoringFile.
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Since the first photos leaked in 2021, the all new electric J01 MINI Cooper SE has been an open secret. Last week we got another early look at the car courtesy of a photoshoot in California. But the problem is none of these photos give us an accurate look – until now. Today we have the first clear, undisguised photos of the J01 MINI Cooper and in turn MINI’s new design language destined for all models.
Like the leaked shots last week, these photos show is a J01 MINI Cooper SE finished in Indigo Sunset Blue and 18” Night Flash Spoke 2-tone wheels. It’s a classic combo of blue and white that harkens back to the early 60’s which we absolutely love.
The Design of the all new Electric MINI Cooper SE
The design itself pays off what Head of MINI Design Oliver Hiemler has been hinting towards; minimalism and simplicity that is inspired by the original Mini. There is almost a stark minimalism compared to what we’ve seen over the last decade. In short there’s no faux vents or busy creases to be found. In fact there’s really not a single design elements that doesn’t have purpose functionally. That in itself is a massive departure from most modern MINI’s save the original R50.
While it’s decidedly not a retro design, there are countless philosophical links to the past.
Now let’s discuss that front overhang. While slightly reduced, it’s still a little larger than we’d hoped despite the fact that this is 100% a EV. We had expected MINI would have been able to package the small electric motor back far enough to allow for the impact zone to be further set-back.
Yet there’s a lot to like in these first photos. The front is particularly striking with smaller, more proportional details than the F56 generation. What we see here are the standard lights and not the adaptive LEDs that will be optional. The lights are small as is the entire scale of the front-end. While it’s hard to tell without the F56 (or forthcoming F66 next to it), the J01 feels a bit more subtle and sophisticated than the current MINI. Also note the large, centrally located radar module there to support L2 autonomy features.
Around back things get interesting. For us that’s a good thing but we’re sure a few of you won’t like the departure. Leveraging LED technology, an owner of the new J01 or F66 Cooper can change how their front and rear lights look when on and active. Want Union Jack tail lights? Or how about something more minimal? MINI will offer a number of different designs that will help owners differentiate their cars. Does it work and do you mind the radical departure from MINIs past? Let us know below.
2025 MINI Cooper SE Range & Performance
The all new electric MINI Cooper will come in two flavors; the Cooper E and the Cooper SE. The E will have a 40kWh battery driving the front wheels and should see a range of around 200 miles on the WTLP testing cycle. The Cooper SE (also FWD) will have a larger 54kWh battery and should see a 240 mile range with WTLP testing. Our sources have told us that these figures are relatively conservative (as is BMW’s typical position). An important note for those comparing this to the current electric MINI hatch – that car has a 110 mile range and a 28.9kWh battery.
2025 J01 MINI Cooper E 2025 J01 MINI Cooper SE 2023 F56 MINI Cooper SE Horsepower 181 hp 215 hp 181 hp Range 200 miles (WLTP) 240 miles (WLTP) 125 miles (WLTP Battery Size 40kWh 54kWh 32.6 kWh Performance is also up with the Cooper E offering 181bhp – similar to the traditional Cooper S performance. The hotter Cooper SE will have 215bhp and should have JCW levels of performance.
Theres also a JCW version coming. MINI is developing a full JCW version that it will feature the same 54kWh battery as the SE, arriving in mid-2025 with a focus on power over range. Expect an output around 250bhp.
How Big is the J01 2025 MINI Cooper SE?
Despite this clean-sheet design MINI kept the overall size extremely close to the current F56 MINI Cooper – and in fact went about 1.5” longer overall thanks to a longer wheelbase. It’s also almost an inch taller – likely due to the batteries sitting across the entire floor. However the key thing for the classic MINI Cooper are the dimensions. Here’s a quick view of how it stacks up against the last two generations of MINIs
R56 MINI Cooper F56 ICE MINI Cooper J01 2025 Electric MINI Cooper Length 3698 mm / 145.6 in 3850 mm / 151.57 in 3860 mm / 151.91 in Height 1407 mm / 55.4 in 1414 mm / 55.67 in 1435 mm / 56.49 in Wheelbase 2467 mm / 97.1 in 2495 mm / 98.23 in 2525 mm / 99.40 Will The 2025 Electric MINI Cooper (J01) Come To The US?
Given that the J01 is made in China, it will see a 25% tariff added to it. That’s a massive amount for a small car intended to be affordable. How could MINIUSA overcome the 25% tariff on a small car with razor thin margins? Luckily MINI seemingly has a strategy in place.
BMW is to secure UK production for the all new J01 electric MINI Cooper. We first reported the rumors of BMW building the J01 in Oxford last fall. But since that time there appears to be multiple points of confirmation that point to China being only one part of the production strategy. And perhaps more importantly the move would clear the way for the all new J01 electric MINI Cooper to eventually come to the North American market.
Recently Sky News reported that BMW has secured UK government funding to help expand the Oxford Plant for the new range of electric MINIs. While an official announcement won’t likely come until late this spring, it’s believed that the investment package will be worth close to £500m – £75m of which would be from the UK Government.
Stefanie Wurst, Head of MINI, has previously hinted that some new generation electric MINIs will be assembled at Plant Oxford beginning in 2027. We’ve also had a source confirm that timing saying it would coincide with a refresh of the model planed in the middle of its lifecycle. This would make it an ideal time to refine the J01 and introduce it to North America, perhaps even with more range and performance.
J01 2025 MINI Cooper SE Launch Dates
The J01 MINI Cooper will debut at the Munich Motorshow this September. While production was to start later this year in China, rumors are pointing to it being delayed until May of 2024. Once it does start, expect sales to begin in the UK, Europe and Asia shortly after. As we mentioned above, expect a refreshed version to hit North America and other markets in 2027 and be made in the UK.
J01 MINI Cooper (BEV) / China Start of Production J01 MINI Cooper E 05/2024 J01 MINI Cooper SE 05/2024 J01 MINI Cooper JCW* TBD For much more on the all new J01 electric MINI Cooper, head over to MotoringFile’s dedicated J01 section.
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The concept of a digital assistant inside of cars has been around for years. MINI itself has the option of integrating Alexa as well as Siri (the latter two CarPlay). But what we have here is different. Spike is MINI’s first full integrated digital assistant and one that will take on a playful, almost cartoon like personality. Full integrated into MINI’s next generation circular infotainment system, Spike, designed after a British bulldog, will play a significant role in the driving experience.
While MINI is only announcing the concept today, we’ve been told by sources to expect Spike to have the ability to not just handle typical voice activated features like navigation but also the car’s core functionality as well. Need to close the windows but have both hands on the wheel or need to turn on the heated seats, Spike can help. With MINI going several core bits of functionality from physical buttons to software settings, this feature could be a core interaction with the vehicle.
Now let’s talk about the name. As good as the assistant might ultimately be, the name is more than a little “cringey”. In fact first reaction was harken back to a classic Simpson’s episode when the makers of the Itchy and Scratchy cartoon created a character designed by a bunch of executives to appeal to kids called Poochie. Naturally the character failed because it was painfully not cool despite it (on paper) appealing to all the things kids liked. In other words in desperately trying to be cool, it was inherently uncool. Could Spike be a modern day Poochie?
We’ll hold our judgement until we see it in action. Until then read on for the full press release and gallery showing early concept interactions in the recently release Aceman concept. Both Spike and the Aceman concept (same one we saw last year) will be shown at the Shanghai Motor Show this week.
Official Release: MINI Unveils Spike – The Brand’s Digital Assistant For New Generation of Models
Munich, Germany, April 9, 2023. Spike, the canine friend of the MINI brand, is reimagined and brought to life in the digital world. Inspired by the look of an English Bulldog, he guides you through the operating concept of the future MINI model family. In his role as MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant, he provides various forms of support. Spike makes his first major appearance at the Auto Shanghai international trade fair (18-27 April, 2023) in China.
There, the reimagined four-legged friend will become an art toy welcoming visitors to the MINI stand as a large-format sculpture. Art toys are independent works of art that combine elements of toys and sculptures in the style of urban pop culture. Spike will also be appearing as an active protagonist in the cockpit of the new MINI Concept Aceman. The new Spike mode sets the perfect stage for the digital companion, who is presenting to the public for the first time on the circular OLED central display and dashboard. MINI will enable comprehensive insights into the digital world of the new model family and Spike’s diverse functions in the further course of 2023.
Spike has been accompanying this British premium brand’s success story since the modern MINI debuted in 2001. The bulldog, with its compact and powerful stature, British heritage and likeable nature was considered the perfect animal equivalent of the MINI even at the time. “MINI will always be synonymous with emotions and remarkable experiences,” said Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “That’s why we are now taking Spike into the future as a digital character. And he is not just a design experiment – he is becoming a characterful companion for the user experience.”
For the MINI community, the MINI Design Team developed Spike from an initial sketch to a versatile companion that draws attention beyond just the vehicle; he has already been staged as an art toy as part of the world premiere of the MINI Concept Aceman. Wherever Spike appears, he delivers unexpected experiences and exciting encounters.
The launch of the brand’s new model family strengthens the vehicle’s connection with drivers’ individual lifestyles. This emotional connection between person and automobile is invigorated by a digital character that Spike embodies in his very own personable way.
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Earlier this year we broke the news that the MINI Clubman was set to end production in early 2024. Almost on cue MINI announced a worldwide “Final Edition” intended to celebrate the model’s two generation run before it is gone forever. Today MINI USA is announcing availability and pricing for the special edition model celebrating the end of the Clubman. Perhaps even more importantly they’re announcing when the Clubman will end production. If you want a Clubman before they’re gone for good, you’ll want to read on.
The Clubman Final Edition is a celebration and send-off for the beloved MINI shooting brake that is probably our favorite current MINI in production. Based off the MINI Cooper S Clubman All4, the U.S. Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the MINI Clubman Final Edition is $46,150 plus an additional $995 for Destination and Handling.
The Final Edition honors the model’s heritage, from the very first Clubman offered in 1969 to the current generation MINI Clubman. The MINI Clubman Final Edition will be offered in a very limited capacity in the U.S. From a total of 1,969 units globally, fewer than 100 examples of the MINI Clubman Final Edition will be available to U.S. customers exclusively through a special pre-order reservation process.
Available in Nanuq White, Enigmatic Black and Melting Silver and is available in various models depending market. With details in the color Shimmer Copper, the Final Edition has similar details to the recent Untold Edition. The surrounds and the upper third of the radiator grille crossbar are in the shimmering edition colour, as are the model-typical MINI Cooper S Blade and the side scuttles. The graphic pattern on the 18-inch light-alloy wheels in the Final Edition Spoke 2- tone design is also finished in a tinted clear lacquer reminiscent of copper. Finished in Enigmatic Black the whole thing has a classic John Player livery feel to it.
The interior of the MINI Clubman Final Edition also has some unique touches. For example, the door sill trims with the edition-specific “Final Edition” lettering, which is also found on the lower spoke of the sports leather steering wheel which is finished in Nappa leather. The MINI Yours leather sports seats with adjustable thigh support and sewn-in edition badge are finished in Dark Maroon. They are set off by an anthracite-colored Piquet fabric insert and blue contrasting stitching.
The MINI Clubman Final Edition will be available in Cooper S in North America and Cooper SD in Europe. Unfortunately it would appear that MINI won’t be offering the Clubman JCW in this special edition package.
2024 Model Year Special Edition Pricing
MINI Cooper S ALL4 Clubman
MSRPFinal Edition Content MINI Cooper S ALL4 Clubman Final Edition MSRP $36,150 $10,000 $46,150 Final Clubman Availability and Ordering Timing
Separately, MINI USA announces the broader MINI Clubman model range will be available for US customers to order up through February 2024 production, at which time ordering will end for the model range.
Why Is MINI Killing The Clubman?
The Clubman in particular has had a hard time finding an audience outside of Europe as small wagon sales have slowed to a crawl in many markets. And despite MotoringFile calling the F54 JCW Clubman the best all around MINI ever made, it’s been a hard sell for dealers. Especially next to the taller more SUV like Countryman.
And now MINI is making the Countryman even larger while introducing a smaller electric Aceman crossover the US might not even get. It’s a sad end to our favorite car in the MINI line-up
The original Clubman is a bit divisive. With the third door on the wrong side or right-hand drive markets, it was looked at as the “other” MINI even but the brand’s own marketing. While we loved the concept, it never really jelled for us as it felt too close to the R56 and didn’t find the sweet spot that the F54 ultimately did in terms of utility and performance.
The F54 Clubman on the other hand has been our favorite MINI model since it’s introduction in 2015. We’ve run three of them over the years – a manual Cooper S All4, the 228 hp JCW and most recently a 306 hp JCW. While all were great cars, the 306 hp JCW Clubman might just be out favorite new MINI ever made.
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A handful of European based press got a chance to see and ride in the new 2025 electric MINI Countryman last month at an event in Munich. While there are no driving review until later this year, this is our best look at what this new, larger Countryman and even how the electric Countryman SE performs.
Autocar and Autoexpress were two of the publications that attended and have some of the best initial takes from the experience. At a high-level both came away impressed by the crossover – even in prototype form:
Our first experience of the new all-electric MINI Countryman is hugely positive. From the passenger seats (in the front and back), it has solved many of the problems of the old car around practicality and ride comfort, while the all-electric powertrain seems perfectly matched to MINI’s go-kart feel. It could turn out to be a real SUV superstar.
Autoexpress
One theme you’ll read throughout is size and space. We’ve gone into detail how the 2025 MINI Countryman. Both were immediately struck by the increase in size inside and in the cargo area. While the wheelbase is identical to the F60, the overhangs have grown – especially in the rear. That has allowed for MINI to stretch out the interior a bit while providing more luggage space.
R60 Countryman (’10-’16) F60 Countryman (’17-’23) U25 Countryman (’24-’32) Length 4097 mm / 161.3 in 4298 mm / 169.2 in 4429 mm / 174.37 in Height 1562 mm / 61.5 in 1557 mm / 61.3 in 1613 mm / 63.5 in Wheelbase 2596 mm / 102.2 in 2670 mm / 105.1 in 2670 mm / 105.11 in Also inside is where you’ll find MINI’s new circular OLED based circular nine-inch touchscreen. With this system MINI is finally moving away from BMW’s iDrive system in terms of user experience. It is also allowing MINI to ditch many of the physical controls that owners are used to such as heated seats. Having experience the new iDrive which has reduced many of the same physical controls, we can only hope MINI has done it better. Luckily there are a handful of shortcut buttons that will open menus on the screen for easy access.
However one thing was clear to both journalists – this new operating system is a complete departure from what MINI has had for years.
Elsewhere Autocar noted that the dashboard was made of “colourful woven fibres” rather than molded, textured rubber that we seen in most if not all modern cars. That harkens back to the Aceman concept we saw last year.
How Does The New Electric Countryman Drive and What’s the Range?
While journalists still haven’t driven it, the ride alongs did provide some ability to judge the driving experience. Also interesting is that MINI noted an estimated range of 280 miles rather than the 240 we had heard earlier. Assuming that’s an estimated WLTP number we’d expect a US EPA number of around 218 miles.
Other than that, both publications came away impressed in the driving experience from the passenger.
Unlike that car, the Countryman runs passive dampers and fixed-ratio steering, and even from the passenger seat, there’s something about its ride and roll rates that makes it feel more alive than the iX1.
AutocarThe fact that the Countryman will only have passive dampers is a bit of a shock given that the previous generation has had them for years. However the driving experience doesn’t seem to suffer at all.
From the passenger seat, we can tell Krüger (lead Countryman driving dynamics engineer) is not only enjoying the acceleration, but also the surefootedness of the new Countryman through corners. It’s longer and taller, but it grips well, seems to change direction keenly, and steadfastly refuses to lean through turns.
Although the surfaces on our Austrian test route are smoother than we have in the UK, we urge Krüger to find some bumpier sections. This reveals that this Countryman is far more comfortable than previous models, with the rough edges having been smoothed off. It’s quiet, too, as you’d expect, while the whole feeling is of a car that’s grown up without losing its sense of fun.
AutocarIt’s incredibly interesting, even from the passenger seat. Countryman driving dynamics engineer Simon Krüger went on to explain that the team think of it “like a tablecloth that we pull itin different directions to make sure we end up where we want it to be.” And this quote was particular promising; “You need to feel the road – we don’t want to banish that – but the perfect compromise is somewhere in between.”
We’ll be driving the 2025 MINI Countryman in both ICE and electric flavors later this year. Until then MotoringFile be delivering exclusive details on the car, performance, options and timing. And in the meantime head over to our U25 Countryman section for all the exclusive details we’ve revealed thus far.
Official Press Release: Fully electric: The next generation MINI Countryman.
As a stylish all-rounder and spacious everyday companion, the MINI Countryman continues the MINI brand’s product offensive of all-electric models.
With five doors and a variable-use interior, the largest model in the new MINI family of vehicles is leading the brand into an era of locally emission-free electromobility. With its optional all-wheel drive, the powerfully powered adventurer also ensures safe and unbridled driving pleasure off the beaten track.
The first generation of the MINI Countryman was already an instant success for MINI, and from 2010 it expanded the model family to include a compact SUV vehicle with all-wheel drive, five doors and – for the first time in a MINI model – over four meters in length. In the first generation, the trunk of the versatile adventurer can be flexibly expanded from 370 litres to up to 1,170 litres thanks to the sliding and folding rear seat.
From 2017, the second-generation MINI Countryman featured the MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 as the first plug-in hybrid MINI model to offer an additional 65 kW/88 hp electric motor on the rear axle.
The new generation of the largest MINI model is fully electric and locally emission-free. The MINI Countryman E delivers 140 kW/191 hp, whereas the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 is the brand’s first all-wheel-drive fully- electric vehicle. Two highly integrated drive units on the front and rear axles together generate an output of 230 kW/313 hp, including a temporary boost. The battery capacity is 64.7 kWh. With an estimated range of around 450 kilometres, the MINI Countryman feels just as comfortable in city centres as on longer distances across the countryside. With the all-electric MINI Countryman, MINI is further expanding the proportion of electrified models. Every fifth MINI is already electric today.
With its length increased by 13 centimetres to 4,429 mm, the spacious adventurer offers even more space and comfort for its occupants. The height grew by almost six centimetres to now 1,613 mm, offering even more headroom.
The new MINI Countryman combines locally emission-free electromobility with the greatest possible environmental compatibility in production as well. This includes dispensing with all decorative elements in the exterior and interior and manufacturing the cast light-alloy wheels from up to 70 percent secondary aluminium. In combination with the use of green electricity in production, CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced compared with conventional manufacturing processes.
The surfaces of the dashboards, steering wheel, vehicle headliner and floor, and floor mats are made of recycled polyester obtained from PET bottles and carpet remnants. This high-quality, colourful and comfortable alternative to traditional materials reduces CO2 emissions along the value chain by up to 85 percent and emphasizes the focus on minimizing the ecological footprint of the next MINI model generation.
The long-term sustainable strategy for energy generation and consumption of the BMW Group’s “green plant” at the Leipzig site includes four wind turbines with a height of 190 meters on the factory premises. This could generate more than 20 GWh of electricity from wind energy per year.
In the Battery Farm up to 700 second-life high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 vehicles are used to store energy, such as that generated by the wind turbines. By storing the energy on the premises, local energy management can be optimised and the electrical grid kept stable.
The BMW Group is expanding on-site e-component production capacity by eight production lines by 2024 and investing more than 800 million euros. The decarbonization of production by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen is the focus of what is already one of the most modern and sustainable automotive production facilities in the world.
The post MINI Shows Off the New Electric Countryman SE to the Press appeared first on MotoringFile.
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MINI USA sales continue on their upward trajectory with a 5.9% increase in Q1 of 2023. In total MINI USA sold 7,284 vehicles in the first quarter of 2023, an increase over the 6,876 vehicles sold in the first quarter of 2022. It’s an incredible feat given the age of the model line-up (some nearly a decade old) and lack of higher range EVs in the line-up.
What models are the big winners in 2023? It’s an interesting because all numbers are up except for the brand’s sales leader – the Countryman. Why? Production constraints could be part of it. But the Countryman also plays in a market that’s much more crowded than the other products and is perhaps less insulated from the new models coming from rivals.
Regardless it’s downright incredible to see the F56 based MINIs doing so well a full ten years into the product life-cycle.
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The MINI JCW 1to6 Places 2nd the Nurburgring 24 Hours -Photo Gallery
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A stock MINI JCW 1to6 Edition just finished second in its class at the Nurburgring 24 Hours. The Green Hell (as it’s known) is the most difficult track in the world and the Nurburgring 24 Hours is its most grueling race. And yet a stock manual transmission JCW not only finished but nearly won its class. And we’ve got over 100 photos of every key moment documenting this historic race for the brand.
Driven by a group including Charlie Cooper, grandson of John Cooper himself, the Bulldog Racing Team punched well above their weight passing eight cars in their class before finishing second. Even more impressive they moved up a full 25 places throughout the 24 hours finishing ahead of much more powerful machinery.
In the first stint, Sebastian Sauerbrei in the black MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition made up numerous places and was significantly faster than in qualifying in his fastest lap with 10:16.362 min. After the first driver change it was Michael Mönch’s turn and then Charlie Cooper took over the wheel for the first time after the second pit stop. In the evening hours Christoph Kragenings got behind the wheel and then Sebastian Sauerbrei drove a double stint into the darkness. In the meantime, the team had made up 25 places in the overall standings of the 131 starters. At this point the JCW had climbed to 5th in its class (production vehicles with up to 2.0 liter turbocharged engines) where most of the competition had significantly more power.
As usual, no team is spared setbacks at the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Shortly after midnight the MINI ran into a problem with a fuel line in the auxiliary tank and had to be towed back into the paddock. After a painful one-hour repair, the JCW 1to6 went back out on track and the chase to catch up began. Shortly after sunrise, Christoph Kragenings drove a new fastest time with 10:15.551 minutes. This charge up the field was made all the more sweet as the black JCW had by now become a crowd favorite. You could hear the cheer “MINI!” every time it went by crowds.
The black MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition seemed to feel more and more comfortable as the race went on – reliably and consistently it completed lap after lap and moved up to 3rd place in his class. In the final hours of the race a lot of competitors were not able to hold their pace or had to give up. Not the MINI, which had meanwhile been taken to the heart by the audience and was cheered for every time it passed by. In the last hour Bulldog Racing moved up to second place in class. Shortly before the race it even looked like a class win might be in the books, but the class leader crossed the finish line first with a clever strategy.
Considering that the black MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition was finalized only one day before the first qualifying sessions, the result is a huge success for everyone in the team. The JCW 1to6 #126 has the same output as the stock JCW at 231 hp and is equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The car, which was used on the approximately 25-kilometer racetrack, is based on a standard MINI John Cooper Works that has only been adapted to comply with safety features and standards for competition in the VT2 production car class.
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