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Stefan Richmann is taking over for Stefanie Wurst as the head of the MINI brand globally. Given all that’s happening at MINI with the complete turn-over in its range, the change seems a bit shocking at first. Is there more here than just a press release or is this business as usual? BMW cycles through senior leadership often as a strategy to make its leaders well rounded and familiar with various parts of the BMW Group. We would bet that this is one of those typical BMW transitions. Some will point to Stefanie Wurst’s tenure lasting less than two years which seems a bit short than most. But we’d expect that has to do with internal timing rather than any other motives. You can even read her announcement on LinkedIn for yourself. Stephan Wurst oversaw a massive product transition for MINI over the last 12 months as well as introduced direct sales to China and Europe. And that’s just scratching the surface as you’ll see in the official release below. MINI’s new leader Stefan Richmann has a vast amount of experience throughout BMW. With a focus on strategy and finance, he’s spent time in the US as the BMWNA CFO and most recently was head of BMW Group’s Corporate Strategy in total. We look forward to seeing what he has in store for MINI. In the meantime join us in saying thanks for all the hard work Stefanie Wurst has accomplished during her tenure at MINI. HyperFocal: 0 Official Press Release: Change in leadership at MINI brand The BMW Group has announced a change in personnel at the helm of the MINI brand. Effective 1 August 2024, Stefan Richmann will take over management of MINI from Stefanie Wurst, who has held this position since 1 February 2022. In recent years, Stefanie Wurst has strategically successfully focused the British premium brand MINI on new markets and target groups, and in particular on electric mobility and digitalization. She has also developed the international MINI sales organisation into a sustainable and customer-focused sales model and has played a decisive role in the phased introduction of MINI direct sales in China and Europe. Wurst built on the MINI brand’s strong heritage, while at the same time realigning it for the future. With the rollout of the New MINI Family, the brand is currently at a high point in its 65-year history. Three models with strong characters, the MINI Cooper*, MINI Aceman* and MINI Countryman*, embody the digitalisation of products and services, electrification of the brand and MINI’s signature go-kart feeling. Jochen Goller, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales: “We would like to thank Stefanie Wurst for her great personal commitment and her valuable contribution to MINI’s future direction. With Stefan Richmann, a senior executive of the BMW Group with many years of experience in Germany and abroad, will take over the management of the MINI brand from August.” Richmann began his career at the BMW Group in 1997. Since then, he has held numerous managerial positions within the company. In 2000, he moved to Corporate Strategic Planning and, in 2004, was appointed head of Sales Controlling. From 2008, Richmann was responsible for the finances of BMW Spain as CFO. He returned to Munich at the end of 2010, where he fulfilled several further management roles in the Finance and Controlling division and Product Management at BMW Group headquarters. From 2017, Richmann served as CFO in the US. In April 2022, he took over as head of the Corporate Strategy division. The post MINI Announces New Global Leadership appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The new combustion MINI Cooper S is finally here. With a more minimalist look and loads and new technology, the F66 feels like a fresh take on the MINI we all know. But not all is perfect. The manual is gone, weight is up (slightly) and shift paddles aren’t even offered in the US. Can MINI make this new F66 Cooper feel as engaging and interactive as the F56? The answer surprised us. Because MINI as a company has publicly proclaimed it will be a fully electric brand in the years ahead, it’s intentionally downplayed the combustion powered F66’s launch. There have been no press events, no scenic drives in Spain and no press cars have yet been delivered to journalists. So we had to take matters into our own hands. Luckily our friends at MINI of Glencoe were happy to oblige and lent us a 2025 MINI Cooper S for the day, no questions asked. Our $35,500 Chili Red (II) Cooper S was equipped with the “Classic” style which meant it was missing our some key options that inexplicably come free on the Favoured style (which in itself is a free choice). It was also on the standard 17” grey u-spoke wheels and the narrower 195/50 R 17 tires. All this to say this was a relatively middle of the road Cooper S that will probably form the majority are F66 MINI Coopers come in for the US market. In other words a great car to test. The F66 with the Favoured Style with the (free) upgrade to 18″ wheels Design and Quality – Hands-on Impressions You’ve heard our thoughts on the exterior and interior design, circular display and the confusing “styles” bundling strategy. All we’ll add is that this particular F66 was the first we’d seen finished in Chili Red II and the first with the standard wheels. In our opinion these smaller and narrower 17″ wheels are not the best look for the car as the height of the belt line on the F66 (like the F56) makes 18” wheels fit its proportions better. Inside the all black interior that comes with the Classic Style has enough small details and adds of texture and color that it’s not at all boring as you might think. That said there are some decidedly cheaper materials mixed in with a few more previous feeling elements. The dash near the windshield for instance is as cheap of plastic as we’ve ever seen in MINIs. Yet the steering wheel feels more premium than ever. It would seem MINI has done a purposeful job of taking cost out of areas that aren’t usually interacted with to create a few more premium touch points. Since our test car had the Classic Style and not the Favoured, we were missing the more aggressively bolstered JCW Sport seats which are roughly equivalent to the F56’s sport seats. In their place where what MINI confusing calls “sport seats” finished in Vescin and cloth. They look great and the Vescin material is a huge step-up from the leatherette we’ve all come to know. But if you’re looking for lateral support you’ll want to opt for the Favoured style (the one with Champaign colored trim) as it’s the only way to get the sportier JCW seats. The 2025 MINI Cooper S Driving Experience There’s no manual and you can’t even get shift paddles on the Cooper S in the US market. The big question on our minds was; can MINI make this new F66 feel as engaging and interactive as the F56? The answer is surprising. The revised suspension offers both a more compliant ride and slightly more neutral handling characteristics. On paper we knew MINI had made a series of small changes in this area. But until getting behind the wheel we didn’t know what it all meant. In our early experience it would seem MINI has done a great job of making subtle tweaks in wheel/tire sizing, track width and suspension settings to create an experience that feels decidedly more mature without feeling less fun. In fact there are moments it even feels more response than the F56. The subtly tweaked steering ratio (from 14.2 to 14.1) and the wider track give the new Cooper S a touch quicker turn-in. And the lack of runflats make the car feel lighter on its feet. There’s still no real tactile feedback through the wheel but that might change with a different wheel/tire combo and a slightly more aggressive suspension that’s coming on the JCW model later this year. MINI’s revised dual clutch transmission feels smoother than ever with quicker shifts – especially in GoKart mode. But there’s another mode that made the shifting algorithm even more aggressive. By pulling down the shifting toggle past “D” you go into “L” (low) mode. The result is a shifting experience that feels equivalent to the old “S” mode that you engaged by moving the automatic lever to the left. In this mode our F66 Cooper S came alive. It held gears and predictively downshifted approaching corners. Once it even downshifted from 4th to 2nd in rapid fire succession as I was braking for a 90 degree right hander. It was as if it was reading my mind. Yes it’s a shame that the manual is gone and shift paddles are unavailable in US spec Coopers, but this is a hugely improved DCT. Torque steer is still present but it’s mitigated by the way the revised DCT handles torque. The end result is a car that feels slightly more composed when pushing hard yet faster to transition out of corners. 2025 F66 MINI Cooper S – Early Conclusions We have to stress the phrase early conclusions. But there are some clear themes. Let’s start with the disappointing part. If you’re going to take away the manual transmission, the Cooper S needs to offer some form of manual controls for its transmission. The car begs for interactivity and without it you can’t help but feel more like a passenger than a driver in certain moments. And worse, a passenger that tends to slide around in corners thanks to those new, flatter sport seats. You can fix this by opting for the free Favoured Style and the free JCW seats but you’ll have to be ok with Vibrant Silver (aka light gold) exterior trim. While parts of the F66 interior feel cheaper than the previous model, there are plenty of high quality materials in more visible areas. MINI has also made some clear cost cutting decisions on material quality. Every generation of Cooper since its 2001 reintroduction has had slightly higher quality interior materials than the previous. That doesn’t seem entirely true with the F66. The important caveat here is that much of those lower quality materials are mostly out of sight and perhaps even smart trade-offs considering MINI has decidedly upped the quality in a few key areas while offering dramatically improved technology. Yet there’s a lot of good to focus on with the F66. Losing the manual and shift paddles aside, the driving experience has actually improved with more refined suspension, more crisp turn-in and a improved dual clutch transmission. Add to this an increase of 15 hp and you have a car that feels quicker while delivering a better driving experience. We can’t help but also mention the design which we have warmed to it greatly over the past few months. While some have some major issues in the way MINI has rolled out its Styles, the fundamental design changes they’ve made are successful in our eyes and will prove to be a great basis as MINI adds more trim options and even the JCW model. The 2025 F66 MINI Cooper S is refreshingly updated in so many ways but not quite perfected. And what makes it a bit frustrating is that it’s held back by decisions MINI has made. Eliminating the manual and even the option of shift paddles (in the US) feels entirely out of place for a car like this. And ordering the car will likely be frustrating for a few due to the Styles strategy that MINI has created. But if you can get past a few issues, the F66 is an excellent update to an already great car. The post First Drive: 2025 F66 MINI Cooper S Refreshed but Not Perfected appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Today MINI is taking the wraps off of what they call MINI Mixed Reality. A merging the virtual and real worlds, MINI Mixed Reality immerses drivers in a virtual world that works in tandem with the real world. And if it works, it might just point to the future of the brand and driving itself. We know the BMW Group has been experimenting in the mixed reality space for awhile. A couple years ago we went hands on at BimmerFile with the BMW Dee concept and even envisioned about what it could mean for MINI. While it didn’t use a VR headset, what we saw through the multiple 4K windshield projectors was the most immersive mixed reality experience we had seen yet. This MINI concept seemingly takes that to another level with the use of a modern VR headset. MINI Mixed Reality combines the experience of driving with the immersive capabilities of virtual reality technology. This is how it works; as you sit inside a MINI with the headset on, your surroundings transform. Through a VR headset, you see the world outside the windows as a vibrant, virtual MINI Virtual Reality World, while still being able to navigate through the actual environment via camera streams. It’s a seamless integration of the physical and digital realms, offering a new dimension to the driving experience. According to MINI, the Mixed Reality experience is not just about driving. It’s a test bed that allows drivers to see the world through the lens of the MINI brand. Behind the magic of MINI Mixed Reality lies a sophisticated system: a high-end PC running a self-designed MINI VR World, streaming seamlessly to the headset. Making this possible is headset tracking, acceleration, sound, and vehicle interface devices that work in harmony creating a new kind of driving experience. MINI Mixed Reality isn’t just a novelty. If you read between the lines it’s clear that MINI and BMW believe some element of mixed reality is the future of driving. The first vehicle we’ll likely see is the BMW Neue Klasse generation of vehicles that will introduce the new version of iDrive. You can see a preview where we went hands-on with the tech. The post MINI Experiments with a Revolutionary Mix reality Driving Experience appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI will be launching not one but two new MINI Cooper JCW models this October. But these two models couldn’t be more different as one will be an old school combustion model and the other fully electric. We’ve got full details on specs and production timing along with a preview of their final design. 2025 MINI Cooper JCW: Performance While these two new JCWs might look nearly identical, they’ll have noticeably different power outputs. This appears to be primarily driven by the MINI Cooper JCW being an iterative update to the F56 JCW we’ve know now for almost ten years now. That means we’ll see just light updates to the drivetrain and chassis. However that doesn’t mean they won’t be meaningful. In what some might see as a disappointment, the 2025 MINI Cooper JCW will not see an increase in horsepower. Unlike the Cooper or the Cooper S, MINI is holding the line on power output and instead bringing some upgrades elsewhere. ModelPowerTorqueJ01 JCW (electric)260 hp*TBDF66 JCW (petrol)231 hp258 ft lbs* Unconfirmed But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any performance upgrades. The F66 JCW will have a slightly revised B48 engine under the hood – more specifically the B48A20O2. The big performance update will be torque which increases from 236 to 258 ft lbs giving the car a bit more grunt. Perhaps just important, it peaks lower in the rev range. Previously in the F56 JCW torque maxed-out at 1,450. The B48A20O2 sees this change to 1,250 rpm meaning maximum power is even more immediate. These are small but subtle differences that point to a slightly quicker or more responsive B48 engine. Why are we not seeing a bigger improvement when the combustion Cooper and Cooper S are getting noticeable power upgrades? Or the U25 Countryman which gets even bigger power hikes (especially in the US market)? We don’t have great answers. It could be related to emissions and the reality that, updating this version of the B48 isn’t high on BMW’s priority list. It also leaves room for MINI to eventually tweak software and hardware for a light refresh in a few years. And we know the DCT transmission can handle more torque so there appears to be no component related reason holding MINI back. The J01 is a bit more foggy for us but our sources have been consistent is saying we’ll see at least 260 hp and even more torque. The limiting factor will traction given that both the electric Cooper JCW and the Aceman JCW will remain front wheel drive only. There is one function the J01 will offer that the F66 might not have. J01 doesn’t have a multi-speed transmission there will still be one paddle behind the steering wheel. Like on the Countryman SE, MINI will introduce a “boost” function that give you more power for a 10 second period. This will be operational via a paddle behind the steering where on the left side. Finally our sources tell us that battery size will remain the same as the SE models. Because of the increased performance we’d expect range to decrease a bit – perhaps as much as 5-10%. F66 JCW Trim J01 JCW Trim 2025 MINI Cooper JCW Design We can immediately get a good idea of how both new JCW models will look by simply looking at the JCW Trim offered in Europe. Also known as Sport Trim in the UK, this takes the JCW bodykit and applies it to any MINI in those markets. According to sources there will be almost no differences between the way these cars with the JCW Trim look and the full JCW coming later this year. F66 JCW Trim The F56 JCW Looking at these renders we can clearly see the J01’s JCW Trim design aesthetic was followed closely in the F66 design. The front bumper in the F66 however has real ducts due to the need to cool the JCW B48 engine and we’re told the brake ducts also remain. In fact the F66 JCW front bumper is quite close to what we’ve seen previously on the F56 as you can see below. Elsewhere you can clearly see MINI has moved to gloss black side skirts on the JCW along with gloss black fender flares. This follows the trends towards gloss black we’ve seen elsewhere. Time to get your polishing cloths out. Looking at the car above you also see a distinctly more aggressive look thanks to the new aerokit. The front splitter literally is split with an interesting center separation that is certainly distinct. The side has some subtle horizontal lines that appear functionless which of course is a bit head scratching given how MINI has gone to great lengths to connect design elements to functional needs. However things get much better on the side with a subtle side skirt. The J01 MINI Cooper SE with JCW Trim Around back things get even more interesting with an aggressive looking diffuser and almost GP-like rear wing. The 18-inch wheels in Lap Spoke 2-tone design with ten spokes each will be offered on the new Cooper JCW but will have a larger system complete with red brake calipers. There will be unique Chili Red design elements on the front and rear which will mark the full JCW models out over MINIs with the JCW Trim. Finally colors. MINI has eliminated the much loved JCW exclusive Rebel Green and replaced it with a less exclusive Legend Grey. Why less exclusive? Because MINI is also offering it on the JCW Trim which adds all of these visual elements to any non-JCW car. Also gone is the optional white roof. Instead MINI will offer only the JCW roof in Chili Red, Black or body color. Inside we expect a single choice of color and trim nearly identical to the JCW Trim you see above. The JCW Sport seats and shift paddles (F66 only) will be standard. The new F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a mix of the new and familiar 2025 MINI Cooper JCW: Wheel Updates The F56 JCW is a great car with an engineering decision that has created an awkward styling issue. The because of the size of the front brakes and the wheel offset, all JCW wheels bow outward creating an unusual convex shape that looks very different than typical concave performance wheels. As you can see in these photos as MINI has clearly changed the geometry of the wheels which seems to have eliminated that issue entirely. MINI will offer the 17” JCW Sprint Spoke as standard (which we see above) and the 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke 2-tone as an option (seen on the F67 convertible below). it’s unclear if the J01 will feature the same wheel geometry but it will have identical wheel styles and sizes. The current F56 Cooper S Exhaust design shows that the “dual exhaust” is nothing more than two small pipes from a single exhaust. 2025 F66 MINI Cooper JCW – Single Pipe Exhaust For the combustion JCW, MINI is moving from a two pipe single exhaust to a larger single pipe exhaust. In the exclusive image below you can see a single exhaust pipe (with a stainless steel sleeve), the transversely mounted exhaust and even the aluminum shield underneath it. Look even closer and you’ll see the production version of the single LED reverse light just above the exhaust tip which (one could imagine) would look somewhat integrated with the cutout of the pipe. Why a single exhaust pipe? Let’s start with the exhaust itself. One thing that most don’t know is that the MINI Cooper S and JCW have had a single muffler system since the R56. The fact that two outlets came out the back has primarily been for aesthetics. In this exclusive zoomed in photo you can see a central exhaust and single pipe that looks to be in nearly final production form. In fact there have been more than a few MINI race cars over the years that have gone with the exhaust single pipe design. Why? When asked they consistently have told us it’s both more power efficient and lighter. So in other words exactly what you want in both race cars and modern performance cars. The F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible with the 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke wheels 2025 F57 MINI Cooper Convertible JCW As before MINI will be offering the JCW model in the iconic three door F66 hatch and the F67 convertible. Once again MINI will not be offering its highest performance model in the five door configuration. Why? Product planners apparently made that call many years ago in the F56 generation and due to tight development budgets due to having to offer both electric and ICE models, they’re sticking to it. The F66 gear selector moves from the console to the dash in the form of a discrete toggle switch. 2025 F66 MINI Cooper JCW: Automatics All Around MINI has killed the manual in its combustion models and they will include the new combustion JCW. Why would MINI eliminate manuals despite the fact that the F66 is mechanically identical to the F56 and could easily carry over the current Getrag 6 speed? It’s likely about simplifying drivetrains components and cutting costs within manufacturing. And for Europe (where CO2 targets are much more stringent) the manual is slightly dirtier. Replacing the manual is a revised 7 speed dual clutch transmission that promises faster shift times than before and a more responsive manual control via the standard steeling wheel mounted paddles. The J01 will feature the same single speed transmission as we’ve seen on the Cooper SE. 2025 MINI Cooper JCW Chassis and Brake Updates This is where the F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a straight evolution from the F56 version. This starts with the braking system which will be carried over. That means we’ll see a 4-piston fixed caliper upfront with internally ventilated, drilled brake disk up front (335x30mm). In the back (where there’s less weight to worry about) MINI will continue with a single piston floating caliper and a disk that’s 259x10mm. All four calipers will be finished in the traditional Chili Red. The chassis and suspension will see subtle improvements with MINI further refining its adaptive suspension design. While we don’t yet have details we’re told this focuses on improving ride quality while not forgoing any performance. The J01 will follow this strategy with four piston front brakes, and a revised suspension. The goal will be to bring the classic JCW into the world of EVs. We’ll find out how far they goal soon. F66 JCW Trim 2025 MINI Cooper JCW Launch Timing and End of Production Both new JCW models will debut this October however we’ll get a sneak peak of the F66 JCW soon. Rumors are swirling that Bulldog Racing will be racing a pre-production version at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in early June. ModelPowerDebut DateStart of ProductionJ01 JCW (electric)260 hp*10/202401/2025F66 JCW (petrol)231 hp10/202411/2024* Unconfirmed The post Combustion F66 & Electric J01 MINI Cooper JCW Debuting in October & We’ve Got Exclusive Details appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

After what seemed to be an impossibly long wait, the European press has finally gotten behind the wheel of the J01 electric MINI Cooper SE and we have our first verdicts. SO what’s it like? Words like engaging, fun and agile are peppered throughout the videos and written reviews The J01 is the first MINI built on the brand’s new electric platform that will also underpin the Aceman. That gives you more efficiency in both range and interior space. MINI offers two models of the J01, the E and the SE. As you can imagine the SE is the more powerful and offers more range. 2025 J01 MINI Cooper E2025 J01 MINI Cooper SE2023 F56 MINI Cooper SEHorsepower184 hp218 hp181 hpRange (WLTP)200 miles250 miles125 milesBattery Size40kWh54kWh32.6 kWhAll numbers provided by MINI except * which are confirmed only through unofficial sources. For a deep (and we mean deep) dive into the new MINI Cooper, head to our the J01 section on MotoringFile where you’ll find data and insights on the car you will not find anywhere else in the world. But you came here to watch some videos and read some reviews so let’s get to it. J01 MINI Cooper SE Video Reviews Now onto the written reviews. We’ve created a quick summary of each but you’ll want to click through to read them all. Top Gear The Top Gear review of the MINI Cooper Electric discusses the car’s approach to combining traditional MINI design with modern electric technology, offering a unique and enjoyable driving experience. The review appreciates the car’s iconic aesthetic, featuring classic MINI styling with a contemporary twist, and praises the interior’s quality and user-friendly design, including the central infotainment system and minimalist dashboard layout. The driving experience is highlighted for its fun factor, with the electric powertrain providing instant torque and brisk acceleration, making it enjoyable for city driving and shorter trips. The MINI Cooper Electric’s agile handling and small size contribute to its maneuverability, fitting well in urban settings. However, the review notes that the car’s electric range could be a limitation for some. The review also comments on the car’s premium pricing – no surprise there. Overall, the MINI Cooper Electric is characterized as a lively, stylish, and compact electric vehicle that stays true to the MINI brand’s fun and engaging driving spirit, with a focus on urban environments. While its range and price may limit its appeal for some, it remains a compelling choice for those who enjoy the MINI aesthetic and are looking for a distinctive electric vehicle. Autocar The Autocar review of the MINI Cooper Electric discusses the updated design and driving dynamics of this new electric vehicle (EV), showcasing MINI’s blend of classic style with modern electric technology. The review notes that the car retains its iconic charm while benefiting from improved performance and handling due to its electric powertrain. Key points include the vehicle’s refined design, with a nod to traditional MINI aesthetics, and an interior that combines vintage touches with contemporary features like a central infotainment screen. The reviewer finds the driving experience enjoyable, thanks to the instant torque and responsive handling, typical of electric cars. However, the range might be limited for longer trips, but it is adequate for city driving and daily commuting. Overall, the review portrays the MINI Cooper Electric as a fun-to-drive, stylish EV that appeals to those seeking a compact, urban-friendly electric car with a recognizable heritage design. While it may not be suitable for extensive road trips, it’s seen as a solid choice for those looking for an electric vehicle with personality and a sense of nostalgia. Driving Electric The DrivingElectric review of the new MINI Cooper Electric presents it as a worthy successor to the F56 petrol MINI Cooper, emphasizing its modern electric features while retaining the iconic MINI design and charm. The review highlights the car’s updated styling, noting that it balances traditional MINI elements with a fresh and contemporary look. Inside, the review points out the high-quality materials and a simplistic yet functional layout, featuring a large circular infotainment screen. The driving experience is praised for its lively handling, characteristic of the MINI brand, with the electric powertrain delivering instant torque for a quick and responsive ride. However, the review mentions that the car’s electric range might be a concern for some, making it best suited for city driving and shorter trips rather than long journeys. It notes that the MINI Cooper Electric offers a fun and engaging drive, appealing to those who appreciate the classic MINI feel but are interested in transitioning to electric vehicles. Overall, the review portrays the MINI Cooper Electric as a stylish and enjoyable EV, ideal for urban environments and those seeking a vehicle that merges retro design with contemporary electric technology. Auto Express The Auto Express review of the new electric MINI Cooper describes it as a fun and sophisticated electric vehicle that captures the iconic brand’s classic spirit while incorporating modern technology. The article praises the car’s design, noting its blend of retro elements and updated styling, as well as its engaging driving experience, which is enhanced by its responsive handling and quick acceleration. The interior is described as stylish and high-quality, featuring a large circular infotainment screen and a minimalist design. The EV’s range is seen as suitable for city driving, though it may be limited for longer trips. Overall, the review highlights the MINI Cooper EV as an appealing choice for those seeking a chic, enjoyable, and eco-friendly car, with a focus on urban usability and charm. The post First Reviews Are In: J01 Electric MINI Cooper SE Gets Praise For Handling and Design appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Since its rebirth, the MINI brand has stood for individuality. With countless ways to design and order a car to a buyers tastes, MINI has been built on appealing to the creative class or just people who want something a bit difference. Unfortunately with the rollout of the new MINI Countryman in the US, that’s gotten a lot harder. MotoringFile’s been clearly impressed with the all new MINI Countryman thus far. It’s more refined, faster, and packs way more tech. However if you’re in there’s a problem – especially if you’re in the US – where I sell MINIs for a living. If you don’t option it correctly you stand the chance of ending up a very basic looking MINI. But even worse, some buyers might find it simply impossible to get what they want. What this doesn’t say: You can only get optionally larger wheels with the Favored Style + Iconic Package. With the new generation of models, MINI is introducing “Styles” which package various styling elements together to create a unique look. Because of this, MINI asks that you first choose a Style when ordering a car; Classic with black trim or Favoured with gold-like Vibrant Silver. They are no cost options but you have to choose one. And this is where things go wrong. In many ways I actually prefer the black exterior trim of Classic over the gold-like trim of the Favoured Style. But the second you choose Classic, it limits you from getting some key options which are otherwise free on the Favoured Style Those red icons are telling you that you chose poorly when picking the Classic Style. For one you are unable to get the JCW Sport seats (free on the Favoured Style) which offer the type of bolstering and support most MINI enthusiast are looking for. Second you have only once choice of wheels – the 18″ Asteroid w/All-season Tires. Given the high belt-line of the new Countryman and the overall design, the 18″ Asteroid wheels end up looking like a very basic spec option that screams “I was trying to save money”. On Favoured you have the free option of the gorgeous 19″ Kaleido Spoke or you can pay (only) $600 for dramatic 20″ Windmill Spoke (with either all season or performance tires). But if your want black exterior trim (which seams like the more sorry of the two in my opinion), there’s no way to upgrade the seats or the wheels on the Countryman. It’s all very unfortunate because we’d bet the majority will look at the two styles and opt for the darker, sportier m piano black trim versus a light gold (MINI calls this Vibrant Silver). They might then choose the Iconic package and even the Max Comfort package because they want all the options. But what they’ve unknowingly done by choosing the black exterior trim is limit themselves to what will look and feel like a rather basic MINI. Let’s be honest, those 18″ Astroid Wheels finished in silver look at best inconsequential on the new Countryman. At worst they look embarrassing. That’s exactly how our recent Countryman S test car looked and yet it still retailed for $43,695. But this isn’t just about wheels or seats (as much as they are important). It’s about the ability to option the MINI you want to buy. Putting together the options that suit your needs and reflect your style has been a MINI hallmark for decades now. Favoured Style Classic Style Why This is a Big Change (and a Big Deal) This all comes down to MINI limiting the ability to add options as the brand has traditionally. Because almost everything is not only being funneled through two packages but also now Styles, creating a unique MINI has become much more difficult. But far worse, ordering a MINI that you want has also become harder. Surely this was done eye an eye towards simplifying production and ordering processes. But we think MINI has made a mistake in packaging options and trim in such confusing and limiting manner. The reality is that it’s not MINI USA that’s at fault but the way that MINI Global has rolled out its Styles program. Don’t get us wrong. We like the overall concept of MINI Styles. The ability to noticeably change the character of a car with a single package is cool. But clearly something is lost in execution if would be owners cannot get the options they want despite being willing to pay for them. The post Opinion: The New MINI Countryman S Looks Great Until you Try to Order One appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

When we last drove the all new MINI Countryman is was on the coastal and mountains roads of Portugal. We found both the combustion power Countryman JCW and electric Countryman SE to be hugely improved over their predecessors offering more performance, engagement and of course space than before. But how does the more mainstream combustion powered Countryman S compare? We know the Countryman is larger and heavier than ever. But in JCW form we found that MINI had done an exceptional job of masking that weight with improved suspension, quicker steering and a more fluid transmission. Our European spec JCW was slightly down on power with only 300 vs 306 in the F60 but the real deficiency was torque – down 36 ft lbs. Still we found it to be more engaging and fluid in its responses. Where the F60 JCW was numb but responsive, the U25 JCW delivered quicker responses with more feedback and eagerness. Could the non-JCW version do the same? We headed to the nicest roads we could find north of Chicago to find out. The new MINI Countryman S is up in power – way up. 241 hp in the US and a massive 295 ft lbs of torque. The latter equals the new JCW in fact. And the second you call on it, it delivers. There’s no question this is a faster car than before. But it’s unlocking and engaging that performance that we found to be a bit of a struggle. The good news is that MINI has broadened the Countryman’s capabilities. GoKart mode (what used to be called Sport) is now a bit more aggressive with better throttle response and a more aggressive transmission programming that never feels harsh like the previous model. It may not quite snap shifts off like the previous Aisin auto, but it’s much more refined. Want even more aggressive transmission programming? Pull the transmission down into “L” and it will mimic what used to be the “S” setting on the old Countryman. Faster Doesn’t Equal More Fun However that’s where your input ends. Because there are no shift paddles on any Countryman except the $46,900 JCW model, you’re limited in terms of what you can control and just how much input you can have. Then there were the seats. Our almost fully loaded Countryman S came with the standard sport seats which are very flat and devoid of the side bolstering you’d expect. While the JCW Sport seats we’ve experienced in the Countryman JCW and Countryman SE get high marks, these base seats are flat and much less supportive. The second you the begin carving corners they are a problem. What’s really interesting is that MINI does not call out the difference on the configurator at all. The two different seat options are simply differentiated by color and not design. Even more frustrating is that the only way to get the JCW Sport seats in a Countryman S is by choosing the Favoured Style which adds the champaign colored Vibrant Silver trim. A trim color that you wouldn’t ordinarily associate with something performance oriented like the JCW seat. Combine this with a larger, heavier car and the resulting experience feels a bit less engaging and interactive. Ultimately we came away with the impression that we were more passenger than driver. Other updates are a bit more successful. The suspension has been recalibrated and gives the Countryman S more fluid responses. It’s still won’t rotate in corners and it’s not going to be mistaken for a Cooper in terms of responsiveness. But in a world of small crossovers, it’s near the top in terms of driving engagement. Our test car was equipped with the Iconic package which added almost all options including the Max Comfort package. This gave the car Level 2 Autonomous Driving which worked perfectly in our highway tests. The Augmented Reality Navigation, Massaging Seats and other options were all mark the new Countryman out as a more modern and premium product than its predecessor. At $43,695 you’d hope so. But keep in mind the new based Countryman in the US is the “S” model with all wheel drive and starts at a reasonable $38,900. The MINI Countryman S: Early Conclusions We suspect MINI will be incredibly successful with this new Countryman in the US market. It’s larger, more comfortable with more tech. The circular display and MINI os9 is exceptional if not still a touch slow (updates are coming). And let’s be clear, most Countryman buyers will love this car. But the enthusiast that looks at a MINI as an engaging, performance oriented experience may find some aspects of this new car disappointing. There is a solve that naturally involves more money. The Countryman JCW solves every one of these issues mentioned. But at an $8,000 premium. Which is a shame. For years we’ve often found the simpler, cheaper MINIs to be almost as fun as the more expensive JCW models. It was always a very egalitarian attribute and one that felt directly connected to the that the brand’s 1959 origins. With the new Countryman it would seem MINI has made decisions to push the Countryman S more towards what an average buyer would want while focusing the JCW on all those looking for performance. It may be what the broader market wants but we’re pretty sure it’s not entirely what MINI enthusiasts were asking for. The post First Drive: 2025 MINI Countryman S – More Power & Size, But Less Fun? appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI has shown off electric two-wheel concepts before and even sells an e-bike in Europe today. And then there’s even the Cooper E-Bike from Cooper bikes, run by our friend Charlie Cooper. But what if MINI produced a full electric motorbike or scooter? There seems to be a growing set of rumors that point to just that. Now the head of MINI is speaking about the idea. Recently head of MINI Stefanie Wurst posted on LinkedIn about how much she enjoyed riding on BMW’s new CE 02; “A while back I posted about how much I enjoyed test driving the new all-electric MINI Countryman. For an afternoon recently I swapped four wheels for two and jumped on the fully electric new BMW Motorrad CE 02 for a thrilling test ride. BIG LOVE to BMW Motorrad for trusting me with their newest bike, and to Sonja Hengstler and Oliver Heilmer for riding alongside me. You can tell by the smile on my face how much I loved it!“ BMW CE 02, International Media Launch BMW CE 02, Lissabon, Portugal Autoexpress caught up with Stefanie Wurst at the Beijing Motorshow about her experience on the scooter and she had more to say; “I think this is interesting because it’s urban mobility – BMW is producing so much when it comes to mobility. If we were to do something I would look into the family first and I think this is something I find interesting. If I have interest in our markets, this is something I would consider.” Interesting the head of MINI Design, Oliver Heilmer already has his team working on the concept; “I actually gave the team the task, ‘Let’s do some bikes just in order to understand whether it works’. We tried little motorbikes as far as we can. It’s not our expertise and they’re doing something where they say, ‘does this work?’ And they say, ‘I don’t know. It looks good.’ So you can create something that looks like a MINI.” BMW CE 02, International Media Launch BMW CE 02, Lissabon, Portugal MINI has the perfect template to follow in the futuristic and recently released electric BMW CE 02. The all-electric CE 02 has 15bhp, and is roughly equivalent to a 125cc petrol-powered motorbike. We went hands-on recently with the CE 02 and found its simplistic yet futuristic design to be unique and incredibly interesting. It accelerates to 31 mph (50 kph) in 3 seconds and has a stop speed of 60 mph. Range is roughly 60 miles and the batteries can be recharged from 20-80% in under two hours. The downside of this gorgeous retro futuristic motorbike is its price $7,599 in the US. If MINI used the CE-02 as a template we’d expect a lower price and (naturally) a MINI look to it. But would you be interested in a MINI motorbike? Let us know in the comments below. BMW CE 02 & BMW CE 04 BMW CE 02 BMW CE 02 BMW CE 02 BMW CE 02 & BMW CE 04 BMW CE 02 BMW CE 02 BMW CE 02 The post Could MINI Be Making an Electric Motorbike? appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Big show tonight and jump right into it, talking about the entire front page of MotoringFile, plus Gabe and Todd share their experiences with the latest MINI! Not only that, but a live show is in the works, so stay tuned for that! And, if you are at MOTD this weekend, make sure to stop by and check out the Detroit Tuned tent and get yourself something nice! Or at least say hi to Chad! The post White Roof Radio 695: Welcome to May appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Tesla just fired its entire Supercharger division throwing BMW and MINI’s plans to use the network and NACS charging standard in disarray. What will happen next and how could it impact MINI’s future charging plans? Let’s take a closer look and dissect. Last year the BMW Group had committed to integrating the North American Charging Standard (NACS) into its electric vehicle offerings across the United States and Canada, with implementation scheduled for 2025. This would also have granted usage of much of the Tesla Supercharger network. That network is the real differentiator for Tesla in today’s EV landscape. It’s by far the best in the US and many parts of the world. And this week Tesla fired the entire team responsible for it and its future plans. Rumors point to Elon Musk making the decision with an element of spite. According to Electrek, the head of the Supercharging division was on board with the layoffs but fought back on the number that Musk wanted gone. He then decided to let go of the entire team as an example. U25 MINI Countryman SE The ramifications for MINI and Others The fallout as been swift. We’ve heard rumors that BMW and MINI is looking at option to change course and cancel plans to move to Tesla’s plug standard and even Supercharger access. Interestingly BMW had recently announced a massive joint venture that would bring a staggering 30,000 additional chargers to the US. While that still won’t match the number of Tesla Superchargers, it’s an important step. Other automakers are being more vocal. General Motors has gone on record in saying; “We are continuing to monitor the situation regarding changes to the Supercharger team and the potential impacts.” In total GM, ??Mercedes, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen and others had agreed to use the NACS standard and had penned agreements to use the Supercharger network in the US. What is the NACS Charging Standard and Why It Matters Almost all electric cars (including BMW and MINI) have used what is known as the CCS standard. However since the Model S launch, Tesla has used a propriety connector as part of its strategy to exclusively leverage its large Supercharger network. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021, the US Government announced it would offer US$7.5 billion in federal subsidies to build out a nationwide network of fast chargers at least every 50 miles along America’s major roads. One requirement to access the funding was that the chargers must be accessible by multiple brands of electric cars. The Tesla Model S P85 we tested in 2015 Responding to this Tesla wisely debuted an updated charging connector called the “North American Charging Standard” (NACS) and opened the standard to make the specifications available to other EV manufacturers. Unlike the earlier Tesla proprietary connector (which used CAN bus to communicate), NACS uses the same ISO 15118 protocol as CCS, making any CCS vehicle electrically compatible with NACS. Only a simple pass-through adapter is needed to make CCS vehicles compatible with NACS. This meant that all CCS equipped cars (again all electric BMWs and MINIs) technically had the ability to use much of Tesla’s charging network. With this move, Tesla began aggressively courting automakers to switch to the NACS standard to create a single plug and ultimately a simpler experience for consumers. In response GM, ??Mercedes, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, MINI Volkswagen and others agreed to begin manufacturing electric cars with the NACS standard over the next couple of years. However this move to disband the entire team responsible for the Supercharger network now throws the some doubt on those plans. The move has not only created enormous confusion in the industry but also a land grab for the now jobless talent coming from Tesla. In total the potential ramifications are almost too much to list. But if you want to go even deeper on this topic, perhaps no one has captured the facts and potential fallout better than our friend Kyle from Out of Spec Reviews. The post Tesla Fires Entire SuperCharger Team Casting Doubt on MINIs Switch to NCST Charging Standard appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI now has two distinctly different crossovers in its line-up, both offering in full electric form. But just how different are they in size, range and performance? We wanted to find out. So we went deep into the data on both cars to see exactly how they compared to themselves and earlier MINIs and found a few surprises. The Aceman is a small crossover that is effectively replacing the Clubman in the MINI line-up. But in reality it doesn’t replacement the Clubman at all as it’s both smaller and designed as a crossover rather than a wagon. In terms of size it’s actually much closer to the original R60 Countryman or the 2024 F55 Cooper S 5 door. ModelsJ05 Aceman SE / ELECTRIC (’24-’31)F55 Cooper 5 Door / PETROL (’14-’24)R60 Countryman All4 S / PETROL (’10-’16) F60 Countryman All4 S / PETROL (’17-’23)U25 Countryman SE / ELECTRIC (’24-’32)Length4079 mm / 161 in3982 mm / 156.8 in4097 mm / 161.3 in4298 mm / 169.2 in4429 mm / 174.37 inHeight1514 mm / 59.6 in142.5 mm / 56.1 in 1562 mm / 61.5 in1557 mm / 61.3 in1613 mm / 63.5 inWheelbase2526 mm / 99.44 in2567 mm / 101 in2596 mm / 102.2 in2670 mm / 105.1 in2692 mm / 106 inWeight1710 kg / 3,770 lbs1355 kg / 2987 lbs 1455 kg / 3208 lbs 1605 kg / 3538 lbs2075 kg / 4,574 lbsLarger numbers are in bold But we want to focus on how it compares to the new electric Countryman SE. As you can see the new Countryman is a full 13″ longer and 4″ taller. It’s also 800 lbs heavier thanks to its larger battery and body. So it’s a materially larger vehicle than on the outside. But on the inside things get interesting. Surprisingly the Countryman’s wheelbase is only 6″ longer than the Aceman despite being 13″ longer in total. That means, while the Aceman is smaller, its wheelbase is long compared to its overall length. This pushes the wheels to the corners and creates more interior volume. Just like the original Mini. What that creates is some surprising interior volume in a few places. InteriorJ05 Aceman (’24-’31)U25 Countryman (’24-’32)First Row Legroom1045 mm / 41.1“1026 mm / 40.4″Second Row Legroom822 mm / 32″941 mm / 37″First Row Shoulder Room1370mm / 53.9″1459mm / 57.4″Second Row Shoulder Room1338 / 52.6″1392 / 54.8″Headroom First Row (w/sunroof) 1036 mm / 40.8″1034mm / 40.7″Headroom First Row (w/sunroof)958 / 37.7″960 / 37.8″Luggage capacity (up/down)450 / 1450 L707 – 1586 LLarger numbers are in bold As you can see the smaller Aceman is actually larger inside in two areas; front legroom and headroom. This is likely due to the nature of the electric chassis that the Aceman uses. Often referred to as a skateboard chassis, it’s designed to be 100% electric thus does away with much of the structure associated with traditional internal combustion engine cars. The electric version of the U25 Countryman on the other hand is actually based on a combustion platform and can’t use space as efficiently. MINI Countryman vs Aceman: Performance & Range Let’s start with range. As you can see below the battery size differs greatly between the Aceman and the Countryman. With more space use, MINI was able to squeeze a larger battery pack into the new Countryman. But we also wonder if this was a calculated move by MINI. Knowing that the Aceman is 800 lbs lighter than the Countryman, MINI also likely wanted to limit the Aceman’s weight and cost keeping it a bit more nimble and of course cheaper. J05 Aceman EJ05 Aceman SE U25 Countryman E U25 Countryman SEBattery Size42.5 kWh 54.2 kWh 66.5 kWh66.5 kWhUsable Battery Capacity38.5 kWh 49.2 kWh 64.7 kWh64.7 kWhWLTP Range310 km / 193 miles407 km / 253 miles462 km / 287 miles430 km / 267 miles Also interesting the Countryman E and SE share the same battery while the Aceman E and SE do not. This has a direct impact on range which you can see above. But what does this all mean to real-world range? EVdatabase.org has an excellent view into this and has published estimated range based on different weather scenarios. As you can see things differ greatly between mild and cold temperatures. Mild Weather ScenariosJ05 Aceman SE U25 Countryman SECity – Mild Weather *440 km / 273 miles535 km / 332 milesHighway – Mild Weather *275 km / 171 miles340 km / 211 milesCombined – Mild Weather *345 km / 214 miles420 km / 261 miles Cold Weather ScenariosJ05 Aceman SE U25 Countryman SECity – Cold Weather *290 km / 180 miles360 km / 224 milesHighway – Cold Weather *210 km / 131 miles265 km / 165 milesCombined – Cold Weather *250 km / 155 miles310 km / 192 milesIndication of real-world range in several situations. Cold weather: ‘worst-case’ based on -10°C and use of heating. Mild weather: ‘best-case’ based on 23°C and no use of A/C. For ‘Highway’ figures a constant speed of 110 km/h is assumed. The actual range will depend on speed, style of driving, weather and route conditions. Data provided by ev-database.org Now let’s look at outright performance. We don’t have a lot of data yet but what we do have points to a decisive win for the Countryman SE in terms of quickness. But with most electric vehicles speed is an enemy to range thus all these cars are limited to rather low figures. ExteriorJ05 Aceman EJ05 Aceman SEU25 Countryman EU25 Countryman SE0-62 mph7.9 seconds7.1 seconds8.6 seconds5.6 secondsTop Speed160 km/h / 99 mph170 km/h / 106 mph169 km/h / 105 mph180 km/h / 112 mph Now what’s faster around a track might be a very different story. With its 800 lbs weight advantage and the right track, the Aceman SE might just nip the Countryman SE. But that’s just conjecture at this point and clear for another day. Aceman vs Countryman – Conclusions Where does this leave us? The Aceman is a much more MINI-like vehicle in terms of its proportions and how it uses its size. It’s the classic MINI formula of maximizes the interior space despite its relatively small size. So much so that it’s actually larger in a couple dimensions than the new U25 Countryman. It’s also much more MINI-like in its weight and perceived agility. Which gives clues to us on how it will handle. It all points to the Aceman being a sweet spot in the range that could prove incredibly popular with potential owners. The post The MINI Aceman vs the Countryman; Range, Performance & Surprising Size Differences appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

For the new generation MINI Cooper and Countryman, MINI hasn’t just killed the manual but also eliminated shift paddles on all non-JCW models. Why have they done this and could this decision be reversed? We have details on why and some speculation for the future of the option. But we’ll need your help. There’s no way to spin this other than to see it’s a huge blow to all those who crave some interactivity while driving. While it’s sad to see this move on the Countryman, it feels tragic on the Cooper and Cooper S. It was just a few months ago when we saw the last manual transmission roll off the line for the F56 Cooper and Cooper S. And now gone is any ability to manually control shifts at all on 70% of the models sold in the US. The MINI Countryman JCW with its standard steering wheel mounted shift paddles MINI USA has celebrated the manual transmission for years and saw over 50% take rates for the manual on the JCW last year. Perhaps even more important, the Cooper S had a 22% take rate for the manual in the US. Clearly there’s a core group of buyers of the Cooper that are looking for the interactive nature of the manual. While there’s no full substitute, a well engineered automatic with responsive manual shifting can be fun and create interactivity with the car that so many enthusiasts crave. Why MINI USA Isn’t Offering Shift Paddles on non-JCW models While we don’t have an official statement yet from MINI USA, in talking with several sources globally, it’s become clear as to why this move has taken place. According to sources, MINI global made the decision to exclusively tie the optional shift paddles to the JCW Trim (Sport Trim in the UK). Like other MINI Trims, the JCW Trim brings together a number of options in a single package to create a specific look and a few performance features. In other words if gives the look of a JCW to any MINI without having to pay for it. In the case of the F66 MINI Cooper and Cooper S, JCW Trim it adds 18″ Lap Spoke 2-tone, black JCW seats, Adaptive Suspension, JCW brakes and the aforementioned Sport Automatic DCT Transmission (which is the only way to get paddles). The U25 Countryman JCW Thus checking the box for the JCW/Sport Trim is the only way to easily manually shift via paddles in a combustion powered MINI Cooper or Countryman. And that’s where the problem arises. MINI USA made the decision to not offer the JCW Trim in the US awhile back. From our conversations with representatives, they believed that the JCW trim takes away the specialness of the full JCW and ultimately will negatively affect the JCW brand. And we agree. It’s something we’ve seen BMW offer with its M Sport kits for years and has led to general confusion from buyers around what a real M product is. But that decision has apparently cost MINI USA the chance to offer paddle shifter on any non-JCW model. It would seem that MINI global isn’t giving any exception in making paddles exclusive to JCW Trims and thus no non JCW MINI sold in the US will have shift paddles moving forward. The sad lonely paddle-less steering wheel of the F66 Cooper S in Classic Trim The MINI USA Model Range & What Gets Paddles To put it in black and white, we’ve listed out the entire forthcoming combustion range of MINI models coming to the US. As you can see below there will only be three combustion JCWs out of a total of ten MINI models in the US. That means three or just 30% of the range will have shift paddles available. Combustion MINI Models (US Spec)Power OutputStart of ProductionShift Paddle AvailabilityThe U25 MINI Countryman FamilyU25 MINI Countryman S241 hp03/2024NoU25 MINI Countryman JCW312 hp03/2024YesThe F66 MINI Cooper FamilyF66 MINI Cooper161 HP07/2024NoF66 MINI Cooper S204 HP03/2024NoF66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP11/2024YesF65 MINI Cooper 5 Door161 HP07/2024NoF65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door204 HP07/2024NoF67 MINI Cooper Convertible161 HP11/2024NoF67 MINI Cooper S Convertible204 HP11/2024 NoF67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP03/2025*Yes*unconfirmed The Secret Mode that Will Still Allow Manual Shifting Thanks to a secret mode on all new combustion MINIs, there will still be a way to manually control shifts. While it’s not necessarily easy or satisfying, it does work. With help from MotoringFile reader Jorge Andrés, we’ve discovered a secret mode that allows the plus and minus rocker button the steering wheel to act as a manual shift control. If it sounds a bit like a video game, that’s because it feels like one. And getting to this mode isn’t easy. Here’s the sequence; start the car, select D, then pull down and select D/L, then pull down again and select D but this time hold it. And hold it. And hold it. For about 15-20 seconds actually. Finally you’ll see the D turn into a M1 which means it’s now in manual mode. While we’ve tested this on a new U25 Countryman, we’re told this will also work o the F66 MINI Cooper models as well. See this sporty looking MINI Cooper S? With no easy manual shifting it looks like an appliance to us. What The Future Might Bring and How You Can Help We find it hard to believe that MINI USA will continue to limit shift paddles to JCW in the years ahead for one reason – you. And that’s where all of you come in. To change this oversight, we need you to leave comments on MotoringFile.com primarily but also on our social channels that relate to this story (Facebook, Threads & Instagram). MINI USA reads MotoringFile daily and gives comments on the site and on our social channels a lot of attention. If we can make it evident that this is a major oversight than there’s a chance we’ll see optional shift paddles across the entire MINI range in the US. So sound off below and let them hear your thoughts. The post MINI USA to Limit Shift Paddles to JCW Models Only appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The MINI key (or key fob) has aways been a unique aspect of the car. Since the R56 there’s been a whimsical design added to it to distinguish it from other cars. However for its new generation, there’s a completely new key fob design. So we went in-depth to see how it works even what’s inside. We found some surprises along with a few reasons why you may never even need it. MINI’s new key fob is less unique than its last two generations and is similar to its approach with the R50. On the R50 MINI leveraged an existing Rover designed key and added MINI styling elements to it. With the new generation of models, MINI has injected its design aesthetic to the current BMW fob design and functionality. That means the lock button and optional remote engine start are on the front. For the first time MINI has moved the unlock button away from the lock and placed it on the side like BMW. The European spec fob with a different button design Why the move? It’s likely due to feedback that unlocking the car could happen too easily at times. However MINI has carefully designed the buttons on the side subtly raising the outside buttons and keeping the trunk open button flush. However this nuance is not present on the current US spec key fobs we’ve sen. Similarly the diamond button in the fob above seems to be present in only certain markets and is likely programmable to several different functions. In the US and other markets that’s a dedicated horn button which helps you located your MINI quickly. The back of the fob is where you can replace the battery. Tearing Down the New MINI Key Fob There’s a small button that you depress to take off the end of the fob which then lets you easily take off the back. But there you won’t find much other than the housing for the replaceable battery. In the photos above you can see how it’s a simple clockwise twist to take off the battery housing. Also of note – you can clearly see how the US key lacks the subtle raised design of the two outer most buttons present on the European fobs we’ve encountered. Surprisingly its the front of the fob that houses the emergency key. But at this point we were a bit confused as to how to actually get the to the physical emergency key which we could clearly see from the back. So we turned it over and tried the very tried and true scientific approach of pulling it apart. And just like that the front of the key snapped off and revealed the rest of its secrets. Most importantly it’s here that you can find the emergency key for getting into your MINI when the fob is dead or unusable. As you can see there are even clear instruction on how to remove the key in case of emergency. Ironically MINI makes it much more clear at this point in the process then they do in actually getting to the emergency key itself. New MINI Key Fob Initial Impressions In our time with the new key fob we found it generally intuitive. However like all MINI key fobs it’s not what we could call a design perfected. For one it’s very un-MINI like in its size. This is the largest MINI key fob ever. Second while the buttons on the side are there for a reason, we found them harder to operate than the previous layouts where they were all front facing. Finally (and this is really nit-picking) the icon for opening the truck or boot is clearly not a MINI. Yes this is a small thing but MINI has a very proud and unique heritage that should be celebrated as much as possible. And sometimes it’s in the smallest moments where the brand needs to sweat the details. Unfortunately for one reason or another, they’ve missed this opportunity. One other important note. In most markets MINI will only be including one key fob with its new models and will supplant this with a key card. The card will work with keyless entry allowing you to simply carry it in our wallet and use the keyless entry to unlock and lock the car as well as start it. MINI’s Digital Key Plus and Why It May Be All You’ll Ever Need The alternative is that you don’t need to use the fob at all. With MINI now fully supporting the Car Connectivity Consortium and offers something they call Digital Key Plus. This allows you to now use your Smartphone for all the functionality that the key fob has traditionally offered. But this is much different the previous execution where the phone would send the request to a server and then it would be relayed to the car. New MINIs will come with one or two fobs depending on market and a key card which works in conjunction with keyless entry. This new technology communicated directly with the car for instantaneous response to any commend. There are a couple ways to use Digital Key Plus but the real game changer is to set it so the MINI simply unlocks when you walk up and lock when you walk away. The option also allows you to store the key in your phone’s wallet as well. On an iPhone this can be accessed by a double click on your power button. Then simply hold your phone to the MINI’s door handle to unlock or lock. Both work via ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in the same way as a traditional key fob but with even security in the way it communicates with the car. Using this method also allows you to share (permanently or temporarily) a digital key for others to use as well via something as simple as a text message. Oh and it will even work in most cases when your phone is dead (provided you have an iPhone). This is called Express Mode and if its’ enabled, it allows a user to lock/unlock and start the vehicle for up to 5 hours after the iPhone battery has run out. The MINI Key Fob – Initial Impressions Yes it’s too big. But if you look at how MINI packed in the emergency key it’s easy to see why. Other than that we’d love to see slightly more MINI specific design elements and those tactile raised buttons standard throughout the world. But what we’re really impressed with is the optional Digital Key Plus. It’s a game changer in the way it lets you simply forgot about the fob entirely and just go on with your life. The post Review & Teardown of the New MINI Cooper Key Fob & Optional Digital Key Plus appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The clues are adding up and we feel confident in saying it; MINI will debut the all new petrol powered MINI Cooper JCW at the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Here’s a look at the clues and why this will be such a big deal With the official news last week, Charlie Cooper’s recent Instagram post and some other rumblings, it feels obvious to us that we’ll see the new F66 MINI Cooper JCW debut at the Nurburgring. But it won’t just debut. The plan appears to have Bulldog Racing campaign the all new car in the grueling 24 Hours of the Nurburgring. Based on the timing of the race (June 2nd), we’d expect the car to be camouflaged via wrap to hide various styling bits. And as we can see in Charlie Cooper’s recent Instagram post, that’s exactly what appears to be shown. However there is a wrinkle here. The actual car shown in the Instagram post has exposed washer jets which the new F66 does not. And even the JCW test mules we’ve seen follow this design move. This could mean a lot of things. For one it could mean the car will be more of test mule which might utilize parts from the F56 race cars that Bulldog Racing has been campaigning for a few years. Or could it mean the new JCW variant will have a different hood, perhaps with a scoop? We don’t think so given the pre-production cars we’ve seen. Either way we’ll know soon. What We Know about the F66 MINI JCW The design of the new JCW will closely follow the optional JCW Trim we’ve already seen on the F66 MINI Cooper. In the real JCW however, the front bumper will have real ducts due to the need to cool the JCW B48 engine and we’re told the brake ducts also remain. In fact the JCW front bumper is quite close to what we’ve seen previously on the F56 as you can see below. Elsewhere you can clearly see MINI has moved to gloss black side skirts on the JCW along with gloss black fender flares. This follows the trends towards gloss black we’ve seen elsewhere. Time to get your polishing cloths out. The Revised MINI Cooper JCW Engine In what will be seen as a major disappointment, the 2025 MINI Cooper JCW will not see an increase in horsepower. Unlike the Cooper or the Cooper S, MINI is holding the line on power output and instead bringing some upgrades elsewhere. ModelF56 Cooper JCWF66 Cooper JCWPower231 hp231 hp Torque235 lb-ft/1450 rpm258 lb-ft/1,250 rpmTransmissionManual/Auto7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront-wheelfront-wheelLength (mm/in)3863mm/152.1 in3876mm/152.6 inHeight (mm/in)1414mm/55.66 in1432mm / 56.38 inWheelbase (mm/in)2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23Curb weight (kg/lbs)1295 kg / 2855 lbsTBA Shortly after the F66 will be the F67 JCW Convertible But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any performance upgrades. The F66 JCW will have a slightly revised B48 engine under the hood – more specifically the B48A20O2. The big performance update will be torque which increases from 236 to 258 ft lbs giving the car a bit more grunt. Perhaps just important, it peaks lower in the rev range as. Previously in the F56 JCW torque maxed-out at 1,450. The B48A20O2 sees this change to 1,250 rpm meaning maximum power is even more immediate. These are small but subtle differences that point to a slightly quicker or more responsive B48 engine. MINI and Bulldog Racing at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring Bulldog Racing is bringing back last year’s podium winner, the black #126 MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition along with the undisclosed new JCW. Both are are said to pay homage to this year’s 60th anniversary of the first Rallye Monte Carlo victory for MINI. We’ll have much more on the race and that second, new JCW poised to join last years 1to6 Edition. Until check out how the team did in 2023 and 2022. The post Rumor: The New F66 MINI Cooper JCW to Debut at the Nurburgring 24 Hours appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The F66 MINI Cooper and U25 MINI Countryman won’t have shift paddles as standard. Depending how they’re optioned, even some Cooper S and Countryman S won’t have them. And without a traditional gear lever there’s seemingly no way to manually control gears. That is until we discovered a secret mode that fully enables manual control. The lack of shift paddle will be a big issues for many buying a Cooper or Countryman as a sporty car. While they will be available on JCW models and reportedly on some configurations of the S models, many F66 and U25 will be without them. Luckily with the help from MotoringFile reader Jorge Andrés, we’ve discovered a secret mode that allows the plus and minus rocker button the steering wheel to act as a manual shift control. If it sounds a bit like a video game, that’s because it feels like one. And getting to this mode isn’t easy. Here’s the sequence; start the car, select D, then pull down and select D/L, then pull down again and select D but this time hold it. And hold it. And hold it. For about 15-20 seconds actually. Finally you’ll see the D turn into a M1 which means it’s now in manual mode. While we’ve tested this on a new U25 Countryman, we’re told this will also work o the F66 MINI Cooper models as well. The bigger question from a lot of you will probably why has MINI eliminated the shift paddles from so many models? It’s unclear to us and we’re still getting conflicting reports on what trims and options bring them back in each model. But it’s clear that MINI has limited their availability more so than we’ve seen in the past. The post Manual Shifting a New MINI Cooper and Countryman Without Paddles – Secret Mode Discovered appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI has created something a bit different with the new Aceman. In doing so it’s become very clear that the strategy MINI is following is to make each new product distinct. And with the full line-up of the new MINI model range complete, we can clearly see how that plays out. But how did they get there and what did the process look like? We have a look at the design process that brought the Aceman to life. From sketch to clay models, MINI had documented the process giving us a glimpse into the thought that went into the new Aceman. So sit back, grab your favorite beverage and take a look at the following photos that walk us through that process. MINI Aceman Design Process The post Photo Gallery: The Design Process for the All New MINI Aceman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

If you want a new MINI and like the wind in your hair you’ll need to get a combustion model. MINI has eliminated the retractable sunroof on all new electric models moving to a fixed, single pane of glass. But it’s not all bad. There are a few good reasons MINI went this route and even a few benefits. Why has MINI chosen to eliminate the ability to open the expansive glass sunroof? Several factors likely play a role. For one, having a sunroof that opens reduces drag and also reduces range. It’s also not the worst idea to take the small electric motor out of the roof, and simplifying the design will remove weight exactly where you’d want to reduce it. The move will also reduce long-term issues like leaking or even rattles that have plagued some cars in the past. Just ask R50 or R56 owners about leaking sunroofs, for instance. Finally, there’s the cost factor for both MINI and the consumer. It allows MINI to reduce cost and (theoretically) pass that savings on to the consumer with a lower option price. But the real deciding factor was how owners used their cars and (didn’t) use their sunroofs. In the research that MINI did, they found that the majority of owners never or rarely opened the sunroof. With that in mind, it would seem the vast majority of owners would be better off with a simpler, more expansive pane of glass than with the previous retractable sunroof. While we love the feature of opening the sunroof and will miss the option, we wonder how many will truly even notice. What do you think? Let us know in the comments. The post MINI Moves to Fixed Sunroofs Electric Model appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

As with all new MINIs, the Aceman will offer the choice of four trims which group design elements into a single cohesive look. But understanding these difference trims will be essential in understanding how to spec and order a MINI Aceman. MINI’s Trim concepts are the same on the Aceman as they are on the new Cooper and Countryman. However the Aceman has a few unique aspects that tie in with the overall design aesthetic. Let’s take a look. Essential Trim The Essential Trim the standard trim level and features a simple, somewhat basic look. • Limited selection of body colors • Roof in body color • Cockpit and door panels in black • Interior and exterior accents in Vibrant Silver • Radiator grille surround in black Classic Trim Classic is for everyone who appreciates MINI’s iconic looks and timeless design options. This trim brings MINI’s prestigious heritage into the present, with cool technical features and a range color options. • Cockpit and door panels in subtly shimmering 3D knit material in a double tone of black/blue • High-quality Vescin/fabric sports seats with a houndstooth pattern in gray or black • Three-spoke sports steering wheel with decorative stitching and accents in Vibrant Silver • Radiator grille surround in high-gloss black • Optional contrast roof in black or white or with a multi-tone color gradient Favoured Trim Favoured Trim is there most expressive option. It’s for the owner who prefers a more modern, sophisticated look along with playful details. • Cockpit and door panels with knitted material in two-tone petrol/orange pattern • JCW sports seats in vescine in beige or dark petrol with piping and colored accent stitching • Three-spoke sports steering wheel with accent stitching and Vibrant Silver accents • Center console: lockable box • Radiator grille surround, exterior accents in Vibrant Silver • Optional contrast roof and mirror caps or optional roof with multi-tone color gradient JCW Trim For those looking to be a bit more aggressive and motorsports oriented, the JCW trim is the ideal choice. It’s also an early peek into how the full Aceman JCW model will be designed. • Door panels in JCW Black • Knitted cockpit in JCW black with red pattern • Vescin Sports seats with perforated pattern in JCW Black with red pattern and headrests/shoulder areas made of gray 2D knit material • JCW three-spoke vescine sports steering wheel with perforated pattern, gray stitching and • Vibrant Silver accents • Center console: lockable box • JCW sports brake in black with JCW logo The post First Look: The MINI Aceman Trims Designs appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI is putting a lot of energy into the Aceman launch. But What are the plans to bring it to the US? And if it does, when could we see it at dealers? We posed these questions to a few of our sources and got some interesting answers. Based on what we hear, MINI believes that the Aceman has a chance to be the biggest seller in the range within a few years. But first they have to get it on sale in all key markets. Of course that was the original intent. But first cost and then global politics got in the way. Designing and engineering cars for global markets is incredible expensive – especially for a small brand like MINI. Now add to this an entire range of combustion Coopers and a few Countryman and outright cost prohibitive. To solve this BMW had to get creative in how it accomplished both. This is how Spotlight Motors was created. A joint venture between MINI and Great Wall Motors from China, Spotlight was designed to help BMW leverage the scale of GWM along with their expertise in building electric cars. Given the fact that China is now the definitive world leader in volume for EVs, it seemed like a safe and smart move. With economies of scale solved with the collaboration and production set for China, BMW was left to engineer and design the new MINI Cooper and Aceman in Germany. If that sounds too good to be true, it was. A global trade war kicked off just as BMW signed on with GWM and suddenly countries like the US slapped 25-30% tariffs on Chinese cars (among other goods). This all makes importing the MINI Aceman to the US and other countries particularly difficult from a profit standpoint. While MINI ha intended to eventually produce its new electric models in other parts of the world, this global trade ward accelerated those plans and both cars will now be produced in Oxford from 2026 onward. The J05 Aceman being produced in the UK will serve Europe and likely the North American markets. This could allow for US imports to begin by 2026 – only two years away. The key word is “could” as sources tell us final decisions on where the Aceman will be sold are still being made. But things look promising according to our sources. The post Will the MINI Aceman Ever Come to the US? appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Designing an all new model for a storied brand like MINI is not an easy task. The history and expectations are sometimes at odds with the need for innovation. As part of the Aceman launch, Head of Design Oliver Heilmer sat down to talk about the process and how he and his team took the Aceman from sketch to production. Question: Mr. Heilmer, when you joined MINI in 2017 – how did you develop a vision to lead the models into the future? Oliver Heilmer: Given that MINI is a very traditional brand, the question was: How do you transform such a brand into the future? To answer this, we had to go back to the time when the classic Mini was created to understand the spirit behind Sir Alec Issigonis’s Mini. That helped us envision where the MINI brand needed to head in today’s context. In the next step, together with our very diverse team, we approached this essence of the original Mini and formulated our own creative mindset. And based on this, we developed an overall brand design vision that serves as a guideline for the design of the new products. Q: What was your biggest challenge in developing a completely new design language? OH: The biggest challenge was and is continuous. Dealing with the strong history of the brand. The first MINI was an absolute disruption – that too is part of the story. Now you could say that MINI is disruption and we forget everything that happened before. But then we lose the heart of the brand. Instead, we now talk about independent characters – and the MINI Cooper was an instant icon for us. You get closer to the original idea of the original: strong character, but with as few means as possible – “Charismatic Simplicity” also expresses that. Q: What does the new MINI design language “Charismatic Simplicity” stand for and how is this reflected in the new MINI Aceman? OH: It’s about strong characters and about each family member taking their individual position within the MINI family. If you look at the side, for example, the MINI Aceman has a very unique design language and unique graphics for the wheel arch covers. It is compact, appears agile and has a certain urge to move forward. That’s what makes this character, this charismatic. At the same time, we avoid unnecessary style elements. The exercise was to describe your own character using as few resources as possible. Q: How would you describe the character of the MINI Aceman? OH: The MINI Aceman is both a practical and expressive and unique addition to the MINI family. The Aceman is an independent character that can be edgy and appeals to customers who, regardless of their age, value individuality and personality in urban spaces. Q: The MINI Aceman is the first of its kind. Why is the MINI Aceman exactly the right vehicle for the urban environment? OH: The MINI Aceman fits perfectly into the urban environment as it reinterprets MINI’s classic values in a modern, all-electric crossover format. It offers an elevated seating position that conveys a feeling of safety and generous space without losing the compactness and maneuverability that are characteristic of MINI. Q: What gives you fresh inspiration for the development of new MINI models? OH: Inspiration is never a coincidence, but comes from a regular, targeted exchange within our team, in which each member shares inspiring and fascinating experiences: one builds skateboards, for example, the other lived on a sailboat for two years. I would roughly differentiate between direct and indirect inspiration. It’s all part of the indirect inspiration that fuels this spirit, which can be seen in the materials as well as in the surfaces and in the digital. Direct inspiration can be found, for example, in architecture or fashion. What is crucial, however, is the creative discourse within the team. Q: How do new, sustainably produced materials influence the design process at MINI? OH: Our brand design vision is based on our Creative Mindset, which includes four guiding values: Heartbeat, Curiosity, Responsibility and Daredevil. These values represent our basic principles such as heritage, curiosity for new things, sustainability and the courage to stand out. Sustainability and the responsible use of resources do not mean giving up for us, but rather we explore new possibilities in our creative process. Instead of materials such as leather, we use alternative technologies that allow for more design freedom and individualization, for example through the use of patterns or two-tone colors. For example, the 3D knit as one of the central design elements is inspired by the sneaker industry. And for aesthetic and environmental reasons, we are replacing chrome with our new color Vibrant Silver. Q: Which MINI Aceman design innovation are you particularly proud of? OH: Two things in particular, and they both relate to size: The MINI Aceman is extremely compact because the overhangs at the front and rear are very short. Nevertheless, the vehicle is extremely safe. This is due to truly outstanding engineering work. But it’s not just the things you can see that are special. I would also like to highlight how the feeling of space is handled throughout the interior, so that maximum lightness is achieved. Q: Are there hidden design elements that only become apparent upon closer inspection? OH: The idea behind the little Easter eggs we have hidden is the fact that as a human being you want to be surprised. Not always at first, but also after a certain time. The digital innovation allows for playfulness, so that you can, for example, display the navigation arrow as a small MINI or display a large rotating record on the central instrument. And that’s how Spike came into being, an animal friend who has always been a loyal companion to the brand. And this gave rise to the idea of offering a kind of digital companion. So Spike came into the MINI and now lives in the display, so to speak. Q: In which direction do you want to develop MINI design in the future? OH: As a team, we are of the opinion that the “Creative Mindset” remains a guideline with the same relevance for future products. And at the same time, we will focus even more strongly on the value of responsibility. Curiosity and responsibility – we are currently taking these values with us into the thoughts of the next generation. Q: If there was a product other than automobiles that you could design – what would it be? OH: I could imagine many things, but if I had to choose, I would say: a sailboat. I’ve sailed maybe five times in my life, but I still have a fascination for the water and dealing with the forces that reign there. For my diploma thesis, I designed a trimaran together with a fellow student, with the question of whether “automotive” could be designed in an area of mobility that doesn’t necessarily have to take place on the road. I believe that there is still enormous potential there . The post Interview: Head of MINI Design Talks About Designing the Aceman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

With MINI’s strategy to go all electric 2030, fans have been wondering what that will mean for the performance oriented JCW brand. While we’re still months away from the official debut, today we’re getting a peek at the MINI Aceman JCW along with some exclusive performance and release details. Because MINI is offering the full JCW body kit wheels and even badging on the JCW Trim in Europe and the UK (under the name Sport), we’re being treated with a full view of what the Aceman JCW will look like. How do we know? For one MINI has followed this formula in the past. But beyond that we have our own sources telling us to expect a near identical look for the full Aceman JCW. MINI Aceman JCW Performance – What to Expect The all electric J05 MINI Aceman JCW will be mechanically revised over the standard SE model. Perhaps most important, we’ll see more power from its single electric motor. While we don’t have official word from MINI, sources are telling us to expect around 260 hp and 300 lb-ft. That’s a sizable increase over the 218 hp and 243 ft-lb from the SE model and should take the Aceman JCW to 60 mph around 5 seconds (provided that advanced traction control works). J05 MINI Aceman EJ05 MINI Cooper SE2025 J01 MINI JCW2025 J01 MINI JCWHorsepower184 hp218 hp260 hp*260 hp*Torque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft300 lb-ft*300 lb-ft*Range (WLTP)183 – 193 miles237 – 253 milesTBATBABattery Size40kWh54kWh54kWh*54kWh*All numbers provided by MINI except * which are confirmed only through unofficial sources. MINI will also be updating suspension calibration as well as offering larger brakes. Expect four piston upfront with a single piston design in the rear. Worth noting that even the JCW brakes will eventually be optional on the non-JCW Aceman from the factory. This means that, outside of a couple minor trim pieces, it will be nearly impossible to tell a real JCW apart from an Aceman E with the JCW Trim. With these performance updates there will be a downside – reduced range. While we don’t have figures from MINI, we’ve been told to expect a slight reduction in range due to the nature of the modifications and the fact that MINI will carry over the battery technology and size from the SE. 2025 MINI Aceman JCW Production & Release Timing The big news here is that MINI is already almost done with the electric MINI Cooper JCW and MINI Aceman JCW development. Both cars will in Q3 of 2024 and will begin production in January 2024. This production will start in China but will expand production to MINI’s Oxford Plant in the UK in 2026. This will likely pave the way for North American deliveries. Until then look for the electric MINI Aceman JCW to be exclusively available in Asia, Europe and South America. But this isn’t the only new JCW offering MINI will be unveiling this year. MINI will be debuting the electric J01 Cooper JCW and the petrol F66 Cooper JCW later this year with production to follow shortly afterwards. Why Is MINI Offering the JCW On Non JCW Aceman Models? Why is MINI offering the look of JCW on the Aceman SE. In the words of MINI Head of Design Oliver Heimler, the brand wanted to give customers the choice of a JCW look without having to compromise on range or comfort. However not all markets will follow this approach. For instance MINI USA intends to keep the JCW Trim you see here off the options list for all non JCW models. The thought is that it should be exclusive to JCW models to maintain exclusivity. In the UK they will offer the JCW Trim but instead refer to it as “sport”. The changes we see in the JCW Trim will all carry over to the full Aceman JCW. This includes prominent JCW specific bumpers which include function diffusers at the front and rear along with radiator grille surround and logos finished in high-gloss black. We’ll also see contrasting roof and the mirror caps in Chilli Red and a JCW specific color (likely Legend Grey) as optional. Rumor has it that all future JCW products will not offer the option of a white roof. What do you think? Does the Aceman JCW tempt you? The post First Look & Exclusive Details: The Electric MINI Aceman JCW appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The Aceman the first all new model from MINI since the original Countryman in 2010. So to say this is just another new car launch for MINI is a huge understatement. But What does the Aceman look like in the flesh and how does it compare with the rest of the line-up? We’ve got the first ever video and our best view yet of MINI’s all new model. https://youtu.be/JggI-Dt4oKg The MINI Aceman crossover is actually based on the smaller J01 MINI Cooper EV. In fact it’s so heavily connected to that car that it will share all of its drivetrain including its electric motor, battery pack and electronics. In many ways the relationship between the J01 MINI Cooper and the J05 Aceman is not that different than the F56 two door hatch to the F55 four door hatch. The key difference of course is height and proportions which was likely much easier to alter with a skateboard chassis given its fully electric origins. As you can see in the video above it also ushers in a twist on MINI’s new design language. What do you think? Has MINI created another hit with the Aceman as it did in 2010 with the Countryman? Or did they miss the mark? let us know in the comments below. The post First Video: The 2025 Electric MINI Aceman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

It’s been almost 15 years since MINI introduced an all new model making the Aceman a big deal for the brand. But Can this small crossover live up to the huge expectations? And when (if ever) will we see it in North America? Read on for answers. The electric MINI Aceman might be the brand’s most successful car for this generation of MINIs. That’s what the company’s executives have been saying quietly to the press over the last year. They believe it will be the sweet spot in the range for many people due to its size, price performance and design. But can the Aceman really live up to the hype? And when (if ever) will it come to the US? The MINI Aceman Is the Most MINI-Like Crossover Yet The MINI Aceman might just be the best modern embodiment of Mini creator Alec Issigonis’ philosophy that started it all; maximum utilization of space with a minimum footprint. It may not be the smallest MINI in the line-up (that title naturally goes to the Cooper) but it’s not far off all while providing more interior volume than the original R60 MINI Countryman. Aceman is 192mm (7.6?) longer, 130mm (5.1?) taller but only 23mm (1?) wider than the than the new J01 Cooper. The Aceman crossover (or CUV as the industry call it) effectively replaced the Clubman in the MINI line-up. But it’s really not a replacement t all as it’s both smaller and designed as a crossover rather than a wagon. Instead think of it as a product that fills the void left when the Countryman grew in size from the original R60 model to the recent F60 model in 2015. ModelsJ05 AcemanF55 Cooper 5 Door (’14-’24)R60 Countryman (’10-’16) F60 Countryman (’17-’23)U25 Countryman (’24-’32)Length4079 mm / 161 in3982 mm / 156.8 in4097 mm / 161.3 in4298 mm / 169.2 in4429 mm / 174.37 inHeight1514 mm / 59.6 in142.5 mm / 56.1 in 1562 mm / 61.5 in1557 mm / 61.3 in1613 mm / 63.5 inWheelbase2526 mm / 99.44 in2567 mm / 101 in2596 mm / 102.2 in2670 mm / 105.1 in2670 mm / 105.11 inThe J05 Aceman is very close to the original R60 Countryman in size. While the Aceman is .2′” shorter than the R60 Countryman it has more room inside. The original R60 Countryman’s legroom measured 1025mm / 40.4″ while the Aceman delivers more with 1045 mm / 41.1″ – all in a smaller package. Similarly the original R60 Countryman’s front shoulder width is 1341mm / 52.8 which the Aceman betters with a width of 1370mm / 53.9″. So it’s similar to the R60 in size. But there’s another important and more modern analogy that’s worth mentioning. The more you look at the Aceman and its’ stats the more you realize it’s a stretched J01 Cooper with extra doors squeezed in. It’s a formula that MINI has tried before with the F55 five door Cooper. Like the F55 MINI Cooper four door (itself a stretched version of the F56), the J05 is a longer, more spacious J01. The MINI Aceman – Size & Specifications Because of this close relationship with the J01 both the battery and the electric motor output are identical. This gives MINI great economies of scale but it also means the J05 has to use power units and batteries designed for a smaller car. But it turns out that doesn’t mean it has less range. In fact the opposite is true. But we’ll have more on that in a moment. MINI Aceman Full Specifications J01 Cooper EJ01 Cooper SEJ05 Aceman EJ05 Aceman SELength (mm/inches)3858 mm / 151.8 in3858 mm / 151.8 in4079 mm / 161 in4079 mm / 161 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1756 mm / 69 in1756 mm / 69 in1754 mm / 69 in1754 mm / 69 inHeight (mm)1460 mm / 57 in1460 mm / 57 in1754 mm / 69 in1514 mm / 59.6 inWheelbase (mm)2526 mm / 99 in2526 mm / 99 in2606 mm / 102.6 in2606 mm / 102.6 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1540 kg / 3,395 lbs1605 kg / 3,538 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbsWeight distribution (Front/Rear)F58% / R 42%F 57% / R 43%F 57% / R 43%F 55.8% / R 44.2%Front Overhang746 mm / 29.3 in746 mm / 29.3 in756 mm / 29.8 in756 mm / 29.8 inRear Overhang586 mm / 23 in586 mm / 23 in717 mm / 28.2 in717 mm / 28.2 inLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down300 / 1005 L300 / 1005 L450 / 1450 L450 / 1450 L* We’ve taken both the low and the high WLTP numbers and averaged them. However note that WLTP numbers are historically a bit optimistic compared to real world figures. Weight is interesting here as we see just how MINI has mitigated the heavy battery. While a 3,600 lbs car can’t be considered light, it is for a four door electric crossover. The other number that jumps out is just how close the wheelbase is to the Countryman. This shows MINI has pushed the wheels to the corners as much as possible. One area where there’s a material difference is luggage capacity. As you can see above the Aceman has more than double the capacity with there seats up. That difference decreases slight when the seats are down but it’s still a respectable 1450 liters. How does that compare to the dimensionally similar R60 Countryman? It’s identical with the seats up at 450 liters but the Aceman actually has 280 liters more space with the seats down. Comparing that to the more recent F60 Countryman the Aceman still holds it’s down with an identical luggage figure with the seats up but surprisingly 60 more liters when the seats are folded down. Getting more space out of a smaller footprint is a huge advantage of skateboard chassis EV vehicles as the Aceman proves. The MINI Aceman Range, Performance & Why There’s No All Wheel Drive The electric MINI Aceman’s range is one of the more surprising aspects of this new car. On paper we’ve assumed the MINI Aceman would have less range than the mechanically identical J01 MINI Cooper because it’s larger and heavier. Yet MINI’s official numbers tell a very different story. The Aceman in fact has a slightly more efficient, generating a few more miles of range in both E and SE models. J05 Aceman EJ05 Aceman SEJ01 Cooper EJ01 Cooper SEPower184 bhp218 hp184 hp218 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft214 lb-ft243 lb-ft0-62 mph (0-100 kph)7.9 seconds7.1 seconds7.3 seconds6.7 secondsTop Speed160 km/h / 99 mph170 km/h / 106 mph160 km/h / 99 mph170 km/h / 106 mphBattery Size42.5 kWh 54.2 kWh 42.5 kWh 54.2 kWh Battery Usable Size38.5 kWh 49.2 kWh 38.5 kWh 49.2 kWh WLTP Range294 – 310 km / 183 – 193 miles382 – 407 km / 237 – 253 miles295 – 305 km / 177 – 190 miles388 – 394 km / 234 – 250 milesWLTP Range (Averaged)302 km / 188 miles394.5 km / 245 miles296 km / 184 miles390 km / 242 miles Naturally range will vary depending on the temperature you’re operating the Aceman in. Just like the electric Countryman SE we detailed last month, expect a noticeable drop in range when temperatures dip below 40F. Looking at the Countryman SE data (which should be directionally similar) the best case scenario for range are moderate temperatures and urban driving. That would mean the worst case scenario is driving the on the highway in -14°F temperatures. What we found was that the the Countryman SE could see as much as a 50% drop from its 332 mile range in extreme cold and driven on highways. This is why it’s hard to make efficiency a single number data point. Why the MINI Aceman is Front Wheel Drive Only In what might be a major oversight by MINI, the forthcoming electric MINI Aceman Crossover will not be offered with all wheel drive even as an option. Never mind that BMW’s advanced traction control (pioneered in the BMW i3) makes all wheel drive less required even in snow, it’s a comfort factor for potential customers. Why? It all starts with the J01 electric MINI Cooper that the Aceman is based on. The J01 chassis was never designed to offer a two engine layout that would allow for which all wheel drive in an electric vehicles. This engineering choice unfortunately means the Aceman as little if no off-road credentials other than well groomed trails. But this decision may be a strategic one by MINI. MINI has been very keen to differentiate the Aceman from the Countryman in terms of price and equipment. What better way to clearly mark out the difference between the two by making the smaller, cheaper model not available with AWD. The thought is likely that, if a buyers wants AWD, they’ll likely be ok with spending more on a larger car to get it. Another is likely cost. Keeping the Aceman front wheel drive immediately keeps prices lower even in high-spec models. That’s important because MINI wants the Aceman to be an entry point for consumer into the brand that need more room than the new electric Cooper. In effect it’s taking the place of the four door Cooper in the electric line-up and not the larger Clubman. Finally there’s efficiency. MINI Countryman C for instance has better range than the all wheel drive SE and we can imagine the same would happen with an all wheel drive Aceman. While the Countryman’s higher range can accommodate a slight decrease, the Aceman is offered exclusively with the smaller and lighter J01 Cooper’s drivetrain configurations. While the range isn’t bad, it’s not a strong suit of the Aceman. Adding all wheel drive would likely bring that range figure down even figure making it a tough sell. The Aceman Creates a Twist on the New MINI Design Language The Aceman has taken a bit of a twist on the “Charismatic Simplicity” design language that MINI has developed for its new range. The look is more angular and dare we say it, aggressive than the new J01 or F66 Coopers. Comparing it to the Countryman, the Aceman has much more blunt face and shorter overhangs which gives it a more MINI-like appearance. You could even say it’s stylistically more aligned with the R50 and the R56 design linage than the more recent F56 MINI Cooper. Of course this being a vehicle based on a skateboard chassis, MINI could have gone much more radical. Instead designers have thoughtfully pushed the MINI design DNA to create a distinctive new character within the brand. Where the J01 has done away with the black cladding for instance, the Aceman not only embraces it but takes it to a level beyond what we’ve seen from MINI. But MINI hasn’t just made the cladding bigger. Designers have been much more expressive in the way the metal is formed in the fenders and lower part of the doors. It’s how the plastic fenders and sill integrate with these dimensional areas of the car that is new and (to our eyes) really interesting. Similar to all new MINIs, the JCW Trim (or sport trim in the UK) will feature gloss black trim in place of MINI’s traditional unpainted textured plastic. Taut is not a work that typically comes to mind with MINI’s surface design but on the Aceman is completely makes sense. The body surfaces almost feel stretched over elements under the skin creating the feel of a honed and athletic vehicle. While there’s more happening within the surface detail of the Aceman as compared to the new Cooper or Countryman, it’s still relatively minimal compared to previous MINI generations. There are no faux vents or scoops and the ornamentation is kept to a minimum. Around back we see this layout with a simple form that’s defined by the hatch itself. The license plate, like the Countryman is below the hatch and part of the upper portion of the bumper. The lighting both front and back is unique and features MINI’s now well known lighting signatures that we’ve seen on the J01, F66 and U25. That allows owners to change the day-time running light graphic subtly changed the character of the car. MINI Aceman Trim Options The MINI Aceman is available in four different trims. An oblong-shaped badge in the design of the respective equipment variant is attached to the front area of the side sill. The Essential Trim is the most minimal highlighting certain functional parts in the new Vibrant Silver (think champaign) finish. The Classic Trim features contrasting roof and exterior mirrors in black or white. The front grille is finished in high-gloss black, while the inner surface of the grille and the bumper are finished in body color. The Favoured Trim offers the most expressive options including a Multitone Roof, combined with white mirror caps and a grille frame in Vibrant Silver. The JCW Trim (sport in the UK) has its very own distinctive front and rear design that sources tell us is directly based on the forthcoming full JCW model coming later. The front grille features a frame and the variant-specific JCW logo in high-gloss black, while contrasting roof in Chili Red and red bonnet stripes are exclusive options. You’ll also get gloss black trim, unique rear spoiler and defuser along with two JCW specific wheels. The MINI Aceman Interior and MINI OS9 If this looks mostly familiar that’s because it is. Inside the J05 Aceman will be leverage the J01 Cooper’s interior layout with a couple of important exceptions. That means we’ll see the seats and exact center stack design from the J01 and not the larger center stack from the Countryman. This will include the J01’s seat mounted armrest, slimmer center console and more horizontal smartphone charging area. However there are some interesting changes. Top of the list is what appears to be a functional dash strap placed in front of the driver. On the J01 MINI Cooper this strap was intended to be functional but was safety concerns derailed those plans. When we spoke with head of MINI Design Oliver Heilmer you could clear see his disappointment that they couldn’t seen the original intended concept through to production. However it would appear MINI Design has done just that by placing the strap behind the steering wheel getting around any safety concerns. We have yet to know what it’s made of and its intended usage and we could be wrong about it being functional. But the amount of images taken of it from official MINI sources and the visual clues certainly look promising. The other change in the front of the Aceman over the J01 Cooper are the door cards which angle downward into the grab handle. Like all new MINIs the Aceman’s interior is made entirely of vegan materials. This means we’ll see fabric on the dash and doors and a synthetic leather called Vescin on the seats. If you missed our deep dive into Vescin here’s the top-line. It’s a surprisingly supple material that feels better than the standard MINI leather but not quite as nice as the optional Lounge Leather. But given it’s free, 100% recyclable and (according to MINI) will last much longer than leather it seems relatively promising. Also new are the seats which again are based on the J01. Like the J01 we’ll see heating and massaging options on the Aceman. The massaging function (only on the driver’s seat) gently moves the spinal column of the person sitting in the driver’s seat to reduce muscular tension and fatigue and prevent lower back pain. The massaging function is tied to a couple of the experience modes and can also be turned on independently with varying intensity. As with the Countryman, the rear of the Aceman offers space for three passengers. And like the Countryman the 60:40 folding rear seat backrest, allows the luggage compartment to be extended from 300 litres to up to 1,005 litres as required. When we first saw MINI’s radical circular display in spy shots we were blown away and excited to see the brand trying something unique. And now that we’ve used it across several cars and on the road we’re even more impressed. While it may seem like unusual design given the rectangles we’re all used to, it feels very natural in person thanks to the way MINI has organized the information and the UI powering it. The UI is intuitive and entirely unique. While early builds of the software have had a touch of lag, we’re told that forthcoming updates will eliminate that issue entirely. Which is great because the experience is nothing but amazing. With a diameter of 240 mm, the central instrument features an extremely flat design and a high-quality glass surface. OS9 enables all driving functions to be operated by touch or voice. And for the first time in a MINI, voice control works almost perfectly. In our early experience with the system, the standout feature is MINI’s all new navigation system with optional augmented reality. The AR view overlays mapping graphics on a live video feed in the top of the circular display helping to literally paint directions on the road in front of you. On the bottom is a top-down map view which is perfectly synced with the video and gives you a full picture of where you are as you get clarity on when and where to turn. It worked flawlessly for us and felt like a game changer for urban environments. The presentation of the vehicle-related data is minimalistic and all very intuitive. Speed is ever present and (like all new MINIs) a tap on it brings up a classic speedometer. The other widgets are shown in thumbnail view in the Home menu, to the left and right of the current menu function. These can be moved to the center and selected by means of a horizontal swiping movement. In the lower area of the OLED display, the menu items Navigation, Media, Telephone and Climate can be selected directly at any time. Like all new MINIs the Aceman also offers Experience models. We won’t go into detail here as we’ve covered it exhaustively before. But if you missed our initial coverage, check out our full look here. In brief, MINI Experience Modes enhance the interior with what MINI calls immersive user experiences. Like other new MINIs, the Aceman’s two projector units beam special illuminated graphics onto the dashboard with differing patterns and colors. Changes are made to the color scheme of the light patterns and to the ambient lighting in the entire interior depending on the Experience Mode selected. The newly created MINI Driving Sounds enhance the experience of all-electric driving in a way that will delight you At least it did that for us in our experience in the electric MINI Countryman SE with the same system. Together with specific graphic elements on the OLED display, Experience Modes create a nearly immersive experience intended to bring some joy to the drive. Among the eight modes available for selection, Personal Mode offers innovative options for customising the cockpit. In this mode, a personally selected image can be uploaded from a smartphone via the MINI app and chosen as the display background. A digital colour picker then identifies the dominant colours of the photo for projection onto the textile dashboard surfaces. The ambient lighting under the dashboard and in the door mirror is also colour-coded to match these projections. The other modes available for selection are Go-Kart Mode, Vivid Mode, Core Mode, Green Mode, Timeless Mode, Balance Mode and Trail Mode, each of which focusses the display on a “Mode App” to match the ambience. Will the MINI Aceman Come to the United States and the rest of North America? Designing and engineering cars for global markets is incredible expensive. Doing that for both an electric and internal combustion range is incredibly expensive. And for a small brand like MINI, it’s downright cost prohibitive. So BMW had to get creative in how it accomplished both. Enter Spotlight Motors – a joint venture between MINI and Great Wall Motors from China. The idea is simple – leverage the scale of GWM along with their expertise in building electric cars (China is now the definitive world leader in volume for EVs), while engineering and designing the new electric MINIs in Germany. If that sounds too good to be true, it was. A global trade war kicked off just as BMW signed on with GWM and suddenly countries like the US slapped 25-30% tariffs on Chinese cars (among other goods). This all makes importing the MINI Aceman to the US and other countries particularly difficult from a profit standpoint. While MINI ha intended to eventually produce its new electric models in other parts of the world, this global trade ward accelerated those plans and both cars will now be produced in Oxford from 2026 onward. The J05 Aceman being produced in the UK will serve Europe and likely the North American markets. This could allow for US imports to begin by 2026 – only two years away. The key word is “could” as sources tell us final decisions on where the Aceman will be sold are still being made. But things look promising according to our sources. J05 MINI Aceman Release Info The MINI Aceman will begin production this November with deliveries likely commencing in December. Both the E and SE will kick things off with the JCW variant scheduled for production early net year. Look for pricing to be released regionally in the coming days. Aceman ModelStart of Chinese ProductionStart of UK ProductionJ05 MINI Aceman E11/2024*03/2026J05 MINI Aceman SE11/2024*03/2026J05 MINI Aceman JCW01/2025*06/2026* Based on our sources and not confirmed MINI Aceman Photo Gallery The post Premier: The Electric MINI Aceman is The Brand’s Smallest Crossover Ever appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

There’s no question that some markets are seeing slowing sales of EVs for a variety of reasons. Yet on the other hand we’re also seeing hybrid sales surging with many believing they offer an ideal combination of electrification without the need to rely on fledgling charging network. Could this shift in customer demand change how MINI thinks about hybrids enough to bring them back? MINI decided years ago that they would go all in on EVs or internal combustion engines (ICE) with no hybrid options. So much so that they decided against creating a Countryman version of the BMW X1 Plugin Hybrid. Is there enough of a shift in demand that MINI could change their mind? First let’s talk about the new BMW X1 Hybrid and why it’s such a big step-on from the previous Countryman hybrid. There’s a 150 hp combustion engine coupled with a BMW eDrive power unit creating a total output of 177 hp. But the most impressive thing is the 56 miles of range – a massive step-up from the 18 miles in the F60 Countryman hybrid. That range would be enough for most commutes and effectively make it a pure electric vehicle if you had at-home charging. Is it possible for MINI to really make this move? Developing a car takes years but given the commonalities of the Countryman and there X1 and the proven nature of the hybrid system in it, we’d guess that the to market could be as little as 2-3 years. If that’s the case (and that’s a big if) we could see MINI bring a hybrid Countryman to market by 2026 – 2027. Here’s where the unknowns come into the picture. The official end of production for the current petrol powered U25 Countryman is 12.31.30. If that date holds, that would mean MINI would have the PHEV (plugin hybrid electric vehicle) Countryman on sale for a little over three years. Could they make enough back on the investment with three years of sales? This all presupposes that MINI would stop selling the Countryman on that date. With the EU and the UK solidifying their ICE bans at 2035, there’s room for MINI to push out that end date and continue selling the Countryman perhaps in PHEV form until 2035. If so we could see yet another multi-stage LCI similar to the F56 over the past decade. And this is not to mention the North American market which could be fertile ground for sales given the expansive geography and the lack of a thorough charging infrastructure. What do you think? Should MINI bring back the plugin hybrid Countryman and would you buy one? Let us know in the comments. The post Could MINI Re-Introduce the Hybrid Countryman as EV Sales Slow? appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The new MINI Countryman has made it to the US. As we speak it’s filtering into dealers as we speak and Americans are getting their first look at the larger, more advanced Countryman. Here’s how we can see it for yourself. The new U25 MINI Countryman is heading to dealers for MINI USA Roadshow. The idea is simple – MINI USA will travel from dealer to dealer bringing the new Countryman to the masses. Starting April 9 through the end of May, the roadshow will follow four regional routes concurrently, across MINI’s central, southern, eastern and western region dealer networks. You can find more information and sign up here. In addition to this there are also demo vehicles that are starting to show up at dealers as well. These cars will be fully accessible for test drives ahead of official sales in May. We had a chance to watch a number of MINI owners experience the new Countryman for the first time and in our brief and limited experience – reactions are very positive. The first thing people notice is the size change. And then there’s the interior. We heard lots of excitement about the new circular screen and lots of questions about the fabric doors and dash. What about you? Have you had a chance to see the al new Countryman at your local dealer? We’d love to hear from around the world what you’ve experienced and your thoughts. New 2025 MINI Countryman Gallery The post First Pictures: The 2025 MINI Countryman Has Landed in the US appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article