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Today marks the beginning of a new era for MINI as they kick off production for their latest fifth generation (F66) MINI Cooper at the MINI headquarters, Plant Oxford. The last ever petrol powered MINI Cooper, the F66 ushers in a new generation of design and technology on an upgraded platform. And now it’s officially rolling down the assembly line. The team at MINI Plant Oxford, along with Head of MINI, Stefanie Wurst, celebrated this milestone with a special event on-site. Charlie Cooper, grandson of the legendary John Cooper, who inspired the Cooper name, had the honor of driving the first three-door model off the production line. The new MINI Cooper is the latest generation to be manufactured in the UK, with contributions from all three BMW Group UK manufacturing sites. Body pressings and sub-assemblies are made at BMW Group Plant Swindon, while BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire produces the latest three and four-cylinder petrol engines. Finally, all these parts come together at MINI Plant Oxford for body shell production, painting, and final assembly. Since the launch of the first modern MINI in 2001, over 4.4 million MINIs have been produced in Britain, including 150,000 MINI Electric models built between 2019 and 2023. With its flexibility, competitiveness, and expertise, the MINI Oxford plant plays a crucial role in the BMW Group’s production network. It is gearing up to produce two new all-electric MINI models from 2026. The BMW Group will have invested more than £3 billion in the Swindon, Hams Hall, and Oxford plants by then. The new MINI Cooper, announced last month, joins the MINI Cooper Electric and the new MINI Countryman in the new MINI family. It comes in two model variants: the MINI Cooper C and the performance-enhanced MINI Cooper S. This latest three-door model blends traditional brand values with innovative, forward-thinking technology. Visit MotoringFile’s F66 MINI Cooper section for the most complete look at this new car and our first hand impressions. The post The New F66 MINI Cooper Begins Production a the Oxford Plant appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

For 2024 MINI is introducing an entirely new product range that will include both electric and petrol powered models. Due to various global regulations, every market is handling this launch differently MINI USA included. To help with all this confusion we’ve worked with MINI USA to detail every single model, its start of production and when we’ll see them at dealers. The U25 Countryman JCW is coming soon to a dealer near you.1st Wave: U25 Countryman S, JCW & F66 Cooper S Starting the product onslaught will be the petrol powered U25 MINI Countryman S, Countryman JCW and the F66 MINI Cooper S. US Spec models will begin production in March of 2024 with a market launch of May. There likely will be exact on-sale date supplied by MINI USA in the first half of May. Each dealer will receive several launch cars that will represent each model with the idea that they’ll be available for test drives and as a way to help potential buyers sort out models and options. The F66 Cooper will join the line-up late this summer 2nd Wave: U25 Countryman SE, F66 MINI Cooper & F65 Cooper S 4 Door The 2nd wave of this changeover will include the first new electric product to hit US shores. The electric Countryman SE (which we recently reviewed) will begin production in July with an official market launch happening early September. The F66 Cooper (with its uniquely US spec four cylinder engine) will finally begin production and make it to dealers in the same timeframe. Along side of it will be the introduction of another new model, the F65 Cooper S four door hatch. 3rd Wave: F67 Cooper Convertible, F65 Cooper 4 Door & F66 Cooper JCW The 3rd wave will round out the year with some of the most anticipated models. MINI will begin production of the Convertible in all models (the Cooper, Cooper S and JCW) in November with a market introduction in January of 2025. They will be joined by the Cooper four door and finally (the one we’ve been waiting for) the F66 Cooper JCW. Here’s the full model lineup, production month and market launch dates. ModelCode NamePowerMYProd. MonthMarket LaunchMINI Countryman S All4U25Internal Combustion202503/2405/24MINI Countryman JCW All4U25Internal Combustion202503/2405/24MINI Cooper S 2-door hardtopF66Internal Combustion202503/2405/24MINI Cooper 2-door hardtopF66Internal Combustion202507/2409/24MINI Countryman SE All4U25Battery Electric202507/2409/24MINI Cooper S 4-door hardtopF65Internal Combustion202507/2409/24MINI Cooper 4-door hardtopF65Internal Combustion202511/2401/25MINI Cooper, Cooper S & JCW ConvertibleF67Internal Combustion202511/2401/25MINI JCW 2-door hardtopF66Internal Combustion202511/2401/25The post MINI USA’s Complete Launch Dates for the New MINI Cooper & Countryman appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The first ever electric MINI Countryman SE delivers the electric driving experience we’ve been waiting for. But how does it compare with its petrol siblings and does it still feel MINI-like? The all electric MINI Countryman SE is a huge moment for the brand. It’s got 313 hp, up to 287 miles of WLTP range and more room than ever. But could MINI finally crack the code and create an electric car that appealed to the masses? We went to Portugal to meet with MINI designers, engineers and (most importantly) get behind the wheel for some answers. MINI Countryman SE Test notes Our test was primarily focused on the area to the west and north west of Lisbon where we could find plenty empty of mountain and coastal roads. The weather was a mixed bag of sun and downpours giving us a great opportunity to get a sense for how MINI has tuned this car at the limit of adhesion. We put around 200 miles on the car in total and our range just under 25% remaining. That was with a very heavy right foot and no regard for saving energy. If those calculations are correct we would have seen something around a 250 miles range plenty of urban and back roads along with at least 30-40 miles of highway. Finally thanks to a GoPro failure we lost a portion of our footage from our review (thanks again GoPro). However that just saved you from watching your author talk while driving. Since we had all of our test notes we were able to recreate that via voice over. The post Video Review: Electric MINI Countryman SE – Big on Power, Range & Size appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Finally MINI is launching a fully electric car that’s meant for the masses with plenty of range of huge power figures. But how do these figures from the electric Countryman SE translate into the real world and how could a 4,574 lbs car feel like a MINI? We went to Portugal to speak to the people behind the car and get behind the wheel. Stepping into the new electric Countryman SE is a vastly different experience than any MINI before it. The new interior layout does away with the cluster display behind the steering wheel as all relevant content is projected onto circular display and the head-up display (standard in the US). Reduced to the essentials, the new interior has a much different, more relaxing feel to it. The there’s the size. Like the new Countryman JCW we reviewed a couple of weeks ago, the SE is built on a new, larger platform (code named U25) which has allowed the it grow in every dimension. While the increase isn’t has big as it was with the previous generation Countryman over its predecessor, it’s still a noticeable change. That’s evident in the interior immediately. The driver and front passenger have almost three centimeters of additional width at the shoulder. Similarly the rear passengers have 2.5 centimes of extra weight thanks to a wider track and better use of space in general. But the real change is the moment you twist the “key”. The electric MINI Countryman SE registers this action with a subtle hum and visual welcome. From there your hand intuitively moves over to the gear toggle where you pull down for “D” and head out. The Driving Experience of the Electric MINI Countryman SE We had the chance to drive the petrol Countryman JCW and electric Countryman SE back to back and came away with some surprising conclusions. First off do not let the identical power figures fool you. The JCW is tuning (from its brakes to its suspension) to be much more performance oriented. The electric Countryman SE was nearly as quick but never felt as light on its feet or as eager. That’s likely due to two things. The most obvious is the fact the SE weighs 886 lbs more than the JCW. The second is how MINI has tuned the suspension and steering. Not surprisingly MINI has designed and engineered the SE as a daily driver that delivers comfort and performance vs the JCW which flips that script. Yes it’s quick and has plenty of torque – all 364 ft lbs are available almost immediately. The moment you push the car in corners you realize that this is not a JCW. The benefit of that is obvious. This is a fantastic daily driver that never punishes you. Instead it rewards with plenty of performance an and likely the most comfortable MINI never. The SE absorbs road imperfections and drowns the noise associated with them so well it’s almost un-mini-like. The downside hits when you’re hustling it. Going from corner to corner along the Portugal coast give me some impression of weight. But as I got more confident with the grip levels (and away from the cliffs) I could explore the limits further. What I found was a car that felt incredibly competent until you hit 8/10s. That’s when the weight penalty was exposed and the car began to understeering. Not that this is a surprise of course. MINI has done an admirable job hiding the extra 886 lbs over the JCW version but that doesn’t mean its not there. What is here is a quick, compliant Countryman that oozes torque and accelerates effortlessly. The combination makes the Countryman SE likely the best daily driving MINI we’ve ever tested. MINI engineers have focused on being more holistic in the tuning of key components from axles, steering and dampers. This is combined with more sophisticated processors controlling the dynamic control systems and a more direct steering rack ratio of 55 mm of rack travel per turn creates a more fluid and reactive driving experience. The Electric MINI Countryman – A Symphony of Sound The silence is golden. No matter how many electric cars we drive we never get tired of the serenity of an EV. But that silence doesn’t last, Like BMWs, MINI has created its own sound language thats intended to provide feedback and even a touch of excitement during spirited drives. So they told us. But hearing would be believing. Pushing the Countryman SE through the mountains and coastal roads of Portugal was itself a blast. But the sound effects that came with the acceleration was a genuinely fun part of the experience. You definitely need to not take things too seriously to enjoy them. But once you embrace the new world of EV performance the added sound effects that MINI has created really do make sense. They’re also just fun. Imagine a real-life Mario Kart video game and you get the idea. It’s surprisingly engaging and becomes a real part of the driving experience. And yes, we know this sounds insane. But we heard more than one very jaded automotive journalist on the launch giggle when recounting the interior sounds the Countryman SE was producing during spirited driving. However key to all of these sounds is the ability to turn them off. Yes it is possible. Even the “experience jingles” that play when you change the experience mode can be switched off permanently. The New Countryman JCW Is The Biggest MINI Ever The new Countryman is big but according to MINI designers and engineers that’s due to customer feedback. MINI has been losing costumers as families or space needs grow. The solution to this was to carefully grow the Countryman taking the majority of the BMW X1’s chassis and the rear portion of the European BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. R60 Countryman JCW (’10-’16) F60 Countryman JCW (’17-’23)U25 Countryman JCW (’24-’30+)U25 Countryman SE (’24-’30+)Length4097 mm / 161.3 in4298 mm / 169.2 in4429 mm / 174.37 in4429 mm / 174.37 inHeight1562 mm / 61.5 in1557 mm / 61.3 in1613 mm / 63.5 in1613 mm / 63.5 inWheelbase2596 mm / 102.2 in2670 mm / 105.1 in2670 mm / 105.11 in2670 mm / 105.11 inWeight3,307 lbs3,688 lbs 3,825 lbs4,574 lbsSo what does the increase in size get you? There’s more legroom in the front and back along with 25 cu-ft more luggage capacity with the seats up. That grows to over from 47.6 cu-ft to 56 with the seats folded down. This gives the new Countryman class leading space in the subcompact luxury crossover segment. The rear of the new Countryman offers more space than we’ve ever seen in a MINI. But more impressively there’s more options as well. The position of the rear row of seats can be adjusted in length by up to 13 centimeters providing more legroom at the rear or additional volume in the luggage compartment. The backrest of the three rear seats is also individually adjustable in six positions by up to 12 degrees. This means that the seat either offers the option to lean back or positioned upright to allow for more cargo room. In short things are more comfortable and inside – exactly the attributes that people buy crossovers. But this is a MINI and any increase in size is inherently noticeable by previous owners. There’s certainly a change but the overwhelming feeling we had was that this new U25 Countryman has been pushed gently outward creating a more spacious interior without sacrificing too much in the way of smallness – at least in its segment. Additionally the rear seats can be folded down increasing the 16.24 cu/ft boot to 51.20 cu/ft – the most ever in a MINI. An additional floor compartment provides convenient space for the charging accessories in MINI Countryman Electric or storage in the ICE variants. The optionally available trailer hitch (finally coming to the US!) offers a towing capacity up to 2646 LBS or 1,200 kg. The New Tech in the MINI Countryman SE Where do we begin. The center of the tech experience is of course that circular display and MINI OS9. But there’s plenty more. Augmented Reality navigation, Level 2 Autonomous Driving, massaging seats and even a rotating reverse camera. MINI pulling out all stops to make this new generation Countryman a much more modern and thoroughly tech enabled car. And the good news is that all of it actually works. Stationary the new MINI OS9 interface had felt intuitive in our previous experiences. But as we know, on the road things can be a bit different. In our experience we found a relatively short learning curve before we felt fully acclimated with the new system. Within the first hour we had quickly become accustom to the new interaction language and overall placement of functionality. The standout feature however was MINI’s new augmented reality option within the navigation system. The augmented reality 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. Another great addition is the optional L2 autonomous driving functionality. Behind the glossy plastic where there’s a grille on the petrol Countryman are several ultrasonic sensors positioned on the horizontal strut that work in tandem with a suite of 12 sensors in total. Their goal is to detect the MINIs surroundings painting a much more clear picture of obstacles in a wider array of weather conditions. With this system MINI has dramatically improved its active cruise that we’re told will be more weather proof and hehe less faults. It also allows MINI’s new Augmented Reality navigation to be incredibly precise in the complex environments. When engaged, Driving Assistant Professional allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), as long as they have their eyes on the road (as determined by an eye tracker) and are ready to intervene at any time. Once you reach 38 MPH the system switches modes and goes into a more simplistic autonomous setting which requires a driver’s hands to rest on the wheel. However the system works identically, following traffic, the curves of the road and will even change lanes based on the driver using the turn signal. As you can see in the video above system requires hands-on the wheel or at least pressure of some kind as a safety measure. Finally there are a host of other small additions. The one that seems gimmicky until we tried it was the rotating reversing camera. MINI has never mentioned this in any official release yet the functionality is genuinely impressive and useful. MINI Countryman SE Range & Charging The electric Countryman SE is perhaps MINI’s most viable electric vehicle for the majority of its customers. That’s due two things; it’s size that will appeal to a broader range of customers and its range. In the UK that range is listed as 245 to 287 miles depending on how much urban vs highway driving you’re doing. In the US that is estimated to be to be a 245 mile EPA range. With either set of numbers it’s clear that the Countryman SE will be much more viable of a choice than the first generation Cooper SE with it’s 110 mile range (EPA). The battery capacity in the electric MINI Countryman is 66.5 kWh with the usable size being 63.78 kWh. The 400v system allows an AC charging speed of 11kW and DC – 130kW. In ideal scenarios (charging at 130kWx) the electric Countryman SE can get from 5-80% in only 29min. In miles that’s roughly 23 to 184 miles in normal operating temperatures. While we didn’t need to charge our test car (our time was limited to a few hundred miles) that type of charging speed sounds fantastic. However the ability to recharge the Countryman SE quickly will be more dependent on the charging network than the car itself. Mild Weather ScenariosRange EstimatesCity – Mild Weather *535 km / 332 milesHighway – Mild Weather *340 km / 211 milesCombined – Mild Weather *420 km / 261 milesCold Weather ScenariosRange EstimatesCity – Cold Weather *360 km / 224 milesHighway – Cold Weather *265 km / 165 milesCombined – Cold Weather *310 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.org2025 MINI Countryman Electric Charging Speed Charging speed is as critical is not more so than range depending on your situation. The electric Countryman SE supports DC fast-charging at up to 130 kW. This allows for a charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in only 29 minutes. While we don’t have US specific data, we do have European data on charging speeds which should give you an idea of what we’ll see with the electric MINI Countryman SE. Charging PointMax. PowerPowerTimeRateStandard 11.0 kW On-Board ChargerWall Plug (2.3 kW)230V / 1x10A2.3 kW33h15m11 km/h1-phase 16A (3.7 kW)230V / 1x16A3.7 kW20h45m18 km/h1-phase 32A (7.4 kW)230V / 1x32A7.4 kW10h30m35 km/h3-phase 16A (11 kW)400V / 3x16A11 kW7 hours53 km/h3-phase 32A (22 kW)400V / 3x16A11 kW †7 hours53 km/hOptional 22.0kW On-Board Charger *Wall Plug (2.3 kW)230V / 1x10A2.3 kW33h15m11 km/h1-phase 16A (3.7 kW)230V / 1x16A3.7 kW20h45m18 km/h1-phase 32A (7.4 kW)230V / 1x32A7.4 kW10h30m35 km/h3-phase 16A (11 kW)400V / 3x16A11 kW7 hours53 km/h3-phase 32A (22 kW)400V / 3x32A22 kW †3h30m100 km/h* = Optional in some countries, standard in others. Check local specifications for details. † = Limited by on-board charger, vehicle cannot charge faster. Data provided by ev-database.orgMotoringFile’s First Review Take In many ways the MINI Countryman SE is the most mature product the brand as ever created. In our time with the car we found it to be incredibly competent in every scenario from bumper to bumper urban traffic to motorway travel to Portugal’s best mountain roads. It’s not the fastest nor is it the lightest on its toes. And at over 4,500 lbs it’s about as far away as you can get from the iconic MINI Cooper. But in the growing world of electric crossovers it fills a void with a fun to drive, thoughtfully designed crossover with class leading utility. While the $45,200 base price (US spec) is relatively well equipped in base form, it’s still one of the most expensive MINIs ever offered. But for the money you get a car that is miles beyond what MINI has ever offered. The level of sophistication in the drivetrain to the refinement in the tech goes well beyond what we’ve seen from the brand’s products in the past. For many potential owners the Countryman SE will feel like the ideal MINI daily driver. As always an electric car won’t be for everyone. But with the new Countryman SE, range becomes much less of an issue as it has with the first generation Cooper SE. So the big question for individual buyers comes down to use cases and charging network you might need to support it. If you can make that work and need a little extra space, the electric Countryman SE might be your dream MINI. U25 MINI Countryman Family – Technical Specifications Countryman ModelCountryman E (EV)Countryman SE (EV)Countryman C (ICE)Countryman S (ICE)Countryman JCW (ICE)Power204 hp313 hp167 hp221 hp (241 hp US)300 hp (312 hp US)TorqueTBD364 ft lbs206 lb295 lb295 lbTransmission1 Speed1 Speed7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront-wheelall-wheelfront-wheelall-wheelall-wheelPowertrain typeelectricelectricpetrolpetrolpetrolCylindersn/an/a344Displacementn/an/a149919981998Electric Power204 hp313 hp19 hp19 hp (NA – US)N/AElectric TorqueTBDTBD55 lbTBDN/AElectric Range (WLTP)287 miles270 milesN/AN/AN/A0-60 mphTBDTBD8.3TBD5.4Maximum speed105 mph112 mph132 mphTBD155 mphWLTP l/100 kmN/AN/A40.9 – 46.3TBD34 – 36.2WLTP CO2N/AN/A155 – 138TBD188 – 177Length (mm/inches)4444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 175Width (mm/inches)1843 / 731843 / 731843 / 731843 / 731843 / 73Height (mm)TBDTBD1661 / 65TBD1665 / 66Wheelbase (mm)2069 / 812069 / 812069 / 812069 / 812069 / 81Curb weight (LBS)TBDTBD3,571 lbsTBD3,825 lbsFuel Capacity L/GallonsN/AN/A45 / 11.854 / 14.354 / 14.3The post Review: Electric MINI Countryman SE – The Range & Performance We’ve Been Waiting for appeared first on MotoringFile. 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In the center of the grille there’s a small plastic piece of trim that’s at the center of MINI’s new found Level 2 autonomy features. But unlike recent BMWs it’s hardly notable and is in fact the smallest sensor used to date in any BMW Group product. It’s part of a technology package that powers not only MINI’s autonomy features but everything from its ew augmented reality navigation to pedestrian detection. Behind the gloss plastic are several ultrasonic sensors positioned on the horizontal strut that work in tandem with a suite of 12 sensors in total. Their goal is to detect the MINIs surroundings painting a much more clear picture of obstacles in a wider array of weather conditions. MINI’s new Augmented Reality NavigationWith this system MINI has dramatically improved its active cruise that we’re told will be more weather proof and hehe less faults. It also allows MINI’s new Augmented Reality navigation to be incredibly precise in the complex environments. A quick view of MINI’s autonomous driving features in action.But the feature we’re most excited about is optional Level 2 autonomy MINI is calling Driving Assistant Professional. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the MINI Cooper and Countryman has partially automated Level 2 driving on highways for the first time. If you’ve been following MotoringFile all year you’ll remember us exclusively reporting on this feature last spring. The sensor housing is the smallest yet offered by the BMW GroupWhen engaged, Driving Assistant Professional allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), as long as they have their eyes on the road (as determined by an eye tracker) and are ready to intervene at any time. The small grey strips in the wheel light-up to tell you when the system is working or needs your attention. We’ve used this system in BMW’s extensively and it really does work as advertised – you can take your hands off the wheel entirely as long as your eyes are on the road. The car will stop, go, turn and even change lanes on command using the turn signal. The thin grey strip above “set” is one of the two LED lights that lets you know the system is active Once you reach 38 MPH the system switches modes and goes into a more simplistic autonomous setting which requires a driver’s hands to rest on the wheel. However the system works identically, following traffic, the curves of the road and will even change lanes based on the driver using the turn signal. However at these speeds the system requires hands-on the wheel or at least pressure of some kind. The petrol F66 MINI Cooper has its main array of sensors discretely hidden in the center of the grille.This feature has been optional on BMWs for years and in our experience is ideal for stop and go traffic. However MINI’s system adds a new wrinkle as it can identify gaps in traffic needed to change lanes to get to an exit. It then brings the vehicle to the optimum speed for assisted lane changes. The system will let you know when it’s successfully engaged via two green lights on the steering wheel. The petrol U25 MINI Countryman JCW uses a textured pattern to obscure the sensor module in the center of its grille.When it can’t detect your eyes (in hands-free) or hands (at higher speeds) those green lights being to flash orange. You can see that happen in the second video above as I try to demonstrate that it’s the wheel moving and not my hands. MINI’s Augmented Reality navigation is enabled by the same array of 12 sensors that powers its autonomous driving features While MINI is focused on Level 2, hands-free mode intended mostly for traffic jams below 38 mph, it’s the hands-on mode (which works up to 85 mph) that you’ll likely find much more useful. In this mode the system uses a combination of adaptive cruise and steering input to follow well marked highways without intervention. It uses steering the lane guidance assistant, lane keeping, lane change assistant (with active side collision protection) and the emergency stop assistant to create a seamless and safe experience. We’ve spent 1000s of miles in BMW’s with a similar system and found it to be an excellent feature for anyone who does long stretches highway driving. While it doesn’t take over completely at highway speeds (your hands have to remain on the wheel), it lessens the cognitive load on those long road-trips. MINI’s Driving Assistant Professional is made up of two options: Driving Assistant (5AS) and the Driving Assistant Plus (5AT). The U25 Countryman and the F66 Cooper will feature this system at launch while the electric J01 MINI Cooper and J05 MINI Aceman will eventually get them. The post MINI’s New Autonomous Driving Features And Hidden Tech That Powers It appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI and BMW’s Leipzig Plant are continuing their electrification journey with the introduction of the all-electric MINI Countryman, just four months after the launch of the combustion-engine version. For MINI this is a huge moment in its transition to eventually becoming an all electric brand. For the Leipzig Plant it marks another milestone in the transition to electric mobility, following the phase-out of the BMW i3. The MINI Countryman Electric represents a significant step in MINI’s electrification strategy, offering two fully electric variants, the Countryman E and the Countryman SE. Plant Leipzig has undergone continuous upgrades since 2018 to enable higher production volumes thanks to BMW’s €1.6 billion investment. The main driver behind the volume increase is the MINI Countryman, with output set to rise to nearly 500 units per day by 2024. Producing four different cars on a single line requires a lot of planning. Flexible assembly structures are key to this, allowing seamless integration of the MINI Countryman Electric into the already complex production process. The plant now handles all stages of high-voltage battery production, contributing to the BMW Group’s transformation towards e-mobility. Resource-saving painting processes, including overspray-free painting, further emphasize Leipzig’s commitment to sustainability. With the production launch of the MINI Countryman Electric, all three stages of the Gen 5 high-voltage battery production process are now represented at BMW Group Plant Leipzig: cell coating, module production and battery assembly. Operations in all three are currently ramping up, with five cell-coating, three module-production and two high-voltage battery-production lines now in place. Plant Leipzig’s e-component production capacity has been increasing since 2021. It will now manufacture not just the high-voltage batteries for the MINI Countryman Electric but also e-components for the BMW iX1, BMW iX2, BMW i4, BMW i5 and BMW iX made at other sites. The e-component production unit at Leipzig currently employs some 1,000 people. The facility’s long-term vision includes decarbonizing production by replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen. Plans for a regional hydrogen grid are underway, positioning Plant Leipzig as a pioneer in sustainable automotive production. The MINI Countryman E and SE will arrive in the UK and EU later this month. The North American market will exclusively get the SE beginning with July production. That should reach dealers by early September. The post Electric MINI Countryman Production Begins at the BMW Leipzig Plant appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Imagine if you had a secret switch that turned every setting in your MINI to the max. That’s exactly what MINI has done with Boost Mode – a special mode offered on the new MINI Countryman JCW. In testing the new MINI Countryman JCW we had a chance to use MINI’s new Boost Mode and what we found was a shortcut to maximum attack. Boost Mode is a bit of a cheat code for MINI drivers. In short it activates of all max performance setting for a total of 10 seconds. In our brief testing we found it to be the ideal weapon for overtaking on back roads or powering out of tight corners. It also can work as a type of launch mode for optimal acceleration. In our experience it found it perfect for putting the car on its toes and prepping it for maximum attack. And it’s a great shortcut. To replicate it you’d have to do the following: Select GoKart Mode with the center toggle and then go to the mode’s secondary menu to pick all of the sportiest individual settings. One thing it doesn’t do is add more power. Unlike similar functionality in other cars, Boost Mode doesn’t activate any additional power or torque. Boost Mode available exclusively on the new U25 MINI Countryman JCW. The post Boost Mode On the MINI Countryman JCW – a Cheat Code for Maximum Attack appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Today MINI is launching the all new MINI Countryman in its home market of the UK and simultaneously releasing the best photos yet of the new crossover. In fact this set of photos is so good we had to pause all other stories we’re working on and just show you how great the new Countryman looks on British B roads. Some quick background. In the UK the Countryman is launching as both internal combustion and fully electric. As with the rest of the world the plugin hybrid is gone from the market and in its place a full electric model range. BMW’s thinking is that this gives a broader choice to the consumer and focuses MINI more on where its headed which of course is full electrified. In the UK the petrol powered 170 hp Countryman C starts at £29,335. This is joined by the 218 hp Countryman S £34,725 and the 300 hp JCW at £41,520. The EV range was simpler. The 204 hp Countryman E (range 277-286) starts at £42,080 and the 313 hp Countryman SE (range 256-262) starts at £49,680. You can read our full review of the MINI Countryman JCW and watch the video review below. We’ll have our review of the electric Countryman SE next week. 2024 MINI Countryman Photo Gallery The post The 2024 MNI Countryman Launches in the UK Along with Its Best Photos Yet appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Last fall we wrote about how it appeared MINI’s 3 cylinder engine was soon to be eliminated from the line-up. Since then we’ve seen that same engine launch with the Cooper C and Countryman C in the UK and Europe. However our sources were clear – the 3 cylinder was being eliminated in some markets. We now know where and why. And perhaps more importantly what it could mean for an entire new world of upgrades. Where & Why the B38 3 Cylinder Is Being Eliminated The B38 3 Cylinder engine is being eliminated from the North America. Sources are also telling we’ll see it eliminated countries with similar emissions regulations such as South Korea and a few others that (oddly) seem more aligned with the EU. Why has MINI made this change? It’s unclear but we can guess that it has something to do with the complexity and cost associated with getting so many engines and configurations engineered and approved for different markets. How This Could Completely MINI Cooper Change Performance Upgrades The result are two very different versions of the MINI Cooper C. The UK and EU’s 3 Cylinder version of the Cooper C will get 115kW (154) while the four cylinder US version will see 120kW (161 hp) But the big difference isn’t the extra 7 hp. It’s the fact that under the hood of the US spec MINI Cooper is the same exact B48 engine that powers the 204 hp Cooper S – down to the engine code. That could open up a completely new world of tuning the base MINI Cooper to a much higher power output. And that could be a complete game change in the world of MINI tuning. We’ll be following this closely as the same arrangement will apply to the F65 five door and F67 Convertible Cooper as they are go into production later this year in July and November. The post The MINI Cooper 3 Cylinder Engine is Dead in the US appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The new petrol F66 MINI Cooper is not a simple refresh of its F56 predecessor. It’s an entire rethink of the F56 that just happens to be on the same chassis. But what exactly are those differences and how important are they? We’ve been hands-on with the F66 MINI Cooper several times and have come away some of surprising answers. Looking below you can immediately see some of the small nuances changes that MINI has made. Every dimension has changed and in some surprising ways. The front and rear overhang has been reduced slightly making the entire car shorter. But the width has grown noticeably and the track (both front and back) has gotten wider as well. The F56 Cooper has a width of 75.9″ vs the F66 which is wider at 77.6″. That 1.3″ difference may not sound like much but BMW and MINI don’t typically increase the width of a car solely because of aesthetics. And this isn’t just about wider wheels and tires (which have gone from 205 to 215 on the Cooper S). This change is also due to MINI changing the mechanical bits creating a wider track. This has also has an aesthetic benefit of allowing a more concave wheel design – a critique especially of the previous JCW. Then there are the little things like the boot or trunk. Yes even the boot has been altered – growing in volume slightly. That really underscores just how thorough this redesign was. Looking at the image above you can also clearly see how MINI has pushed forward and changed the angle of the headlights as well. This works in conjunction with the new hood and simpler face of the car to create a more upright silhouette. We’ve previously talked about this in our first hands-on video review of the F66 but have never had a visual that demonstrates it so clearly. In fact the only visible parts of the car that have been carried over are the doors, the roof and the glass. ModelF56 CooperF56 Cooper SF66 Cooper CF66 Cooper SLength (mm/in)3863mm / 152.8 in3863mm / 152.8 in3876mm / 152.6 in3876mm / 152.6 inHeight (mm/in)1414mm / 55.66 in1414mm / 55.66 in1432mm / 56.4 in1432mm / 56.4 inWheelbase (mm/in)2495mm / 98.23 in2495mm / 98.23 in2495mm / 98.23 in2495mm / 98.23 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1256kg / 2,769 lbs1289kg / 2,841 lbs1260kg / 2,778 lbs1285kg / 2,832 lbsAll weights are taken from the cars equipped with an automatic.A Small Weight Change One of the biggest critiques of modern MINI is that they appear to be getting larger and heavier with every generation. That’s actually not historically true. The R50 (manual) had a DIN weight of 2,535 lbs which then decreased to 2,513 with the R56 Cooper (manual). While that weight finally did go up with the noticeably larger F56, it wasn’t as much as most assumed. The F56’s DIN weight is 2,701 lbs in manual form and 2,756 with the DCT. Given that the F66 will only be available with the DCT, let’s compare those two numbers. The F56 Cooper DCT weights in at 2,756 lbs. The new F66 Cooper DCT has a curb weight of 2,778 lbs, a 22 lbs difference. Given the added emissions and safety additions (and not to mention the new tech), a 22 lbs increase feels like a win in a world of 6,000 SUVs. The Interior of the F66 MINI Cooper While the exterior changes on the F66 may be surprising given its F56 origins, the interior is downright shocking. MINI has turned the F56 into a completely new car with all the design language, materials and technology found in the J01 MINI Cooper. The biggest change is the minimal design and large, circular display that dominates the experience. We’ve details that display, its operating system and its many functions on MotoringFile for months now. In fact you can see our full demo of the new system below. The new display and its software is a focal point for the entire driving experience housing almost all functionality save for a row of switches, buttons and toggles just below it. Stationary the new MINI OS9 interface had felt intuitive in our previous experiences. But as we know, on the road things can be a bit different. In our experience we found a relatively learning curve before we felt fully acclimated with the new system. Within the first hour we had quickly become accustom to the new interaction language and overall placement of functionality. But is this better than MINI’s previous system? In our experience with the same system in the new Countryman, absolutely. The augmented navigation in particular was a standout. it 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. And the data within the mapping app itself felt almost as reliable and quick as Google Maps or Apple Maps. The F66 MINI CooperThe F56 MINI CooperLeather vs Vescin When talking about there interior, the headline for many is that this new MINI is completely leather free. Why? There’s a big environmental impact due to the production of leather in the quantities that companies like MINI need. So much so that MINI has made the bold decision to eliminate leather from its coming starting with the all new J01 MINI Cooper electric What’s wrong with leather? It’s complicated but suffice to say it’s not the most natural and environmentally safe thing to produce. It’s also not aligned with MINI’s brand image of being environmentally conscious and animal friendly. But how do you replace something as iconic as leather seats? In short you find a more environmentally friendly alternative that’s actually better to touch and lasts longer. BMW and MINI are so confident in products like Vescin (BMW’s version I called Sensafin – an improved version of Sensatec) they they’re already being used in several cars with MSRPs well over $100,000. What’s it like in person? Getting into the new F66 MINI Cooper, it’s clear that Vescin is a step-up from what we’ve known as Leatherette. The off-white perforated seats in the F66 MINI Cooper we experienced were softer to the touch than leatherette and felt much more supple. But how do they compare with leather? In short very well. Compared with the standard Chesterfield or Cross Punch leather seating, Vescin feels softer and more premium. It’s not on par with the feel and softness of MINI’s Lounge Leather but then again that’s $2500 option on the Signature Trim. The Electric J01 MINI Cooper vs the Petrol F66 MINI Cooper To confuse things even more there’s an entirely other new MINI Cooper (the J01) that’s all electric. Why is has MINI created a (relatively) new petrol MINI Cooper when they have an all new electric version? The short answer is that MINI is putting enormous investment in electrifying the product line-up with the J01 MINI Cooper, J05 MINI Aceman and U25 Countryman (available as both ICE and EV). This enormous investment prompted a decision; completely drop the ICE powered Cooper, spend billions creating a new one or thoroughly rework the current F56 adding performance, technology and a new design inside and out. In the end there was only one choice. The F66 is that answer. You can read and watch our comparison of the two here. F66 MINI Cooper Launch Details The F66 MINI Cooper is now in production and should reach UK and EU dealers in late March. The rest of the world should see cars in mid to late April. The US will likely see an on-sale date in early May. Now it’s your turn. What do you think of the massive changes between these two cars? Did MINI go far enough inn revising the F56 or did they go too far in trying to follow the all new electric J01 MINI Cooper? The post The F56 MINI Cooper vs the F66 MINI Cooper – The Surprising Differences appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

We’ve had a lot of questions from readers around every aspect of the new F66 MINI Cooper. Seemingly everyone is wanting to know more about colors, options, wheels and especially trim packages. So we wanted to put together our own ordering guide that can be your cheat code when ordering a new 2025 F66 MINI Cooper. MINI Cooper Availability and Ordering Process for the US With the new styles MINI USA is offering a white variety of design elements. This along with MINI USA’s trims means ordering a new F66 MINI Cooper is a bit more confusing than before. However if you remember the basics it’s fairly straight forward. The first step of course is the model. The Cooper and Cooper S have been announced and we’ll see official news on the JCW this fall. It’s also important to note that the US has a slightly different production schedule that the rest of the world for the F66. The Cooper S has already begun production and will arrive at dealers in late April for May sales. However US bound Coopers won’t start production until July which means those cars wont reach US shores until August. MINI USA’s F66 MINI Cooper Styles This is where things get a bit confusing. In addition to Trims (which MINI USA has offered for years) we now have “styles”. These styles are just the start as we may see one or two added and maybe even a name change. In the mean time we have classic and favoured. The differences can be summed up simply – one is dark and one is light. One has matte black trim inside and out while one has a light gold color (MINI calls this Vibrant) trim inside and out. These changes are summed up above. For those looking for even more variation – we’re told there’s a lot coming in the future including some wild dashboard designs. Sport Seats vs JCW Seats MINI has completely rethought the design of their seats to accomplish several goals; save weight, reduce complexity and allow the seats to fit more body types more comfortably. While reducing some of the elements in the seats, they’ve also added a few; massage and ventilation options are now available. They’ve also made electric seats optional on all models – even the Cooper. Finally MINI has fully eliminated leather and have moved to a proprietary material called Vescin. In total that represents a massive shift in what MINI has offered since it’s relaunch in 2001. Across all new MINI models there will be two different seats. But unlike the previous MINI seats in the F Series cars, they share almost same overall design. However there are a couple of differences. The standard sport seats have slightly flatter bolsters on both the lower cushion and seat back. These renders don’t show the differences but they are there (albeit subtle ones). The JCW sport seats also have an integrated headrests similar to the current F Series JCW seats. However crucially both do not offer extendable thigh-bolsters as previously in the optional sport seats. On paper that sounds like an unfortunate cost cutting move that would make the new seats less supportive. In our brief time we can tell you that doesn’t appear to be the case. The new seat cushion is longer and while doesn’t quite reach the length the extendable bolsters do, they’ll likely be close enough for most. In addition the electric seats we tested have the ability to move the thigh bolster upward which is intended to take the place of the manual extending bolster. And in our testing it all works pretty well. Despite being 6? 2? I was immediately felt comfortable and felt plenty of thigh support. Compare that to the R50 or R56 seats and these are noticeably longer and out of the box more comfortable. F66 MINI Cooper Standard Features MINI USA has made some big change in the amount of standard features on the Cooper. Notably many of what you see below are not standard in most markets. This points to MINI USA pushing for higher value for the base car Cooper and Cooper S. Here’s a list of interior standard features and functionality: • 90% Recycle Textile Dash and Door Topper. • 9.4 inch Round OLED Screen • Panoramic Moonroof (vents and opens as before) • Large Wireless Charging Tray • Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control • Heated Front Seats • Heated Steering Wheel • Vibrant Silver Accents • Vescin Leather-Free Upholstery • MINI Navigation • MINI Head-up Display • Experience Modes • Dynamic Cruise F66 MINI Cooper Exterior Colors MINI USA will be offering more colors as the year progresses with colors like Slate Blue coming online in July). At launch the F66 will be available with four classic and four new colors: • Melting Silver III C6B • Midnight Black C4R • Nanuq White C6A • British Racing Green IV C3B • Chili Red II C74 • Ocean Wave Green C6M • Blazing Blue C6K • Sunny Side Yellow C6N F66 MINI Cooper Wheel Options MINI USA will offer five MINI Cooper wheels at launch. Gone are the 16″ wheel options as MINI has made 17″ the standard wheel across both the Cooper and Cooper S. Additionally there are two 18″ wheel options that will be optional on both models. This list will grow when the JCW variant arrives later this year. F66 MINI Cooper Trim Levels Once you’ve made a call on the style you’ll want to choose a trim level. Like before this couples options together in a good, better, best format that MINI USA has used for a few years now. Signature TrimSignature Plus TrimIconic TrimHeated Steering WheelHeated Steering WheelHeated Steering WheelHeated Front SeatsHeated Front SeatsHeated Front SeatsMINI Head-Up DisplayMINI Head-Up DisplayMINI Head-Up DisplayPanoramic MoonroofPanoramic MoonroofPanoramic MoonroofDual Zone Climate ControlDual Zone Climate ControlDual Zone Climate ControlLED HeadlightsLED HeadlightsLED HeadlightsParking AssistantParking AssistantParking Assistant17“ Wheels17“ Wheels17“ WheelsClassic StyleClassic or Favoured StyleClassic or Favoured StyleRemote Engine StartRemote Engine StartAlarm SystemAlarm SystemComfort AccessComfort AccessActive Driving AssistantActive Driving AssistantComfort PackageComfort Package PlusPower Front SeatsInterior CameraACC Stop&GoHarman KardonF66 MINI Cooper Options and Pricing The F66 is ushering in a new era of options for MINI. Remote engine start is not only available for instance, it’s standard on the Cooper S. Active Driving Assistant is also now standard on the Cooper S and Dynamic Cruise is standard across the range. Outside of the Trims there are few options and almost none in the Cooper. Dynamic Dampers ($500), interior camera ($250), ACC Stop & Go + Active Driving Assistant ($600), Harman Kardon ($850) and roof rails ($250) are only available on the Cooper S for instance. USA Specific MINI Cooper Performance Figures In the US power and torque can be measured slightly differently and thus we sometimes see variations of European figures. Interestingly that’s only the case with one model. The Cooper produces 156 hp the same as the UK and Europe. The Cooper S however is rated at 201 hp with is a 3 hp decrease from those UK and EU figures. However that’s very likely the result of measurement protocols and not output changes. The torque remains the same at 221 ft lbs. That takes the Cooper S to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds – JCW territory from a few years ago. F66 MINI Cooper US Pricing Details With a substantial upgrade in standard equipment, prices have risen a bit. The F56 Cooper had an MSRP of $25,800. That’s going up to $28,950. The Cooper S rises from $30,900 to $32,200. F66 MINI Cooper Photo Gallery The post MotoringFile’s 2025 F66 MINI Cooper Ordering Guide for The US appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

There were so many things we experienced and uncovered in our time with the new MINI Countryman JCW that we just didn’t have room for in our official video review. So we thought we’d make an entirely different review of nothing but the small clips we took on our phone as got to know this new MINI. First up is the behind the scenes of our full Countryman JCW review. This is all the footage we took with our phones of all the cool things we discovered and experiences in our time with the U25 JCW. In this video you’ll find the new start interaction, augmented reality navigation, autonomous driving features, seat massaging, experience mode settings, a lack of exhaust sound, cool camera tricks and on the fly driving impressions. Make sure to watch our full video and read our written review for the full story. The post Our Favorite Hidden Features of the new MINI Countriman JCW appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The all new 313 hp MINI Countryman JCW is here and it’s big deal. Literally it’s the longest, tallest, widest and heaviest MINI ever sold. So how can it possible live up to the MINI name? As it turns out quite well. In fact in our time with the new Countryman JCW we came away shocked and just how poised and engaging this car is compared to its predecessor. After a long day of tackling mountain roads, narrow backroads and sweeping coastal highways we learned a lot about this new Countryman. And if you’ve read our full written review, you’ll know were had a lot to say. But in this video you’ll see me in immediate reaction mode as I assess what I’ve been driving and how it feels compared to previous Countryman JCW and even how it fits within the historical MINI ranges of cars. So follow along with me as I empty my my thought into the camera after a long day with the new Countryman JCW. And comment below, we’d love to hear what you think. https://youtu.be/q6DMxPAqHnY The post Video Review: We Test The New MINI Countryman JCW On Portugal’s Backroads & Mountain Passes appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

We head to the mountains and coastal roads of Portugal to see if The New, more powerful, Larger Countryman can live up to the JCW name. Hustling a 3,800 crossover through mountain roads on the west coast of Portugal shouldn’t be this much fun. Stringing together corners and pounding the BMW M2 derived brakes, I simply could not believe the steps MINI had taken with this car. Forgot about it being down on torque, weighing too much, losing a gear and being too big. The new MINI Countryman JCW is the most capable, refined product that the brand has ever created. MINI fans can breathe sigh of relief. The new MINI Countryman JCW is good. Really good in fact. And that bodes well for the entire new Countryman range. But it’s also different. And not all in ways that, on the face of it, sound entirely promising. The New Countryman JCW is the Biggest MINI Ever It’s big. For a MINI. But according to MINI designers and engineers that’s because it needed to be based on consumer feedback. MINI has been watching long time costumers reluctantly leave the brand as they have families, dogs or just need more space. The solution to this was to carefully grow the Countryman taking the majority of the BMW X1’s chassis and the rear portion of the European BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. The result is an increase in size that’s likely noticeable to MINI fans but lost on most consumers. We’re talking about five inches in length and two inches in height. Not something you’d likely notice unless you see the two side by side or know the previous Countryman well. R60 Countryman JCW (’10-’16) F60 Countryman JCW (’17-’23)U25 Countryman JCW (’24-’30+)Length4097 mm / 161.3 in4298 mm / 169.2 in4429 mm / 174.37 inHeight1562 mm / 61.5 in1557 mm / 61.3 in1613 mm / 63.5 inWheelbase2596 mm / 102.2 in2670 mm / 105.1 in2670 mm / 105.11 inWeight3,307 lbs3,688 lbs 3,825 lbsSo what does this new size get you? There’s more legroom in the front and back along with more luggage capacity. In short things are more comfortable and inside – exactly the attributes that people buy crossovers. But this is a MINI and any increase in size is inherently noticeable by previous owners. It’s here where we felt a sense of relief. There’s certainly a change but the overwhelming feeling we had was that this new U25 Countryman has been pushed gently outward creating a more spacious interior without sacrificing too much in the way of smallness – at least in its segment. The Countryman JCW’s Revolutionary New Interior & Technology Part of this is due to the entirely reimagined interior. MINI has minimized and reduced as much as possible to make the new Countryman interior feel modern and uncluttered. The star of the show is the circular display that introduces an entirely new operating system (MINI OS9) to the brand. It’s a focal point for the entire driving experience housing almost all functionality save for a row of switches, buttons and toggles just below it. There’s a new (and slightly improved) heads up display (standard in the US) helping to put some of that information in front of the driver’s view. But in my experience it’s the center display that dominates your experience making the HUD not necessarily a mandatory option. Stationary the new MINI OS9 interface had felt intuitive in our previous experiences. But as we know, on the road things can be a bit different. In our experience we found a relatively learning curve before we felt fully acclimated with the new system. Within the first hour we had quickly become accustom to the new interaction language and overall placement of functionality. One feature that became indispensable is the handy shortcuts drawer that you pull-up from the bottom of the screen. It’s completely configurable and an easy way to get to functionality that might otherwise be several taps away. Seat massage is a good example as we found it unnecessarily buried in a settings menu and a perfect candidate for a shortcut. MINI’s new augmented reality navigationOne thing we were particularly excited to test was MINI’s new mapping software. It looked fantastic, but could it actually perform at the level of what we have on our smartphones? We tested MINI’s mapping software alongside both CarPlay and Google Maps and somewhat shockingly preferred it. Not only does it fill the entire screen (something neither CarPlay or Android Auto do in their current iteration) but its speed and the quality of data felt on par with Apple Maps or Google Maps. The standout feature however was MINI’s new augmented reality option within the navigation system. The augmented reality 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 New Countryman JCW – A Touch Slower But Much More Satisfying Countryman has grown in every dimension over the previous generations.Yet the new U25 Countryman JCW never feels much bigger than its predecessor and in fact it feels more engaging all around. So what’s the magic? Turns out it’s just smart engineering. MINI has rethought the suspension tuning, dropped the run-flats, quickened the steering rack (it’s now 13.6 :1) and created more aggressive throttle mapping. This has made the new Countryman JCW both quicker to respond to inputs while delivering more feedback as a result. In the US the Countryman JCW delivers 313 hp and 295 ft lbs of torque. That horsepower figure goes down to 300 hp in the EU due to emissions regulations. Torque on the other hand is down 36 ft lbs everywhere due to the new 7 speed Getrag dual clutch transmission’s torque limitation vs the previous 8 speed Aisin torque converter auto. The means the new Countryman JCW is technically slower 0-60 with a time of 5.4 seconds (compared to 4.9 for its predecessor). Weight and less torque will do that. But it’s also worth noting that 0-60 times can be funny things. We’ve seen 0-60 times as low as 4.4 seconds for the previous F60 variant so there’s a good chance that this new Countryman JCW’s figures are just as conservative. Helping the overall performance is a new “Boost” feature that activates the of all max performance setting for 10 sections. It’s functionality designed to help in overtaking or at the track. The function allows for quick activation of these settings that would typically include manually setting the car into Sport Mode with the center toggle, switching to Go Kart Mode, going onto Go-kart mode’s secondary menu and picking all of the sportiest sportiest individual settings. The result is a MINI that feels on its toes ready to pounce. However it’s worth noting that his is not a launch mode – something MINI isn’t offering on the new Countryman JCW. Then there’s the suspension itself. The MINI Countryman JCW comes standard with an adaptive suspension – that’s not new. What is new is where it comes from – BMW M. More specifically it’s a unique MINI tuned version of BMW M adaptive suspension found on the BMW X1 M35i and X2 M35i. MINI says that this new system is a step on from what we saw in the previous F60 JCW by including updated frequency-selective dampers and sport steering. In practice what we found was a suspension that delivered on both comfort and performance more effectively than any MINI before. There’s a compliance in the Countryman JCW’s suspension that subdued the typical brittleness of the MINI ride while filtering in more feedback than its predecessor the F60 Countryman. The sum of this was confidence. By the end of my time in the new Countryman JCW I was pushing the car hard with total confidence in its capabilities and (more importantly) how it would react to inputs. That aspect of the new JCW isn’t necessarily new – its predecessor was similarly predictive in corners. The F60 would gradually exhibit oversteer at the limit and a touch of lift-off rotation when called on. But it’s the way this new U25 Countryman JCW delivered at the limit felt more refined and ultimately more confidence inspiring. And it gets better. If you opt for the optional 20″ wheels, you get a set of the car are a set of vented 380 mm front rotors with a four piston caliper taken (almost directly) from the F87 BMW M2. The only difference being the caliper design which offered six pistons on the M2. This is up from the non-vented 360 mm discs on the LCI versions of the F60 JCW, F54 JCW and the most recent JCW GP. They were excellent in both stopping power and pedal feel and sustained constant abuse on mountain roads without a hint of fade. Reflecting on the performance improvements it’s clear to see that MINI engineers worked hard to create a better connection with the road and the car. Straight line speed is one thing but where MINIs really excel is in the corners. And for the first time the Countryman JCW feels appropriately MINI like. The quicker steering rack and higher-level of feedback are immediately noticeable behind the wheel. For someone like myself who has put over 30,000 miles on the F60 JCW Countryman over the last few years this new car feels like a revelation. While we still need to test the two back to back, on the mountain roads of Portugal this new Countryman JCW was poised and engaging in ways we’ve ever felt in a Countryman before. Let that sink in for a moment. The new Countryman is larger, heavier, slightly slower and yet more engaging than before. This is a huge surprise to us and speaks to the amount of work that has been happening behind the scenes over the last few years at MINI. It also bodes very well for the rest of the Countryman range which we’ll drive soon. One area we must mention is sound – or lack there of. EU noise and emissions regulations forced MINIs hand and mandated particulate filters in the exhaust that deaden the sound and kill any pops or gurgles JCWs have been known for previously. Oddly that’s only on the outside. Inside MINI has used all of its Active Sound magic to re-create the drama of the past – exclusively through speakers. It’s executed so well that I simply couldn’t believe the sounds I was hearing were almost entirely created synthetically. To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about it all yet. On one hand the sound is a source of feedback and it is directly tied to the engine RPM, shift points and perfectly mimics what you’d hope to hear from the outside. On the other it’s ornamentation that feels disingenuous. If I had to choose I’d likely opt to keep it on (it can easily be turned off in the settings) if only for the drama it adds to a daily commute. Value for The Money There’s so much here that’s new that it’s hard to compare apples to apples with the previous Countryman JCW. The previous F60 Countryman JCW retailed for $43,800 while the new one is now at $46,900. $3,000 feels easily explainable given the increases in standard equipment and tech but an increase is still an increase and we’d be remiss not to lament the steady rise of prices across the entire automotive world. Still for under $50,000 the new Countryman JCW feels like a fair value for money given all that it delivers. Knowing that MINI quality has never been higher and the fundamentals of the drivetrain (engine, gearbox and all wheel drive system) are evolutions it would be safe to assume this new MINI will be as trouble free as the recent F60 Countryman was. All a stark contrast to earlier generation MINIs of course. Our Key Take Aways on the New Countryman JCW Where does that leave us. The all new Countryman is a bigger, more comfortable car. It packs features and tech that we could’ve only dreamt in a MINI just a few years ago. But if you’re a JCW fan, that might sound oddly disappointing. Yet here’s the surprising thing. The new Countryman JCW is the most capable (and crucially) most engaging Countryman JCW we’ve ever driven. The synthetic nature of the sound is a bit disappointing but it’s a by product of the time we’re living in. And let’s be honest – much of the driving dynamics of all new cars are fairly synthetic these days. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t real enjoyment and engagement to be had and the Countryman JCW delivers here. Even more than the previous version – and that’s despite the 137 lbs weight gain. Make no mistake at 3,825 lbs, this is nothing like a MINI Cooper in terms of driving dynamics. Yet for a small crossover this is a rapid, engaging driving experience that lives up to the brand name. In our time with the new Countryman JCW, we came away with the distinct impression that it has a sharper turn-in and more feedback through the wheel than its lighter predecessor. All while being noticeably better damped, more comfortable and offering more room for passengers and cargo. It’s down on power to 300 hp in the EU – which is the car we’re testing here – and down on torque by 36 ft lbs globally. It’s even lost a gear. Yet MINI has created a product that is unquestionably better in almost every metric that matters to the vast majority of potential owners. And a key one for us – engagement. Like the best JCW products, it blends every day livability with performance seamlessly. But unlike any Countryman JCW before it, it does so with feedback and poise that we’ve never had before. MotoringFile Countryman JCW Gallery Official Countryman JCW Gallery U25 MINI Countryman JCW Detailed Specifications Countryman ModelCountryman E (EV)Countryman SE (EV)Countryman C (ICE)Countryman S (ICE)Countryman JCW (ICE)Power204 hp313 hp167 hp221 hp (241 hp US)300 hp (313 hp US)TorqueTBDTBD206 lb295 lb295 lbTransmission1 Speed1 Speed7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront-wheelall-wheelfront-wheelall-wheelall-wheelPowertrain typeelectricelectricpetrolpetrolpetrolCylindersn/an/a344Displacementn/an/a149919981998Electric Power204 hp313 hp19 hp19 hp (NA – US)N/AElectric TorqueTBDTBD55 lbTBDN/AElectric Range (WLTP)287 miles270 milesN/AN/AN/A0-60 mphTBDTBD8.3TBD5.4Maximum speed105 mph112 mph132 mphTBD155 mphWLTP l/100 kmN/AN/A40.9 – 46.3TBD34 – 36.2WLTP CO2N/AN/A155 – 138TBD188 – 177Length (mm/inches)4444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 1754444 / 175Width (mm/inches)1843 / 731843 / 731843 / 731843 / 731843 / 73Height (mm)TBDTBD1661 / 65TBD1665 / 66Wheelbase (mm)2069 / 812069 / 812069 / 812069 / 812069 / 81Curb weight (LBS)TBDTBD3,571 lbsTBD3,825 lbsFuel Capacity L/GallonsN/AN/A45 / 11.854 / 14.354 / 14.3Luggage capacity (liters)TBDTBD450 – 1450 L505 – 1530 L505 – 1530 LThe post Review: The New 313 HP MINI Countryman JCW – MINI’s Most Powerful Car Ever appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

How Important is the US Market for MINI and Will We See More New Models? We went to the source A sat down for an interview with BMW Board Member Jochen Goller to get answers. With MINI USA sales down substantially from their high of 66,502 in 2013, some industry experts have questioned BMW’s long term commitment for MINI in the US market. MINI USA and its dealers will readily tell you that they’re not chasing volume sales these days and are focused more on selling profitably (which appears to be successful). But we wanted to go straight to the top and get answers from one of the people responsible for it all. Jochen Goller has been with the BMW Group since 1999 and has spent more than ten years with the company in the UK and China in various, also cross-brand functions. He oversaw the MINI brand globally from 2013 to 2015 and has been successfully managing the activities in the China region since. But most importantly (for us) he was promoted to the BMW Board overseeing sales of all BMW Group brands including MINI. In other words if you wanted to understand BMW’s plans for the MINI brand (present and future), there might be no one better to speak with. Our time with Mr. Goller was brief, so after some pleasantries (and a personal invite to MTTS) we wanted to start straight away with the question many of you have been asking. MotoringFile: With sales consistently down from the 2013 high, is MINI committed to the US market? Jochen Goller: “We will not give up on the US. It’s a critical market for us”. MF: Fair enough. But can MINI grow in the market now that range has shrunk (Clubman product ceased earlier this month) and there’s no formal plan yet for the J01 MINI Cooper or the J05 MINI Aceman? JG: We want to see success in US but have to work on the right strategy. We have to get it right. We want to see growth and that has to be done by offering both ICE and EV MINIs. Maybe until the tipping point for EVs. At the moment we’re moving towards that window early 2030s The electric J01 MINI Cooper will begin production in China but will expand to the UK in 2026.MF: With production expanding to the Oxford plant in 2026, will we see the J01 Cooper and J05 Aceman come to the North American market? JG: For now it is too early to say. MF: Is there a time frame when we should expect an announcement? JG: I would say later this year we might have more for you. MF: Moving on to a MINI that we know is coming to the US market – let’s talk about the new petrol F66 MINI Cooper. Was this MINI designed primarily for the US market due to slow EV adoption? JG: No there are many markets that are adopting EVs at different paces and we wanted to offer MINIs no matter what your preference is. For instance Norway has a new car EV market share of 95% while in Poland that’s only 5%. So we currently see the same disparity in Europe as well. The BMW Vision Neue Klasse – a preview of the all electric 3 Series that will be based on the Neue Klasse EV architecture MF: Let’s talk about the future of MINI production globally. Given that the BMW Neue Klasse EV platform is intended to underpin most cars sold by BMW Group, could it allow MINIs to be produced in other BMW plants globally such as Spartanburg in the US? JG: Each plant will continue to be focused on platforms or variations of platforms. For example Spartanburg is specifically designed to handle large SAVs (BMW speak for crossovers) while Leipzig builds the new Countryman next its siblings the BMW X1 and X2. This focus on common platforms allows us to advantage each plant’s unique aspects and the local manufacturing supply chain. The 2016 MINI Clubman Scrambler Concept.MF: One final question for you – and this one is a very different topic. In the US there’s a real movement towards off-road packages in everything from Suburus to Porsches. We also see this in the aftermarket on all cars including MINIs. Will we see anything offered officially by MINI in this area? JG: This is also a segment we have observed. We always look at customer segmentation and we too see the rise of off road capabilities offered by other manufacturers. We see this globally and refer to the trend as the escapism concept. Customers want to leave the road and have the option do light off roading and have outdoor experiences. We’re currently looking into this area and the market potential. And we that our time was up. While short we came away very optimistic about BMW’s continued investment in the MINI brand for the US market and its desire to bring all its new products to North America – including the J01 MINI Cooper EV and J05 Aceman EV. Mr. Goller was genuinely interested in our thoughts and feedback after the Q&A session. While his answers may read fairly short, you could tell that there was much more to say on many of the topics, he just wasn’t giving any of that up quite yet. Above all we appreciated Mr. Goller’s enthusiasm for the brand. It’s clear that MINI, while a small sales volume compared to BMW, was important to him given his previous time at the helm of the brand. And don’t be surprised to see Mr. Goller behind the wheel of a MINI at MTTS this summer. While no promises were made, he was quick to write down the dates and seemed genuinely excited about the prospect of attending. The post Interview: BMW Board Member Jochen Goller Doubles Down on MINI in The US Market with Hints at Future Products appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Today we Go hands-on with the 2025 F66 MINI Cooper S – MINI’s last ever petrol powered Cooper. Is it a Worthy Successor to the F56? When you first look at the F66 in person it’s almost like you’ve entered an alternative universe. At least that’s how it feels to a MINI fan who’s lived with its predecessor, the F56, for the last decade. Yes this is still an F56 based car but for all intents and purposes it feels entirely new. Come with us as we go hands-on with the F66 MINI Cooper inside and out. First let’s start with why this new MINI Cooper isn’t entirely new. MINI is putting enormous investment in electrifying the product line-up with the J01 MINI Cooper, J05 MINI Aceman and U25 Countryman (available as both ICE and EV). This enormous investment prompted a decision; completely drop the ICE powered Cooper, spend billions creating a new one or thoroughly rework the current F56 adding performance, technology and a new design inside and out. In the end there was only one choice. The F66 is that answer. Even though MINI made the decision to heavily revise the F56 rather than to create an entirely new car, there’s almost nothing that the designers left untouched. The exterior design is evolved to match the J01 MINI Cooper with the goal to make them look identical to the casual observer. MINI’s hope is that a potential buyer would be choosing ICE versus EV without styling differences to muddy the waters. This will extend to almost every aspect of the cars. As you can see the F66 has (almost) identical wheels, mirrors and even lighting (including those controversial taillights). But interestingly no exterior parts are shared between the two cars no matter how similar they look. MINI designers have applied the minimal design language we’ve seen on the J01 MINI Cooper by eliminating all non-functional vents, scoops and design elements. This has resulted in the F66 looking more elegant and minimal than it’s predecessor and (in our opinion) closer to the original aesthetic of the classic Mini. But that’s our opinion. What’s yours? Let us know in the comments below. The post Video: hands-on With The New 2025 F66 MINI Cooper S appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

For years MINI’s performance sub brand JCW has gone solo in designing and engineering its cars and the performance parts that power them. While they appear to follow in the footsteps of the BMW M division, there has rarely been anything performance related shared between the two. With the all new U25 Countryman JCW, that changes in an important way. The MINI Countryman JCW has two different brakes offerings. The standard set are similar in size to the F60 Countryman and F54 Clubman’s brakes in size and spec. Given our experience with both those cars we can attest to the performance on the street and track of this setup. However if you order the 20″ wheels on the Countryman you get a big upgrade in stopping power with discs and rotors noticeably different than before. And that’s where BMW M comes in. The F87 BMW M2The U25 MINI Countryman optional brakes come directly from the F87 BMW M2 Competition. More specifically the front brakes including the rotors, pads and parts of the caliper design all from the previous generation M2. There are a couple of small differences worth nothing. The Countryman carries over its four-pot rotor design (albeit larger than before) rather than adopting the six-pot set-up from the M2. Additionally because the front wheel drive bias and the weight distribution of the Countryman, there’s no real need for the larger rear brakes from the M2. What does it mean to have brakes from the M2? Everything is bigger and more track ready. The rotors themselves are vented and 380 mm, up from the non-vented 360 mm discs on the LCI versions of the F60 JCW, F54 JCW and the most recent JCW GP. The calipers are four pot like before but offer a larger swept area for more stopping power. The entire set-up should allow for not just for better stopping performance but more feel and a greater resistance to fade thanks to better heat dissipation. This is especially critical at the track where constant hard braking can elevate temperatures and reduce stopping power. The BMW M2 sourced brakes will be exclusively bundled with the 20″ John Cooper Works Flag Spoke option. Prices and availability will vary depending on market but they should be readily available at the launch of the Countryman JCW. The Other BMW M Connection While sharing of a BMW M braking system is a first for MINI, there has been some less overt parts sharing in the past. The biggest is what’s under the hood of the Countryman JCW. The 312 hp version of the B48 that powers Countryman JCW was developed by BMW and is not in any way a true BMW M engine. However there was collaboration in the design of this version of the B48 with the M Division in areas like thermal management and overall tuning due to it being offered in several BMW M Performance models like the X1 and X2 M35i. MINI has leveraged this design and engineering in its version of the B48 in F60 Countryman JCW, F54 Clubman JCW and the new U25 Countryman JCW. The post The MINI Countryman JCW Has a Secret Taken Directly From The BMW M2 appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The electric J01 MINI Cooper is a watershed moment for the brand. It’s the first ever dedicated electric vehicle from MINI and one that ushers in an entirely new era of design and technology for the brand. While we’ve seen a lot of the higher-end Cooper SE, we haven’t gotten a look at the base Cooper E. Until now. We’re looking at the all new MINI Cooper E with the Classic Trim finished in vibrant Sunny Side Yellow. In this trim level, the surfaces of the cockpit are covered with two-tone black and blue knit material. The seats are finished in Vescin and are available in gray or black with a perforated houndstooth pattern. Cooper E Performance As the entry point for the range, the Cooper E has a smaller 40.7 kWh (compared to the in the Cooper SE’s 54.2 kWh) which delivers 305 kilometers (190 miles) in the WLTP test cycle. This is down from the 402 km (250 miles) in the SE. Both offer the same charging speed – 28 minutes of charging with a DC output of up to 75 kW is enough to charge the MINI Cooper E battery from 10 to 80 percent. The 135 kW/184 hp electric drive can access the maximum torque of 290 Nm at any time allowing for 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. That’s off but not by much from the Cooper SE’s 6.7 seconds. For an exhaustive view of the specifications of the Cooper E and how it compares with the J01 Cooper SE and the previous F56 Cooper SE, check out our exclusive look at specifications below. ModelsJ01 Cooper EJ01 Cooper SEF56 Cooper SEJ05 Aceman SEPower184 hp 218 hp181 hp 218 hpTorque214 lb-ft243 lb-ft199 lb-ft243 lb-ftTransmission1 speed1 speed1 speed1 speed0-100 kp/h or 0-60 mph7.3 sec (0-62 mph)6.7 sec (0-62 mph)7.2 sec (0-60 mph)TBARange 190 miles250 miles140 milesTBABattery Size40.7 kWh54.2 kWh32.6 kWh54.2 kWhLength (mm/inches)3858 mm / 151.8 in3858 mm / 151.8 in3850 mm / 151.5 in4079 mm / 161 inWidth w/o Mirros (mm/inches)1756 mm / 69 in1756 mm / 69 in1727 mm / 68 in1754 mm / 69 inHeight (mm)1460 mm / 57 in1460 mm / 57 in1432 mm / 56.4 in1514 mm / 59.6 inWheelbase (mm)2526 mm / 99 in2526 mm / 99 in2495 mm / 98.2 in 2606 mm / 102.6 inCurb weight (kg/lbs)1540 kg / 3395 lbs1605 kg / 3,538 lbs1440 kg / 3175 lbs1710 kg / 3,770 lbsWeight distribution (Front/Rear)F 58% / R 42%F 57% / R 43%F 54% / R 46%TBDFront Overhang746 mm / 29.3 in746 mm / 29.3 in757 mm / 29.8756 mm / 29.8 inRear Overhang586 mm / 23 in586 mm / 23 in681 mm / 26.8 in717 mm / 28.2 inLuggage capacity (seats up/seats down210 / 800 L210 / 800 L211 / 941 L450 / 1450 LThe Cooper E starts at €32,900 in Germany or £30,000 in the UK. The first reviews should hit in April with sales beginning in May. The post First Look: the Electric J01 MINI Cooper E With Photo Gallery appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The new MINIs have been announced and even priced but if you’re in the US there’s still no way to configure them. How long do we have to wait and what models will be in the new configurator? We’ve got all the details. MINIUSA will be launching its all new configurator in mid-March. The new experience will include the new F66 MINI Cooper, Cooper S, U25 Countryman Cooper S and Countryman JCW at launch.The Countryman SE, four door Cooper, Convertible Cooper and Cooper JCW following later in the year. F66 MINI Cooper US Market Details With a substantial upgrade in standard equipment, prices have risen a bit. The F56 Cooper had an MSRP of $25,800. That’s going up to $28,950. The Cooper S rises from $30,900 to $32,200. Standard equipment details will come soon but from what we hear there will be more performance and tech (heads up display for example) for that base price. Details to come. USA Specific MINI Cooper Performance Figure In the US power and torque can be measured slightly differently and thus we sometimes see variations of European figures. Interestingly that’s only the case with one model. The Cooper produces 156 hp the same as the UK and Europe. The Cooper S however is rated at 201 hp with is a 3 hp decrease from those UK and EU figures. However that’s very likely the result of measurement protocols and not output changes. The torque remains the same at 221 ft lbs. That takes the Cooper S to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds – JCW territory from a few years ago. MINI USA Launch Dates For The F66 MINI Cooper While both the Cooper and Cooper S begin production in March, the US won’t see the cars as quickly as the UK and Europe. For the US we expect the Cooper S to begin sales in late April or early May. For the Cooper the US should get deliveries from July production onward. That would mean dealers could see them in mid to late August. The 2025 MINI Countryman US Market Details The internal combustion (ICE) powered 2025 Countryman S will start at $38,900 in the US. That will get you a fairly well equipped car but certainly not loaded. MINI will not use all of the trim names and levels we’ve seen in the UK and Europe but instead create their own that will be similar to what we see in the We’d expect roughly a $10k swing between this new base S model and a fully loaded version. This new Countryman S model will have 241 hp and 295 lbs of torque 2.0 liter. That’s more than a 50 hp increase and more than the original F60 JCW model from just five years ago. One interesting note, the US will not incorporate a mild hybrid system into this engine due to cost and weight trade-offs. Since there’s less stringent efficiency standards in the US there’s really no need to. The 2025 MINI Countryman SE The electric Countryman SE will start at $45,200. That’s JCW territory but then again it has more than JCW performance. With 313 hp and a staggering 363 lbs of torque, this Countryman can get to 60 mph in only 5.6 seconds. Perhaps more important to many potential owners will be the range. MINIUSA is quoting a range of 245 miles. That’s substantially above our previous 225 mile estimate and coupled with 130 kW DC fast charging, is good news for would be owners. But it’s still not the final EPA figures so keep that in mind – those will come in early January. This 245 mile number is what MINI USA is estimating by looking at performance in the EU and doing their own calculations. The 2025 MINI Countryman JCW This new halo model will have an output of 312 hp in the US with 295 ft lbs of torque. That number, 36 ft lbs lower than the previous generation) has been reduced due to the limitation of the new DCT. However with the improved power and power delivery, acceleration is still just over 5 seconds to 60 mph. The JCW will begin production in March and will arrive to dealers in the US around the May timeframe. The post Exclusive Details and Timing on the New MINI USA Configurator appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

Today, Formula E unveiled the NXT Gen Cup, an electric MINI based racing series that will travel the world to support Formula E. The series will include male and female drivers with an aims to foster the growth of emerging talent in an innovative electric format. Perhaps more importantly the car car will be based entirely on MINI Cooper SE. The NXT Gen Cup is set to headline all four European race events of Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, spanning Misano, Monaco, Berlin, and concluding in London for the season finale. Subject to final FIA approval, the NXT Gen Cup’s first appearance in the Formula E paddock will kick off in Misano, Italy, on the 13th and 14th April marking the start of the World Championship’s European tour and the first time it has raced at the World Circuit. The MINI Cooper SE Race Car While we don’t have confirmation, we expect this race car will be based on the F56 Cooper SE given the timing and specs that we’ve seen. The cars will be designed and engineered by Lestrup Racing Team. Weighing in at 1150kg, the Cooper SE will have 180bhp and pack an additional 60bhp during push-to-pass moments. This extra power comes from a 30kWh battery and an 800 V system. Other notable features include regenerative braking, adjustable ?hlins shock absorbers, and Hankook Semi-slick all-weather tires. With 20 race cars meticulously constructed for the series, each driver will equal equipment creating a level playing field and close racing. Charging operations will be managed in collaboration with ABB E-Mobility, the Official charging partner of the NXT Gen Cup. The post Formula E Unveiling Electric MINI Racing Series appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

After years of waiting we finally got hands-on with both the electric J01 and the petrol F66 MINI Coopers. Two cars with striking similarities on the surface and seismic differences lurking beneath. One that’s reinventing the entire concept of a MINI being driven by one key stat. The other, an older car thoroughly reengineered to carry the internal combustion torch to the end. Which is more impressive in person and are they really as visually identical as MINI tells us? Let’s find out. The J01 MINI Cooper and a ground-up EV which means it’s all new and designed with a skateboard chassis as a starting point. This has allowed the J01 to have subtle yet at times substantial differences in shape. At first glance it looks relatively similar to the F56 (and its successor the F66) in shape. Yet getting these two next to each other makes it clear just how much MINI has rethought the Cooper with the J01. That rethink is partially about moving into a new design direction MINI calls this charismatic simplicity. But perhaps an even bigger reason was that MINI was after a dramatic improvement in one key stat – drag co-efficient. The first thing that starring us in the face was the altered geometry of the J01. The cowl (where the windshield meets the bonnet) is further forward allowing the windshield to be more angled. This was critical in allowing the J01 to have a dramatic increase in aero efficiency. This was a big part of how MINI was able to reduce the drag co-effecient from 0.34 on the F56 down to only 0.26. For an upright small car that number is rather astounding. The more you look the more you see changes driven by the wind. If you could look from directly above the J01 you’d also notice a more tapered rear of the car where the F66 is much more square. This is especially evident if you stand just off the rear taillights looking towards the front of the car. The clamshell bonnet is gone thanks to pedestrian safety standards and the plastic wheel arches have been eliminated due to drag. The windshield wipers are now entirely hidden in the cowl as the result of both safety and aero. Looking at the F66, MINI has taken incredible steps to mirror these changes but couldn’t fundamentally change the shape. Luckily those changes satisfied the brief as MINI didn’t necessarily need to decrease drag on the petrol car. Instead the focus was creating a MINI that looked (to the average consumer) nearly identical to the electric model. The idea is that MINI wants consumers to have “the power of choice” as they say. That allows potential buyers to simply focus on the choice of petrol or electric and not styling or functionality. Inside we found the design and functionality of MINI’s new circular display and MINI OS9 to be identical. One area that was not however was the center console and seats. The F66 takes all of that from the new Countryman including the much larger center armrest. Our Take Having spend a fair amount of time with both cars we had a pretty good handle on the differences. So we thought. Few people in the world (outside of BMW employees) likely had a better grasp on these two cars than we did. Yet seeing both together was fascinating. The F66 looked startlingly new when we first saw it. Seeing it next to the J01 gave it away as F56 based pretty quickly. The J01 gave it immediate context we didn’t have before. The biggest difference is the shape of both cars. There are some fundamental changes that MINI made to its classic Cooper formula that are hiding in plane sight. Sure we understood them before. The short bonnet, higher belt-line and tapered rear. But with the F66 a few feet away you could better appreciate just how but o a departure the J01 is from the F56 and F66. Subsequently you can better understand just what MINI has done and how far they’ve taken the Cooper in an effort to cheat the wind and create more efficiency. But you be the judge. Check out the video above and tell us what you think. The post First Comparison: The Electric J01 MINI Cooper SE vs The Petrol F66 MINI Cooper S appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

The F56 MINI Cooper is the last ever internal combustion Cooper model from the brand. Because of that MINI is carrying on the tradition of a few classic colors we’ve known for years. But there’s also a few surprises and one completely new color we’ve never seen before in the range. There are two solid colors (Chili Red and Sunny Side Yellow) and eight metallic colors to choose from. We expect the JCW Legend Grey to eventually show up with the JCW reveal in October and perhaps a unique launch color with the F67 Convertible around the same time. Blazing BlueBritish Racing GreenChili RedMelting SilverMidnight BlackNanuq WhiteOcean Wave GreenSunny Side YellowThe F66 2025 MINI Cooper Model Range Produced in Oxford, the F66 will take over as the F56 ends production in February of 2024. That means we’ll see the first F66 MINI Coopers roll off the line next March as the plant begins it’s pivots into a new generation of MINIs. The F66 MINI Cooper FamilyDrivetrainStart of ProductionF66 MINI Cooper155 HP (Petrol)03/2024F66 MINI Cooper S200 HP (Petrol)03/2024F66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP (Petrol)11/2024F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)07/2024F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)07/2024F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)11/2024F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)11/2024 F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)03/2025** unconfirmedAs you can see above the changeover will happen in three phases. The first is the iconic two door Cooper which is be available at launch in Cooper and Cooper S models (the Cooper C Comes to the US in the fall). Next will be the five door F65 MINI Cooper launch in both Cooper and Cooper S models. Finally the brand will launch its last F66 variant, the F67 convertible in Cooper and Cooper S models. We believe the JCW F67 will either launch simultaneously or follow in March of 2025. The highly anticipated F66 MINI Cooper JCW will likely launch this fall and begin production in November. Head over to our first hands-on experience with the all new F66 MINI Cooper if you want to hear our initial impressions. And make sure to let us know what you think of MINI’s last ever ICE powered Cooper in the comments. The post See All of The F66 MINI Cooper’s Eight Colors appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

MINI USA has announced performance figures, pricing and some other surprises specific to the US market. Some of the news won’t be a shocker if you’ve been reading MotoringFile while some (the pricing) is news we’ve been waiting for. Let’s start with the name. The Cooper C that the rest of the world will get will continue to be known simply as the Cooper in the US. That’s likely for two reasons. First the US won’t get the Countryman C so the new naming convention really won’t have any precedent in the US. Second it will help avoid confusion and make it easier for potential buyers to shop against the previous model. The Cooper S will remain the Cooper S. MINI USA F66 MINI Cooper Pricing With a substantial upgrade in standard equipment, prices have risen a bit. The F56 Cooper had an MSRP of $25,800. That’s going up to $28,950. The Cooper S rises from $30,900 to $32,200. Standard equipment details will come soon but from what we hear there will be more performance and tech (heads up display for example) for that base price. Details to come. USA Specific MINI Cooper Performance Figure In the US power and torque can be measured slightly differently and thus we sometimes see variations of European figures. Interestingly that’s only the case with one model. The Cooper produces 156 hp the same as the UK and Europe. The Cooper S however is rated at 201 hp with is a 3 hp decrease from those UK and EU figures. However that’s very likely the result of measurement protocols and not output changes. The torque remains the same at 221 ft lbs. That takes the Cooper S to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds – JCW territory from a few years ago. MINI USA Launch Dates for the F66 MINI Cooper While both the Cooper and Cooper S begin production in March, the US won’t see the cars as quickly as the UK and Europe. For the US we expect the Cooper S to begin sales in late April or early May. For the Cooper the US should get deliveries from July production onward. That would mean dealers could see them in mid to late August. The post MINI USA Pricing & Launch Dates of the F66 MINI Cooper and Cooper S appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

As with the J01 MINI Cooper, some markets will be offering JCW (or sport) trim that will mimic the look of the full JCW model coming later this year. In other words this is our best look yet at how that highly anticipated petrol MINI Cooper JCW will look when it debuts later this year. Looking at these renders (pulled from the German MINI website) we can clearly see the J01’s JCW Trim design aesthetic was followed closely. The front bumper however has real ducts due to the need to cool the JCW B48 engine. There’s also functional brake ducts as we’ve seen on the F56. F66 JCW TrimJ01 JCW TrimIn 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. F66 JCW TrimThe F56 JCW2025 MINI Cooper JCW – Power and Performance The headline is that the 2025 MINI Cooper JCW will not see an increase in horsepower. Unlike the Cooper or the Cooper S, MINI is holding the line on power output and instead bringing some upgrades elsewhere. ModelF56 CooperF56 Cooper SF56 CooperJCWF66 Cooper CF66 Cooper SF66 Cooper JCWPower134 hp189 hp231 hp156 hp 204 hp231 hp Torque162 lb-ft/1480 rpm206 lb-ft/1350 rpm 235 lb-ft/1450 rpm170 lb-ft/1,480 rpm221 lb-ft/1,250 rpm258 lb-ft/1,250 rpmTransmissionManual/DCTManual/DCTManual/Auto7 speed DCT7 speed DCT7 speed DCTDrivetrainfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelfront-wheelLength (mm/in)3863mm/152.1 in3863mm/152.1 in3863mm/152.1 in3876mm/152.60 in3876mm/152.6 inTBAHeight (mm/in)1414mm/55.66 in1414mm/55.66 in1414mm/55.66 in1432mm/56.38 in1432mm / 56.38 inTBAWheelbase (mm/in)2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23 in2495mm/98.23Curb weight (kg/lbs)1256kg/2,769 lbs1289kg/2,841 lbs1289kg/2,841 lbs1260kg/2,778 lbs1285kg/2,832 lbsTBA Shortly after the F66 will be the F67 JCW Convertible Despite this the F66 will have a slightly revised B48 engine under the hood – more specifically the B48A20O2. So what is this revision actually getting would be owners? Torque which will increase from 236 to 258 ft lbs giving the car a touch more grunt. And it peaks lower in the rev range as well. Previously in the F56 JCW torque maxed-out at 1,450. The B48A20O2 sees this change to 1,250 rpm meaning maximum power is even more immediate. Why are we not seeing an improvement when the Cooper and Cooper S are getting modest power upgrades? Or the Countryman which gets even bigger power hikes? We don’t have great answers other than this lack of a JCW upgrade leaves room for MINI to eventually tweak software and hardware for a light refresh in a few years. And we know the DCT transmission can handle more torque so there appears to be no component related reason holding MINI back. A Few Surprising Changes in Size While the F66 JCW is based on the F56 JCW, the dimensions aren’t identical likely due to styling and even a few engineering changes. For instance the F56 JCW has a length of 3863mm vs 3876mm for the new F66 JCW. Why the change? From our information that’s due to the new bumper design (driven by either aero of new safety standards) might be the culprit. The height change is also interesting. The F56 Cooper JCW is 1414mm vs the F66 Cooper JCW which is higher at 1432mm. This is connected to larger standard tires with an increase circumference. It’s the width that is the most interesting to us. The F56 Cooper has a width of 1727 mm vs the F66 which is wider at 1744mm (both without mirrors). That 17mm difference may not sound like much but BMW and MINI don’t typically increase the width of a car solely because of aesthetics. This is due to the wheel and tire size increasing. Tires are now 10 mm wider at 215 and the wheels have been sized up accordingly. Which leads to… JCW Wheels That Finally Look Normal 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). The new F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a mix of the new and familiar The current F56 Cooper S Exhaust design shows that the “dual exhaust” is nothing more than two small pipes from a single exhaust. 2025 MINI Cooper JCW To Feature Single Pipe Exhaust In another surprising move MINI is moving from a two pipe single exhaust to a larger single pipe exhaust. In the exclusive image below you can see a single exhaust pipe (with a stainless steel sleeve), the transversely mounted exhaust and even the aluminum shield underneath it. Look even closer and you’ll see the production version of the single LED reverse light just above the exhaust tip which (one could imagine) would look somewhat integrated with the cutout of the pipe. Why a single exhaust pipe? Let’s start with the exhaust itself. One thing that most don’t know is that the MINI Cooper S and JCW have had a single muffler system since the R56. The fact that two outlets came out the back has primarily been for aesthetics. In this exclusive zoomed in photo you can see a central exhaust and single pipe that looks to be in nearly final production form. In fact there have been more than a few MINI race cars over the years that have gone with the exhaust single pipe design. Why? When asked they consistently have told us it’s both more power efficient and lighter. So in other words exactly what you want in both race cars and modern performance cars. Why wouldn’t MINI have always had a single exhaust? It comes down to marketing and the very simple concept; two exhaust pipes means more power than one in the eyes of the car buying public. In fact you’ll see this on display later this year when the quad-exhaust JCW Countryman debuts. The F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible with the 18” John Cooper Works Lap Spoke wheelsThe Cooper JCW – Once Again Available in Two Flavors As before MINI will be offering the JCW model in the iconic three door F66 hatch and the F67 convertible. Once again MINI will not be offering its highest performance model in the five door configuration. Why? Product planners apparently made that call many years ago in the F56 generation and due to tight development budgets due to having to offer both electric and ICE models, they’re sticking to it. The F66 gear selector moves from the console to the dash in the form of a discrete toggle switch.The JCW Manual Transmission Is Gone For those reading MotoringFile this likely won’t be a total surprise as we’ve reported on this several times over the last 9 months. But it’s still a shocking development given the popularity of the option. In fact since we exclusively reported the news early this year, the MINI USA manual take-rate has gone up to over 50%. It’s devastating move for a lot of MINI’s biggest fans as it’s a huge part of the brand’s history and slots well into the MINI’s core philosophy of creating cars that are engaging the drive. Why would MINI eliminate manuals despite the fact that the F66 is mechanically identical to the F56 and could easily carry over the current Getrag 6 speed? It’s likely about simplifying drivetrains components and cutting costs within manufacturing. And for Europe (where CO2 targets are much more stringent) the manual is slightly dirtier. Corresponding with the move away from manuals is a completely new gear lever design that mirrors what we’ve seen on the electric J01 and U25 MINI Countryman. What will remain are revised paddle shifters which will be standard on all JCW models. However in markets like US, where CO2 targets don’t have the same impact, why not continue to offer it? That’s likely down to the business case. Offering it one country means that the volumes go down dramatically which means MINI is spending more per unit and MINI would lose a chance to simplify the production process just has it’s about to get more complex with new models. The 2025 F66 MINI Cooper JCW testing with full camouflage at the Nurburgring In its place will be a revised 7 speed dual clutch (DCT) with slightly more aggressive software for more aggressive programing which should decrease shift times. The revised dual clutch transmission is just like the one offered in current Cooper and Cooper S models combining two partial transmissions in a single housing. The core element of the system consists of two oil-cooled wet clutches: one of these is responsible for the even transmission ratios (2, 4, 6) while the other is for the uneven ratios (1, 3, 5, 7) and reverse. During travel, one of the two clutches is open and the other is closed. They interact when the driver shifts up or down: opening one clutch activates closure of the second at the same time. Chassis and Brake Updates This is where the F66 MINI Cooper JCW is a straight evolution from the F56 version. This starts with the braking system which will be carried over. That means we’ll see a 4-piston fixed caliper upfront with internally ventilated, drilled brake disk up front (335x30mm). In the back (where there’s less weight to worry about) MINI will continue with a single piston floating caliper and a disk that’s 259x10mm. All four calipers will be finished in the traditional Chili Red. The chassis and suspension will see subtle improvements with MINI further refining its adaptive suspension design. While we don’t yet have details we’re told this focuses on improving ride quality while not forgoing any performance. F66 JCW Trim2025 MINI Cooper JCW Launch Timing and End of Production Produced in Oxford, the F66 will take over as the F56 ends production in February of 2024. That means we’ll see the first F66 MINI Coopers roll off the line next March as the plant begins its pivots into a new generation of MINIs. We expect the F66 MINI Cooper JCW will go into production beginning in March of 2024. The F66 MINI Cooper FamilyDrivetrainStart of ProductionEnd of ProductionF66 MINI Cooper155 HP (Petrol)03/202412/31/30F66 MINI Cooper S200 HP (Petrol)03/202412/31/30F66 MINI Cooper JCW231 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door155 HP (Petrol)07/202412/31/30F65 MINI Cooper S 5 Door200 HP (Petrol)07/202412/31/30F67 MINI Cooper Convertible155 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30F67 MINI Cooper S Convertible200 HP (Petrol)11/2024 12/31/30F67 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible231 HP (Petrol)11/202412/31/30 The post the F66 MINI Cooper JCW Trim – A Preview of the Full JCW appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article

What am I looking at. Those were the first words that came to mind as I walked into the secret room inside of the secret bunker where the F66 MINI Cooper laid waiting for me. With no phone in my pocket and no way to even take notes, I began walking around the new Cooper studying every new detail. The it hit me. This is (mostly) what the F56 should have been all along. Experiencing a new MINI for the first time is one thing. But seeing a new MINI with head of MINI Design Oliver Heimler next to you, is another experience entirely. “What do you think, and be Honest” Oliver asked me. My immediate response was one of shock at just how far MINI took the F56 in turning it into the F66. Walking up to the F66 MINI Cooper S for the first time is like looking at a F56 that has been honed and subtly smoothed like a stone in a river. It’s not just that MINI has taken aware the faux scoops and non-functional design elements. Look close and you realize the bumper, hood and even rear fenders have all been subtly reshaped. I asked Oliver about this and he told me the MINI Design team wanted to push the F56 as far as it could go to not just make it look like the J01 but to make it feel more modern. He didn’t say this but I could sense that these were changes that MINI designers had probably thought about for many years and hadn’t been able to execute. Let’s get over the lack of a manual. There’s no question it’s heartbreaking for many of us question. But let’s celebrate the fact that we are looking at an all new MINI Cooper powered by an internal combustion engine. The last one in fact. It’s a moment to celebrate that this car exists. New styling, updated engines, higher levels of performance and entirely new technology. And there’s so much more. MINI has checked so many boxes. There are finally wider wheels and tires. The ridiculous faux hood scoop and vents adorning the car are finally gone. In their place is (brace yourself) nothing. Simplicity. The core of the Mini philosophy is everywhere you look uninterrupted by gauche styling elements. The front overhang is still here. MINI designers have been able to alter its impact through subtle alterations but there’s no material change to the size and that’s disappointing. Oliver confirmed this is a resigned look. But his excitement grew the second we started to talk how much was accomplished with what we had expected was simply a refresh. And that’s really the big take away here. Yes this is a revised F56 if you think about the chassis underneath and the engines powering this car. But everything else (literally) has been altered. From subtle changes to complete rethinks the F66 feels new in surprising ways. You’re left feeling that MINI designers and engineers have pulled off the impossible. Revising the F56 into something that feels truly new. Throughout my walk around Oliver was still asking for feedback. What did I think about this or that? And is there something I wasn’t sure about. I mentioned that the exhaust choice would be hard for some and he nodded with agreement. But he also made it clear that MINI was moving into new directions with electrification and the brand had to be thoughtful about how it expressed that philosophy even in its ICE cars. I told him that the lights would be a challenge for some but I completely understand the rational. Then finally it hit me. I’m not a fan of the type face on the rear hatch. I shrugged my shoulder and told him as a designer that has worked with type of years I had to say it. He smiled and said he’d bring that feedback to the team. And with that I congratulated him and his team for such a shocking transformation. Leaving the top secret room and walking down the hall is when it hit me. A lot of these designers worked on the F56 and its siblings. Yet if you look at the concepts they’ve been producing since then (the Rocketman and Superleggera being two) its clear that, when left to their own devices they had a more refined vision of the MINI hatch than we’ve seen with the F56. That vision has finally become reality with the F66 MINI Cooper. We just wish it had a manual transmission. The post First Look Video: Hands-on With The F66 MINI Cooper appeared first on MotoringFile. View the full article