In-Depth With The Entry Level MINI Cooper C & its Secret MINI Doesn’t Want You to Know

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The combustion-powered MINI Cooper C has finally launched and arrived at dealerships worldwide. But what exactly is the “C,” and how does it differ from the “S”? The answer might surprise you. We dive into the details of the entry-level Cooper and explain why it might be the better choice.

The MINI Cooper C’s Four Cylinder Secret

Since the F56 Cooper was introduced in 2013, the base model has featured a raspy and fun 3-cylinder engine. However, with the F66 generation, that changes for part of the world. There will be two versions of the F66 Cooper C: one made specifically for North America, South Korea, and a few smaller markets, and one for the rest of the world. The key difference lies in the engine and output.

The venerable B48 four-cylinder will be used in the North American Cooper C, while the B38 3-cylinder will be offered in Europe and most of the rest of the world.

The result is two distinct versions of the MINI Cooper C. The UK and EU’s 3-cylinder version will produce 115 kW (154 hp), while the 4-cylinder U.S. version will deliver 120 kW (161 hp). A more significant difference is the torque, with the U.S. version gaining 14 lb-ft, bringing it to 174 lb-ft. Unfortunately, neither version will be available with a manual transmission, as MINI has moved to an all-DCT lineup in this new generation.

Model	F56 Cooper	F56 Cooper S	F66 Cooper C (B38)	F66 Cooper C (B48)	F66 Cooper S
Power	134 hp	189 hp	156 hp	161 hp	204 hp
Torque	162 lb-ft/1480 rpm	206 lb-ft/1350 rpm	170 lb-ft/1,480 rpm	184 lb-ft/1,480 rpm	221 lb-ft
Transmission	Manual/DCT	Manual/DCT	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT
Curb Weight*	2,769 lbs	2,842 lbs	2943 lbs	3,014 lbs	3,014 lbs

*Includes standard equipment, a 90% full tank and a driver weight of 75 kg

But the big difference isn’t the extra 7 hp. It’s the fact that under the hood of the U.S.-spec MINI Cooper is the exact same B48 engine that powers the 204 hp Cooper S, down to the engine code and the same dual-stage turbo. The only difference will be the software. This could potentially open up an entirely new world of tuning possibilities, allowing the base MINI Cooper to achieve much higher power output — a potential game-changer in the MINI tuning world.

Why has MINI made this change? While it’s unclear, it likely has something to do with the complexity and cost of engineering and approving multiple engines and configurations for different markets. In regions like North America, where emissions and CO2 output are measured differently, the 3-cylinder engine may not have been clean enough to justify its inclusion in the lineup.

The extra power will certainly help offset the added weight of the B48. For the first time in stock form, the Cooper weighs over 3,000 lbs, with a total weight of 3,014 lbs. That’s 245 lbs heavier than the 2,769 lbs F56 Cooper equipped with the same DCT.

Why the increase? MINI has added a significant amount of technology to the car — including 12 sensors powering a fully autonomous driving system — as well as new safety equipment, which has contributed to the extra weight. Additionally, larger wheels and tires come standard, along with more standard equipment overall. MINI USA tells us that if we were comparing a similarly equipped F56 to the new F66, the difference in weight would be much closer.

The MINI Cooper C Design

For all recent Cooper generations, MINI Design has made the Cooper simpler and cleaner in appearance (if not basic) compared to the S or JCW models. However, MINI has now applied this approach across the entire model range, which has nearly eliminated the visual differences between the C and S models. There’s no hood scoop or distinctive trim to set the cars apart. Even the wheels are largely the same.

The interior follows a similar trend, with the C offering much of the same design, including identical color and trim options.

The result is that the F66 Cooper C has a clean and minimal aesthetic that, at first glance, feels refreshing. Despite still being based on the F56 platform, MINI has gone beyond just revising the bumpers, wheels, and lights. Every body panel, except the doors, has been redesigned, including a new hood (without the faux hood scoop), a redesigned rear hatch, and an entirely new rear fender shape.

Dimension Differences: F66 MINI Cooper C vs F56 MINI Cooper

While the F66 is based on the F56, the dimensions are not identical, likely due to some styling and engineering changes. For instance, the F56 has a length of 3,863 mm compared to 3,876 mm for the new F66. This difference is due to the revised front and rear bumper designs. More interesting, however, is the change in height. The F56 stands at 1,414 mm, while the F66 is taller at 1,432 mm. This increase is the result of MINI making 16” wheels standard on the Cooper, up from the previous 15”, along with a slight increase in tire size.

Models	J01 MINI Cooper SE	F66 MINI Cooper C	F56 MINI Cooper
Curb Weight (w/driver)	1680 kg / 3704 lbs	1360 kg / 2998 lbs	1289 kg / 2866 lbs
Wheelbase	2526 mm	2495mm / 98.23 in	2495mm / 98.23 in
Minimum turning circle	10.8 m / 35.4	11.1 m / 36.4 ft	10.8 m / 35.4
Overhang front	746 mm	778 mm / 30.6“	775 mm / 30.5?
Overhang rear	586 mm / 23?	603 mm / 23.7“	609.6 / 24?
Vehicle height	1460 mm / 54.4?	1432 mm / 56.4?	1415 mm / 55.7?
Vehicle length	3858 mm / 151.6?	3876mm / 152.6“	3863mm / 152.8?
Vehicle width	1756 mm / 69.1?	1744 mm / 68.6?	1727 mm / 67.9?
Vehicle width w/mirrors:	1967 mm / 77.4	1970 mm / 77.6?	1928 mm / 75.9?
Ground Clearance	124 mm	130 mm	143 mm

All measurements are taken from the EU market. Note that there are some differences in the way the US measures weight vs the EU. 

But the most interesting change is in the width. The F56 Cooper has a width of 1,727 mm, while the F66 is wider at 1,744 mm (both measurements without mirrors). That 17 mm difference may not sound like much, but BMW and MINI don’t typically increase the width of a car purely for aesthetics. This change is due to wider wheels and tires (from 205 mm to 215 mm), allowing for a more concave wheel design on the Cooper S and JCW, which we’ll see later this year.

Dimensions	J01 MINI Cooper SE	F66 MINI Cooper S	F56 MINI Cooper S
Head room	1018 mm / 40?	1024 mm / 40.3?	1024 mm / 40.3?
Head room w/sunroof	991 mm / 39?	973 mm / 38.3?	973 mm / 38.3?
Shoulder room	1317 mm / 51.8	1301 mm 51.2	1285 mm / 50.6
Leg room	1053 mm / 41.5?	1052 mm / 41.4?	1052 mm / 41.4?
Elbow width	1390 mm / 54.7	1365 mm / 53.7?	–
Center of steering wheel to seat	2141 mm / 84.3?	2120 mm / 83.4?	2120 mm / 83.4?
Luggage seats down	800 l / 28.3 ft³	725 l / 25.6 ft³	731 / 25.8 ft³
Luggage seats up	210 l 7.4 ft³	210 l / 7.4 ft³	211 / 7.5 ft³

Larger numbers are bolded. Note every market measures dimensions and volume slightly differently. We’ve based these numbers on the EU figures to remain consistent. MINI USA quotes slightly different numbers in luggage capacity due to EPA standards. There is no difference between regions.

Then there are the subtle styling tweaks that aren’t immediately obvious. At first glance, the headlight placement looks identical. However, in person, you can see that MINI has moved the lights slightly forward and made them a bit more upright. This, combined with the new hood and simpler front design, creates a more upright silhouette.

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 transformative. MINI has completely revamped the F56, incorporating the design language, materials, and technology found in the J01 MINI Cooper. The most notable change is the minimalist design and the large, circular display that dominates the cabin experience. We’ve detailed this display, its operating system, and its numerous functions on MotoringFile for months now. You can also check out 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 in our time driving the new Countryman with an identical infotainment system 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 (part of the Comfort Package and Comfort Max Package) in particular was a standout. Watch our full MINI OS9 demo to get a better view of this radical new infotainment system.

Pricing and Availability of the MINI Cooper C

The MINI Cooper C is now available worldwide, priced at $28,950 in the US, £23,150 in the UK, and 28,900 € in Germany. It comes in three styles—Classic, Favoured, and JCW or Sport in the UK. The US currently lacks the JCW or Sport options, but that should change soon.

The post In-Depth With The Entry Level MINI Cooper C & its Secret MINI Doesn’t Want You to Know appeared first on MotoringFile.

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