Video Guide: How to Master MINI’s New Assisted Driving in Five Minutes

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MINI’s latest driver assistance technology has quietly become one of our favorite upgrades in years. However it can be a daunting system to use given that you’re handing over control of your car at highway speeds. So we created a quick video that gives all you need to know in under five minutes.

Watch the video: How to Master MINI’s New Assisted Driving in Five Minutes

The New Sensor and Software Platform Behind MINI’s Assisted Driving

Key to getting the most out of the new system is understanding its operation and settings but also having a bit of trust in the tech behind it all.

MINI’s latest assisted driving capability is built on a modern sensor fusion platform that brings the Cooper and Countryman closer than ever. A high resolution forward camera handles lane detection, vehicles, pedestrians, signs, and road edges. A long range front radar provides stable depth and speed data in conditions where cameras struggle, which is why adaptive cruise now feels so composed in heavy traffic or rain. Ultrasonic sensors manage close range mapping and the subtle corrections needed for smoother centering. The Countryman adds short range side radar to unlock hands off highway support and more reliable automated lane changes, hardware that has not yet arrived on the J01 or F66 Coopers.

Where MINI has made its biggest leap is software. The new perception stack uses BMW’s latest machine learning models for lane prediction and object recognition. Driving Assistant Plus benefits from predictive longitudinal control that anticipates speed changes rather than reacting only to the car ahead. Lateral control is also substantially improved, delivering steadier steering support through curves and lane transitions. All of this is enabled by a higher bandwidth electronic architecture in the new Cooper and Countryman that moves sensor data faster and allows for the refined behavior we are now seeing on the road.

Now Available on MINI Countryman – Soon on the Cooper

Driving Assistant Pro, available across the entire Countryman range and soon expanding to the Cooper models, is far more capable than any we have seen from MINI with its previous generation. Bringing advanced lane centering, adaptive cruise, and hands off functionality to every trim level finally makes MINI competitive with the mainstream in daily usability.

A couple weeks later we broke down the sensor package and software logic behind the new system in the Countryman and Cooper. That story highlighted how MINI’s move to a more modular sensor architecture prepares the brand for faster updates and over the air improvements. In other words, this is not a static feature set. MINI is building a foundation for continuous evolution.

The modern BMW system mirrors most of what we see in the MINI

The video above brings all of that reporting to life. We show what the system looks like in the real world, how it behaves when lane markings fade, how it reacts to cut ins, and what the limits are. Just as important, we explain the user experience. MINI’s interface for activation, disengagement, and mode transitions is surprisingly intuitive once you see it demonstrated.

If you have a new Cooper or Countryman with the latest assistance package, this is the quickest way to understand the system. If you are considering ordering one, it gives you a clear sense of how MINI’s technology has grown well beyond the early lane assist systems of the previous generation.

More videos are coming as MINI continues to expand its digital and driver assistance capabilities. For now, dive into the full guide and let us know what you want us to cover next.

Watch the full video here:

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