Mini News

Mini has officially entered the electric vehicle (EV) market with the reveal of its Cooper S E, which combines a familiar 3-door hatch design with a zero-emissions powertrain. Under the bonnet sits an all-electric motor that delivers 135kW and 270Nm, sending power directly to the front wheels, and allowing the German small car to sprint from zero to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.The lithium-ion battery spends 13.2kWh of energy per 100 kilometres, and can provide 270km of driving range between charges.It takes two and a half hours to recharge to 80 per cent from a standard plug, but when connected to a fast-charging station, it takes just 35 minutes.Pricing and specifications for the Australian market are still under wraps, however, it is expected to come in around the $50,000 mark.For reference, the current Mini 3-door Cooper range kicks off at $29,000 plus on road-costs for the base model, while the high-performance JCW starts at $49,900.The S E retains the classic Mini Cooper exterior design, but gives away its EV status with yellow body accents reminiscent of the concept car shown at 2017’s Frankfurt motor show. It also features stylised alloy wheels and Mini Electric badging, while the charge port is positioned in the same place as its conventionally powered siblings (rear-right quarter panel).Inside, the Cooper S E sports a model-specific instrument cluster with a 5.5-inch digital screen behind the steering wheel, which alters in apperance depending on which of the four driving modes are selected. Drivers can change between Sport, MID, Green and Green+ modes, which adjust the vehicle's performance and efficiency settings.The cabin also gains a model-specific gear selector on the centre console, and is fitted with an electronic parking brake as standard.Standard kit includes LED headlights, two-zone automatic climate control, a 6.5-inch touschscreen infotainment system with sat-nav and auxiliary heating. Optional extras include a larger 8.8-inch display, leather upholstery and a number of interior and exterior styling packages.When the Cooper S E goes on sale, it will be the second electrified Mini in Australia alongside the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Countryman S E All4 ($57,200).

Mini’s hard-charging John Cooper Works GP has been seen lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit this week, albeit with a camouflage livery, giving racing fans a first glimpse at the new-generation hot hatch.

The first all-electric Mini Cooper S E has been spied undisguised ahead of its debut later in 2019. Tipped to use the same drivetrain (albeit front-drive) as the BMW i3s, the Cooper S E is expected to use a 44.2kWh 120 Ah battery pack which feeds an electric motor rated at 135kW of power and 270Nm of torque. This places it not far off the outputs of the petrol 2.0-litre turbo petrol Cooper S. We expect a similar range to the i3s of around 280km from a charge. Visually, there aren’t many clues to differentiate the Cooper S E from regular Cooper S models - the mirrors are a slightly different shape, the wheels are different, but the dead giveaway is the lime green grille treatment and the green ‘E’ logo that also features on the sides and rear. Otherwise, all the classic Mini cues are there - the circular lights, central bonnet scoop (albeit, fake) and LED Union Jack tailights all feature. Mini Australia is yet to confirm the Cooper S E for Australia, but considering the recent arrival of the Countryman PHEV and other electric BMW Group products, a local introduction could happen as soon as 2020. 

Mini has revealed its updated John Cooper Works (JCW) Clubman and Countryman, which have received a significant lift to performance thanks to a new engine borrowed from the mechanically related BMW X2 M35i.

Mini has added a new special edition model to its range that celebrates 60 years of the brand - the inventively-named Mini 60 Years Edition.

Mini has revealed an updated version of its five-seat Clubman wagon with a range of exterior and interior design changes, additional standard features and new digital connectivity tech.A fresh front-end design is centred on a new grille with optional LED headlights (featuring a high-beam matrix function) and new LED fog lights either side.Additional body colours include ‘Piano Black’, tail-lights are LED (Union Jack design optional) and updated alloy wheel designs in 16- through to 19-inch diameter are offered.A sports suspension lowers the car by 10mm, a fully adaptive suspension is optionally available alongside the sports set-up, extra leather trims and interior elements have been incorporated, the ‘Mini Connected’ system has new functions added and the ‘Original Mini Accessories’ range has been extended.As well as Piano Black, ‘Indian Summer Red metallic’, ‘British Racing Green metallic’ and ‘Mini Yours Enigmatic Black metallic’ have been added to the exterior colour palette.A range of available interior treatments includes illumination of the door bezels, cockpit trim and centre console elements.Although Australian pricing and spec is yet to be finalised, Mini has launched the new Clubman globally in eight model variants powered by a range of three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.The eight model (global) Clubman range starts with the Mini One, stepping through the Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, One D, One SD and SD All4.BMW Australia says the new model is scheduled to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year, with the local line-up likely to mirror the outgaing range, "Cooper and Cooper S initially, with the new JCW arriving after that, likely early into the new year."That means no diesels, with current model pricing a guide prior to the newcomer's arrival - $37,900 for the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol Cooper, $45,900 for the Cooper S, through to $56,900 for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol JCW All4. 

Mini has launched a plug-in hybrid version of its Countryman SUV into local showrooms, priced from $57,200 plus on-road costs.The Countryman plug-in hybrid uses a 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. This is combined with an electric motor making 65kW of power and 165Nm of torque - the latter drives the rear wheels, giving the Countryman plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive capability. Combined, the plug-in hybrid produces 165kW/385Nm, which results in a 6.9 second 0-100km/h sprint time - just 0.4 seconds behind the performance-focused Countryman John Cooper Works. Using a 7.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Countryman plug-in hybrid can be charged in three hours, 15 minutes using a regular household socket, or in two hours, 15 minutes using a Mini 'Wallbox'.Mini will sell the Wallbox to owners who can then install it at their house or workplace (or both) for faster charging.In addition to its claimed 40km all-electric driving range, Mini claims the Countryman plug-in hybrid uses 2.1L/100km of fuel, and CO2 emissions are claimed at 49g/km. Priced $3,300 above the Cooper SD - but $2,200 below the John Cooper Works - the plug-in hybrid sits at the upper end of the Countryman range. To help maximise efficiency, the Countryman plug-in hybrid is equipped with ‘eDrive’, which allows the driver to select different driving modes at speed. 'Auto' mode allows the electric motor to drive the car at up to 80km/h (the petrol engine kicking in above that), 'Max' mode allows the electric motor to drive the car at up to 125km/h, and the 'Save Battery' setting regenerates the battery to 90 per cent charged, maintaining that capacity from there. Sitting near the top of the Countryman line-up, the plug-in hybrid is equipped with automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an 8.8-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with wireless Apple CarPlay and DAB+ digital radio), dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera, an electric tailgate, six airbags, AEB with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality. Mini is yet to announce available options packages for the Countryman plug-in hybrid, though the standard models are available with almost endless personalisation for buyers. 2019 Mini Countryman pricing (plus on-road costs): Cooper: $41,900Cooper D: $45,900Cooper S: $48,900Cooper SD AWD: $53,900Plug-in hybrid AWD: $57,200John Cooper Works AWD: $59,900

Mini Australia has announced it will make a previously-optional safety pack standard across the Cooper hatch, convertible and Countryman ranges.

Sixty years after the iconic, and now impossibly tiny-looking original Mini hit the streets, a new, all-electric version has been unveiled at the London Classic Car Show - and not just as a concept, it's a production-ready car people can actually buy.

Mini has teased the third generation of the John Cooper Works GP, which is due to be fully revealed later in the year.Confirmed to feature the same 220kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as the BMW X2 M35i, the GP will be the fastest and most powerful Mini ever produced and will closely follow the design direction of the 2017 GP Concept.With only 3000 units set to be produced, the John Cooper Works GP will follow the same formula as the previous editions of the GP badge with an intense diet removing the rear seats and sound deadening, a mechanical limited-slip differential, a more powerful engine and significant suspension and chassis updates to turn the standard John Cooper Works into a track weapon. Mini is yet to fully reveal the car, but has released three teaser images giving clues its styling direction.Large four-spoke wheels continue from the previous GP models, as does the huge rear wing that's said to aid aerodynamics.Finally, the large dual exhaust tips are likely to emit a juicier note than the already-fruity Cooper S JCW and the company is reportedly targeting a sub-eight minute lap time around the Nurburgring in Germany, which would cement the car as a serious rival to the Honda Civic Type R, Renault Megane R.S. and Volkswagen Golf R.“The fastest Mini in our brand history – which now goes back 60 years – is an expression of pure racing passion,” says Thomas Giuliani, Mini's vice president product and launch management. “We are well aware of the enormous fascination exercised by the Mini John Cooper Works GP, not just from the euphoric reactions to the concept vehicle but also from past experience: after all, every one of its predecessors was completely sold out even before the official market launch.”Originally launched in 2006 (first-generation) and 2012 (second-gen), Mini's GP editions celebrated the life cycle of their respective models right before the next generation cars arrived. Both featured extreme weight loss compared with the variants they were based on, and featured more power than the standard models as well.