Mini News

How can the same car score five stars for crash safety in Europe and only four stars in Australia?

Mini Australia has confirmed local specs and pricing for its new six-door member of the Cooper range - the Clubman.Based on the existing five-door Mini Cooper, the Clubman is a more practical option with a larger boot – 360-litres seats up instead of 278-litres – and dual doors at the rear for easier cargo loading.Measuring 248mm longer and 73mm wider, with a 103mm increase in wheelbase compared to the standard five-door Cooper, the Clubman can carry a total of 1250 litres with the rear seats lowered compared to 941 litres. Pricing starts at $34,900 for the entry-level 100kW/220Nm turbocharged three-cylinder variant which consumes 5.4L/100km on the combined cycle and takes 9.1-seconds to reach 100km/h.Standard features include a six-speed auto transmission, reverse camera with rear parking sensors, Bluetooth phone and audio and forward collision warning.A more powerful Cooper S Clubman variant is also available priced from $42,900 that’ll do 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds courtesy of a 141kW/280Nm 2.0-litre turbo four.Based on the existing five-door Mini Cooper, the Clubman is a more practical option with a larger boot.Stepping up to the Cooper S also adds a standard eight-speed auto, 17-inch alloys, satnav, selectable drive modes and sports leather steering wheel.Despite the slightly wider dimensions over the rest of the Cooper range, the interior design is almost identical, while outside the Clubman uses horizontally mounted taillights instead of vertical ones. 

Luxury brands vie for attention with opulence and drop-tops.

Owners of luxury European models and are up to four times as likely to be caught breaking the law compared to Japanese or Korean makes.Analysis of SAPOL and Transport Department figures shows Mercedes drivers are by far the worst in the state, recording 0.824 fines per vehicle in 2014/15.This compares to the least-fined of the large manufacturers, Isuzu with only 0.186 fines per car.Experts at a loss to explain the bias against luxury cars, and police have denied they give the drivers special treatment.Some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid accelerationIt is the first time the figures have become available because of a Weatherill Government reform called "open data", in which government departments are forced to release large amounts of information on their websites.RAA Senior Manager Road Safety, Charles Mountain said the nature of luxury cars, rather than driver behaviour may be to blame."Modern vehicles, particularly some of the more expensive vehicles are capable of extremely rapid acceleration and insulate the driver to such an extent that it may mask a driver's perception of speed," he said."Irrespective of the vehicle being driven, whether it be a luxury import or a reasonably priced runabout, it is important for their safety and that of other road users that they drive to the conditions and abide by the prevailing speed limits on the roads on which they are travelling."The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offendingWhen asked a series of questions about the issue, SAPOL issued a one line response: "The type of vehicle doesn't determine if police take action, it is based on the nature of the offending".While Holden drivers amassed the most fines in 2014/15 with 72,847 there are 239,804 Holdens on the road.In comparison, Mercedes drivers were hit 13,157 times for only 15,959 registered vehicles.Only two non-luxury brands were in the top ten and six in the top 20 fined-per-registered-car for 2014/15.Other than Holden, which was the eighth most fined vehicle on the road, none of the large-volume, inexpensive makes is in the top 25 of most fined vehicles.There are some exceptions however, with the low-volume Dodge and Proton makes ranking second and third, Ferrari ranking thirty fourth and Jaguar thirty eighth.One of the cheapest vehicles on the road, the Chinese Great Wall is ranked highly at sixteenth.(Make - fines per car - total fines)1 Mercedes - 0.824 - 13,157 2 Dodge - 0.377 - 3183 Proton - 0.356 - 2684 Renault - 0.350 - 11495 Saab - 0.346 - 3886 Range Rover - 0.345 - 3517 Audi - 0.326 - 20748 Holden - 0.316 - 72,8479 Mini - 0.313 - 33110 Fiat - 0.309 - 31011 Daewoo - 0.305 - 147512 Jeep - 0.313 - 227013 Lexus - 0.293 - 95114 SsangYong - 0.289 - 21415 BMW - 0.284 - 503216 Great Wall - 0.284 - 290

One in four SUVs still lack rear view cameras – even though the technology is now standard on a $14,990 hatchback.

Mini's new Cooper John Cooper Works performance flagship will wear a $47,400 pricetag in manual guise when it arrives in local showrooms in third quarter.Powered by a 170kW/320Nm version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine used in the regular 141kW/280Nm Cooper S hatch, the JCW will also be available with a six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox priced from $49,950.The manual is $3000 cheaper than the previous R56 155kW 1.6-litre version, while the auto model is $2800 more affordable.The new JCW is quicker too, capable of hitting 100km/h in 6.3 seconds in manual guise or 6.1 seconds with the paddle-shift automatic (down from 6.5/6.7s).The JCW also gets upgraded bakes over the standard $36,950 Cooper S designed specifically for the hot hatch by Brembo.The suspension has also been retuned with stiffer springs and dampers for better handling, and the JCW features multi-mode adaptive dampers as standard.Other standard features include 18-inch JCW-specific alloys, reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, selectable drive modes, satnav, head-up display, LED headlights and JCW sports seats and steering wheel.The range-topping hot hatch also brings a number of styling tweaks to give it a more aggressive appearance over the standard Cooper S.There’s a new front bumper incorporating additional cooling vents, revised rear bumper and a new roof spoiler.Fuel consumption over the previous JCW has also been reduced, with the new model boasting 6.7L/100km combined in manual form, while opting for the automatic sees that figure drop to 5.7L/100km.When it arrives in local showrooms later this year, the Mini JCW’s nearest rival will be the all-wheel drive 170kW Audi S1 which is priced from $49,900 but isn’t available with an automatic transmission.

In a year when the overall car market shrank, all but a handful of prestige brands increased sales. Buyers don't just want a good car; they want others to see they have one, helping everyone from Maserati to Mercedes-Benz post gains.The trend is accelerating and a steady stream of new models in 2015 only adds to the impetus. CarsGuide looks at what's in store for the premium players this year.It isn't hard to foresee the popularity of the 4C two-seat coupe when it hits showrooms next month. This baby supercar uses a carbon-fibre tub, mid-engine layout and minimalist interior to present a modern incarnation of a stripped-down racer. Pricing will be $80,000-$100,000. The soft-top Spider is due in October. The Alfa Giulietta also gets an update.A steady new model rollout starts in February with the arrival of the TT coupe for just under $80,000. It will be joined by the soft-top roadster midyear and the TT S performance model in August or September. The plug-in petrol-electric A3 e-tron five-door hatch is due in May with an expected price of $60,000, with the Q7 large SUV due late in the year. Updates or variants include the A6/A7, RS6/RS7, A1, RS3 and Q3/RSQ3.New metal is in short supply at the British brand but two models will join the line-up, starting with the Vantage S Roadster at a shade under $420,000. If that isn't exclusive enough, consider the $500,000 Vanquish Carbon using the same V12 but with eight forward ratios in place of the Vantage's seven.BENTLEYChauffeurs will going cap-in-hand to buyers of the Mulsanne Speed for the chance to steer the best Bentley ever. A twin-turbo V8 cranks out 1100Nm - only the Bugatti Veyron can torque itself up as a more powerful production model - to push the 2.7-tonne limo into triple figures in 4.9 seconds. Pricing has yet to be set but if you have to ask, you can't afford it.There's a lot of product in the pipeline this year but only one all-new car. The X1 will switch to front-wheel drive when the second-generation model arrives in the third quarter. The X1 will look more mini-SUV than compact wagon, aligning it with the X3 and X5. Top-end versions will be all-wheel drive. Updates and new variants include the 2 Series convertible, X5M/X6M, 6 Series/X6, 3 Series, X4 M40i and X5 e-Drive.The 458 range has a Speciale A due next month. The 499 examples of the alloy hardtop model are already sold, meaning the $635,000 two-seater is likely to be a smart investment. Keep an eye on the classifieds.The struggle to be a serious prestige player continues for Infiniti with a major model overhaul due in 2016. A refreshed Q70 flagship is due midyear with a nip-and-tuck for the bumpers, updated interior trim and more safety software.The transition from niche player to prestige powerhouse is predicated on the XE sedan being a genuine rival for the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and BMW C-Class. Specs indicate the engines are up to the job, so it comes down to how well it can be priced in Australia. There will be updates for the F-Type coupe and convertible and XF sedan.Styling that echoes the Evoque and a premium interior mark the Discovery Sport, debuting in May. Essentially a replacement for the Freelander, the Sport is a serious off-roader with 600mm wading depth and four-wheel drive. Also expect a Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover hybrid and updated Evoque.A compact performance sedan, the RC F will cost $133,500, making it a 'budget' alternative to the Germans. The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 isn't quite on par with the Euro competition but neither is the price. The GS F mid-sized sedan will use the same engine and is due later in the year, price undisclosed. The NX200 will get a new turbo engine.No new news is still good news for Lotus aspirants. An automatic Exige - the brand's first self-shifter - is due in the second quarter. Expect to pay around $9000 for the clutch-less version, putting the price above $135,000. An updated Evora should land late with less weight and improved interior.An 'affordable' McLaren is due late in the year with an entry level Sport model priced at more than $300,000. That puts it in the higher echelons of Porsche 911 territory - but still well below typical McLaren prices.Australia's top-selling prestige brand rolls out a range of new toys this year to expand its appeal. The action starts with the AMG GT and C63 AMG in the second quarter, both using a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. Skip ahead to Q3 and there's the new GLE (formerly known as the ML) and GLE coupe SUVs, followed by the CLA Shooting Brake and the much-needed GLC compact SUV. Other updates or variants include the S63 coupe, CLS, B-Class and S500 coupe.The action starts with an entry-level five-door Mini Cooper One at $25,600 in February. It is powered by a three-cylinder engine with 75kW/180Nm. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the John Cooper Works three-door hatch, which will be the Mini with the most mumbo ever when it arrives midyear at an estimated $48,000.There's plenty to whet the appetite for performance enthusiasts, even if it is all clad in existing bodywork. The base V6 and performance GTS Cayenne SUV models are due next month, followed by the Turbo S midyear. An update of the 911 should make it before Christmas and Santa may deliver the new GT4 Cayman at the same time.The XC90 large SUV is due midyear with prices starting from about $90,000. A more affordable alternative will be the V60 Cross Country due late in the year from $65,000. The elevated version of the V60 wagon will be sold in FWD and AWD guise.

Pricing confirmed for 5-door Mini Cooper, starting from just $27,750.Mini has confirmed pricing for the 5-door version of the Cooper hatchback, with all models priced just $1100 more than their respective three-door models.The five-door Cooper will be available in same three trim levels as the existing three-door, starting with the $27,750 entry-level Cooper before moving on to the mid-spec $32,900 Cooper D turbodiesel and the hot $38,050 Cooper S.Mini have lengthened the wheelbase on accountof the extra doors, giving the five-door an extra 72mm over the three-door for a total of 2567mm. The five-door is also 11mm taller than the three-door.The longer dimensions have also boosted the luggage space. The 278L capacity is 67L more than the three-door.Five-door Cooper drivetrains mirror the existing three-door lineup, starting with the Cooper’s 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. The Cooper S ups the displacement to 2.0-litres, the power to 141kW and the torque to 280Nm.Combined fuel consumption for the Cooper is rated at 4.9L/100km with the standard six speed manual, and 5.0L/100km with the optional six-speed auto.The sportier S is rated at 6.0L/100km for the manual, and 5.5L/100km for the auto.The efficiency-leading Cooper D comes with a 85kW/270Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel, and consumption of 3.8L/100km in manual and 3.9L/100km with the auto.Feature-wise, the five-door Mini Cooper comes with 15-inch alloys, air-con, cruise control, electric windows and mirrors, automatic wipers and lights, LED interior lights, rear fog lights as well as an audio system that has USB, auxiliary and Bluetooth connectivity.The mid-spec Cooper D replaces the air-con with dual-zone climate control and the audio system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen Radio Mini multimedia system. It's controlled via Mini's version of the BMW iDrive interface. There are also front arm rests, fog lights on the front and the alloy wheels are 16-inches.The top-spec Cooper S adds leather/cloth trim, front sports seats and satnav.The five-door Mini Cooper goes on sale in Australia from November 1.

Mini adds $5000 worth of extras to Paceman and Countryman for 2015.More gear for the same asking price - that's the message Mini is sending with its revamped Countryman and Paceman.The BMW-owned British brand has given the pair some extra pep as well for their arrival next month but the claimed $5000 worth of extra gear is likely to generate more interest.The brand says the added features include satnav, audio upgrade and trim tweaks Its dashboard will have a 'new-look" instrument dial layout and air vent controls. Denser sound insulation improve scabin refinement.Cooper S versions of each, and the All4 variant of the Countryman, will pump out an extra 5kW. External changes include LED fog/daytime running lights, heated mirrors and windscreen washers.Countryman owners are not necessarily expected to go off-road - a main road through to the snow is more likely - so in addition to the heating functions there's also a new Offroad styling package standard on Cooper S All4 and Cooper SD All4 variants.Mini says the improvements are worth $5000, but it says it is (generously) absorbing these costs and aligning the prices - the upgraded Countryman and Paceman will start from $34,150, which is a $50 rise for the former and a cut for the latter by $1650.Mini Australia general manager Kai Bruesewitz says the brand is in the middle of 'an exciting and eventful year".'The launch of the all-new Mini Hatch in April heralded a new era in Australia, with enhanced specifications and a major increase in customer value," he says.Sales have perhaps not reflected the maker's excitement, which is why staffers are looking forward to the five-door.So far this year only 1258 Mini vehicles have rolled from showrooms, a 17 per cent drop on its 2013 performance to the same point. Alfa Romeo and Porsche, among others, are outselling Mini.Bruesewitz says there is more to come from the British automotive icon.

Mini has announced pricing and details of the new Mini One entry-level hatch.The most affordable Mini, the One replaces the previous entry-level variant, the Mini Ray. The One delivers more power, greater economy, more sophistication and a higher level of specification at a lower price.Priced from $24,500, the Mini One comes standard with Bluetooth and USB interface, automatic start/stop with keyless go, servotronic power steering, Dynamic Stability Control including Dynamic Traction Control and Electronic Differential Lock as well as colour line in carbon black.It has the same technical and quality advancements in the rest of the new generation Mini hatch range, and when compared to the previous entry level model, offers buyers greater performance, improved comfort and more value for money.Mini One is powered by a 1.2 litre version of the three-cylinder engine currently found in the new Cooper hatch and delivers 75kW and 180Nm of torque. Fuel consumption is 4.9 L/100km (automatic is 5.0).