Mini News

The concept headed for the January debut points to the new larger Mini Cooper JCW arriving in the middle of 2014, and it will likely shed little of the show car's wardrobe on the way to the production line -- except perhaps the hand-finished surface of the grey and red livery.Features likely to survive are the larger air intakes in the front fascia to punt breeze into the engine bay, the JCW black-bevel grille and full LED headlights.Mini says the longer wheelbase and wider track of the new car have boosted the car's handling abilities, further helped by an aerodynamic bodykit with side skirts and rear apron with flaps and diffuser, sports exhaust and twin chromed tailpipes. The show car also gets a roof spoiler and a dimple behind the front wheelarch to channel air around the C-pillar.With the aerodynamics working in concert with weight savings and a tweaked suspension, Mini says the JCW offers 'hardcore driving fun'.While the new standard Mini will offer turbo three-cylinder engines, the JCW will continue with a four-cylinder, and although details are yet to be released it will logically have higher outputs than the Cooper S turbocharged 2.0-litre four's 141kW of power between 4700-6000rpm and 300Nm of torque at 1250rpm.  

Mini has just unveiled the new third-generation at the Los Angeles motor show, but only in one variation: the three-door hatch. However, other models are on the way, and our latest spy shots show the Cooper Convertible, snapped while being transported for testing.It's likely to follow very shortly after the on-sale timing of the hardtop -- March next year for overseas markets, and arriving here not long afterwards.Like the Cooper hatch, there's no reason to expect any startling departures from the Mini recipe, which means the convertible will carry on with a powered folding soft top. However there will be changes to the interior, echoing those of the hatch: the speedo and tacho have been ditched from the massive 8.8-inch circular gauge in the middle of the dash and moved to a more conventional position in the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel (with heads-up displays for upper spec variants).The plate-sized feature still dominates the centre of the dash, but now contains just audio and airconditioning controls and an optional reversing camera and satnav. There'll also be extra safety kit on offer with a parking assistant, and collision and pedestrian avoidance systems.Based on the new UKL platform we'll eventually also see underpinning some BMWs, the convertible will echo the hatch in offering more space, having grown grown in length, width and wheelbase. Mini says that translates to more cabin room and an additional 51 litres of cargo capacity.Drvetrains should similarly echo the hatch, with the entry level droptop powered by a turbo 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with outputs of 100kW of power between 4500-600rpm and 220Nm of torque at a low 1250rpm. The Cooper S convertible will carry a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, developing 141kW of power between 4700-6000rpm and 300Nm of torque at 1250rpm. Transmissions for all variants are a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed auto.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The new Mini arrives here early next year with new efficient engines, a larger body and some changes to styling, but largely continuing with the signature design recipe. It has however  grown 98mm in length to 3821mm, 44m in width to 1727mm and 7mm in height to 1414mm on a 34mm longer wheelbase at 2495mm to give more cabin room and an additional 51 litres of luggage space. There's big news under the skin too, where the Mini debuts the new UKL platform that will in time underpin more new Minis and some new models from parent company BMW. Watch the 2014 Mini Cooper unveiling video on our desktop site. _______________________________________  

The Mini Cooper hatch being unveiled this week will be followed in short course by a cabriolet and other versions, so design guru Theophilus Chin has put his styling brain to work on what the droptop Mini will look like.Singapore-based Chin has had experience in designing a couple of cars himself, and his informed renderings are usually a good pointer to the direction a car might take. In the case of the Mini, there's a blueprint to be adhered to, and he's respected that.The new Mini arrives here early in 2014 with new efficient engines, a bigger body and some styling tweaks -- on the outside it's largely confined to a slightly squarer nose and new headlights and LED taillights. But on the inside, the speedo and tacho have been kicked out of the plate-sized gauge in the middle of the dash and are now in a more normal position in the instrument binnacle. The massive circular qauge remains in place, but houses audio, aircon and an optional reversing camera and satnav.The Mini debuts the new UKL platform, and will be powered in the base model by a turbo 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with outputs of 100kW of power between 4500-600rpm and 220Nm of torque at a low 1250rpm, with Mini claiming a 0-100kmh time of 7.56 seconds (auto) and 7.66 (manual) and fuel economy of 4.5L/100km.The Cooper S gets a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, developing 141kW of power between 4700-6000rpm and 300Nm of torque at 1250rpm, with 0-100kmh times of 6.62 (auto) and 6.73 (manual)  and fuel economy of 5.7L/100km. The diesel Cooper D's 1.6-litre is gone in favour of a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel delivering 84kW and 270Nm, with claimed fuel economy of a frugal 3.5L/100km -- a saving of 0.3L. Transmissions for all variants are a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed auto.To see more renderings of the cabriolet, visit http://www.theophiluschin.com/?p=5694 

The new Mini arrives here early in 2014 with new efficient engines, a larger body and some changes to styling, but largely continuing with the signature design recipe. It's grown 98mm in length to 3821mm, 44m in width to 1727mm and 7mm in height to 1414mm on a 34mm longer wheelbase at 2495mm to give more cabin room and an additional 51 litres of luggage space.A slightly squarer nose and new headlights and LED taillights are the main exterior styling to the new car, but looking inside the cabin will give trainspotters clues, with the speedo and tacho moving from the massive 8.8-inch circular gauge in the middle of the dash to a more normal position in the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel (with heads-up displays for upper spec variants).The bistro-table sized qauge feature remains in place, but houses audio, aircon and an optional reversing camera and satnav. But the big news is under the skin -- where the Mini debuts the new UKL platform that will in time underpin more new Minis and some new models from parent company BMW -- and under the bonnet.The Mini Cooper is powered by a turbo 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with outputs of 100kW of power between 4500-600rpm and 220Nm of torque at a low 1250rpm, with Mini claiming a 0-100kmh time of 7.56 seconds (auto) and 7.66 (manual) and fuel economy of 4.5L/100km. The Cooper S gets a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, developing 141kW of power between 4700-6000rpm and 300Nm of torque at 1250rpm, with 0-100kmh times of 6.62 (auto) and 6.73 (manual)  and fuel economy of 5.7L/100km. The diesel Cooper D's 1.6-litre is gone in favour of a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel delivering 84kW and 270Nm, with claimed fuel economy of a frugal 3.5L/100km -- a saving of 0.3L. Transmissions for all variants are a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed auto.

It's the next Mini Cabrio, which obviously retains a folding fabric roof with glass rear window in a boxy mini shape. 

In the countdown to Halloween, Mini has released an ad that draws on well-known horror movie characters to showcase the Countryman softroader.The rear seats fit a hockey-masked villain from Friday the 13th, while another chainsaw-wielding maniac stashes his weapon in the boot and climbs in as well – both of them terrifying the young couple cowering in the Countryman.But it turns out the villians are themselves fleeing from an even more terrifying horror … 

There are already seven variants of the Mini, and you have to wonder how much further they can stretch or extend the vehicle. Latest reports suggest Mini owner BMW has found three more ways.The new Mini Cooper will be revealed mid-November simultaneously at LA and Tokyo motor shows, but the debut car may be only the first in what could be 10 different models -- including a plug-in hyrid. And there's still room for a sedan and sports car in the line-up.Mini boss Peter Schwarzenbauer revealed the family growth plans in an interview with industry journal Automotive News. “With the new ULK architecture, we currently have in mind eight to 10 models,” Schwarzenbauer said, referring to the new ULK front-wheel-drive platform that will underpin all the MINI variants plus several BMW models.The ULK platform will debut within weeks in the new Mini Cooper, but is also flexible enough to accommodate all-wheel drive as well as alternative powertrains.Schwarzenbauer also said future plans for Mini include electrification, and that a plug-in hybrid model was certainty. He also confirmed Mini is exploring the potential for a fully electric car -- similar to the Mini E concept -- but that nothing had been decided.The new Mini range is expected to arrive in Australia in the second quarter of 2014, and while we don't have final specification for our market, details of the available engine line-up have been released.For the first time we'll see a three-cylinder engine in the Mini Cooper, with new 1.5 litre direct-injected turbo 1.5-litre petrol and turbodiesel triples powering the volume variants, while the Cooper S will carry a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.The direct-injected 1.5-litre petrol offers 100kW/220Nm from 1250rpm (with 230Nm on overboost), the 2.0 litre develops 141kW/280Nm (with 300Nm on overboost), and the 1.5 litre turbodiesel gives you 85kW and 270Nm -- a lift of 3kW over the current engine.The 170kW achieved by the three-cylinder unit as used in the BMW i8 suggests that somwhere around 226kW is possible for the 2.0-litre John Cooper Works models -- which could see them offer competition to the hot hatch hero Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG.www.motorauthority.com 

BMW has confirmed key details for the new engine lineup for the 2014 Mini Cooper range, which will make its first public appearance simultaneously at the Tokyo and LA motor shows in November.The new F56 Mini Cooper will be available with a three cylinder engine for the first time, with new 1.5 litre turbo petrol and turbodiesel triples to make up the volume of Mini's most popular model. A 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine will power the Cooper S model, with the modular units developed by BMW for the first time.The first two Mini generations under BMW's stewardship used engines developed in conjunction with Chrysler and PSA respectively, and the new third-generation BMW model's petrol engines are related to the 170kw 1.5 litre petrol three used by the new i8 hybrid sports coupe.In Mini guise, the direct-injected TwinPower 1.5 litre petrol develops 100kW/220Nm from 1250rpm(with 230Nm on overboost), while the Cooper S-spec direct-injected TwinPower 2.0 litre makes 141kW/280Nm (with 300Nm on overboost).The new 1.5 litre turbodiesel makes 85kW and 270Nm, representing a slight power gain over the current 82kW/270Nm 1.6-litre four.Both petrol engines represent a gain on the existing 90kw/160Nm base 1.6-litre four, and the 135kW/240Nm for the turbocharged Cooper S, while a challenger for the current 155kW/260Nm and 160kw/260Nm John Cooper Works (JCW) range-toppers will likely come later.The 170kW achieved by the three cylinder unit in the i8 suggests that a figure in the vicinity of 226kW is possible for the 2.0-litre JCW models, which could make the smaller Mini a serious rival for the current hot hatch hero Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG.BMW claims that all engines will trump their existing counterparts for fuel efficiency and emissions with Euro 6 compliance, but exact figures will have to wait until the Cooper's November unveiling.Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will continue to be offered across the range, and a fuel-saving stop/start system will now be standard. Automatic models equipped with satnav will also be able to downshift in preparation for upcoming hills and intersections, using similar technology to the new Rolls Royce Wraith and Ghost models.Kerb weights of the new Cooper lineup have been minimised through the use of construction technology shared with the i3 and i8 models, but once again, Mini is yet to mention specific figures. The new model will continue the Cooper tradition of a dynamically-focused chassis, with a multi-link rear end and single-link spring-strut front end, and adaptive dampers will be available for the first time on Mini models.Following the Cooper's LA and Tokyo debuts, the new model is expected to make its way down under in the second quarter of 2014.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn  

The recall notice is for 329 of the Mini Countryman diesel and Paceman diesel sold between August 1 2010 and March 18 2013.Mini’s parent brand, BMW, says the defect means moisture can penetrate the plug-in connection of the adapter cable on the electric power steering, causing corrosion on the contacts and in some cases lead to the car catching fire – although there have been no occurrences so far in the local market. "There have been no reported incidences on this current recall in Australia," BMW spokesperson Lenore Fletcher said.The recall on the Mini models follows a larger one last week in which BMW recalled six diesel models: BMW 5 Series E60, BMW X5 Series E70, BMW X6 Series E71, BMW X3 Series E83, BMW 1 Series E87 and BMW 7 Series F01 & F02 – built between August 1 and November 30, 2009.The earlier recall notice cited a defect that means the electric contacts of the diesel fuel filter heating unit could short-circuit, leading to the risk of the vehicle catching fire – also with no local incidences reported.  However the notice also explains that the diesel fuel filter heater unit only operates at temperatures below -1° Celsius.BMW says owners should contact an authorised BMW motor vehicle service centre, or call the BMW Group Australia Customer Interaction Centre on freecall: 1800 813 299.