Nother CarGuy

MINI has taken the wraps off the 2021 Countryman, ahead of its launch later this year. Looking instantly recognizable, the facelifted crossover has a revised grille that is flanked by new LED headlights. The model also has modified bumpers, restyled wheels and new Union Jack LED taillights. While the styling changes are relatively modest, designers also gave the Countryman a revised color palette that now includes White Silver Metallic and Sage Green Metallic.  There’s also a new Piano Black Exterior package which swaps chrome for high-gloss black accents on the headlight surrounds, grille and door handles. The updates continue in the cabin as drivers will find a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel and a newly optional digital instrument cluster.  The model also boasts revised trim and updated infotainment systems with 8.8-inch displays.  Speaking of the latter, certain systems now support Amazon Alexa.  Last but not least, there are two new leather options called C...

MINI will be visiting the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show to pull the covers off the John Cooper Works (JCW) GP, the brand’s fastest street-legal car ever and the most powerful in the subcompact hatchback class. Packing a 301 horsepower (306 PS / 225 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque, 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four, it has the ability to make your neck stiff in a fraction of a second. Nought to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) is dealt with in 5.2 seconds and the ungoverned top speed is 165 mph (265 km/h). Power is sent to the front wheels via an 8-speed Steptronic transmission with integrated differential lock. Peel away the bad-boy body kit and you will see lots of similarities to the regular Cooper S JCW. Nonetheless, the added parts contribute to the theatrical presence of the car and include CFRP fender flares that extend to the front and rear bumpers, as well as a huge roof-mounted wing, restyled diffuser that incorporates the central-mounted exhaust pipes, GP badging on the grille an...

MINI has just launched its first-ever fully electric, zero emissions model in the Cooper SE, a car that features a 135 kW (184 PS / 181 HP) motor, front wheel drive and a lithium-ion battery that offers a range of 235 to 270 km (146 to 167 miles). Since the battery is positioned deep within the vehicle floor, the car comes with no limitations in terms of luggage space, remaining just as practical as any regular MINI 3-door model. The MINI Cooper SE is of course, instantly recognizable as a MINI 3-door. However, there are also precisely applied accents that indicate its emissions-free drive system. So aside from the charger port (located above the right-hand rear wheel), there’s also an embossed MINI Electric logo, while yellow versions of this signet can be found on the lateral turn indicator inserts, as well as on the tailgate and front grille, which features a hexagonal contour. Further styling features include the yellow decorative bar on the front fascia, more yellow on...

David Brown Automotive has brought a trio of its Mini Remastered models to the ongoing Geneva Motor Show. After an unforgettable appearance at last year’s event which included displaying a Speedback Silverstone Edition with an embarrassing spelling mistake, the cute Mini Remastered models on display bring some retro appeal to an event filled with cutting-edge concepts and bold production cars. The David Brown Mini Remastered is much more than a restored classic Mini. In fact, the British company builds each Mini Remastered from the ground up with bespoke body panels. David Brown says it takes roughly 1400 hours to turn a donor Mini into the Mini Remastered. The only parts shared between the donor vehicle and the finished product are the engine and gearbox. David Brown Automotive also works its magic on the Mini’s interior. There’s plush leather found throughout and a new dashboard with aluminum knobs. What’s more, the company fits a modern Pioneer infotainment system with A...

MINI’s upcoming electric vehicle was recently spotted wearing less disguise and now the company has released the first teaser images of the hatchback. Set to go on sale next year, the unnamed model will build on the success of the MINI E pilot program which kicked off a decade ago.  More importantly, the car represents the next stage of MINI’s electrification plans. Since the car is still several months away from being unveiled, the company was tight-lipped on specifics and only released two sketches of components that will be used on the road-going model.  The first shows the car’s unique grille which is fully enclosed as electric vehicles don’t need an open grille like conventionally powered models. Despite the change, the grille retains its hexagonal shape and features a yellow accent bar to distinguish it from more mainstream variants. The second sketch reveals the stylish four-spoke wheels which will become a hallmark of the MINI EV. They carryover from last y...

The BMW Group's MINI brand has revealed a new logo, one which it says, combines "an awareness of traditional values" with "the spirit of future-oriented development". The new MINI logo will be visible on the firm's entire lineup from March 2018 onward. The automaker hasn't dramatically changed the design, as they took the current logo and simplified it, in a 2D version, with their name written in uppercase letters in the middle of a circle, flanked by restyled wings. This combination dates back to the early years of the classic Mini, and combines brand's traditional values with the modern era, which began in November 2000 under the BMW Group's ownership, when the MINI as we have come to know it celebrated its public premiere. Although the automaker doesn’t say it, there's a very good chance that the minimalist logo marks a new beginning for the company, one where 'electrification' is the key word, and product expansion their ...

MINI has introduced the new John Cooper Works Buggy which will compete in the 2018 Dakar Rally. Set to be driven by the X-raid team, the JCW Buggy is a rear-wheel drive model that is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel engine that produces 340 PS (250 kW) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. The model rides on a tubular steel frame and features unique bodywork that was developed in "close cooperation with MINI Design." While the model doesn't look like anything in MINI's lineup, the rally car is extremely lightweight as its body is constructed out of Kevlar and carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The rally car has already undergone an extensive testing program which has seen the model tackle tough terrain in places such as Morocco and Hungary. X-raid team manager Sven Quandt says these tests have been quite successful as the "buggy never had to stop once due to a technical problem." The JCW Buggy will be joined by the familiar ...

The wraps have just been taken off a new limited-edition Mini dubbed the 1499 GT. Designed to pay homage to the classic 1275 GT, the car will be limited to just 1,499 units in the UK market. The automaker says just like the car that inspired it, the new 1499 GT is affordable, offers unique styling features and an “entertaining drive.” Powering the Mini 1499 GT is a small-capacity Twin Power turbo three-cylinder engine with 102 hp, resulting in a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint time of 10.1 seconds. Visually, customers will be able to opt for Pepper White or Midnight Black paint. If Pepper White is selected, the car will feature distinctive black graphics. On the other hand, the Midnight Black paint is paired with gold side stripes. All 1,499 units bound for the production line include black 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted windows, and clear indicator lenses. Additionally, the 1499 GT has John Cooper Works front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a small spoiler and bespoke do...

MINI has taken the wraps off the new John Cooper Works GP Concept. Set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept draws inspiration from the company's accomplishments at the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. Looking decidedly aggressive, the car features a large front splitter and a honeycomb mesh grille with red accents. The sporty styling continues further back as designers installed extended front fenders, a hood scoop, and 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels with red and black accents. Continuing aft of the A-pillar, the concept has been equipped with aerodynamic mirrors and carbon fiber side skirts. Of course, the biggest change is the addition of widened rear fenders which channel air around the body. Other highlights include a massive rear wing and a center-mounted dual exhaust system. Since the concept was designed for racing, the interior has been stripped of all non-essential equipment. However, the company added an aluminum roll cage and two racing seats...

MINI has taken the wraps off its new Electric concept. Set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Electric concept was designed to appeal to city dwellers and offers a "window into how pure-electric day-to-day mobility might look in the years ahead." Looking like a futuristic MINI Cooper, the concept features a unique grille which is flanked by LED headlights and a sporty front bumper with "simulated air intakes.” The racy styling continues further back as designers installed flush-mounted door handles and fiberglass side skirts. There are also distinctive 19-inch wheels which have aerodynamic inlays that were created by using a 3D printer. The rear end is slightly more conventional as it boasts a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a fiberglass diffuser. MINI's British origins are also on display as the concept has bespoke LED taillights with Union Jack accents. Motivation is provided by an electric powertrain which uses a "powerful" m...

BMW has released details of its future electrification strategy, including on the upcoming all-electric Mini. Slated for production in 2019, the all-electric Mini will not be a model of its own; instead it will be a variant of the three-door Hatchback. The electric powertrain will be built at BMW’s e-mobility center in Bavaria before getting installed into the new model at Mini’s plant in Oxford, with BMW deciding to keep the production in the UK and despite the risk associated with Brexit. BMW Group expects electrified vehicles to account for between 15 to 25% of sales by 2025. However and since there are many factors such as regulation, incentives and charging infrastructure that will play a major role in the success of electrified vehicles from market to market, BMW Group will develop modular platforms that will be capable of hosting all three forms of powertrains: combustion engine, plug-in hybrid and fully electric. BMW also repeated that they will launch the i8 Roadste...

BMW has announced the launch of the new 8-Series in 2018 at its annual general meeting in Munich, bringing the fabled nameplate back, as part of its new strategy focusing on higher-margin sports cars. "We are refreshing our entire product portfolio and strengthening the performance side. Our strategy will focus on the luxury segment, where there are margins to be earned," Krueger said. The new BMW 8-Series will be based on the same modular CLAR architecture that underpins models like the 7- and 5-Series and plans to be positioned under the Rolls Royce Wraith in the Group’s range of models, in the “150k euros-plus” range (around $165,000), according to a report from AutoNews. The two-door coupe will hit the market in 2018, with a convertible version to arrive a year later. BMW still hasn’t decided if there’s going to be a fully-fledged M8 version yet, but a range-topping V12 model is definitely coming. Harald Krueger also gave an official timeline for other new mode...

Completing the  new generation Countryman’s range  is the hotter John Cooper Works model. The crossover’s full name in the USA and Canada is the 2018 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4, but we’ll keep it tongue-twister-free by referring to it simply as the JCW.  As with every other  JCW variant in MINI’s  lineup these days, the performance version of the Countryman uses the familiar 2.0-liter twin-scroll gasoline turbo delivering 228 horses and 258 ft lbs (350Nm) of torque. It’s paired to a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, both linked to a standard all-wheel drive system. Regardless of transmission choice, the Countryman JCW will hit 60mph (96km/h) in 6.2 seconds, making it 0.8 to 0.9 seconds or a blink of an eye quicker than the Cooper S Countryman ALL4, and reach a top speed of 145mph (233km/h).  A firmer suspension setup combined with stronger four-piston Brembo brakes, together with the drive mode ...