Category: MINI

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MINI

MINI Cooper S: F56 v R56

F56 MINI Cooper SMINI Cooper S

With the new MINI arriving, it’s timely to compare the new F56 Cooper S alongside the outgoing R56 model. Let’s start with the numbers:

2014 F562010 R56 LCI
Engine1998cc 4cyl turbo, 16 valves1598cc 4cyl turbo, 16 valves
Power141kW @ 4700–6000rpm135kW @ 5500rpm
Torque280Nm @ 1250–4750rpm (300Nm overboost)260Nm @ 1600–5000rpm (280Nm overboost)
Length / Width / Height3850 / 1727 / 1414 (mm)3729 / 1683 / 1407 (mm)
Wheelbase2495 (mm)2467 (mm)
Track (front/rear)1485 / 1485 (mm)1453 / 1461 (mm)
Unladen weight (auto)1160kg (1175kg)1140kg (1165kg)
Fuel tank44 litres50 litres
Drag co-efficient0.31Cd0.36Cd
0–100km/h (auto)6.8s (6.7s)7.0s (7.2s)
Max speed (auto)235km/h (233km/h)228km/h (223km/h)
Combined fuel consumption (auto)5.7–5.8l/100km (5.2–5.4l/100km)6.3l/100km (6.7l/100km)
CO2 emissions (auto)133–136g/km (122–125g/km)146g/km (155g/km)

As you can see the new car is a bit bigger, a bit heavier and a bit faster. A 6 litre drop in fuel tank capacity may not please some buyers, but at least consumption has improved. And can anyone come up with a theory as to why the filler cap has switched sides?

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MINI

New MINI launched at Plant Oxford

MINI F56 launch at Plant Oxford

The new MINI was launched overnight at Plant Oxford where production has already commenced. BMW Group is boasting about its £750 million investment across its UK production facilities. Naturally, UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, who was given a preview tour last month, didn’t miss the chance to wax lyrical.

“This £750 million investment is great news for both the local and wider economy, along with the 5,500 workers whose jobs are safeguarded by this launch,” said Mr Cameron. “Car manufacturing is a vital engine for growth. Production is back up to pre-recession levels and a car rolls off the line every 20 seconds in the UK.”

Plant Oxford currently builds the MINI Hatch, Convertible, Clubman, Clubvan, Roadster and Coupé. In 2012 a total of 207,789 new vehicles rolled off the line.

When BMW began building the new MINI at Plant Oxford in 2001 it had a staff of 2,400 and built 300 cars per day during a single shift. Today the employment numbers have grown to 4,000 and 900 cars are completed each day across two shifts. In all MINI has built 2.4 million cars since BMW took over production.

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MINI

Third-generation MINI revealed

F56 MINI Cooper S

After a very long gestation period MINI has finally revealed its third-generation Cooper and Cooper S models. Also along for the ride is a new Cooper D. The F56 is built on BMW’s UKL1 platform and this is the first model designed and built from the ground up by BMW.

There is a lot of information to take in and let’s first look at the key stats offered in the F56. All three models are turbocharged, but that’s where the similarity ends:

Cooper S
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.0 litre MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology (turbo charging, direct injection, fully variable valve control, variable camshaft control)
Power: 141kW @ 4700–6000rpm
Torque: 280Nm @ 1250–4750rpm; 300Nm with overboost
0–100: 6.8s manual; (6.7s automatic)
Fuel consumption: 5.7–5.8l/100km; (5.2–5.4l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 133–136g/km; (122–125g/km)
Weight (unladen): 1160kg; (1175kg)

Cooper
Engine: Three-cylinder 1.5 litre MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology (turbo charging, direct injection, fully variable valve control, variable camshaft control)
Power: 100kW @ 4500–6000rpm
Torque: 220Nm @ 1250–4000rpm; 230Nm with overboost
0–100: 7.9s manual; (7.8s automatic)
Fuel consumption: 4.5–4.6l/100km; (4.7–4.8l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 105–107g/km; (109–112g/km)
Weight (unladen): 1085kg; (1115kg)

Cooper D
Engine: Three-cylinder 1.5 litre MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology (turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, common rail direct injection)
Power: 85kW @ 4000rpm
Torque: 270Nm @ 1750rpm
0–100: 9.2s manual; (9.2s automatic)
Weight (unladen): 1160kg; (1175kg)
Fuel consumption: 3.5–3.6l/100km; (3.7–3.8l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 92–95g/km; (98–99g/km)
Weight (unladen): 1135kg; (1150kg)

As you would expect the new model brings with it a host of new technology and driver assistance packages. For the first time in a MINI there will be a head-up display, LED daytime running lights, a selection of switchable Driving Modes (Mid, Sport and Green), dynamic damper control and more.

The look of the new MINI is very much derivative from the R50/R53 and R56 predecessors. Although, the front-end of the F56 is the least visually pleasing we’ve seen to date. From side on and the rear the new MINI, to our eyes at least, looks quite good. It will be best to judge for certain when we see the car on Australian shores, which is expected to be early-ish next year.

A small selection of photos awaits after the break and we’ll be back to add more photos throughout the day. These are complemented by press material from MINI, including a full press kit PDF available for download.

UPDATE: New pics added showing the Cooper and Cooper S. When comparing the front-end of the Cooper to the Cooper S, the lower-spec model works best where the functional brake ducts from the higher-spec model are missing. It’s also interesting to note the designers have managed to fit an iDrive style controller in the centre console.

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MINI

MINI F56 leaked ahead of official reveal

F56 MINI Cooper S

Officially, MINI will be releasing photos and information for its all-new F56 model. Unofficially, the Bangkok Post has jumped the gun and won itself a heap of clicks!

Until MINI pulls the trigger, here’s some stuff they’ve already released which you can read over to pass the time:

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BMW MINI

1959 Austin Seven is “reBorn”

1959 Austin Seven restoration

On the eve of the launch of the all-new F56 MINI we bring you this very cool story about a 1959 Austin Seven restoration project. The rebuild was undertaken by VDL Nedcar, the Dutch company contracted by BMW to supplement production for the new MINI starting from next year.

The 1959 Austin Seven had been stashed away in a barn for 25 years and is one of around 4000 models originally built in the Netherlands from 1959–66. A team of five VDL Nedcar workers at the company’s facility in Born set about restoring the car to its former glory.

The car’s rebuild was documented on Facebook and the faultless restoration project will be sure to boost morale of the 1500 workers who will start production of the new MINI around the middle of next year.

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MINI Toyota Video

VIDEO: Episode 2 of Project Binky

Project Binky

Bad Obesession Motorsport is back with Episode 2 of its Project Binky experiment, where the aim is to fit a Celica GT4 drivetrain into the shell of an Austin Mini.

Actually this episode was first published a few weeks ago and we just remembered to check on progress. And the good news is that means we’re already much closer to the next update.

If you need to catch up we recommend you go back and watch Episode 1, where the team ends with the revelation that the Mini’s front-end doesn’t fit around the Celica’s engine. Who’d a thunk it! So, in this episode you’ll get to see how project leader, Nik Blackhurst, goes about getting his own way.

These guys deserve a much wider audience, so we reckon it would be a good thing for you to spread the word.

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MINI

VIDEO: F56 MINI Cooper S teaser

F56 MINI Cooper S

With less than a week to go until its full reveal, MINI has released an official teaser video for its forthcoming F56 model. And it goes a little something like this:

This is the self-preservation society
Jump in the jam jar gotta get straight
Hurry up mate don’t wanna be late
How’s your father?
Tickety boo
Tickety boo
Gotta get a bloomin move on

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MINI

Next-generation MINI product schedule

2014 MINI Cooper S

The all-new F56 MINI will debut in less than two weeks. We already know the F56, built on BMW’s UKL1 platform, could spawn as many as 10 different product lines. Thanks to MotoringFile here’s a look at what we can expect from MINI’s new era and when we’re likely to see it:

F56 MINI (third-generation hardtop)
Debut: 18 November 2013 // European sales launch: January 2014

F55 MINI five-door (rival to Volkswagen Polo and Golf)
Debut: 3rd quarter 2014 // European sales launch: 3rd quarter 2014

F57 MINI Convertible (underpinned by current R56 convertible)
Debut: 1st quarter 2015 // European sales launch: 2nd quarter 2015

F54 MINI Clubman (likely to have two suicide doors)
Debut: 3rd quarter 2015 // European sales launch: 3rd quarter 2015

F59 MINI Roadster/Coupe (may be combined as single model)
Debut: Late 2016/early 2017 // European sales launch: Early 2017

As a general rule MINI launches products in Australia 3–6 months after they have gone on sale in Europe.

[Source: MotoringFile | Pic: Autocar]

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MINI

Want a free ticket to the launch of the new MINI?

MINI F56 launch competition

MINI is starting to get excited about the launch of its all-new F56 model. They’re calling it “The New Original” and you could win a ticket to one of three launch parties to be held in London (18 November), Los Angeles (19 November) or, a little bit closer to home, in Shanghai (21 November).

For your chance to win just head over to the NEW MINI web portal.

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MINI

‘Frozen Black’ Paceman and Countryman announced

MINI Paceman JCW 'Frozen Black'

MINI has announced the arrival of a new Frozen Black metallic, a limited edition paint finish which will be available on high-end Paceman and Countryman models.

They say the “shimmering” finish is weather and car wash resistant. Although, care has to be taken when polishing and waxing so as not to result in an “unwanted gloss effect”. Naturally, BMW has a range of official care products available to ensure your not so shiny black paint stays as good as new.

Frozen Black can be optioned on Cooper S Countryman, Cooper SD Countryman, Cooper S Paceman, Cooper SD Paceman, John Cooper Works Countryman and John Cooper Works Paceman models. At this stage it’s not clear how limited the option will be, or if it will be available to Australian buyers. However, MINI states: “Due to the labour intensive process used to apply this exclusive body colour during production it is limited to a restricted number of cars.”

Let’s also assume you’ll need to pay for the privilege of that labour intensive process, but again, no word yet as to the expected cost of this paint finish.

We know there’s a lot of discontent out there about the Paceman and Countryman models. But we don’t car what anybody says, this looks cool! More after the break.

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Accessories & Tech MINI

MINI reveals F56 driver assist technology

MINI F56 driver assist systems

Ahead of its mid-November launch MINI has released information on the driver assistance technology to be found inside the all-new F56 model. In doing so we get a small preview of the car’s interior, at least the central screen in which much of the technology is viewed or accessed.

For the first time MINI will feature a head-up display. This will be projected onto a small folding screen in front of the driver, rather than on the windscreen as seen in similar systems.

Other technology includes collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function, speed limit info, traffic sign memory and no passing info, video-based speed and distance regulation, park assist, rear view camera and digital headlight assist.

Much of this technology relies on inbuilt cameras interpreting signs on the side of the road and filtering it into the driver’s in-car viewing. We wonder how accurate or useable these systems will really be.

More detail and pictures can be found after the break.

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MINI

2014 MINI Cooper S spied undisguised

2014 MINI Cooper S

We’ve seen undisguised spy shots of the MINI F56 before, but this photo of the 2014 Cooper S shows us the car in its final production state. The car in question was caught during a filming run and we now have some time to get used to that new MINI face before its official launch next month.

We also know the new Cooper S will be powered by an all-new 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo engine producing 141kW and 280Nm (300Nm with overboost). That information was revealed, along with other technical highlights, by MINI late last week.

Built on BMW’s UKL1 platform the third generation MINI will be the most heavily influenced by BMW we have seen. We fear some of MINI’s charms will be lost as BMW looks to component share with its 1 Series range.

[Source: Autocar]

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