Mini: Cooper S on 2040-cars

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BMW will electrify all brands and model lines, including Mini

BMW has announced that it plans to produce a fully electric version of the three-door hatchback Mini. The car will go into production in 2019, and the battery electric drivetrain will be produced at BMW's Bavarian facilities, then transported to Plant Oxford where it will join the cars. BMW says there will remain a diesel variant in addition to the petrol, plug-in hybrid, and EV versions of the Mini. No prototype shots have been released of the upcoming cars; the current one was unveiled in late 2013. The UK production location isn't the only place where BMW builds Minis, as the former Volvo/Mitsubishi/Smart NedCar plant in the Netherlands has been tooled to build some of the 360,000 Minis built yearly. According to the BBC, UK Business Secretary Greg Clark considers the choice to build EV Minis in Britain a "vote of confidence" despite Brexit, and that it would see battery technology development boosted in the UK. By the time the EV version starts production, UK will likely have already left the European Union. The electrification of the Mini is part of BMW Group's continuing addition of full-electric or plug-in versions to all its brands and model series. Of all the vehicles it will sell in 2025, 15-25 percent will be electrified in one way or the other. Similarly to Volvo, BMW sees flexible production to be in a key position in the future: The facilities would have to be able to build all versions at the same time, as markets fluctuate depending on incentives and infrastructure. If EVs sell strongly, the production process can quickly respond to the demand. An electric Mini underwent trials back in 2008, so the full-scale production vehicle would have over a decade's worth of engineering behind it. Green BMW MINI mini ev bmw group

Help Mini decide on its next limited-edition Cooper

Mini likes to make a big hullabaloo about the number of ways its cars can be configured, which currently stands at 10 million. While that figure is impressive, the BMW-owned brand is always looking for new and unique design variations, a trend that has seen a number of special-edition Minis pop up over the years boasting unique color and trim items.
For the new, third-generation F56 Mini, the British brand is at it again. Only this time, the cars are designed and chosen by Mini's fans in a new contest. Called "The New Originals," Mini teamed its 10 Final Test Test Drive winners with an illustrator to design their perfect Mini, one of which will become the next special-edition model.
The ten cars are currently being voted on by the brand's fans on the Mini USA website, with the winner set to be announced at the 2014 New York Auto Show in April. A total of 56 examples of the winning entry will then be put on sale, making this one of the most limited of Mini's many limited editions. Voting closes on February 19, so hop over to the page and vote for your favorite.

Mini to open stick-shift driving school in California

Mini recently brought the manual transmission back to its line-up, and it wants as many people as possible to take advantage of it. It opened the Mini Manual Driving School at the BMW Performance Center in Thermal, California, to teach drivers of all ages how to drive a stick. You don't need to own a Mini to enroll in the company's driving school; the program is open to any and all motorists. It consists of a classroom portion, where students are presumably taught the basics of how to operate a manual transmission, and a hands-on driving experience, where they can apply what they learned in real-world conditions. It sure beats learning stick in downtown San Francisco. Mini notes the course will focus on vehicle controls, finding the clutch pedal's friction point, plus practicing smooth starts, stops, and acceleration. At the end of the course, the firm will test students on a timed course to ensure they're comfortable with driving a stick. Many drivers who don't know how to drive a manual car find it intimidating; this course was designed to make the stick-shift approachable. Autoblog learned from Mini that courses will start in the first quarter of 2023 and that dates will be set based on the number of bookings received; it's too early to provide a more specific schedule. Pricing hasn't been set yet. Related Video This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. MINI Driving Ownership Safety Hatchback