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2024 Mini Countryman SE caught undisguised in spy photos

Mini’s security for its photo shoots of new vehicles is, in a word, poor. One of our spy shooters just caught the all-new Mini Countryman SE completely undisguised on what looks to be a shoot somewhere in Los Angeles. It was only a short time ago that the new Mini Cooper SE was caught in a similar manner, no camouflage to be seen whatsoever. ItÂ’s almost too coincidental to be true, frankly. Is Mini trying to drum up hype by “leaking” the designs before weÂ’re supposed to see them? Or is this just a factor of poor security as we originally surmised? Regardless, these photos mean that we get to see the bigger, new electric Countryman SE in all its glory ahead of the official reveal. The Countryman was never a small Mini, but it sure does appear to be getting bigger with this generation. Its windshield and rear window are more raked than before, but itÂ’s still retaining the boxy look weÂ’re accustomed to. Its front end features some bold, new headlights, and its grille wears the green “S” logo that the Mini SE also wears. The wheels, while not as wild-looking as the current Cooper SE, still feature some rather distinctive blade-like spokes that match much of the carÂ’s decorative trim. A silver blade with “ALL4” written on it sits in the window between the C and D pillars, and it cuts into the roof, accentuating the step down in the roof as it arcs rearward. A long spoiler hangs off the rear, and the hatch has a slab-sided appearance to it. The rear taillights are unique and stand vertically on the wraparound rear fenders. “Countryman” is spelled out in large letters, and since this is an EV, thereÂ’s no exhaust poking out the rear end. Other small touches weÂ’ll point out include the patterned fender cladding that adds some styling in a place that usually doesnÂ’t have much. ItÂ’s also sporting new door handles that sit flush with the doors as opposed to handles that poke out, similar to new BMW models and the Cooper SE spied a couple of weeks ago. Mini has already released a few powertrain specs, and since we know this car pictured is an ALL4 model, we already know itÂ’s sporting a dual-motor setup rated for 313 combined horsepower. Range is said to be about 280 miles on the WLTP cycle, but that will be less in EPA testing. A lower-power, single-motor FWD model called the Countryman E will also be available with 191 horsepower.

Why the 2015 Detroit Auto Show will be the best since The Crisis

The Detroit Auto Show clearly has its swagger back, and the 2015 edition will be a veritable feast for the enthusiast senses. We're talking serious performance, and it will be exhibited in a variety of forms. Sports cars. Supercars. Muscle-bound luxury cars. They're all set for splashy debuts in January in the Motor City. It's another signpost that companies have recovered from the global economic crisis that gripped the industry from 2008-09. For a while, automakers played it safe at Detroit and other shows. Environmentally friendly cars were important, especially for General Motors and Chrysler that were living on loans from Uncle Sam. Ford, Toyota and other companies generally focused on their best-selling or core models. With a few notable exceptions, recent auto shows have been a bit more buttoned-down than in the past. Boring probably isn't the right word, but austerity has been reality. That's changing. Car companies are making money. Sales are up. Aside from the many nagging recalls – and they are notable – the industry now has the time and energy to make performance cars a priority. That will be offered in hard evidence in Detroit. A year from now when we look back at this auto show, we'll sum it up with one word: Horsepower. But make no mistake, this isn't frivolous. Sports and luxury cars are expensive. They're profitable. They boost images and highlight strengths. With that in mind, here are five significant performance-oriented reveals to watch for when the show kicks off in less than two weeks. 2016 Acura NSX Acura's reborn NSX is a strong bet to earn plenty of votes for our Editors' Choice awards. It's one of the most anticipated – and strung-out – reveals of the year. Think back: we actually saw an NSX concept at the 2012 Detroit show, and Acura has spent the last three years teasing the car in a variety of ways. The slow burn, however, means we know a lot about the NSX. It's will use a mid-mounted twin-turbo hybrid powertrain and run with all-wheel drive. It will also wear an innovative zirconium e-coat paint, a new paint process that Honda says is more environmentally friendly. Honda has also said it will build the new NSX in Ohio, where a large part of the car's development work has been done. The original NSX was produced from 1990-2005 and helped establish Acura's performance credentials in the United States. It was a landmark car and a shot across the bow of Ferrari, Lamborghini and others.

BMW's Mini plant closes for 4 weeks for the Brexit that didn't happen

LONDON — BMW's Mini plant in Britain is closing for four weeks starting Monday in a move planned over a half year ago to help the company deal with any disruption resulting from Brexit, which has since been delayed. The German carmaker, which builds just over 15 percent of Britain's 1.5 million cars, moved its annual summertime shutdown to April to "minimize the risk of any possible short-term parts-supply disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit." But Britain's departure from the EU has now been pushed back from March 29 until at least April 12 or potentially much later, scuppering the timing of major contingency plans for some carmakers. Shutdowns are organized far in advance so employee holidays can be scheduled and suppliers can adjust volumes, making them hard to move. "This is what our company and our workforce have planned for over many months, and it is fixed into our business planning," said a BMW spokesman. It represents the latest headache for Britain's once roaring car sector which had been on track for record production but since 2017 has posted sharp falls in sales, output and investment. The overwhelmingly foreign-owned industry has become increasingly incredulous as a stable and attractive investment environment descends into one of its deepest political crises, risking the free and frictionless trade the sector relies on. BMW's Rolls-Royce factory in Goodwood will close for two weeks whilst Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) three car plants and engine facility and Honda's Swindon facility will also shut for a few days this month as part of Brexit contingencies. It has been a turbulent few months for the sector after Nissan canceled plans to build a new sport utility vehicle at its English Sunderland plant and Honda said it would shutter its plant in 2021 in the biggest blow to the sector for years. Toyota provided a rare boost when it announced plans to build cars for Suzuki at its English car plant. BMW, which is also closing its central English Hams Hall engine facility and Swindon press shop and sub-assembly site for four weeks, has said it could move some engine and Mini output out of Britain if there is not an orderly Brexit. Carmakers face a number of risks if there is a disorderly Brexit, including delays to the supply of ports and finished models, new customs bureaucracy, the need to recertify models and an up to 10 percent tariff on finished vehicles.