$63,825 Msrp Diesel Awd Premium Pkg 3rd Row Cold Weather Pano Warranty on 2040-cars

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More stick shift models added to MINI's 2024 lineup

While automotive journalists have called in recent years for their industry and consumers to “save the manuals," their campaigns for manual transmissions have fallen mostly on deaf ears. Except at MINI. No surprise. The take rate for a stick shift in a Mini is said to be 18% to 20%, and in John Cooper Works models, it's more like 40%. The figure for the auto industry in general is 1.4%, meaning that driving stick is all but a lost art — unless you're driving a Mini, or say, a VW GTI or Golf R. In a presentation this week detailing the changes and specifications of MINIs for the 2024 model year, one revelation stands out: additional hardtop and convertible models that can be ordered with stick shifts. Specifically, the list includes MINI Cooper convertible, the Cooper S ragtop, the Cooper four-door hardtop and four-door Cooper S. Production of those cars is scheduled to begin in March. In November, MINI USA, which is part of the BMW organization, announced the return of manuals in its Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works 2-door hardtops. Here's a pricing breakdown: Regarding other updates announced, MINI will continue to offer “special” editions — Untamed, Untold and Resolute — that launched a year ago and received additional enhancements in November that included new body colors, interior upholsteries, and engine variants. These three editions can be had on the respective models equipped with the Iconic Trim. MINI also says it will reintroduce the base Classic Trim to all Hardtop, Clubman, and Countryman models, and the Signature Trim will feature MINI Navigation as included equipment, with Advanced Real Time Traffic Information built in. In December, the company introduced a pair of tricked-out convertibles named the "Seaside Edition" that can be optioned in Nanuq White or Caribbean Aqua colors. Those models should be hitting dealers right about now, MINI says. 

Are you the next BMW X5?

Who knew that diecast model makers could be such a good source of leaks? Less than a month after a diecast model 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA in China, someone overseas at Diecast Empire or Jadi Modelcraft could get a bath in boiling oil for leaking uncamouflaged images of the next-generation BMW X5.
Naturally, that assumes that this image from a brochure from a Jadi brochure is indeed the F15 BMW X5 - it was posted to Diecast Empire's Facebook page. In its favor, the lines all add up if we compare it to the most revealing spy shots we have of the coming crossover - the headlight corners, the metal trim separating the kidney grille from the opening just above the license plate, the cut of the swage line, and the fact that the model picture reveals all of the most important character pieces that BMW has kept covered.
There's something written on the door of the model image that isn't in the spy shots, but that could be an xDrive badge. We will see the genuine article soon enough and we'll know for sure. For now, we might have already seen its facsimile in miniature.

BMW Neue Klasse X revealed, 2025 Mini Countryman JCW and SE driven | Autoblog Podcast #824

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski. In the news, BMW revealed the Neue Klasse X EV, Jeep Wrangler drops the V8, Ford Mustang gets a 810-horsepower supercharger kit and Shell leans into EV charging. We look back on the life and designs of Marcello Gandini. We discuss the various automatic shifters that are now on the market. We talk about driving the Mercedes-Benz CLA, as well as the 2025 Mini Countryman JCW and the electric Countryman SE. Finally, we help a listener pick a newish truck or SUV for around $40,000 in this week's "Spend My Money" segment. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #824 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown BMW Vision Neue Klasse X Revealed: Looking to the past to build a better future Jeep Wrangler bids farewell to the V8 with 2024 Rubicon 392 Final Edition Ford Performance supercharger kit gets Mustang 810 hp with a warranty Shell to unload 1,000 retail locations in pivot to EV charging Marcello Gandini dies at 85. Here's a look at some of his famous designs A discussion on automatic shifters Cars we're driving 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4Matic 2025 Mini Countryman JCW and SE Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: Design/Style Green Podcasts BMW Ford Jeep Mercedes-Benz MINI Electric Luxury Performance