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2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP appears to have its Nurburgring time on the dashboard

Details on the 2020 Mini John Cooper Works GP hot hatch have been trickling out, and it sounds and looks impressive. It will have over 300 horsepower (probably at least 301 like the Clubman and Countryman), and it has wild bodywork like its concept. Mini has also been promising a fast Nurburgring lap time, with the only information given that it will be under 8 minutes. Before the company could announce it, someone found it on the dashboard of the car. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Twitter user Will Pierce shared a photo of the dash, and the time wasn't just on a piece of paper, it was molded into the plastic trim of the dashboard. Mini is really proud of it, but maybe they shouldn't be that proud because it's not a record, giving it the benefit of the doubt that it's front drive like past GPs. The time is 7:56.69. The current front-drive record holder is the Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R at 7:40.1. That's over 16 seconds faster. It also edged out the Honda Civic Type R's old record of 7:43.8. Even the third-fastest front-driver, the VW GTI Clubsport, did a lap in 7:47.19. In the grand scheme of things, Nurburgring lap times aren't that important. They're a fun bragging right, but there's much more that's important about cars than raw times. We're just giving the Mini a hard time because, well, if you're going to throw a time in someone's face every time they hop in the car, maybe you should make sure it's truly impressive. But we're sure the GP will be a riot, and we can't wait for more details and the opportunity to drive one.

Mini lifts veil on refreshed Countryman in New York

When Mini introduced the Countryman in 2010, it emerged as the brand's first crossover, its first five-door model and its first to offer all-wheel drive. It also arrived mid-lifecycle in the last generation of Mini Cooper hatchback, with which it shares little more than a passing family resemblance. Now that the Anglo-Saxon automaker is moving on to its third generation of retro hatch, it's given the Countryman a bit of a refresh to keep it current.
Unveiled today at the New York Auto Show, the new Countryman incorporates some very minor cosmetic tweaks to the exterior - so minor, in fact, that you'd be hard pressed to tell one from the other even if viewed side by side. Some subtle enhancements have been implemented to the interior as well, where the large central speedometer remains where it was in the middle of the dashboard (unlike the new Cooper hatch that moves it to where you'd normally find the instrument cluster, behind the steering wheel). The rear seats, however, offer more adjustability.
Mini will offer the new Countryman worldwide in an array of powertrain configurations, ranging from the bare-bones Mini One Countryman with a 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated four offering just 98 horsepower all the way up to the twin-turbo John Cooper Works with 218 hp - North American customers will get the latter, but not the former. The mid-range Cooper S has been enhanced by seven horses to deliver 190 hp, while overseas-only diesel models range from 90 hp to 143. Buyers will be able to choose between a six-speed manual or automatic and front-or all-wheel drive. There are also some new colors on offer and a host of optional equipment, all of which you can read about in the press release below.

2025 Mini Countryman E makes U.S. debut, arrives fall 2024

The 2025 Mini Countryman was revealed in electric SE ALL4 form at this year’s Munich Motor Show, but now itÂ’s time to see the base E version of the next-gen Countryman make its debut in the U.S. As you can see from the photos, the base E (painted in green) looks notably different from the SE ALL4. All of the gold-tinged accents are replaced with glossy black, and the distinctive panel aft of the C pillar nearly disappears into the design because it blends into all the other black-painted trim. The front grille design is similar, but it doesnÂ’t have the matte gold surround or the side intakes on the corners of the lower bumper. Of course, the green “S” isnÂ’t present either, and the look in general is far less sporty. Perhaps the most jarring of all the changes is the different (and much smaller) wheel design. Instead of the 20-inch flashy blades seen on the SE model, this Countryman E is rocking much more sedate 18-inch wheels in a traditional bright alloy appearance. All that extra sidewall makes the Countryman look more like the larger crossover that it is, and ultimately, our eyes tend to favor the larger wheel option. The Countryman EÂ’s rear design is largely the same as the SE, though the lower bumper features a painted insert instead of brushed brightwork. MiniÂ’s bright side sills are deleted on the E, as well, replaced by a simple, black plastic sill. Unfortunately, this reveal is largely just a reveal in photos. The only nugget of information Mini had to add is that this electric Countryman will arrive stateside in the fall of 2024. Basically, youÂ’ve got at least another year to wait until you can put one in your driveway. More specs and details for the U.S. market will be released in due course. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2025 Mini Countryman E View 12 Photos Green MINI Crossover SUV Electric