2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible John Cooper Works on 2040-cars

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Mini celebrates 20 years in the U.S. with a special edition

Mini has been around for several decades, but its return to the U.S. was much more recent. The automaker is celebrating its 20th anniversary here, and to commemorate the occasion, it’s releasing the Mini 20 Years Edition based on the four-door 2023 Mini Cooper S Hardtop. Mini will offer the car in Chili Red, Pepper White, and Island Blue as a nod to both AmericaÂ’s and BritainÂ’s patriotic colors. Other exclusive accents include a silver roof, a red-white-and-blue hood and door stripes and unique 17-inch wheels. The MiniÂ’s cabin comes wrapped in black synthetic leather and features 20 Years badges throughout. A Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated seats and dual-zone climate controls are also standard. All 20 Years models get navigation with real-time traffic info, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and a digital gauge cluster. The Cooper SÂ’ powertrain remains in place, which includes a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. ItÂ’s paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and Mini offers upgraded suspension for $500. If youÂ’re interested in a piece of MiniÂ’s U.S. history, the cars entered production in July and are due on dealersÂ’ lots this month. Pricing starts at $37,165. Related Video:   This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Xcar takes the Mini Challenge, and it sounds awesome

The third-generation Mini is well and truly on sale in markets across the world. The new four-door model should be arriving soon, if it isn't already on sale in your neck of the woods, and the latest John Cooper Works model made its official debut just a few weeks ago at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. We aren't going to be talking about any of those right now, though. That's because our chums at Xcar took it upon themselves to sample the third-generation Mini Challenge racecar, a 275-horsepower, hardcore, fully committed competition version of the otherwise adorable Mini Cooper S. At roughly 30,000 British pounds (about $45,200 at today's rates) there's a lot to like about the Challenge car. Aside from a gutted cabin and aggressive aerodynamic kit, the racer has been fitted with slick tires, a Quaife sequential gearbox, adjustable dampers, Alcon brakes and a consequently lower curb weight – under 2,600 pounds with an average-sized driver. It's fair to say the Challenge driving experience figures to be unlike your typical road-going Mini. And considering that, we think the folks that built the car, Total Track, have fulfilled their promise of delivering a "touring car experience at a fraction of the cost." Have a look at the Xcar video and let us know what you think. Be sure to crank up your speakers, because the Challenge sounds excellent.

Supply chain issues force stick-shift out of Mini lineup

Mini has temporarily stopped building cars equipped with a manual transmission due to supply chain-related issues. The company decided to prioritize production of automatic vehicles, which outsell stick-shifted models by a wide margin, and the move might be permanent. "Current circumstances, including the war in Ukraine and semiconductor shortages, are causing supply chain restrictions across the global automotive industry. In order to secure maximum production output to meet increasing customer demand, our product offer needs to be simplified," a representative for the BMW-owned firm told British magazine Autocar. Mini added this is the best way to avoid delivery delays. Affected models include the two- and four-door variants of the Hardtop, the Convertible and the front-wheel-drive Cooper S Clubman. This isn't the first time that Mini goes automatic-only; it temporarily stopped importing stick-shifted cars in early 2019 due to calibration-related issues. While the manual quickly made a comeback, whether Mini will resume building cars with three pedals this time around is unclear. Similarly, what effects this decision will have on the American market (beyond the obvious lack of a manual transmission option) remains up in the air. There may be pricing implications. Adding a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to the 2022 Hardtop Cooper two-door cost $1,500, while the Cooper S model's automatic was priced at $1,750, so it's not unreasonable to assume that pricing will go up. Autoblog has contacted Mini to learn more about this decision, and we'll update this story if we hear back. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.