2007 Mini Cooper Base Hatchback 2-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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500-hp Acura V6 turns this classic 1974 Mini into a mid-engined sleeper

Originally designed on a napkin, the world-famous Mini launched by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1959 was envisioned as a cheap, practical city car for families on a budget. Now, 61 years later, it's a sought-after classic that many aftermarket companies hail as the ideal foundation on which to build their wildest dreams. Gildred Racing thought further out of the box than most by turning a Mini into a mid-engined, 500-horsepower sleeper. Starting with a 1974 model, the California-based firm removed the original four-cylinder engine (and the four-speed manual transmission bolted right under it, where you'd normally expect to find the oil sump) and completely stripped the interior. Only the front seats ended up going back in; the space occupied by the tiny rear bench is now home to a 3.2-liter V6 that started life under the hood of an Acura CL Type S from the early 2000s. It's mounted transversely, and it spins the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Acura quoted the six's output at 260 horsepower, which would be a healthy upgrade for the little Brit, but Gildred tuned it to 500 horses and 383 pound-feet of torque by making a long list of modifications (including, significantly, adding a supercharger). That's a 466-horse increase compared to a stock 1974 Mini 850, so the scope of chassis upgrades is long. It includes bigger brakes made by Wilwood, and a fully redesigned suspension. And, although packaging a V6 in a small, front-wheel drive car like the Mini was as challenging as it sounds, Gildred pulled it off admirably. The engine bay is now home to the fuel tank and the radiator, while opening the trunk reveals a huge exhaust. The trade-off, of course, is that there's no longer a trunk, but it's a sacrifice we'd happily make. Performance specifications haven't been released yet. Gildred simply said its 1,400-pound Super Cooper is "quite impressive," which we believe. The original wasn't; it took 34 seconds to reach 62 mph from a stop. Gildred also made several changes in the name of modernity. It added a 9.7-inch iPad where you'd expect to find a touchscreen for the infotainment system in a modern car, an Alpine sound system, a push-button ignition, power locks and windows, LED headlights, plus automatic A/C. We imagine the whole cabin gets hot when the V6 works up a sweat. The passengers sit on leather- and suede-upholstered Recaro bucket seats that are heated and cooled.

2018 Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 Drivers' Notes Review | Plug and play

The second-generation Mini Countryman debuted at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. In addition to the standard and S models, Mini added a new E Countryman plug-in hybrid model. That's what we have here, making our model's full name the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. It's distinguishable from other models by the green badges on the front and rear and on the charging port on the fender. There are a few changes inside, most notably a power gauge in place of the tachometer. The plug-in model combines a turbo inline-three cylinder engine with a 7.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The gas engine motivates the front wheels while two electric motors power the rear. Three drive modes — Max eDrive, Auto eDrive and Save — adjust the amount of battery pack usage, with Max using all battery and Save mode using the starter generator to keep the battery charge above 90 percent. The biggest Mini (for what that's worth) is still far smaller than nearly every other crossover in its class. It's three inches shorter than a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and four inches shy of an Audi Q3. As compact as it is, there's still a good bit of usable cargo space thanks to the wide hatch and flat-folding seats. Our tester rang up for exactly $40,000 and includes features like 18-inch wheels, keyless entry and ignition, Cooper S heated sport seats, a heads-up display and LED lighting. Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: The only thing I don't like about this electrified Mini is its name: Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL 4. That's a mouthful. You'd probably just say you bought a plug-in electric Mini Countryman and roll from there. And why would you spend time overthinking the name? The driving dynamics are razor sharp. Launches from stoplights with the electric fortification are brisk. Not in a cliched "this V6 Camry feels brisk" sort of way, but in a 29-degree February morning where the dog is walking too slow kind of way. I give Mini and its parent, BMW Group, a lot of credit for having the foresight to invest in electrification, adding performance and efficiency in a manner that's true to the character of Mini. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Then there's the traditional Mini goodness that shines through in the cornering and handling. I'm late for work. The light turns yellow. Am I stopping? Oh hell no. I'm not even slowing down. In this and all Minis, taking corners at full steam is expected.

Coming Mini Countryman JCW shows itself with new design and new logo

Mini clued us in that there'd be a John Cooper Works version of the all-new Countryman unveiled around the Munich Auto Show. We didn't get images of the go-faster Mini until now, Mini posting two exterior shots and two interior shots to its Instagram channel. As usual, Mini's made a number of subtle changes to the JCW that the average driver might not notice, but which brand fans and car spotters will quickly catch. The upper grille on the Countryman JCW is not only a different mesh pattern than the standard car, now done up like a checkered flag, it sits above a defined bumper structure bearing the same pattern graphic. The grille's set into a black surround, and above it, two faintly embossed channels lead to air outlets in front of the hood shutline. At the edges, breaks in the headlight DRLs turn them into a set of horizontal brackets. Further down, where the standard Countryman has small fog light recesses in the front fascia's corners, the Countryman JCW has a pair of tall intakes topped by the bumper and flanked by side curtains. Chili Red accents on the curtains match the same color on the mirror caps and roof. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The redrawn JCW logo appears on the plaque behind the B-pillar; Ford isn't the only one spiffing up its corporate identity. The previous logo spelled out the JCW name, with the "Works" bit set into a stretched, horizontal oval pendant. The updated logo sheds the pendant, placing the wordmark next to a checkered flag motif. Among the Instagram images, checkered flags appear again in the rear seatbacks and we have a feeling there are a few more around the cabin. Back outside, the Countryman JCW's taillights sport a stylized version of the Union Jack motif on the standard car above quad pipes poking through the rear bumper. This gas-powered Countryman JCW is anticipated to use the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder from the current car but with more output than the present 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. It's due sometime next year in all-wheel-drive form along with a gas-powered Mini Cooper JCW hatch. Mini product line chief Stefan Floeck told Autocar that come 2025, both the Cooper JCW and Countryman JCW will offer battery-electric versions.  Now that Mini has opened its BEV account, and by 2030 the automaker plans to go BEV-only, there might be a John Cooper Works GP sendoff at some point.