2008 Mini Cooper Convertible on 2040-cars

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Junkyard Gem: 2011 MINI Cooper Clubman

The original BMC Mini changed the automotive world forever in 1959, staying in production in essentially the same form all the way through 2000. Its innovative transverse-mounted engine and front-wheel-drive transaxle became the layout for most cars built in the world today, and its cheap price tag put millions of new drivers on wheels for the first time. Like the Volkswagen Beetle and Fiat 500, it was inevitable that the shape of such an iconic machine would be applied to a modern platform for the retro-ization craze of the late 1990s and early 2000s, and that's just what happened when BMW ended up owning the Rover Group. The BMW-built MINI Hardtop first appeared on our shores for the 2002 model year, and used-up examples of these cars are now extremely plentiful in self-service wrecking yards across the continent. The Cooper Clubman, which debuted here for the 2008 model year, has been a rare sight during my junkyard travels, and so I documented this one in Denver a few weeks ago. The Clubman wasn't quite as nimble and easy to park as the regular Cooper, but its increased cargo capacity and split rear doors made it a lot more useful for trips to the big-box store. It also offered more space for rear-seat passengers, and the right-side suicide rear door made it much easier to get into the back seat (on that side). The new MINI started out much larger than the clown-car-tiny old Mini, anyway. The added usefulness and more recent release of the Clubman have made it an uncommon sight in American car graveyards. This one was uncrashed and still had the original manuals inside, which suggests that some owners of first-generation (2008-2014) Clubmen are no longer willing to pay for major mechanical repairs when needed. We'll see how this sorts out during the next few years. As the owner of a 2000s wagon with a manual transmission, I applaud the original purchaser of this wagon for the choice of three-pedal setup. The interior looks to have been fairly tidy before junkyard shoppers tore it apart. The Colorado toll-road transponder suggests that this machine was a well-cared-for commuter for its decade on the road, but proved to be not worth repairing when some major component failed. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The future will look exactly like the MINI CLUBMANIA human-scale pinball machine. This content is hosted by a third party.

Mini Cooper SE Convertible revealed for electric top-down motoring

The electric Mini Cooper SE Convertible is officially a production car! Sadly, that production is exclusively slated for Europe right now, but if we all yell loudly enough, maybe we can get Mini to send some across the ocean. In reality, the chances of the SE Convertible coming here are nearly zero, if not zero. Mini is only making 999 of them as a small series experiment of sorts. Its powertrain and battery pack is the same as the hardtop SE. That means it’s sporting a single front motor with 184 horsepower. The 0-62 mph time for the Convertible is 8.2 seconds, and the electrically operated soft top (with a Union Jack) can be deployed at speeds up to 18 mph. Range is just 125 miles on the optimistic WLTP cycle, which is considerably less than the hardtopÂ’s max of 145 miles. Here in the U.S., the Mini SE is only rated for 114 miles on the EPA testing cycle. If Mini ever brought it here, weÂ’d expect the Convertible to suffer a similarly proportioned range penalty. Mini applies a number of unique exterior appointments to the SE Convertible. For starters, itÂ’s only going to be available in either Enigmatic Black or White Silver. The door handles, side scuttles and light/grille surrounds are then finished in bronze. All of the logos and model lettering gets painted in a glossy black. Plus, the “E” logo is displayed across the front grille with a bronze finish. YouÂ’ll notice “1 of 999” lettering on the side scuttles, and if you open the door to look at the sills, the same “1 of 999” emblem is present again. The steering wheel gets an “E” badge, and the interior is only available in a single spec. Black leather and heated seats come standard, and the glossy black trim does, too. Yellow accents, the same as you get in the Hardtop, all emphasize the electric nature of the car. Production will take place in the Netherlands, and cars will begin shipping in April this year. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. MINI Electric Pacesetter inside and out

Honda engines and giant killing in the classic Mini Cooper

Electric Federal has taken a fresh look back at the enduring legacy of original Mini with a video interview with Heritage Garage's Graham Reid, one of the foremost experts on classic Minis. As Electric Federal points out, it's important to remember that the Mini did not start out as a performance car. It was built in response to the Suez Canal crisis of the mid-50s, which had a similar effect on British gas prices as OPEC did on American prices in the 1970s - rationing and rapid price jumps.
Through the years, Minis have grown from their budget roots to become seriously competent performance machines. As Reid says, a 150-horsepower Mini on the right track should have no problem outpacing a contemporary Porsche 911.
For some time now, classic Mini owners have been dropping Honda engines under the tiny hoods of their classics. With up to 250 horsepower pulling a car that tips the scales at barely 1,200 pounds, the upgraded Mini is "a real sleeper," Reid says. Interestingly, Reid doesn't mention another increasingly common swap in the Mini community - Suzuki Hayabusa-powered Coopers.