2013 John Cooper Works New Turbo 1.6l I4 16v Manual Hatchback Premium on 2040-cars

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2023 Mini lineup gets smarter, more colorful

Mini has already announced the changes it's making to its line-up for the 2023 model year. The numerous special-edition models that it unveiled in February 2022 will be joined by new exterior colors, additional upholstery options and more available driving aids. While a completely new version of the Hardtop is on its way, the current-generation model will return for 2023 — it might be its final model year. Buyers who select the Signature or the Iconic version of the Cooper S or the John Cooper Works can order Zesty Yellow, which is an eye-catching color that was inaugurated by the 2022 Convertible. Multi-tone roof options are also available on the aforementioned variants. The electric SE's Signature and Iconic trim levels can be ordered in Island Blue, while Rooftop Gray leaves the palette. And, the Iconic trim level can be configured with Cloth Leatherette Black Pearl, Cloth Leatherette Black Pearl Light Checkered and Chesterfield Leather Malt Brown upholsteries. Mini notes that this is the first time it offers the Chesterfield Leather Malt Brown option on the battery-powered Hardtop. Park Assist and a head-up display join the list of features included in the Driver Assistance package, while adaptive cruise control is now a standalone option. In turn, this makes the Driver Assistance Package available regardless of whether buyers get a stick or an automatic, because adaptive cruise control isn't compatible with the manual transmission. And, yes: the stick shift is sticking around for 2023. Similar changes apply to the Clubman and the Countryman. The former is available with the same multi-tone roof option as the Hardtop and with the Driver Assistance Package regardless of transmission type, and the Driver Assistance package offered on both models gains Park Assist and a head-up display. Finally, the space-saver spare tire is exclusively offered as a standalone options on both bigger Mini models. Pricing for the 2023 model year stays relatively flat, which is a nice surprise. The only exceptions are the Cooper variants of the Hardtop, the Convertible and the Countryman, which cost $500 more than they did in 2022.

Even Mini's manual transmission take rate is only 11%

Of all the automakers we've talked with so far, Mini seems to sell the largest percentage of its cars with a manual transmission. A representative from the company shared numbers with us that show 11% of its 2019 sales have featured a stick. That beats Subaru's 7%, Volkswagen's 5% and Honda's 2.6%. It likely helps that Mini is a more niche brand, and it offers a manual on nearly every version of its cars. Still, it's sad that 89% of Mini owners decided to get an automatic anyway. The manual take rate between different models varies quite a bit. The high-performance John Cooper Works models are most frequently sold with a manual transmission. The two-door hardtop and convertible versions have the highest percentages for the JCW at 41% and 32%. The JCW Clubman and Countryman follow at 22% and 19%. We're not surprised that the fast versions of Minis are sold with a manual more often than others, but we're surprised that even with two in 10 JCW Clubman and Countryman models selling with one, Mini would drop the option from the new 301-horsepower versions. Unsurprisingly, other trim levels aren't purchased with a stick as often. The least popular is the front-drive Cooper S Countryman at 0%, followed by the regular Cooper Countryman at 1%. Then there's the Cooper Clubman at 3%. Weirdly, the all-wheel-drive Countryman and Clubman models always have a higher percentage of manuals than the front-drive models, with differences ranging from 2% to 10%. The two-door Minis are typically the most likely to sell with a manual even for core models. In the convertible, the 6% of regular Coopers are manual while 30% of the Cooper S are. That nearly matches the JCW convertible. For the hardtop, the regular Cooper's manual take rate is 11% and the Cooper S model's is 17%. These numbers will probably drop in the short term, though. Mini announced that it's temporarily stopping imports of manual Minis due to some emissions calibration issues. After a few months, though, we expect the manual sales to bounce back.

2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman All4

In just over a decade, Mini has expanded its modern range from the singular Hardtop model (launched in 2002) to a full range of little runabouts. The latest of these is the Paceman, and while European Editor Matt Davis gave us the full scoop on this model late last year, we recently spent time with the all-wheel-drive model just outside of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
It's weird, this Paceman. It slots in between the Hardtop and the Countryman (on which its based) in terms of size and functionality, and Mini says that it will appeal to a more style-conscious shopper. Key competitors range anywhere from the Nissan Juke on the low end to the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque on the high end.
After spending lots of time with the Countryman, we're convinced that maxi can still be Mini. And the same is true with this Paceman, too.