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Mini Countryman X-Raid gets some off-road chops courtesy of the Dakar team

Mini trades on its heritage quite a bit, particularly when it comes to racing. But one aspect of its motorsports history has been difficult to capitalize on: Dakar off-road racing. That's understandable, considering the disparity between Mini's road-going cars and the Mini-branded trucks built by X-Raid that do the racing. X-Raid itself seems to have figured out how to bridge that gap with its own set of upgrades for the Mini Countryman. X-Raid's example for its off-road upgrades is a Mini Cooper S Countryman All4, though we would expect the various parts could just as easily be fitted to other Countryman variants such as the base 134-horsepower Cooper Countryman. The S makes more sense for a racing company what with its 189-horepower turbocharged four-cylinder and the All4 offers off-road friendly all-wheel drive. Though Mini doesn't go into specifics about the suspension and chassis upgrades, we know that there is some level of suspension lift, as well as 28-inch all-terrain tires mounted on what appear to be 17-inch beadlock wheels. These modifications give the Mini Cooper S Countryman Powered by X-Raid (yes, that's the actual full name of the car) an extra 1.6 inch of ground clearance. As with the parts list, Mini and X-Raid haven't given precise pricing or availability for the parts. X-Raid is a German company, and we suspect it's only planning on selling the parts in Europe, but we wouldn't be surprised if there were a way to have them ship to the U.S. If you're interested in getting your own, Mini says to contact X-Raid directly for more details, and you can find their contact info at their official site, linked here. Related Video:

2022 Mini Hardtop Brick Lane Edition is inspired by London's East End

Mini announced three special-edition models in February 2022, and it's not stopping there. It unveiled a fourth car called Brick Lane Edition that draws inspiration from London's East End to give the two- and four-door variants of the Hardtop Cooper S more flair. Visually, the Brick Lane Edition stands out from the standard Hardtop with White Silver Metallic exterior paint, a Soul Blue roof panel, black door mirror caps, and chrome trim. Soul Blue, Frozen Blue, and Mint graphics on the hood add a finishing touch to the look while creating a link between the car and the bricks that Brick Lane gets its name from. Mini also added 17-inch wheels painted black, decals above the rocker panels and edition-specific badges on both sides. These changes are relatively minor, but they give the Mini a cool look. Leather-upholstered and heated front sport seats are among the highlights in the cabin. The long list of standard features also includes a panoramic moonroof, piano black interior trim, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and a Harman-Kardon surround-sound system. You won't find bricks or blue accents in the engine bay. Power comes from a stock, Cooper S-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that's turbocharged to develop 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. It spins the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, but a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic linked to a pair of shift paddles is available at no extra cost. Mini dealers across the nation will begin receiving the Hardtop Brick Lane Edition in March 2022. Pricing starts at $36,525 for the two-door model and $37,525 for the four-door, figures that include a surprisingly reasonable $850 destination charge. This isn't the first time that a British brand unveils a special-edition model inspired by London's East End. In late 2021, Triumph channeled the "the vibrant, custom-classic motorcycle culture of London's East End" into the head-turning Street Twin EC1 Special Edition. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Mini John Cooper Works Concept heading wide-eyed into production

We now know that Mini will offer a stupendous number of total models over the next few years, so it's fair to assume that most of the brand's concept cars have series production written all over them. So, a 'concept' like this new John Cooper Works Mini is more or less a mortal lock to hit showrooms in very similar trim.
That's probably a good thing for future JCW owners, as this Mini looks decidedly better than the standard car that debuted in Los Angeles late last year. Something about the bigger grille, lowered front fascia and pumped up wheel arches make the car more visually compelling than the weird-nosed 2014 Mini Hardtop. (At least to this author.)
By hey, don't take our word for it - with the official press release down below, and our box-fresh gallery of live images up above, you can make up your minds for yourselves. Tell us what you think in the Comments.