2012 Mini Cooper Countryman Base Hatchback 4-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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Mini John Cooper Works previewed in camo keeping gas performance alive

Curious about the next Mini Cooper JCW? Well, here’s a great sneak peek, as Mini just dropped a cache of photos showing it in race guise and wearing a thin layer of camouflage. WeÂ’ve already seen the electric John Cooper Works version of the two-door hardtop Mini, but this is the gas-powered variant. Many of the design elements weÂ’re seeing here like the grille, front lower side vents, rear bumper and more should make their way to the production car, which Mini says will be revealed this fall. The grille might be new, but it looks a whole lot like the front end we saw on the outgoing Mini Cooper JCW. That said, it adopts the new shape and minimalist vibes from the 2025 Mini weÂ’ve seen in the less-sporty variants. The rear end with its taillights are what we expect from the production car, though the rear diffuser shouldnÂ’t be anywhere near that aggressive. The specific car youÂ’re looking at here is covered in red and white camo as an homage to the red and white color schemes used in the 1960s for Minis in motorsports. It also has a “37” logo to commemorate the Mini Cooper SÂ’ victory (a car wearing 37) at the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo. We still donÂ’t know specs, but since Mini is done with manual transmissions, expect this JCW to feature an automatic paired with an updated version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the outgoing model. It should also feature a sportier version of the interior weÂ’ve already seen in the new Cooper. All the details will be made available before the year is out, but for now, enjoy these photos as a preview of whatÂ’s to come.

2022 Mini JCW Convertible Road Test | A champion of fun

The 2022 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible just wants to have fun. It’s not the best performance bang for your buck. Beauty isnÂ’t its strong suit. And the interior isnÂ’t making up for other shortcomings — LOL if you want to make use of the trunk or put an adult in the backseat. But dammit. The JCW Convertible sure knows how to spread a smile across your face. It all starts with the little 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder under the striped hood. Mini attaches one of the shoutiest exhausts available on any car to this engine, and itÂ’s literally popping and crackling with character. Lose the roof, and youÂ’re simply that much closer to the theatrics. Nobody expects this tiny car to make such angry sounds, but no matter what mode or setting youÂ’re in, the JCW makes it known that the drive is about to be an experience. We knew all of the above from driving past JCW models, but Mini made a number of changes to the 2022 JCW lineup that applies to both the Hardtop and Convertible. WeÂ’ll start with the looks, as theyÂ’re easily the most controversial of the bunch. Mini gave the JCW a totally new front with updated LED headlights and a much larger grille with squared-off openings for greater engine cooling capacity. It all looks drastically meaner than the previous JCW. What that car's grille was still ensconced in honeycomb, the face had a playful and friendly demeanor. The new JCW face is looking at you with a bloodthirsty hunger for air and incoming bugs. We will say that photographs donÂ’t portray it in the best light, as even though it may appear tall and menacing without scale, the MiniÂ’s small overall size dampens the grilleÂ’s effects. Beyond the changes up front, Mini has fitted the JCW with a new rear diffuser and retained its signature Union Jack taillights that are oh-so-fun to see at night. It all hangs together well enough, but we canÂ’t be calling the Mini cute anymore. Instead of resembling a soft, friendly rabbit, itÂ’s much more of a rabid raccoon now. Another important change for 2022 is a newly-tuned and optional adaptive damping system. Mini says new frequency-selective damper tech allows the car to ride a hair smoother on poor roads. Meanwhile, its stiffest setting is 10% more aggressive than before, increasing agility even further on the track, Mini claims. However! Our test car was not fitted with these dampers, and instead had the standard, fixed JCW Sport suspension.

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.