2003 Mini Cooper S 6 Speed Manual Pano Roof Xenon Only 67k Miles Stunning Yellow on 2040-cars

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MINI Cooper SE Convertible concept is a one-off EV for sun worshippers

Mini rummaged through its parts bin to create a new concept called Cooper SE Convertible. As its name implies, the electric ragtop was built by dropping the Cooper SE hatchback's battery-powered drivetrain into the body of a gasoline-powered Cooper S Convertible. Visually, the Cooper SE Convertible stands out from its gasoline-powered sibling by adopting some of the Cooper SE's defining styling cues. It wears a plastic panel instead of a grille, an array of powertrain-specific emblems, yellow accents, and 17-inch Power Spoke wheels. Mini also added a handful of "THIS TOY IS ELECTRIC" decals, and it kept the power-operated soft top that opens or closes in 18 seconds. Power comes from the Cooper SE's electric drivetrain, which consists of an electric motor that draws electricity from a 28.9-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack to zap the front wheels with 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. The hatchback's maximum driving range checks in at about 110 miles, which is hardly a stellar number, and we don't know what effect chopping off the top has on that figure. Mini stresses that the Cooper SE Convertible is not a production model. We're not surprised: the current-generation Hardtop is at the end of its life cycle and its successor should make its debut in the not-too-distant future. However, the concept suggests (though nothing is official yet) that the next-generation Convertible will be offered with an electric powertrain. And while drop-top sales are dropping around the world, but Mini said in 2021 that it won't leave the segment. The next Mini Convertible is tentatively scheduled to make its debut in 2025. Related Video This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Judge to approve settlement of Mini CVT lawsuits

BMW has agreed to settle a number of class-action lawsuits out of court. The suits stem from drivetrain issues on the 2001 to 2006 R50 Mini Cooper - in particular, its continuously variable transmission. The transmission was known to fail, often without warning on otherwise healthy and well-maintained vehicles. This wasn't the only major issue to afflict the original BMW-era Mini models.
According to legal site Topclassactions.com, the suits alleged that BMW knowingly hid the defects in the CVT from customers while informing dealers of the issue. The first suit was filed in 2011, while four additional suits have followed. Now, BMW has reportedly settled, offering to reimburse 1,200 owners that needed repairs within eight years or 150,000 miles of their purchase. Repair prices for the transmission range from $6,000 to $9,000.
Under the agreement, BMW will also offer up to $4,100 to members of the suit that had fixes performed at a third-party shop, while owners who sold their cars at a loss due to the issues are slated to receive up to $2,000. Finally, owners who are part of the suit will be warrantied for a further eight years and 150,000 miles.

2025 Mini Countryman goes electric, gets bigger at Munich Motor Show

This is the 2025 Mini Countryman, and just like the new Cooper, Mini is revealing it in electric form first.  However, unlike the Cooper, the Countryman is growing in size by a lot. It’s now 5.1 inches longer, 2.4 inches taller and 0.8 inch wider than before. Its longer wheelbase and wider track width really accentuate the growth in size. For reference, the new Countryman is very similar in size to the new Niro. MiniÂ’s new Countryman wears its size well, as it does so with a combination of ruggedness and high fashion all-in-one. Its colored accents, large wheels, distinctively shaped headlights and simplistic body lines come together to create a classy but still forward-thinking look. Since Mini is introducing electric versions of the Countryman for this generation, it focused on reducing the coefficient of drag versus the old model, and itÂ’s gone from 0.31 to 0.26 in the new car. Two electric versions are being revealed now, including the Countryman E and Countryman SE ALL4. The basic E has a single electric motor good for 204 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, which gets you from 0-62 mph in 8.6 seconds. The sportier Countryman SE has two electric motors for all-wheel drive, which boosts output to 313 horsepower and 364 pound-feet of torque. This gets you a rather quick 0-62 mph time on just 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. Range for the single-motor E is 287 miles on the WLTP cycle, while the SE takes a hit down to 269 miles – both are packing 64.7 kWh battery packs. Expect those range figures to be lower in EPA testing. Charging the electric Countryman offerings will be even more convenient than the electric Coopers, as the maximum charge rate is a solid 130 kW. Mini claims thatÂ’s good for a 10-80% charge in under 30 minutes. And if youÂ’re at home, the Countryman features rapid 22 kW AC charging if you have the right hardware to support it. There will be gasoline variants of the Countryman at the end of the year, too, with the base model and an upgrade model adopting the S ALL4 moniker. Mini says they will use updated and more powerful engines. Europe will get a diesel version, and there will also be a John Cooper Works performance variant at some point down the road. When it comes to fun driving, Mini again promises the Countryman will be an engaging to-drive crossover.