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2020 Mini Countryman gains discounted Oxford Edition, program opens up to everybody

Mini is extending the Oxford Edition program to the 2020 Countryman and making all Oxford Edition pricing available to the public at large. Previously, Mini only offered the Oxford Edition pricing to recent college grads, graduate students and active and recently retired military personnel. It was also limited to the two-door and four-door Hardtops. Similar to the excellent value added by the Hardtops, the Countryman also adds a fleet of standard equipment for a discounted price. The base price of a Countryman is $29,750, including the $850 destination charge. A Countryman Oxford Edition starts at $26,750, representing a $3,000 discount off the bat. However, Mini throws in a bunch of equipment from the mid-level Signature trim that makes this an even tastier dish. You get 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, automatic climate control, an anthracite headliner and additional paint color options. Mini says that those added options represent $5,500 worth of added value over a base Countryman. Those up north will also be glad to hear that Mini is offering the same deal for the Countryman ALL4 with all-wheel drive. Simply add $2,000 to the front-drive model, and you’re left with a price of $28,750 — all the same equipment as the front-drive car is onboard. The Countryman was a rather pricey proposition before, but this makes it much more appealing. WeÂ’ll note that this deal is being offered on 2020 Countrymans, so the dual-clutch automatic transmission is the only option. 2021 Minis are said to be regaining three-pedal options, but Mini hasnÂ’t confirmed manual transmission offerings for the Countryman or Clubman yet. 2020 Countryman Oxford Editions will begin arriving at dealerships in “limited numbers” starting in July. Pricing for the 2021 Cooper Hardtop is also available now. Thankfully, itÂ’s no more expensive than it was before, with the two-door slotting in at $20,600. A four-door is $1,000 more at $21,600. You can read our thoughts on the package in our Oxford Edition review here. 2019 Mini Oxford Edition View 6 Photos

Mini Hardtop Oxford Edition priced as the range's value champion

Mini has released pricing information for the 2022 Hardtop Oxford Edition, a value-oriented trim level positioned as the entry point into the range. Offered with two or four doors, it's surprisingly just as affordable as it was in 2018. The Oxford Edition is an evolution of the Classic trim, which was updated with a new-look design for 2022. It comes standard with 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster, and several electronic driving aids. It's the cheapest Mini, but it's clearly not cheap in every sense of the word. Buyers have six exterior colors to choose from, and they can select black or gray wheels. Oxford Edition models share their drivetrain with the standard Hardtop Cooper. Power comes from a turbocharged, 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, which produces 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. It spins the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Light and nimble, the Cooper is close in spirit to the original Mini. Pricing for the 2022 Oxford Edition starts at $20,600 for the two-door model and $21,600 for the four-door, figures that include a mandatory $850 destination charge. In comparison, the 2019 models launched in 2018 cost exactly the same; even the destination charge hasn't increased, which is extremely unusual in the automotive industry. Mini notes the Oxford Edition represents a $6,150 value. Ordering a standard two-door with the aforementioned features would increase its price to $26,750 including destination, while a four-door would cost $27,750. Buyers willing and able to stretch their budget can order the Oxford Plus package, which bundles a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a panoramic sunroof (two of the Hardtop's most popular options) for $1,500. While the first Oxford Edition was initially only for college students and recent graduates, and later also for military members and recent retirees, Mini told Autoblog the 2022 model can be ordered by all buyers regardless of where they work, if they work, and whether they go or went to college. It's available now across the nation.

Cargo ship carrying 1,200 Jaguars and Land Rovers deliberately run aground [w/video]

A cargo ship carrying a load of new cars out of Southampton has run aground in the English Channel in between England and the Isle of Wight. The vessel apparently suffered some sort of failure just 45 minutes after leaving port that caused it to list heavily to the starboard side before the crew deliberately beached it on Bramble Bank to prevent the ship from capsizing altogether. The vessel, called the Hoegh Osaka, is a 590-foot car carrier weighing some 57,000 tons and registered in Singapore. Although several automakers (including Honda and Bentley) were reportedly looking into whether they had cars on board, the vessel is said to have been filled to approximately one-third its capacity, with 1,400 vehicles on board – including 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, 65 Mini models and one Rolls-Royce Wraith. 70 to 80 pieces of construction equipment were also said to be on board. The Hoegh Osaka was en route from the southern British port of Southampton to Bremerhaven, Germany. Fortunately, no major injuries have been reported. The crew was mostly airlifted by helicopter off of the beached ship, with two crew members evacuated by lifeboat. One crew member reportedly jumped over 25 feet off the ship into the water before being immediately retrieved by rescue workers. According to the Daily Mail, two crew members were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, including a broken leg. It may take several days, if not longer, to extract the vessel from the sand bank and ascertain the damage to the ship and its cargo. An early attempt to free the ship with tugboats failed, meaning that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency may have to wait until more favorable high tides to try again before towing the ship back into the port. Bramble Bank, where the vessel was run aground, is a well-known obstacle to maritime navigators. The Queen Elizabeth 2 ran aground there in November 2008 with 1,700 passengers on board, but was quickly freed by four tugboats and was able to continue on its way. Two local yacht clubs also play a cricket match there every year at low tide. The vessel's operator, Hoegh Autoliners, praised the skill and quick thinking of the crew in acting to prevent the ship's capsizing by running her aground on the soft, sandy shoal. Watch the clip below for aerial footage of the beached ship, courtesy of the BBC. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.