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Mini adds limited-edition Coral Red model to 2021 Hardtop line-up

Mini stylists took a trip to the design well and came back with a limited-edition model named Coral Red inspired by the brand's heritage. Offered with two or four doors, it's scheduled to arrive in showrooms this month. As its name clearly implies, the Coral Red edition primarily stands out from the Cooper S it's based on with Coral Red Metallic paint borrowed from the Clubman's palette. Black paint on the door mirrors and on the roof adds a touch of contrast. Mini also added 17-inch Rail Spoke wheels, LED lights at both ends, plus a long list of piano black trim pieces including the headlight bezels, the door handles, and the emblems. Photos of the interior haven't been published yet, but the BMW-owned firm noted the Carbon Red edition gains additional piano black trim in the cabin. It also receives black leatherette upholstery. Mini made no mechanical changes, so power for the Coral Red comes from the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as the Cooper S. It's turbocharged to deliver 189 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque at 1,350 rpm, and it once again spins the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Alternatively, buyers who want two pedals can order a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic at extra cost. Approximately 300 examples of the Coral Red have been earmarked for the American market. Pricing starts at $34,125 for the two-door and $35,370 for the four-door, figures that include a mandatory $850 destination charge. In comparison, the standard Cooper S costs $28,100 with two doors and $29,100 with four. Why Coral? Although the pink-ish Coral Red color comes from the Clubman, the first Mini to wear something like it was the 1100 Special model introduced in 1979 to celebrate the Mini's 20th anniversary. It was one of the first in a shockingly long line of limited-edition variants released largely to hide the fact that British Leyland (and, later, the Rover Group) either didn't know how to replace the original Mini or didn't have the money required to fund the project, depending on the era, market conditions, and who was in charge of either company at a given time. Sold exclusively in England, the 1100 Special was available in two metallic colors named Silver Grey (shown above) and Rose, respectively; the latter was close to 2020's Coral Red hue. Silver cars featured a black vinyl roof, while Rose cars were topped with beige vinyl.

Mini Clubman finally released with All4 all-wheel drive

Update: Mini has just revealed US pricing. The Mini Cooper Clubman All4 will start at $26,750, and the Cooper S Clubman All4 will start at $30,300. Both prices include destination. By now, you're surely familiar with the joke about how cars from Mini are no longer... well, mini. We won't repeat it here (oops, too late), except to say that the first vehicle that really pushed Mini's historic boundaries was the original Clubman in 2008. That machine featured a stretched wheelbase, an extra door on one side and an unconventional barn-door-style rear opening. For 2016, the Clubman recipe was revised with an even longer wheelbase and more conventional side doors, though still with the split rear hatch. Now, finally, the Mini Clubman is available with all-wheel drive. As you would expect from Mini, the new Clubman carries All4 branding. A propellor shaft sprouts from the front differential, and a new rear diff is added with an electrohydraulic clutch to send power to the rear wheels when needed. Mini promises that its All4 system will not only be a boon in inclement weather, but will also aid high-speed handling. We look forward to putting those claims to the test. Drivetrain options are borrowed from the standard front-wheel-drive Clubman range. A 134-horsepower three-cylinder comes in base Clubman models, and a 2.0-liter mill with 189-hp powers upgraded Clubman S models. An eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters and launch control is optional, though shift-yourself purists will surely opt for the standard six-speed manual. Mini says the Clubman S All4 can record a 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds with the automatic, or 6.7 with the manual. That's a couple tenths quicker than the front-drive Clubman S. Cargo space remains at 17.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, or as much as 47.9 with the back seats folded, so the rear differential and propellor shaft don't impinge on passenger space. Fuel mileage figures haven't yet been released, but we'd expect a small drop from the standard Clubman's 25 city and 35 highway ratings. We'd also count on a price increase of a few thousand dollars to get all-wheel drive. Feel free to peruse the press release below for more information. SUPREME DRIVING FUN IN EVERY SITUATION: THE NEW MINI CLUBMAN ALL4 Woodcliff Lake, NJ – January 19, 2016 – The market launch of the new MINI Clubman sees the latest model generation of the British brand embark on its advance into the premium compact segment.

Mini JCW E PROtotype is a full-fat electric John Cooper Works

Mini has been revealing or teasing or launching variants of its all-new lineup since last September. It's not too much yet, but there's a lot of Mini going on. Here's the latest, the camouflaged Mini Cooper JCW E Prototype that will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed for a run up the hill, introduced to us six weeks after Mini showed us a camouflaged internal-combustion Cooper JCW. And, if you'll remember, Mini showed an electric version of the new Cooper SE JCW last December. This JCW is going to rock more juice down electric avenue, though, the automaker saying there's an "advanced electric powertrain ... with cutting-edge technology" hiding under the skin. The expectation is that the JCW E will use the same 54.2-kWh battery as in other Minis, but its front-mounted motor will make more than the 215 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque applied to the Cooper SE and Cooper SE JCW. Brand execs told Autocar that engineers worked to maintain a "go-kart feeling," imparting similar sensations to the gas-powered JCW, the electric version's greater weight getting necessitating larger wheels and wider tires to improve grip. A stiffer suspension and larger brakes should also be involved. And although the new architecture can support a dual-motor powertrain, there seems little chance of that happening.     Same as the gas-powered Mini, the red and white camo is an homage to the red and white color schemes used in the 1960s for Minis in motorsports. The "37" logo commemorates the #37 Mini Cooper winning the 1964 Rallye Monte Carlo. Across the windshield, "Bulldog Racing" touts the team that won its class in this year's Nurburgring 24-Hour race with a new camo'ed Mini.  After the Mini JCW E's Prototype's run up the hill next weekend, the automaker says the global reveal comes in autumn this year.