2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible 6 Speed Manual 2-door Convertible on 2040-cars

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Manuals return to the Mini lineup for 2021

The 2021 Mini Cooper will offer a manual transmission again, after the 2020 model had to go without a stick shift due to problems certifying that powertrain. It had been hoped that the emissions issue would be straightened out in only a few months, but as it turned out, Mini had to go through the entire 2020 model year with its cars offering only two pedals. The 2020 Cooper and Cooper S models got a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the John Cooper Works variants and the ALL4 versions of the Clubman and the Countryman got an eight-speed unit. For 2021, the standard Mini Cooper with the 134-hp 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder will offer a six-speed manual in the hardtop, four-door, and convertible body styles. The 2021 Mini Cooper S, with its 189-hp 2.0-liter turbo four, also will come standard with the six-speed stick in hardtop, four-door, and convertible form. The John Cooper Works hardtop, with its 228-hp 2.0L turbo, shares in the manual-transmission goodness, but the JCW convertible remains automatic-only, with the seven-speed DCT. The 2021 301-hp John Cooper Works GP hardtop will be eight-speed automatic only. For the 2021 Clubman and the Countryman, the picture is still murky. It's likely that the JCW Clubman and JCW Countryman, which also get the 301-hp engine, will continue to be offered only with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, although the less-powerful versions could get a stick shift again. Mini says, "Manual transmission offerings will be confirmed once 2021 model year information for these models is released later this spring." Given the persona Mini has cultivated, this brand seems like one that should continue to offer stick shifts for as long as possible. Mini spokesman Andrew Cutler claims that the Mini hardtop generally has had the highest take rate for manuals in the U.S. market, with 45% buyers of the (2019-model) John Cooper Works version opting to row their own gears. Related Video:      

The 2018 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 is a hot crossover

With the introduction of the 2018 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4, Mini has both rounded out its JCW line-up, and created one of the fastest little crossovers out there. The model follows the recently released JCW Clubman, and like that car, the JCW Countryman has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. That puts it solidly ahead of the next sportiest crossover, the 215-horsepower Juke Nismo RS, though it falls short of the monstrous Mercedes-AMG GLA45's 375 horsepower. The JCW Countryman's power is sent to all four wheels through either a standard 6-speed manual or optional 8-speed automatic transmission. Although the automatic has launch control, Mini claims both the manual and automatic JCW Countrymans will reach 60 mph in 6.2 seconds on the way to a top speed of 145 mph. Comparing acceleration times, the Countryman comes up a tenth behind the JCW Cooper, and two tenths behind the JCW Clubman. On top of the extra power, the JCW Countryman gets improvements in the steering and stopping departments. We don't have much detail about the suspension at this point, but it says it has been changed for better handling. The brakes are upgraded to Brembo units, with the front calipers featuring four pistons. You'll be able to spot a JCW Countryman thanks to a few exterior and interior tweaks, too. JCW badges adorn each side of the car, the front bumper eschews fog lights for larger air inlets, and the grille gets a red surround. Mini also offers its Rebel Green paint as well as a Chili Red roof and mirrors, both options that are only available on JCW vehicles. The interior receives JCW sport seats, steering wheel, and shifters, too. The high-performance Countryman will make its public debut at the Shanghai Motor Show and should reach US dealers this April. Mini has not revealed pricing yet, but will likely present it closer to the on-sale date. Related Video:

Mini ditches four-seat Countryman

Mini is walking away from the rear bucket seats in its Countryman crossover. MotoringFile.com reports that starting in 2013, the CUV will no longer offer just two seats in the second row. Originally, Mini was forced to offer the buckets due to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rules governing the the minimum vehicle width for the allowance of three-wide seating. That rule was recently changed, which allowed Mini to offer the bench seat. Not surprisingly, few buyers have opted for the awkward bucket-and-rail configuration since. Moving forward, all Countryman models will also come with the vehicle's flat-load rear floor as well.
During our time with our long-term Countryman, we found the middle rail between the two buckets to be a bit gimmicky, especially given the fact that the cup holders were only large enough to accommodate a 12-ounce can.