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Mini John Cooper Works Countryman revealed with more power

While we got a first look at the new generation Mini John Cooper Works Countryman a couple of months ago, the official reveal came Wednesday night. The sportiest version of Mini's small SUV combines more aggressive styling with the most powerful engine Mini has offered so far. The powertrain itself is fairly familiar as a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. But power has increased from 301 to 312 ponies. Curiously, the horsepower gain seems to have come at the cost of torque, which is down from 331 to 295 pound-feet of torque. Mini didn't provide any dyno charts, so it's unclear if perhaps there's more torque available elsewhere in the powerband. Despite the extra power, the JCW Countryman's 0-62 mph time is 5.4 seconds, half a second behind the outgoing model. Like the past JCW models, the new Countryman also gets upgraded brakes and suspension, as well as an adaptive exhaust system. It's now fitted with wider tires all the way around at 245 mm compared to the old model's 225 mm. So there's potential for this new version to be grippier and better-handling. Granted, we won't know for sure until we're behind the wheel, and hopefully we'll get more details about the braking and chassis changes closer to the on-sale date. Styling has been changed to match the increased performance. The JCW Countryman gets different front and rear bumpers with larger grilles and unique accents. Lighting patterns are tweaked, too, and 19- and 20-inch wheels are available in designs specific to the JCW. Of particular note are the indentations in the hood that suggest intake scoops above the grille. The interior is swathed in red and black accents everywhere, including the recycled polyester textile dashboard covering. And although Mini hasn't gone into detail about features, the JCW is likely packed with goodies including an advanced highway driving assist that can even execute lane changes. For once with a new model reveal, we actually do have pricing, and it's not cheap. The Mini John Cooper Works Countryman will start at $47,895 including destination charge. Production begins this coming March with examples reaching dealers in May. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Mini takes center stage on the Sphere in Las Vegas

When media theorist Marshall McLuhan famously said that “the medium is the message,” he wasnÂ’t referring to The Sphere in Las Vegas, but it would have fit perfectly into his philosophy. For example, thereÂ’s this: to introduce its advertising campaign for the new 2025 Countryman Electric model, the folks at Mini will employ the 366-foot-tall and 516-foot-wide out-of-this-world Sphere to debut creative images and videos “revealing” the new vehicle. “We wanted to think of this campaign as an art piece, not as an ad,” said Rob Lambrechts, Chief Creative Officer at Pereira OÂ’Dell, MiniÂ’s ad agency on the project. “People are coming to Sphere to have fun and be entertained, so we needed to integrate MINI in the least intrusive way possible.” Least intrusive? McLuhan mightÂ’ve asked whether the idea would draw more attention to the medium or would it amplify the intended message. At any rate, the car rendered on the Sphere is pretty nifty. In Vegas, a town not lacking in spectacular landmarks, the free-standing Sphere has dominated the visual landscape since it opened in September. The structure was funded in part by James Dolan, who oversees a family empire that includes Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, the Knicks and the Rangers. DolanÂ’s over-the-top investment, with its 700,000 square feet of programmable video screens, cost $2.3 billion to build. As for the new Countryman, the all-electric SUV will start at $46,195, including destination of $995, when it goes on sale. Output is rated at 313 horsepower and 363 pound-feet of torque. Range on a single charge is estimated at 245 miles, and the 0-60 time is 5.6 seconds. It can be reserved now. The Countryman S All4 and JCW are expected to begin reaching dealers in the spring with the electric versions coming a few months later. Mini's takeover of Sphere will run until December 2, with a special four-hour takeover on December 1. McLuhan, to finish the thought, believed that people should observe not only the media itself but "the ways in which each new medium disrupts tradition and reshapes social life." Viva Las Vegas. Related video: Video Marketing/Advertising MINI Crossover SUV Electric

BMW's new strategy: Electric everything

Mercedes isn't the only car maker determined to beat Tesla before it gets huge. Sources speaking to German business daily Handelsblatt claim that BMW is in the midst of planning an executive shuffle that will also include a big shift in its electric vehicle strategy. While the company would still offer ground-up EV designs like the i3, the new strategy would greenlight electric versions of some of BMW's most important vehicles, including the 3-series sedan, X4 crossover, and iconic Mini. If the leak is accurate, management is likely to approve the change at the end of September. We've asked BMW for its take on the report, although it declined to comment to Handelsblatt. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Munich crew change tack, though. While Tesla has received hundreds of thousands of Model 3 pre-orders, i3 sales dropped in 2016 – the upscale (if oddly-shaped) EV just isn't as hot as it once was. If BMW electrifies some of its most popular cars, you wouldn't have to choose between a super-efficient, eco-friendly EV and the familiar designs of the brand's mainstream driving machines.The story originally appeared on Engadget, your guide to this connected life.Related Video: Featured Gallery Mini Vision Next 100 Concept View 38 Photos Green BMW MINI Electric Hybrid engadget