2010 Mini Cooper S Hatchback 2-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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How Mini shacked up with John Cooper

The late Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, Alec Issignonis to his Internet friends, designed a car that was sold as the Morris Mini-Minor, the Austin Seven and later the Austin Mini. Go to the Mini USA website and check out the models, though, and every one of them is called a Cooper of some sort, e.g., Mini Cooper Paceman or Mini Cooper S Roadster. So who is Cooper?
It's probably obvious that it's the same Cooper we get in "John Cooper Works," those JCW Minis that always make up the top of the line. But many probably don't know that that John Cooper, founder of John Cooper Cars, is the same man who accidentally got the motorsports world to switch to rear-engined race cars and the same Formula One constructor who won two titles in 1959 and 1960 and who fielded drivers like Bruce McLaren and Stirling Moss.
On its way to driving the Mini John Cooper Works GP II, XCAR goes back to the beginning to find out when Alec met John, and how the first Mini Cooper came out in 1961, two years after the first Mini. You can watch the story and the car review in the video below.

Third-generation Mini Countryman looks all grown up in official spy shots

Mini's Countryman crossover is about to receive a significant makeover. While the third-generation model won't make its debut until later in 2023, the BMW-owned company published a set of official "spy" shots to preview the model and released details about where it will be built. Although the original Mini released in 1959 is an emblem of the British car industry, BMW is responsible for successfully transforming the model line into a full-fledged brand, and the third-generation Countryman will roll off the assembly line with a "made in Germany" label. It will be built alongside the 1 Series, the 2 Series Gran Coupe, and the 2 Series Active Tourer in Leipzig, Germany, so it will be the first German-built Mini (the current-generation Countryman is made in Holland). It will also stand out as the first Mini built under the same roof as BMWs. The crossover remains fully camouflaged, but it looks bigger and more rugged than the outgoing model; it notably sits higher and has a less tapered roof line. While the psychedelic black and yellow wrap hides most of the finer design details, we can tell that the Countryman loses the clamshell hood, but keeps the thick headlight bezels that have characterized the nameplate since its 21st-century reboot in 2010. The exterior door handles are now mounted flush with the door skins, and the big sensor in the grille hints at a wide selection of driving aids. Mini hasn't released technical specifications, but it clarified that gasoline- and battery-powered versions of the next Countryman will be available. An unverified report claims that the lineup will also include a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain rated at about 322 horsepower. Front-wheel-drive will come standard, and all-wheel-drive will be either optional or standard on more expensive powertrains. BMW will begin building the next Mini Countryman in late 2023, and we expect to hear more about the model in the coming months.  Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Mini prepping new John Cooper Works convertible

Those enamored by a Mini's spritely handling and retro styling but looking for that extra performance edge have had a succession of John Cooper Works models to choose from, straight through to the latest version unveiled this week in Detroit. And now, Mini appears to be preparing a JCW version of the new convertible. Spied undergoing cold-weather testing in Scandinavia, this Mini prototype appears to be wearing the tell-tale signs of a JCW model, combined with the folding fabric roof of the convertible model. Mini has yet to reveal the convertible version of the latest, third-generation Cooper, but while we're expecting it to take a similar approach to the outgoing model – with four seats and a soft top stacking up in the back when open – there's always the chance that, with the demise of the two-seat Roadster model, the roof on the new cabrio will fold more flush with the rear deck. Since this prototype, like the previous one we saw over a year ago on a flat-bed truck, has its roof up, it's impossible to say at this point. What we can see is that this prototype, though decked out in swirly camouflage, is wearing the upgraded body kit of the new JCW hatch, including the flared wheel arches, big air vents and dual central exhaust tips. The wheels, though wearing snow tires appropriate to the climate, fill those flared fenders well, and are in turn packed with what look like pretty big brakes. Expect the 2.0-liter turbo four to pack the same 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque as the hardtop version, only with the added thrill of wind in your hair. Of course, if Mini is indeed preparing to launch a JCW version of the new convertible, there's nothing to say it won't do the same with the four-door Hardtop, the upcoming Clubman wagon or any other body-style in the new range. Featured Gallery Mini JCW Convertible: Spy Shots View 9 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos MINI Convertible Performance jcw mini convertible mini cooper convertible