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New Mini to bow on Nov. 18, on Alec Issigonis' birthday

Miniacs, note November 18 on your calendar. That's when the all-new Mini Hardtop will debut. Now, this might not be a great deal of news, after all, we already showed you the car, codenamed F56, a few weeks ago. But this full unveiling should bring with it even more detailed exterior images, a full look at the cabin and if we're lucky, performance numbers.
History buffs will also note that November 18 is the birthday of Sir Alec Issigonis. It was Issigonis that penned the original idea for the Mini on a cocktail napkin, envisioning a car with a transversely mounted engine, the wheels pushed out to all four corners and plenty of cabin space for occupants. That car had a remarkably small footprint and was quite efficient, perfect for tackling the fuel shortages brought on by the Suez Crisis in 1959's Great Britain. An unintended side-effect of its design was that it was also an absolute hoot to drive.
The November 18 debut will take place at Mini's home, Plant Oxford, in the UK. Following that, November 20 will see a near-simultaneous debut at both the Tokyo Motor Show and Los Angeles Auto Show. We'll be on hand to bring you all the details.

Mini previews an electric crossover to be revealed soon

In a dense press release about its upcoming design language (called "Charismatic Simplicity"), Mini provided an odd-looking but somewhat useful teaser of a new electric crossover SUV. It didn't name it, and all it said specifically about it was that it's "the concept study of a – fully electrically powered – crossover model for the premium small-car segment." That fits the description of one of two new crossovers that will be sold alongside the next-generation Countryman. The photo provides a silhouette of the crossover from the front three-quarter perspective, as well as the uncovered front fender of the same vehicle in the corner. It does have the familiar boxy Mini shape, and it seems to have some sort of roof platform fitted. The mirrors look like little rounded rectangles, which matches what we've seen in spy photos of the Countryman. That exposed fender seems to reveal the most about the crossover. The flares have a sort of trapezoidal shape, which is continued into the sheetmetal. The actual wheel openings are a little more rounded. The crisper angles also show up in the way the headlight fits to the fender. While the press release that accompanied this teaser is full of fluffy language, there are some more specific and helpful details about what we will see in this model and other new Minis. On the outside, the Union Jack taillights will remain a key feature. Inside, Mini is focusing on more sustainable materials, so it's dropping real leather and aiming to eliminate as much chrome as possible. It will also feature a circular display in the middle for infotainment, though some physical switch gear will remain. This crossover will be revealed next month. It will also showcase the new platform that Mini designed with electric powertrains in mind, unlike the current Mini Cooper SE Hardtop, which adapts a battery and motor to fit an older internal combustion car. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2014 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman All4

The standard Mini Countryman is a bit of an odd duck against the backdrop of 'normal' small crossovers like the Mazda CX-5 and the Ford Escape, but I sort of get it. Apply the same winning Mini formula to a CUV, and you get a smaller-than-average entry in the segment, one that is far more entertaining to drive than the norm, more stylish inside and out and pretty expensive when cross-shopped. That list of qualities doesn't appeal to all crossover shoppers, sure, but it intrigues a big enough list that the Countryman has reason for being.
Now, add the expensive John Cooper Works package to the Countryman's already niche goodies list, and Mini starts to lose me. So, I'm getting the softer suspended, taller, generally less dynamically joyful version of the brand's core values, but now you're charging me at least $35,000 ($13k more expensive than the basic, front-drive Cooper Countryman and $7k more than the MSRP of the Cooper S All4 version)? What's that? You're going to make it look like a garish, tippy-toed tuner car in the process? Take my money.
Or, actually, let me keep it. I can swing with a lot of the weirdness that Mini has to offer, but this car pushed me past my limit.