Great Condition 2006 Mini Cooper Convertible on 2040-cars

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Mini and John Cooper Works floating hub caps are factory fresh accessories

Much of the allure of a Mini is tied to its iconic style and design. Beyond the legendary shape of the Mini Cooper, the company is heavy into unique details that celebrate the brand's heritage. Features such as Union Jack taillamps scream, "Look, I'm British!" while a new accessory inches even closer to the nose and says, "Look, I'm a Mini!" Literally, these new self-leveling hub caps read, "MINI" or "John Cooper Works."  Floating, or self-leveling, hub caps are not new, but they're new to the Mini Original Accessory store. For those who are unaware, these items use weights in the front of the center cap and a "flexible connection to the wheel hub extension" to keep the outermost part of the cap in one position. That position keeps whatever script is written on the cap horizontal and visible to all onlookers.  Mini says the standard wheel covers are easily removed and can quickly be changed out for these floating caps. The Mini cap takes uses a simple black background with chrome trim and script while the John Cooper Works caps have a black background, red outline, and silver, black, and red logo in the center. Both options are available for order at Mini dealerships, Mini partners, or at Mini's online shop for about $78 (Mini) or $93 (JCW). Auto News Design/Style MINI Parts and Accessories Performance

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 Countryman PHEV caught at electric watering hole

Our spy photographers have once again found the next generation Mini Countryman out testing in the wild. This time, they caught it replenishing its thirst for electrons. Although we knew some sort of hybrid Countryman was coming, this confirms its existence and plug-in capabilities beyond any reasonable doubt. Like the rest of the Mini lineup, this new Countryman will be noticeably larger than its predecessor. It also appears to feature a larger, more aggressive grille and lower intake vents. Other than that, the car appears to be quite evolutionary in design. Our spy photographers expect the plug-in hybrid Countryman to debut in 2019 powered by a combination of the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder and an electric motor. We have also predicted that the gasoline engine could power the front wheels while the electric motor (or motors) powers the rear wheels, which together could provide all-wheel-drive and 240 horsepower. Related video: