Mini Cooper - 2011 - 45,600miles on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman All4

In just over a decade, Mini has expanded its modern range from the singular Hardtop model (launched in 2002) to a full range of little runabouts. The latest of these is the Paceman, and while European Editor Matt Davis gave us the full scoop on this model late last year, we recently spent time with the all-wheel-drive model just outside of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
It's weird, this Paceman. It slots in between the Hardtop and the Countryman (on which its based) in terms of size and functionality, and Mini says that it will appeal to a more style-conscious shopper. Key competitors range anywhere from the Nissan Juke on the low end to the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque on the high end.
After spending lots of time with the Countryman, we're convinced that maxi can still be Mini. And the same is true with this Paceman, too.

This Mini just set a very long Nurburgring lap record

The video above is 45 minutes long. You probably won't watch the whole thing. It documents what is possibly the least visually exciting and most impressive Nurburgring record ever, with a Chinese driver keeping a Mini Cooper on two wheels for the entirety of a Nordschleife lap. That's 12.9 miles at a blistering average speed of 17 mph. The number of support vehicles seen on track, some of which pass the Mini at various points, highlights just how nonstandard this lap is. A Mercedes van trailing behind stops at one point and then catches back up shortly after. This is an endurance run more than anything. Credit of course goes to the skilled driver, who had to balance the car on its left wheels while enduring the pain of leaning at a steep angle. For 45 minutes. The car was specially prepped, with things like a welded diff and an airless left front tire (it looks like something off a fork lift) helping it steer, propel, and support the car. Bridge to Gantry's Dale Lomas was there to witness the leisurely event, and he has all of the details, including what was done to the car and what it was like to travel from viewing location to viewing location to witness the same lap. The driver, Han Yue, is an expert at manhandling Minis. He's the guy with the Guinness record for the tightest parallel-parking job (not to be confused with the tightest reverse parallel park) and also set with a driver in an M4 doing donuts around his up-on-two-wheels Cooper. We find it extremely fitting that the car for this latest record was plastered with Red Bull decals. You know, the wings? News Source: Bridge to GantryImage Credit: Nurburgring / Facebook Motorsports MINI Hatchback Racing Vehicles Performance nurburgring record

2022 Mini Hardtop Brick Lane Edition is inspired by London's East End

Mini announced three special-edition models in February 2022, and it's not stopping there. It unveiled a fourth car called Brick Lane Edition that draws inspiration from London's East End to give the two- and four-door variants of the Hardtop Cooper S more flair. Visually, the Brick Lane Edition stands out from the standard Hardtop with White Silver Metallic exterior paint, a Soul Blue roof panel, black door mirror caps, and chrome trim. Soul Blue, Frozen Blue, and Mint graphics on the hood add a finishing touch to the look while creating a link between the car and the bricks that Brick Lane gets its name from. Mini also added 17-inch wheels painted black, decals above the rocker panels and edition-specific badges on both sides. These changes are relatively minor, but they give the Mini a cool look. Leather-upholstered and heated front sport seats are among the highlights in the cabin. The long list of standard features also includes a panoramic moonroof, piano black interior trim, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and a Harman-Kardon surround-sound system. You won't find bricks or blue accents in the engine bay. Power comes from a stock, Cooper S-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that's turbocharged to develop 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. It spins the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, but a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic linked to a pair of shift paddles is available at no extra cost. Mini dealers across the nation will begin receiving the Hardtop Brick Lane Edition in March 2022. Pricing starts at $36,525 for the two-door model and $37,525 for the four-door, figures that include a surprisingly reasonable $850 destination charge. This isn't the first time that a British brand unveils a special-edition model inspired by London's East End. In late 2021, Triumph channeled the "the vibrant, custom-classic motorcycle culture of London's East End" into the head-turning Street Twin EC1 Special Edition. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.