SCOOP: 2012 MINI Coupe JCW Remains Remarkably Faithful to Concept Model

Given that BMW Group officials recently confirmed that MINI’s new coupe model will arrive in the market before the end of the year, it shouldn't come to much of a surprise that the company is gradually stripping away the camouflage from its test cars. Spotted here by our scoop photographers in Germany, is the most potent version of the MINI Coupe lineup, the John Cooper Works model that’s easily distinguished by the aggressive body kit with the flared wheel arches and muscular bumpers.

MINI first showed the Coupe and Roadster models through a pair of concept cars at the Frankfurt motor show in 2009. As predicted, the production version of the Coupe has stayed remarkably faithful to that show car’s design. In fact, with the exception of some very minor details such as the grille and the tail lamp crystals, nothing else has changed, including the shape of the top that’s supposed to resemble a baseball hat worn backwards.

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Categories: Frankfurt Motor Show, MINI, MINI Coupe, MINI Scoops, Scoops

MINI Countryman Rally Car Passes First Round of WRC Tests

As previously reported, MINI is eager to get itself into the World Rally Car Championships with its Countryman crossover and reclaim some of the rallying glory its predecessor / inspiration had in the 1960s. And today, the British automaker released the first official picture of the Countryman WRC, which partner Prodrive has been busy testing at their Warwickshire proving grounds in rural England.

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Categories: MINI, MINI Countryman, MINI Scoops, Prodrive, Racing, Scoops

VIDEO: MINI Drops New Teaser for Crossover, Official Presentation on February 7

MINI's love affair with the psychedelic-looking swirly camouflage that it uses to wrap its prototype models during testing is so strong that the British firm decided to employ the same black and yellow design in its latest teaser video for the new Crossover model.

The film doesn't show anything that we haven't seen before, but MINI did announce that the official reveal of the crossover model will take place online on February 7. From what we gather, the automaker will most likely release the first official pics on that date.

The latest member of the MINI family is a small crossover measuring around four-meters in length that will be offered with an optional four-wheel drive system, both a first for the automaker. Sales are scheduled to start in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2011.

Categories: MINI, MINI Countryman, MINI Scoops, MINI Videos, Scoops, video

MINI Readying Clubman S Rally Edition for the States?

If we are to accept as true a report from the MINI-loving chaps over at Motoringfile, the British automaker is prepping a special "Rally Edition" Clubman S model that will be available exclusively for the U.S. market in a limited number of only 70 examples. The story is accompanied by a trio of allegedly official photos - and yes, the thought that the green mirror caps may have been photoshoped did cross our suspicious minds.

The website claims that exterior changes over the standard Clubman S include the "Rally Green" mirror caps and specific side skirts, MINI's sport package, midnight black finish with matching rooftop, white turn signals, 17-inch alloy wheels finished in black, roof rails and standard Xenon headlights.

Inside the special Clubman S is said to feature a piano black interior and standard multifunction sports steering wheel, automatic climate control and Bluetooth kit.

Buyers will also be able to choose from various optional accessories including a JCW tuning kit, a newly designed roof basket, dark headlamps and a roof rack. The special edition model's base price (without the options) is aid set to start from a hefty $32,999 when sales begin in October.

We'll have more on the 'Rally Edition' as soon as MINI comes out with an official announcement.

Via: MotoringFile

Categories: MINI, MINI Clubman, Scoops, tuning

MINI Rolls Royce Edition Scooped but Report Claims it Won't go on Sale

Talk about a 'hot and cold shower' story... Just as we were getting ready to post the first photos of the rumored MINI Rolls Royce limited edition model that appeared on the 'Total Mini' forum, we discovered a report from the MINI-loving crew over at 'Theswitchback' saying that the car will not go on sale. More specifically, the report said that while a company spokesman confirmed the production of the Rolls Royce Edition model for a recent dealer event, he claimed that MINI has "no current plans" to release the car into the market.

"MINI is known for successfully marketing special edition models. But for every 100 that are proposed, 99 don't make the final cut," the unnamed spokesman was quoted as saying.

Nonetheless, if you're were wondering what a $50k MINI Rolls Royce Edition would look like, these shots from 'Totalmini' forumster 'Posts001' give us a pretty good idea. Aside from the RR blue finish, the special edition MINI features a bodykit and new alloy wheels while the interior of the car seems to be upgraded with premium materials and new trim. Unless we're missing something, it doesn't seem as special as some speculated.

Photos: Totalmini , Via: Theswitchback

Categories: MINI, Rolls Royce, Scoops

2010 MINI Crossman: New Spy Shots of Five-Door Crossover

The highly anticipated MINI Crossman (bear in mind that it could be named Crossover or something entirely different) has been out testing again and our spy photographers where on spot to capture it red handed. While the prototype models continue to wear the full body psychedelic camouflage, these latest scoop photos give us a better view of the car. Changes from the more avant-garde Crossover Concept seen at the 2008 Paris motorshow include the replacement of the complicated asymmetric doors with conventionally hinged rear doors and a normal liftgate (don't let the disguise fool you into believing that it features Clubman-style split rear doors) instead of the concept's huge side-hinged door.

The Crossman, which is larger than the Clubman, will be first production MINI to measure more than 4 meters in length. Expect its exterior dimensions to be similar to the concept measuring around 4,050mm (159.5-in.) in length, 1,830mm (72.0-in.) in width and 1,598mm (62.9-in.) in height.

Even though this has not been officially confirmed, it is believed that the Crossman is loosely based on BMW's upcoming X1 SUV with the two crossovers sharing the same platform and plenty of technology including the Bavarian firm's all-wheel drive system dubbed 'xDrive'. From the photos it is evident that the Crossman features an increased ground clearance which should help bolster its (soft) off-road credentials.

From what we understand, MINI will offer the Crossman with a mix of new and currently available four-cylinder diesel and gasoline engines, the latter in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms.

Notably, it will be built the first MINI to be built outside the UK at Magna Steyr's factory in Austria as the British automaker's Cowley plant does not have sufficient capacity to handle production. The Crossman is expected to arrive in MINI showrooms sometime during the second half of 2010.

Categories: BMW X1, MINI, MINI Countryman, Scoops

Next Generation MINI Cooper Prototype Scooped Uncovered?

The current MINI hatchback, which is essentially an evolution of the previous model presented in 2001, has only been around with us since 2006, but according to a new set of spy shots from French car magazine L'Automobile, the British automaker is well ahead in the development of the next generation model.

The car depicted in the photos appears to be a clay model (notice the blacked out windshield) and it suggests that the new MINI is adopting many of the styling cues seen in last year's Crossover Concept like the larger grille and sweptback headlamps. If you head over to L'Automobile, you can also check out an early mock up (or proposal) of the car's dashboard.

While retaining the same design theme as the current MINI, the revamped dash features an even larger, but positioned lower, central dial that appears to be inspired from the Crossover Concept's so-called "Centre Globe" that controls the entertainment, telecommuniction and navigation systems.

Via: L'Automobile

Categories: MINI, MINI Countryman, Scoops