New '14 Mini

[XHawkeye]

Mini opps I meant 225i (http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/BMW-2-series-Active-Tourer-2014-first-official-pictures/). The Mazda 5 version will be out in '15.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/31865/images/02BMW2SERIESACTIVETOURERFOP.jpg

[Kchrpm]

:smh:

[GreatScawt]

I understand the point, but the thread is misleading. And I definitely don't see BMW. Nor Mini. Just straight up Mazda from that shot. Super meh.

[novicius]

Hey, since somebody started this party, let's kick it off right! :D


266

Motor Trend has posted their 2014 MINI Cooper First Drive (http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1402_2014_mini_cooper_first_drive/) (along with a handful of other journos).


The base-model Cooper comes with a turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder that creates 136 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. That climbs to 169 when in overboost. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual or automatic. Mini did not have any autos available for testing on the three-cylinder engine, but the manual worked flawlessly with short, smooth throws.

In fact, I first thought that my test vehicle had a four-cylinder engine, because of the torquey goodness it offered me. All of the torque kicks in at just 1250 rpm and this was quite noticeable when passing other cars, as sometimes I did not even need to downshift.

The Cooper comes with an EPA rating of 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway for the automatic and 41 mpg highway for the manual.
I really like the base MINI Cooper now. I think it looks cleaner than the S, it's still available with a six-speed manual, and I'm diggin' everything I read about the new "TwinPower" turbocharged triple. Starting MSRP is $19.9k but pricing out a base Cooper hardtop with any amount of options pushes the price tag up to at least $22k.

To this (and every other small car) I suppose the proper response is "Mazda2!!"... but I dig my MINI. :finger:

[KillerB]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/191gd11ckg583jpg/ku-xlarge.jpg

[thesameguy]

Heh. Zing.

[Jason]

:snap:

[novicius]

Joe, the '90's called -- they'd like that ad back. #snapsizzle

[thesameguy]

It was true then, and it's true now. :lol:

I remember back in the '80s there was lots of talk between Saab and Volvo about merging, since both knew they weren't going to be able to do it alone. But Saab was 100% committed to FWD and turbos and Volvo was 100% committed to RWD and bigger motors and nothing ever happened, there was no synergy. Then GM bought Saab and Volvo fucking caved, dropping all of their RWD cars in a matter of one generation of product. How much grief could have been saved if Volvo had taken their eyes off their feet and looked a few feet ahead!

So maybe BMW is doing the right thing.

[FaultyMario]

But I thought You wuvved wabbits, Joe!

[Yw-slayer]

I can see HK becoming full of these when they are released, just like how it's now full of the new A-Class.

I can only assume that the people who buy these here would also be the same people who look at useless "cars" such as the X1.

Having said that, any of these is better than yet another fucking Alphard/Elgrand.

[Godson]

Yup... BMW is officially dead in my book.

[Leon]

I see Mini is now leading the charts with the most faults per 100 vehicles

Well done Mini [golf clap]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/9730753/New-technology-blamed-for-problems-rise

http://images-2.drive.com.au/2014/02/14/5166001/jd-power_729.jpg?rand=1392342506495

[KillerB]

Not creepy deformed FWD rabbits.

[Rob]

New Mini has bulbous Citroen-face.

[novicius]

I see Mini is now leading the charts with the most faults per 100 vehicles

Well done Mini
"Now"? MINI's have ALWAYS led these charts. My 2003 MINI is also the worst rated vehicle for it's year. *shrug*

[XHawkeye]

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Mini-Cooper-2014-CAR-review/

except...


this one has grown 98mm in length, but, to the disappointment of anyone who’ll ever sit in the back, only 28mm in wheelbase. The remainder has been eaten up meeting pedestrian safety standards and providing a much-needed 30% improvement in luggage space.

and didn't like the gearing and I can see why.


BMW has saddled the Cooper with a decidedly unsporting set of ratios that don’t let the little triple show what it can really do. Second gear runs to 70mph and third to over 100mph, meaning that not only is in-gear go compromised, but the big gap hurts through-the-gears pace too. This is a great little engine, but it never feels quite as energetic as it could.