1976 Austin Mini (rare Clubman) on 2040-cars

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2014 Mini Cooper goes to the dogs

We wouldn't buy a car to make a dog happy, but Mini's latest commercial, Bullheaded, would have you believe that dogs like the new 2014 Cooper as much as humans. Regardless of the commercial's target audience (Spike The Bulldog, or his owner?), it does show a couple new tidbits about the car, such as the new center dial touchscreen, ambient lighting and the nifty tinted pop-up display on top of the dashboard that reminds us of the head-up display on the new Mazda3.
Head below to watch Spike and his owner drive the Mini in Downtown Los Angeles (and the back lots of Paramount), and to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the commercial was made.

Tony Hawk jumps a moving Mini

Remember a couple of years ago when Tony Hawk jumped over a Lexus LFA on his skateboard? Well that was nothing compared to what he's done here.
Sure the LFA is a more impressive car than a Mini hatchback, but that Japanese supercar was sitting still when the world's most famous skater jumped over it. And it was parked sideways. This time Tony's jumped a moving car, front to back. It gets even more impressive than that when you see what happens to the ramp after he's done with it, but we don't want to ruin the surprise.
The stunt was performed in celebration of the partnership between Mini USA and Hawk's Birdhouse Skateboards Tour, details of which you can read in the press release under the video below.

2022 Mini JCW Hardtop and Convertible add new dampers, styling and tech

Mini released broad details on updates to its entire Hardtop and Convertible lineups back in January, and while photos of the John Cooper Works version were available, what Mini did to the car for 2022 was less clear. Today, Mini is clearing that up with a dedicated 2022 JCW information drop. There’s only one major mechanical change to speak of, and thatÂ’s a new set of optional adaptive dampers for both the Hardtop and Convertible. They feature new “frequency-selective damper technology that operates with an additional valve acting on the traction side.” Mini says this should make for better compensation on uneven roads. Additionally, the maximum damping force is 10% higher than before, so Mini promises even more control and stability in corners. WeÂ’ll also note that the standard suspension is fixed — these new dampers are part of the Adaptive Suspension package. Beyond the new suspension, this JCW is very similar to the last. ThereÂ’s still a BMW-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood that makes 228 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. The Hardtop continues to be available with a six-speed manual transmission (eight-speed auto optional), the Convertible carries on with the automatic as its only transmission option. Mini claims the Hardtop will reach 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, while the Convertible does it in 6.3 seconds. On the appearance front, Mini updated the looks of the JCW with a new face and redesigned diffuser. ThereÂ’s a new 18-inch JCW-exclusive two-tone wheel option, and the interior enjoys all the tech and feature updates gained from the non-JCW 2022 refresh. The updated JCW lineup is available now, and starts at $33,750 for the Hardtop and $39,750 for the Convertible.  Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.