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2014 Mini Cooper S Paceman [w/video]

Not Too Odd, Not Too Maxi. Is This Mini Just Right?
We recently got our first time behind the wheel of the latest iteration of the Mini Countryman, the 215-horsepower John Cooper Works model, and were left less than enthused despite the inherent fun factor that a JCW badge brings. Our time with the crossover suggests the Countryman is just too weighty and soft to properly wear the badge.
We have also spent loads of time in various Mini Clubman trims and, despite the oddity of its configuration, this model may be our overall favorite in the current Mini lineup. But it is decidedly not a volume seller, which Mini needs.

Mini Vision Next 100 Concept: It's the autonomy, stupid

The concepts that Mini and Rolls-Royce showed off today – the Vision Next 100 Concept and 103EX, respectively – are all about autonomy. The Rolls-Royce doesn't even have a place for a "driver." And even though both are very much blue sky concepts, corporate parent BMW thinks it will make fully-autonomous cars within the next five years. That's according to Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, MINI, BMW Motorrad, Rolls-Royce, and Aftersales BMW Group, who also told us that both cars, at least in concept, are fully electric. The Rolls-Royce has dual-drive, 250kw motors mounted fore-and aft, on front and rear axles. While the Rolls is clearly a luxury concept for the monied few, the Mini is very much focused on a shared economy. Holger Hampf, Head of User Experience, BMW Group, said the chief design challenge of a car-sharing world is producing a car that could in theory mean different things to different borrowers. You get exclusivity because each car would morph according to the borrower's desires. BMW/Mini already have a car-sharing program in London called DriveNow, and a pilot program in Seattle called ReachNow, focused on the idea of shared exclusivity. ReachNow, which allows Mini/BMW owners to lend their cars out in an AirBnB-type scheme or to borrow "fleet-style cars," are immutable – however the car that was ordered is what the borrower or the owner will get. That's great if you're the owner, but it's also challenging for both anyone who'd buy that car used or for anyone borrowing the car. And if the future of most cars is a shared model (Ford is now offering multi-person leases among up to six buyers in a pilot program in Austin, Texas), customization is impossible. The result is what Schwarzenbauer derogatorily calls "normed." He says carmakers have to relearn to brand for a world where ownership is devalued but customization is key. To that end the MINI VISION NEXT 100 is "skinned." We've seen this before with the BMW NEXT concept that was revealed at the NY Auto Show this past spring, and the idea is to use the exterior of the car as a canvass that changes according to setting. Indeed Mini envisions that in a multi-driver household, the vehicle's customization could easily include changing colors according to driver preference – automatically. Dr.

2018 Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 Drivers' Notes Review | Plug and play

The second-generation Mini Countryman debuted at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. In addition to the standard and S models, Mini added a new E Countryman plug-in hybrid model. That's what we have here, making our model's full name the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. It's distinguishable from other models by the green badges on the front and rear and on the charging port on the fender. There are a few changes inside, most notably a power gauge in place of the tachometer. The plug-in model combines a turbo inline-three cylinder engine with a 7.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The gas engine motivates the front wheels while two electric motors power the rear. Three drive modes — Max eDrive, Auto eDrive and Save — adjust the amount of battery pack usage, with Max using all battery and Save mode using the starter generator to keep the battery charge above 90 percent. The biggest Mini (for what that's worth) is still far smaller than nearly every other crossover in its class. It's three inches shorter than a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and four inches shy of an Audi Q3. As compact as it is, there's still a good bit of usable cargo space thanks to the wide hatch and flat-folding seats. Our tester rang up for exactly $40,000 and includes features like 18-inch wheels, keyless entry and ignition, Cooper S heated sport seats, a heads-up display and LED lighting. Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: The only thing I don't like about this electrified Mini is its name: Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL 4. That's a mouthful. You'd probably just say you bought a plug-in electric Mini Countryman and roll from there. And why would you spend time overthinking the name? The driving dynamics are razor sharp. Launches from stoplights with the electric fortification are brisk. Not in a cliched "this V6 Camry feels brisk" sort of way, but in a 29-degree February morning where the dog is walking too slow kind of way. I give Mini and its parent, BMW Group, a lot of credit for having the foresight to invest in electrification, adding performance and efficiency in a manner that's true to the character of Mini. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Then there's the traditional Mini goodness that shines through in the cornering and handling. I'm late for work. The light turns yellow. Am I stopping? Oh hell no. I'm not even slowing down. In this and all Minis, taking corners at full steam is expected.