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New Zealand SPCA teaches rescue dogs how to drive a Mini

No, this isn't an April Fool's joke or some sort of wacky car commercial. It's the SPCA Auckland (located in New Zealand) coming up with an innovative way of proving that it's possible to teach a rescue animal new tricks. Monty, Porter and Ginny are all dogs rescued by the SPCA Auckland, and each was taught the ability to drive a Mini Countryman around a track.
After being strapped into the driver's seat, the dogs are able to use their paws to start the car, steer it and work the gas and brake, which have been modified similar to a car setup for a special-needs driver. These dogs aren't being trained to drive on the street as any sort of driving-eye dogs, rather it is just a demonstration of how smart and docile rescue dogs can be regardless of how they ended up there. Porter was found wandering the streets, Ginny was abused by her owners and seized by the SPCA and Monty was surrendered by his owners to the rescue. Ironically, Porter and Ginny initially got carsick during the exercises, but have since gotten over this.
Think it's a joke? Scroll down to watch four videos showing the dogs in action and another to see what mods were made to get the Mini ready for canine duty. In the first video, you can also see that Porter does a better parking job than most humans!

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.

This classic electric Mini costs $100,000, but just look at it

We all love the original Mini, so when a British company decided to develop an electric version of it using a restored original body, we took notice. Enter the Swind E Classic Mini. Electric cars are allowed to have a soul, and this one is just as cute as a Mini with a little gas motor. Swind, a UK-based tech and engineering company, didn't just produce a half-baked version of an electric Mini. The powertrain is a bespoke, in-house design developed by the company's own engineers. The body has contemporary corrosion protection to make sure it doesn't rot like an original from the 1960s. Also, new brake and suspension parts ensure it'll feel relatively modern to drive. Don't expect any mind-blowing specs and numbers from the little EV, though. It uses a 24 kWh lithium ion battery pack and the electric motor produces 110 horsepower. Zero to 60 mph is achieved in 9.2 seconds. That's not impressive on today's world, bu is still quicker than this Mini would have been with its original gas engine. Top speed is 80 mph, and range is rated at an impressive 125 miles. That's plenty for this little city runabout — road trips won't be this Mini's job anyway, especially if you have to run it near top speed just to keep up with traffic. Swind says it'll get to a full charge in four hours via its fast charging capability. Weight is kept to only 1,587 pounds, so this will be one of the lightest electric cars on the road. The benefits of modernizing and electrifying the Mini help out in other areas, too. You can check option boxes for an infotainment system with navigation. USB ports come standard, as do heated leather seats. Curiously, air conditioning is an option. If you prefer no power steering, that's possible; performance tuning packs are available, but there's no explanation for what that entails. There's more space in the boot for stuff with the gas tank removed, and weight distribution is improved at a 57/43 split (it was 68/32 originally). Now we move onto the less desirable portion of this Mini: The price. Converted from pounds sterling, this Mini goes for $100,970. You can buy a whole lot of car for that money, or you can have an electric Mini. At least Swind is really building it, unlike the one-off shown by Mini at the NY Auto Show last year. Production is limited to only 100 cars that all come with a one-year unlimited-mile warranty.