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Even Mini's manual transmission take rate is only 11%

Of all the automakers we've talked with so far, Mini seems to sell the largest percentage of its cars with a manual transmission. A representative from the company shared numbers with us that show 11% of its 2019 sales have featured a stick. That beats Subaru's 7%, Volkswagen's 5% and Honda's 2.6%. It likely helps that Mini is a more niche brand, and it offers a manual on nearly every version of its cars. Still, it's sad that 89% of Mini owners decided to get an automatic anyway. The manual take rate between different models varies quite a bit. The high-performance John Cooper Works models are most frequently sold with a manual transmission. The two-door hardtop and convertible versions have the highest percentages for the JCW at 41% and 32%. The JCW Clubman and Countryman follow at 22% and 19%. We're not surprised that the fast versions of Minis are sold with a manual more often than others, but we're surprised that even with two in 10 JCW Clubman and Countryman models selling with one, Mini would drop the option from the new 301-horsepower versions. Unsurprisingly, other trim levels aren't purchased with a stick as often. The least popular is the front-drive Cooper S Countryman at 0%, followed by the regular Cooper Countryman at 1%. Then there's the Cooper Clubman at 3%. Weirdly, the all-wheel-drive Countryman and Clubman models always have a higher percentage of manuals than the front-drive models, with differences ranging from 2% to 10%. The two-door Minis are typically the most likely to sell with a manual even for core models. In the convertible, the 6% of regular Coopers are manual while 30% of the Cooper S are. That nearly matches the JCW convertible. For the hardtop, the regular Cooper's manual take rate is 11% and the Cooper S model's is 17%. These numbers will probably drop in the short term, though. Mini announced that it's temporarily stopping imports of manual Minis due to some emissions calibration issues. After a few months, though, we expect the manual sales to bounce back.

Mini stretches its legs with new Clubman Vision Gran Turismo concept [w/video]

The Clubman may not be the first model you think of when it comes to sporty Minis, but with the next-generation wagon variant just around the corner, the Anglo-Saxon automaker is evidently keen to reshape the Clubman's image, using it as the basis for its Vision Gran Turismo concept. Designed entirely for the virtual reality of Gran Turismo 6, the Mini Clubman Vision Gran Turismo may not be as extreme as some of the creations dreamed up by other automakers. But as far as Minis go, it's pretty out there. Into its beefed-up, long-roof form it packs a powertrain of undisclosed dimensions but producing 395 horsepower (and evidently requiring six tailpipes – two on each side and two out the back). Exhaust tips aside, all that muscle – nearly twice what any road-going Mini has produced to date – drives through all four wheels to theoretically deliver it to 62 miles per hour in a scant 3.5 seconds. Throw in the track-tuned bodywork – including a proliferation of spoilers, added ventilation, a wider track and 22-inch rims – and you're looking at one very serious Mini indeed. But before you balk at the concept, consider that Mini has had some serious motorsport bragging rights over the years: it dominated the Monte Carlo Rally (among others) in the mid-1960s, and though it canceled its more recent World Rally Championship effort, it went on instead to win the Dakar Rally four years running now. What you're looking at here is the form it would likely take were Mini to shift its attention (as Citroen recently did) to touring cars instead. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. MINI goes Gran Turismo®6. From today gamers can enjoy driving the virtual MINI Clubman Vision Gran Turismo. 26.02.2015 Munich. Inspired by the brand's legendary motor racing success, the MINI Design Team has created the essence of a MINI to enable maximum racing performance in the game Gran Turismo®6 for PlayStation®3. "MINI has many highly emotional achievements to its name in motor racing. The MINI Clubman Vision Grand Turismo literally puts these onto the virtual race track in Gran Turismo 6. The image of a go-kart on the road has recurring appeal," says Anders Warming, Head of MINI Design. The 395 hp engine accelerates the MINI Clubman Vision Gran Turismo from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

2021 Mini Countryman gets a light update inside and out

Well that didn't take long. We got a glimpse of the refreshed 2021 Mini Countryman last week, and now it has been fully revealed. Sure enough, it's a light makeover of the current model, bringing it up to date with the rest of the lineup. The major changes to the Countryman are on the exterior. The front and rear bumpers have been thoroughly redesigned. At the front, there's only one main grille opening, flanked by small slots at either end. The round foglights sit on each side of the grille as part of a black plastic surround. The rear bumper is now entirely body color, and can feature a prominent skid plate-style panel. The 2021 Countryman also gets standard LED headlights, fog lights and taillights. The latter now have the Union Jack design shared with every other Mini model. The S models have a new mesh grille, too. Two new exterior colors have been added, White Silver and Sage Green, as has a Piano Black exterior trim that colors all the chrome on the outside in black. Inside, the Countryman gets a revamped center display surround with touch-sensitive shortcut buttons and flush fitting hazard light and driver aid buttons. A version of the Mini Cooper SE electric car's instruments with 5-inch display is now an option. Two new interior leather colors are added, Indigo Blue and Malt Brown, both of which have their colors extended to the lower plastics on the doors and dash. Mechanically, the Countryman is carryover. The base Cooper gets a 134-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder. The Cooper S gets a 189-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder. The John Cooper Works gets 301 horsepower from a turbo four-cylinder. The Cooper SE plug-in hybrid combines the three-cylinder with an electric motor to get 224 horsepower. Range and fuel economy for the latter hasn't officially been announced, but it's likely to match the current model's 18-mile range and 29 mpg combined fuel economy for gas only. The Cooper and Cooper S are available with front-wheel drive and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission or all-wheel drive with an 8-speed automatic. The John Cooper Works comes only with all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic, while the hybrid comes with all-wheel-drive and a 6-speed automatic. The updated Mini Countryman is expected to go on sale this summer. Pricing and fuel economy will be available closer to the on-sale date. Related Video: