2013 Mini Cooper S Clubman Wagon 3-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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Mini JCW Convertible spied looking cold

The Mini Convertible John Cooper Works has stripped off almost all of the camo it was wearing when we last saw it a few months back. There's not much left to the imagination anymore, and all that remains are some swirls to hide a little of the hood and rear. As expected, the entire front end, rear bumper, central exhausts and subtly flared wheel arches come directly from the JCW take on the two-door Hardtop. Except for the Convertible's repositioned antenna and lowering top, the two models are essentially the same on the outside. With the standard, third-gen Mini droptop not actually unveiled yet, all of the camouflage at the back is likely there to hide the way the roof folds down. Under the hood, expect the latest JCW 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes. Of course, the Convertible also adds the thrill of tipping the throttle with the top down. Mini hasn't hinted at a reveal date for the latest Convertible yet. However, these shots suggest development is at a fairly advanced state, so an official debut is likely not too far off. Related Video:

British company announces turn-key EV conversion kit for classic Mini

Swindon Powertrain unveiled a turn-key EV conversion kit that makes electrifying a Mini built between 1959 and 2000 relatively easy. It bridges the gap between the original model and the Cooper SE released earlier in 2020. Available in December 2020, the kit consists of an electric motor mounted on a modified Mini front subframe, and purpose-designed inner CV joint housings designed to work with regular-production half shafts. Swindon notes no modifications are required; installing the kit requires removing the original front subframe, probably selling the stock engine and the transmission in the local classifieds, and bolting the new subframe to the Mini's body. Rated at 107 continuous horsepower, but programmed to offer a peak output of 160 horsepower, the motor spins the front wheels via a single-speed transmission, which seemingly settles the debate over magic wand, direct, and remote gear changes. It offers more power than any four-cylinder fitted to the Mini by the factory. After tightening the subframe bolts, owners need to source additional powertrain components, like the battery pack, the motor controller, the on-board charger, and the DC-DC converter. All of these parts are available directly from Swindon Powertrains, or from a growing list of aftermarket vendors, but they're not included in the kit. Electric technology isn't cheap, and Swindon's kit is no exception. It's priced at GBP8,850 (about $11,500) before taxes and shipping enter the equation, meaning it's more expensive than rebuilding an original four-cylinder engine. Viewed in this light, electrification is better suited to some of the high-zoot custom builds (like the stunning Remastered available from David Brown Automotive) priced in the six digits than to a beater 1980s City model.

Mini exiting WRC after just one year

There was a fair bit of hullabaloo two years ago when Mini announced a return to the World Rally Championship for this season, but the road to making that happen has been as rocky as a gravel stage. It spent 2011 developing its JCW Countryman WRC challenger, changing its mind about how it wanted to work with Prodrive, dumped a driver due to budget issues, then registering its entry after the deadline had passed in a ploy that might or might not have been a protest aimed at the WRC promoter.
Mini had stated that it wanted to win the whole championship in 2013, and spent 2011 doing six WRC rounds as development. As it stands for this year, the WRC Team Mini Portugal - paid for by Mini, run by ProDrive - scored 26 points in the first rally at Monte Carlo and has so far blanked the rest of the season. The relationship between Mini and ProDrive appeared to be an ever-contentious affair, at the end of this season, even the money will dry up along with what support there was.
Because it contested every race in the calendar, though, Mini says it has completed the FIA requirements for homologation of the JCW Countryman WRC; meaning that privateers can continue purchasing the car and run it in the WRC. BMW Motorsport is continuing development and parts supply of the 1.6-liter turbo engine, and a report in Autosport indicates that ProDrive will continue to run Minis in the series next year.