2016 Mini Cooper on 2040-cars

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Did BMW drag its feet on Mini recall?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening an investigation into BMW's reporting of a recall for 30,456 examples of the 2014-2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop, Cooper S, and the 2015 John Cooper Works. According to the government, "it appears from a review of NHTSA's databases that BMW may have failed to submit recall communications to NHTSA in a timely manner." The automaker issued the recall in July because crash tests showed the models didn't meet side impact requirements for passengers in the back seat. While there were no reported injuries at the time, the company decided to install energy-absorbing material in the space between the rear interior panels and the exterior. However, NHTSA has decided to investigate whether this campaign should have started much earlier, given the evidence the company had. According to the government's report, the Cooper Hardtop failed side-impact tests in 2014, although one of these tests was five-miles-per-hour faster than the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. The agency claims: "In January 2015 BMW verbally committed that it would conduct a service campaign to add padding to the rear side panels of MY 2015 Mini 2 Door Hardtop Cooper models. However, BMW did not initiate the service campaign and failed to inform NHTSA of its failure to do so." A subsequent crash test of an example with this fix showed it to make the vehicle compliant with the rules. Mini spokesperson Mariella Kapsaskis told Autoblog: "Regarding the NHTSA audit query, BMW Group is evaluating the request and will respond to NHTSA as appropriate." INVESTIGATION Subject : BMW Reporting & Timely Recall Execution Date Investigation Opened: SEP 24, 2015 Date Investigation Closed: Open NHTSA Action Number: AQ15004 Component(s): STRUCTURE All Products Associated with this Investigation Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) MINI COOPER 2014-2015 MINI COOPER S 2014-2015 MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS 2015 Details Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: NHTSA is opening this AQ to better understand and evaluate BMW's process(es) for its notification procedures and for timely and efficient execution of its safety recall campaigns. In mid-2014, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) had side impact moving deformable barrier (MDB) tests performed on two model year (MY) 2014 Mini 2 Door Hardtop Coopers. These two tests were performed at a speed 5 mph higher than required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 214, Side impact protection.

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:

2016 Mini Clubman First Drive [w/video] [UPDATE]

UPDATE: After playing with the newly launched Clubman configurator, we've revised the as-tested estimate to what we think is a more accurate $40,250, based on how our Swedish tester was equipped. Mini had a good idea when it introduced the last-generation Clubman, offering a slightly bigger, more versatile vehicle, with its own unique styling traits. Sounds good, right? Well, as it turned out, that wasn't necessarily all for the best, and not because there was any problem with the car itself. Mini's fleshed out model range, which now includes both the all-wheel-drive, four-door Countryman and the new four-door Hardtop has rendered the original Clubman idea rather obsolete. Enter the new Clubman. Gone is its awkward club door, and in its place are an extra pair of real, traditional doors. But even more than changes to its body, Mini has taken the original Clubman idea – to build a more versatile version of the beloved Hardtop – to its logical extreme, going larger. More importantly, this 2016 model represents a more premium, comfortable direction for the Mini brand. But don't worry, loyalists, this is still very much a Mini. The 2016 Clubman is the longest vehicle Mini has ever made. As was the case with the previous Clubman, this new model rides on a longer wheelbase than the Hardtop's. The 105.1-inch span is arguably more maxi than mini, offering buyers anywhere from 2.9 to 6.9 inches of extra space between the axles. It also makes the Clubman the longest vehicle Mini has ever made. But at 168.3 inches in length, this new model is still significantly shorter than a compact wagon like the 179.6-inch Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, or even another C-segment hatch, like the five-door variants of the Ford Focus (171.6 inches) and Mazda3 (180.3 inches). On top of the extra length, Mini stretched the body by a full three inches, while the track has been increased by 2.4 inches at both ends of the car. Taken as a whole, the Clubman is exceptionally roomy, considering its footprint. The suspension, a multi-link rear with front struts, is softer than that of a Mini Hardtop, but that's not saying a lot – handling is significantly sharper than in the vehicles listed above. And we're betting it will stand out against the brand's intended targets – a list that ranges from the Volkswagen Golf to the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Feedback through the wheel is on the low side for something wearing a Mini badge.