If you were like me and waiting to order the 2011 MINI with MINI Connected, wait no longer. You can order it now for the December build. My MINI will be in production in week 49!

Here’s some info on my MINI: 2011 JCW, midnight black/chili red roof, cold weather package, adaptive headlights, black wheels, cloth seats, MINI Connected with Nav, black driving lights, rear fogs, universal garage opener, auto dimming interior and exterior mirrors, power fold mirrors, color line carbon black, chili red interior, rain sensor and auto headlights, H/K sound and that should about do it for the options. production will start week 49, most likely get it in Jan

2011 MINI Cooper JCW has some changes, mostly cosmetic on the outside and inside. This JCW as shown in the above picture could potentially be my next MINI. I’ll be building one online as soon as MINIUSA updates their website to build a 2011 MINI. I love the color combination black with chili red roof. From the press release, it seems that the red roof will be available across all colors in the JCW line only. Not sure how it will look on any other color, but I’ll be playing around with that when the time comes.

Another thing I’m looking forward to having in the MINI is MINI connect. This will integrate the Apple iPhone in to the system and you’ll be able to control your phone from the screen.. how cool is that. Recently in Michigan a texting while driving ban went in to effect and it’s possible that if you really have to text someone, the system will help you do that and read the message to you. Once I know more on that and any other MINI info I’ll post it here and on nxtMINI.com If you happen to be in Michigan while reading this, go to www.michiganmini.org and check out some MINI events that are happening in the state. Motor City MINI will be holding an event on July 29, more info to come soon. So keep that date open! Speaking of Motor City MINI, the JCW WC50 has finally arrived there and it’s not spoken for yet! So go down there to see this beauty in person. I’ll be taking some pictures of it as soon as they have it detailed. Till then, Motor On!

Here’s the official press release by MINI about the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 special edition (JCW WC50) that’s coming to the US. Only 50 are being shipped and motorigfile reported that all 50 have been spoken for. It’s a great looking car and congrats to all 50 people that bought them! Motor On!

MINI Confirms the John Cooper Works World Championship 50 Edition Will be Sold in the U.S.

Below is the official press release from BMW about a revolutionary way to personalize your MINI Cooper Clubman.

MINI TAKES AUTOMOBILE PERSONALIZATION TO A NEW LEVEL.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 5, 2010… On Saturday, March 6, MINI USA and the Inland Empire community will celebrate the MINI of Ontario Grand Opening, the 15th MINI dealership in California, and the largest facility in Southern California. The newest location fills a geographic gap in the brand’s dealer network, making MINI more readily available to new customers and offering additional convenience to several thousand MINI owners who already live in the area. “California is a key market for the MINI brand, and we are expanding the dealer network by positioning new facilities in markets that have solid growth potential, like the Inland Empire,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA. “In doing so, we are committed to maintaining the profitability of our existing dealers, and will add new facilities where it makes sense for the network as a whole, as well as the community.” The MINI of Ontario dealership is located at the intersection of four major highways (I-15, I-10, Highway 60 and I-215) which connect Los Angeles, Orange County and Palm Springs. The new MINI facility is ideally located for Inland Empire customers who currently drive two hours roundtrip to Monrovia or Irvine for sales and service. A total of 37 new jobs were added to the local economy when the dealership began operating, and the owner made use of an existing building, staying true to the brand’s values associated with MINIMALISM. Re-using an existing facility allowed the dealer to minimize the negative impact associated with building a brand new facility, save cost and re-energize a storefront. The fully renovated facility where MINI of Ontario now operates was previously a BMW Certified Pre-Owned dealership. Positioned on 2.13 acres, the new MINI dealership covers 22,017 sq. ft., including a 3,200 sq. ft. showroom that displays seven MINI vehicles. To ensure the best possible customer experience, the facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system and big screen TVs throughout the showroom, service reception area and service drive. The service drive also has a built-in gas grill and air hockey table, offering customers real MINI hospitality during visits. To manage the work flow, Inland Empire MINI utilizes IMAC Apple computers and has 10 work stalls (with room for future expansion). “The world is becoming more MINI every day, and consumer tastes are shifting decidedly to cars that offer tremendous value. The MINI brand is considered ageless, and its core traits are well-aligned with the demands of today’s customers,” said McDowell. “Our cars are not only fuel efficient, and offer great value, but they also provide a fun and dynamic motoring experience and are packed with personality.” MINI of Ontario is owned by Pete Savage, who also owns Savage BMW in Ontario, California. He has been BMW dealer for 25 years, and is a seven-time winner of BMW’s Center of Excellence Award. MINI is proud to welcome him to the MINI family of dealers. The MINI of Ontario dealership is located at 1251 Auto Center Drive, Ontario, CA 91761. The Grand Opening celebration begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 6. Guests will enjoy great food, entertainment, prizes and raffles. Ontario Mayor, Paul Leon, will perform the ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Other special guests will include Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA; Robert Frisch, Vice President, BMW Group Western Region; as well as local celebrities. Media interviews are available. Please contact MINI Communications for scheduling. In the spirit of MINI’s giving back philosophy, MINI of Ontario has selected the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House to receive a donation from the event. The mission of the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House is to provide a “home away from home” for families of critically ill or injured children receiving medical treatment at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and nearby facilities. In addition to this charitable effort, the team at MINI of Ontario works on a regular basis with other non-profit organizations, including: Automotive Youth Education System (AYES), Law Enforcement Organization of Ontario (LEO), Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Automobile Dealer Association, Rancho Cucamonga High School Band and the Inland Empire Chapter of Red Cross Blood Bank.

MINI COUNTRYMAN UK PRICES ANNOUNCED

In September this year MINI will launch its latest and largest model, and the first to offer four wheel drive, to the UK market.  The MINI Countryman range will be the fourth member of the MINI family following Hatch, Convertible and Clubman.  It means that MINI owners who love the brand no longer need move to another make when they need more space in their car.  The MINI Countryman will be available in five models, three of which will offer ALL4, MINI’s new four wheel drive option.

“Countryman takes the MINI story to a new level” said Jochen Goller, Director of MINI UK.  “The extra space and ALL4 MINI break new ground in the brand’s 51 year heritage.  With Countryman prices starting at £16,000 and a very high standard specification, we are introducing more MINI piquancy into the crossover market this year.”

Power and go

At launch the Countryman range will include three petrol and two diesel models, as well as two ALL4 all wheel drive models – the Cooper D ALL4 and Cooper S ALL4.  The petrol engines are the new 1.6 litre power plants already announced for the Hatch, Convertible and Clubman models due in March 2010.  The diesel units are shared with the rest of the MINI range.

The petrol engines all feature Variable Valve Timing (VVT) similar to the BMW Valvetronic system that produces more torque low down and aids overall efficiency.  The Cooper S model also features a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection that gives blistering performance with modest fuel economy and low CO² emissions.  All engines meet EU5 emissions standards.  The key performance data are listed below.

MINI Countryman One

hp@ rpm: 98 @4,750

Nm@rpm: 153@3,000

0-62 mph: 12.7

Top speed mph: 109

Mpg**: 47.9

CO² g/km: 137

OTR Price: £16,000

MINI Countryman Cooper

hp@ rpm: 122@6,000

Nm@rpm:160@4,250

0-62 mph: 10.5

Top speed mph: 118

Mpg**: 46.3

CO² g/km:142

OTR Price: £17,510

MINI Countryman Cooper S

hp@ rpm:184@5,500

Nm@rpm: 240@1,600*

0-62 mph: 7.4

Top speed mph: 133

Mpg**: 44.8

CO² g/km:146

OTR Price: £20,810

MINI Countryman One D

hp@ rpm: 90@4,000

Nm@rpm: 215@1,750

0-62 mph: 13.2

Top speed mph: Top speed mph    105

Mpg**: 65.7

CO² g/km:116

OTR Price: £17,000

MINI Countryman Cooper D

hp@ rpm: 112@4,000

Nm@rpm: 270@1,750

0-62mph:10.9

Top speed mph: 112

Mpg**: 64.2

CO² g/km:116

OTR Price: £18,810

*The MINI Cooper S Countryman delivers 260 Nm of torque for short periods courtesy of Overboost.

**Combined

“The Countryman models still pack in the driving thrills that put a grin on your face the way all MINIs do” said Lee Connolly, MINI UK Product Manager.  “But the Countryman also brings new levels of space and versatility to the range that will attract not only existing MINI owners but also new customers.  We expect that the extra space will mean that around 80 per cent of Countryman sales will come from customers completely new to the MINI brand.”

ALL4 two with one to follow

Two models in the new Countryman range will offer four wheel drive, for the very first time in MINI’s 51 year history.  The MINI Cooper D and Cooper S ALL4 models will be available as models from day one.  A MINI Cooper ALL4 version will follow in 2012.

Not everyone needs four wheel drive all the time.  MINI has a typically smart, and fuel efficient answer for this conundrum:  the Countryman ALL4 is a front wheel drive car in most normal circumstances, but when wheel slip on the front wheels is detected or if the car is being driven enthusiastically an electro-magnetic clutch, located on the rear axle, engages drive to the rear wheels to improve traction.  To enable this imperceptible change to the driven wheels a propeller shaft from the front axle is driven constantly and is ready to direct drive forces from the front axle to the rear in lightening time.  The amount of power fed to the rear wheels is infinitely variable between one per cent and 100, depending upon the driving conditions.

“Countryman ALL4 is a soft off-roader for use in everyday situations like parking in a field for a sporting event or driving on the beach” explained Connolly.

The ALL4 models costs a modest £1,065 for the Cooper D and £1,220 for the Cooper S above the standard front wheel drive Countryman models and the penalty in terms of fuel consumption and CO² emissions is smaller than one might expect.

Body purposeful

The Countryman has a familiar MINI appearance, albeit distinctly different to any that have gone before.  It is 398 mm longer than a MINI Hatch (at 4097mm), 316 mm wider (at 1,789 mm) and 170 mm higher (at 1577mm). Countryman offers 190 litres more luggage capacity than a MINI Hatch with the seats up (a total of 350 litres) and 1,170 litres with the rear seats folded flat.  For the first time ever a MINI has four wide-opening doors, passenger capacity for five adults and a flexible, activity-orientated interior packed with innovations.  All UK models will be built as five seat cars, although customers can specify the four seat option at no extra cost.

Featuring that typical ‘wheel at each corner’ stance with short overhangs, the Countryman not only has larger dimensions than its cousins but also a higher ride height.  This provides the commanding driving position preferred by many drivers with the higher ground clearance for soft off-road driving.  Its ground clearance is 10mm higher than any other MINI model.

Many design characteristics are familiar such as the high window line surrounding the glasshouse while others are new interpretations of iconic features.  For example, the roofline with roof rails, the reinterpretation of the hexagonal radiator grille and the prominent headlight units integrated into the bonnet.

The front of the Countryman is more upright projecting a confident, ‘face’ that also offers improved pedestrian safety.  The wheel arches are more flared highlighting the robust nature of the Countryman as a true crossover, its soft off-road ability and the design of the wide-opening tailgate offers easy access to the large boot space.

Interior features

The MINI Countryman is all about comfort, practicality and innovative style inside.  From the four wide-opening doors to the high-opening rear hatch, it is easy and comfortable to get into and out of, and a dream to load.  The additional boot space of 350 litres is more than double that of the Hatch and 90 litres more than Clubman offers. With the rear seats folded flat the interior provides no less than 1,170 litres of load space.

The multi-function rear seats are arranged in a 60:40 Base and 40:20:40 Backrest providing absolute flexibility with all three seats capable of folding flat in any combination. With one rear seat passenger, two seats can be folded flat or with two, one can be flattened.  Flexibility is not compromised but celebrated in the new Countryman.

The interior is dominated by iconic MINI design characteristics such as grippy and comfortable sports seats, the trademark central speedometer and neat, funky switch packs.  New elements of MINI design language are introduced with the oval interior door elliptical trims that continue from front to rear door and back and the MINI Central Rail system.  The MINI Centre Rail runs from front to rear instead of a conventional centre console and opens up new, individual options for integrating all kinds of storage boxes, cupholders, power chargers, music players, mobile phones and other accessories.

High standard specification

The MINI Countryman range offers a sparkling array of standard equipment including:

• Roof rails that facilitate various attachments like roof boxes or roof racks
• Thatcham Category 1 alarm system,
• Air conditioning,
• Heated door mirrors and washer jets,
• Rear park distance control
• MINI Central Rail system.
• Multi-function rear seats – the five seat fitment being standard in the UK, although the four seat option will be at no cost.
• Dynamic Stability Control
• Electric power steering with Servotronic speed-related assistance
• Six airbags
• ISOFIX child safety seat mountings
• Tyre puncture warning system
• Standard Central Bass Hi Fi system with six speakers
• DAB digital radio with Radio Boost.
• Bluetooth telephone preparation
• USB connection.
• Passenger Airbag deactivation
• Preparation for a bicycle rack

All MINI Countryman models come with standard preparation for a bike rack.  The multi-function rack itself is a bespoke item that not only secures bikes or surfboards being carried but also allows the rear hatch to be opened without removing the rack and its contents.

The Countryman is equipped with 16 inch wheels on One and Cooper (alloy wheels on the Cooper), with 17 inch alloys on Cooper S.  Options of 18 and 19 inch wheels in various styles are available.

The Countryman range is available in 11 exterior colours and 8 interior trims.

The market for Countryman

The demand for crossover vehicles has grown substantially recently:  drivers want the best of both worlds with normal saloon-like driving responses as well as the added versatility of soft off-road ability and the interior flexibility to cope with all the hobbies, shopping trips and activities that are a huge part of the typical busy modern family life.

As a result, MINI Countryman arrives in a growing segment that presents an opportunity to attract buyers from a wide range of competitive cars.  Not only will they find the flexibility their lifestyle demands but they will also discover the world of MINI, a world where practicality and versatility does not bring limitations on the fun that can be derived from driving.

Countryman opens up a whole new range of opportunities for MINI.

“We always maintain that MINI is not a boutique brand like some of its competitors” said Goller.  “MINI is not a one trick pony and as the brand blossoms still further with Coupe and Roadster, MINI will soon be a six model family.  All this has happened within a decade of MINI’s rebirth” he concluded.

All Countryman models will be built by Magna Steyr in Austria.  Although it is the first MINI model not to be built at MINI’s spiritual home in Oxford, the brand’s worldwide success means that there is insufficient capacity to make Countryman at present.  It has been confirmed that the forthcoming Coupé and Roadster models will be built in Oxford.

MINI Countryman will make its World debut at the Geneva Show in March and it will go on sale in the UK on September 18 2010 with prices starting at a very affordable £16,000.

We, in the US, are one step closer to finding out the price of the MINI Countryman. Just announced were the prices for the Countryman, but for Germany… for now. The MINI will have it’s official reveal at the Geneva Motor Show next month and will be available in Germany in September. So stay tuned for more info. Below is the official press release from MINI. Motor On! 

MINI Countryman: MINI announces prices for the brand’s first crossover model.

World premiere at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show – market launch in September 2010.

It’s official, BMW and PSA signed an agreement to further the development of the 4-cylinder engine that can be found in the MINI. This is great news, as this is a good engine. Below is the official announcement from BMW.

Click on the image to see more pictures

MINI is adding a fourth model to the family, opening up a new dimension

of that unmistakable MINI feeling. As a genuine Crossover, the MINI

Countryman bridges the gap between the classic concept of the MINI and

a modern Sports Activity Vehicle. Boasting enhanced opportunities in urban

mobility and beyond, the MINI Countryman offers that unique driving pleasure

so typical of MINI to new target groups requiring extra space and flexibility.

As the first model in the MINI range with four doors and a wide-opening

rear lid, the MINI Countryman provides even greater freedom of space

for truly versatile use, a slightly elevated seating position, and optimised

driving comfort. Full integration of the passengers within the vehicle creates

that driving experience so typical of MINI. And at the same time the MINI

Countryman maintains that go-kart feeling likewise so characteristic of MINI,

optional MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive offering an additional highlight for the

genuine connoisseur. In a nutshell, therefore, the MINI Countryman offers all

the characteristic features of the brand in terms of design, premium quality,

handling, efficiency and customisation in new, fascinating style.

It looks fantastic and I can’t wait to see it in person at the US dealer and test drive it of course. When that time comes, I’ll be definitely taking some pictures of the MINI Countryman. Till then, Motor On!