The BMW-Mini Thread

Mini John Cooper Works 2021 UK review

Should I buy one?

To come back to our original question, there is definitely a case to be made for spending less and getting more from you Mini. For a lot of drivers, the Cooper S delivers 99 percent of the fun for (depending on spec) a saving of around £5,000.

However, you can use the same theory when speccing your JCW, because by ditching the £1,700 auto in favour of the standard manual you’ll have a more engaging and entertaining Mini. So more for less. You’ll also have one that would’ve earned itself an extra half star here. Again, more for less.


JCW 1.jpgJCW 2.jpgJCW 3.jpgJCW 4.jpgJCW 5.jpgJCW 6.jpg
 
Mini confirms successor to convertible in 2025

Sixth-generation drop-top will be core to Mini’s plan to go all-electric by early 2030s

Mini will develop a successor to its popular Convertible model as it pushes towards becoming an electric-only maker by the early 2030s.

Due to be revealed in 2025, the sixth-generation Convertible will retain the iconic Mini style of previous versions of the car but with one crucial difference: it will be powered by an electric powertrain - at least optionally. The firm has previously revealed that it will launch its final combustion model in 2025 - so a choice of powertrains looks likely for the Convertible.

Although Mini has yet to reveal details of the set-up, it is likely that the electric Convertible will sport a variation of the 181bhp, 199lb ft electric motor that currently powers Mini’s sole EV, the Electric supermini, as well as parent-brand BMW’s i3S.

That car’s 32.6kWh battery is currently good for a claimed 144-mile range. However, Autocar expects this to be extended for the electric Convertible to reflect that car’s ambitions to be driven beyond short trips in and around cities.

Berd Körber, head of the Mini brand, said: "The Mini Convertible has a large and particularly loyal fan base. This is also shown by the great demand for the latest, freshly updated model. We are therefore firmly convinced of the success of this vehicle concept for the future."

 
Y the obsession? The most prolific BMW Mini collectors

The first 700 or so BMW Minis were produced right at the end of the Y-reg period and are now hunted by a dedicated group of enthusiasts

It’s like a holding area for Minis: there are three neat rows of 20, most looking ready for action. And had you not driven up the driveway of a private house to get to them, you would have assumed that they were gathered at the Mini factory in Oxford – in a dealer storage area or perhaps lined up for a press launch. Except that most are 20 years old, they indeed live on the premises of a house and they all belong to one man.

Tim Williams is a car enthusiast, and he explains that when he sold his storage business a few years back, he was looking for a strand of the old car hobby to get into. Then, about four years ago, he came across an embryonic enthusiasm for Y-reg Minis. Eh? The Mini Y-Register is possibly the only car club whose focus revolves around one character of the UK numberplate of a very specific model range.

We’re talking about the very first of the BMW-era Minis. By definition, these are relatively few, the club identifying these (for reasons that we will come to) as the first 700 or so made. By a quirk of timing, these cars will have a registration number beginning with the letter Y. But relatively few R50 Minis, as BMW codenamed them, were registered with such a plate. So, er, why?

Because when the new Mini went on sale on 7 July 2001, there were only 11 weeks to go before the next numberplate age identifier came into play. And it wasn’t Z but 51, as the UK switched to a twice-yearly identifier in an effort to deal with the absurd numbers of new cars being registered on 1 August.


Mini 1.jpgMini 2.jpgMini 3.jpg
 

Mini JCW Anniversary edition marks 60 years of Cooper models

Just 60 examples of new Mini John Cooper Works Anniversary Edition hot hatch will come to the UK

Mini has revealed the John Cooper Works Anniversary Edition to commemorate 60 years of collaboration with the Cooper family.

A total of 740 examples of the three-door hot hatch will be built, just 60 of which are bound for the UK.

Retaining the regular JCW's 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, it produces 228bhp and 236lb ft of torque and covers the 0-62mph sprint in 6.3sec on its way to a top speed of 153mph.

The Anniversary Edition comes with a number of bespoke touches, including Rebel Green paint; a roof, door handles, mirror caps, headlight rings finished in white; and white bonnet stripes with red accent lines. It also carries the number 74 on its doors and bonnet as a nod to the Mini Cooper taking its first class win in the 1961 Lombank Trophy at Snetterton.

The original Mini later triumphed at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1965, 1965 and 1967.


4A31C89D-C518-4703-8C1A-0C5E00CC2F6F.jpeg54E3B021-38EF-4E3B-B9BC-28BDC70D11C4.jpegD5C9825E-A093-4174-B89F-8E032B342318.jpegED48C3F6-F3E8-4D61-9C46-770724B18335.jpeg9053CDF5-72F9-422E-BA19-356BF1A4D916.jpeg1FE09746-B275-41EE-A002-2E2DB328A128.jpeg5235495C-68CD-454C-89BF-ABF2CB1EAEDB.jpegC3F06EEB-4CCD-4588-A9D9-F5BBB447AC54.jpegA0B25F19-45D9-41A4-88E9-E7335CA440B4.jpeg
 
Mini JCW Anniversary Edition

The name John Cooper, born 98 years ago today, stands not only for great successes in Formula 1, but also for the traditional sporting spirit of the MINI brand. 60 years ago, John Cooper laid the foundations for a legendary racing victory in the classic Mini. It was the beginning of the collaboration between MINI and the Cooper Family that continues today. The shared tradition stretches from the very first Mini Cooper, launched in September 1961, to the sporty John Cooper Works models in the current model range.

To mark the anniversary, the British premium brand is presenting a special edition of the MINI 3-door that combines a return to history with state-of-the-art technology. The MINI Anniversary Edition is a tribute to John Cooper, who passed away in 2000, and a testament to how maximum driving pleasure is enjoyed in his name today, in the premium small car segment.

Exclusive design and equipment features make the Anniversary Edition an attractive proposition for MINI fans around the world who are passionate about the brand's sporting history, closely associated with the John Cooper name. The special edition will be available as MINI Cooper 3-door, MINI Cooper S 3-door and MINI John Cooper Works. Production is limited globally to just 740 units. The number of units available in this edition refers to the starting number 74, which the classic Mini Cooper wore on its first successful race track appearance.

John Cooper earned his status as a racing pioneer as early as the 1950s and with his mid-engine sports cars, he revolutionised Formula 1. His idea, which is still used today, of placing the engine behind the driver instead of in front of him, helped Jack Brabham to secure two world championship titles in 1959 and 1960 in Formula 1 Cooper racing cars. With his penchant for unorthodox solutions, Cooper was similar to his friend and fellow designer Alec Issigonis, who in turn had caused a revolution in the small car segment with the classic Mini. John Cooper immediately recognised the sporting potential of the compact four-seater and initiated the construction of a small series of vehicles with larger brakes and an increased engine output from 34 to 55 hp. The Mini Cooper was born and became an instant success. The Cooper brand and the name lettering surrounded by a red ring now became famous. Two years later, the even more powerful Mini Cooper S followed, which laid the foundation for three overall victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967.

 
Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition Revealed

To celebrate 60 years of collaboration with the Cooper Family, Mini has created a special edition vehicle. Meet the Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition, and just a handful of units are coming to South Africa.

John Cooper was born 98 years ago, but the real history begins 60 years ago when he took his classic Mini to a legendary race victory. His expertise with Mini’s products resulted in the Mini Cooper in 1961.

To celebrate the partnership, Mini has created the Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition and the vehicle is a tribute to John Cooper’s legacy. Sadly John Cooper is no longer with us, having passed away in 2000.

There’ll be just 740 units available globally and South Africa will receive just 6. 74 refers to the starting number 74 which was the classic Mini Cooper’s number during its first successful race appearance.

The Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition will be in British Racing Green metallic and Rebel Green, as well as Midnight Black metallic. All paint finishes are combined with a roof, exterior mirror caps, door handles and surrounds for the headlights and rear lights in white. Other exterior trim elements are offered in Piano Black high gloss.

It wouldn’t be a sporty Mini without the traditional stripes and these are white on the bonnet, with a red accent line. The 74 is on the bonnet and doors of the vehicle. The vehicle features John Cooper Works Trim with adaptive dampers, 18-inch JCW light alloys. Inside, the Cooper name logo is present on the door sill trims, on the side scuttles, on the C-pillars, and on the center spoke of the Nappa sports leather steering wheel.

When does the Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition arrive in SA?

Mini South Africa confirmed there’ll be 6 units with the JCW engine arriving in the last quarter of 2021. Pricing will be announced closer to the time.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring-news/mini-cooper-anniversary-edition-revealed/97013/
 
Mini partners with Dogs Trust to promote pet-friendly travel

Mini will allow dogs into dealerships and will educate customers on dog-safe driving

Mini will partner with Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, to become the country’s first ‘dog-friendly’ manufacturer by 2022, aiming to raise awareness of dog-safe travel.

The British firm will welcome dogs into dealerships with bowls of water and mats, while working with the charity's canine behaviour experts to educate customers on how to keep dogs happy on car journeys.

“It’s really important that your car is right for the whole family, including your four-legged passenger, whose needs and safety requirements are slightly different to ours,” said Jenna Kiddie, Dogs Trust’s head of canine behaviour.

“It’s wonderful to see Mini, such an iconic automotive brand, considering the needs of dog owners, so they can make sure their beloved canine family members are safe and comfortable when on the road."

The partnership comes following a study conducted by Mini of UK-based customers that showed 91% of dogs are deemed happy when travelling in a Mini, rising to 95% for the Clubman.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...mini-partners-dogs-trust-promote-pet-friendly

Dog 1.jpegDog 2.jpegDog 3.jpegDog 4.jpeg
 
Bespoke Mini Strip highlights firm's sustainability push

Pared-back Mini Electric given distinctive treatment by designer Paul Smith

Mini has teamed up with British fashion designer Paul Smith - known in motoring circles for his brightly coloured takes on the original Mini - to create the Mini Strip, a pared-back one-off which emphasises the firm's sustainability ambitions.

It follows the Urbanaut concept revealed in 2020 as another statement of intent for Mini's future as a maker of simple and sustainable cars with an emphasis on utility and efficiency.

Unlike the Urbanaut, however, the Strip is closely related to the current Electric, with the principles of "simplicity, transparency and sustainability" guiding Smith's makeover of the car.

As its name suggests, the Strip concept does away with many of the standard car's features and adopts several unique design cues in the name of weight reduction and pure functionality. Only elements deemed "absolutely necessary" by Smith remain.

Most obviously, the Strip goes without a production-specification paint finish, wearing just a thin layer of transparent paint to prevent rush and featuring exposed grinding marks from the factory. Mini says this gives "a minimalist, high-class design with a fresh and unconventional appeal". Smith, meanwhile, refers to the unrefined finish as "the perfect imperfection".

The Strip does retain its contrasting black plastic body trim, but here it's 3D-printed using recycled plastic and decorated with exposed screwheads that aim to show how easily the car could be dismantled and recycled at the end of its usable life. The grille, blanked off to reduce drag, is made from recycled perspex to save even more weight, as are the aerodynamically optimised wheel covers and the panoramic sunroof.


Mini 1.jpegMini 2.jpegMini 3.jpegMini 4.jpegMini 5.jpegMini 6.jpegMini 7.jpegMini 8.jpeg
 
Check out Paul Smith’s new Mini collaboration

It seems Colin Chapman’s old philosophy has hit the world of fashion

Fashion designer Paul Smith first collaborated with Mini way back in 1997. You may have seen the 84-stripe, 24-colour end result of that tie up on t-shirts, pants and just about every other piece of clothing imaginable in the past few decades.

We’re big fans of this latest project though. Check out the new (one-off) Mini Strip. Essentially, Smith asked the questions “What is it made of?” and “Can we get rid of it?” when working with Mini’s designers - although they only met twice in person due to you-know-what.

The result is a lightweight, stripped-out Mini Electric with a large mouth but otherwise unassuming exterior that’s unpainted and features a number of exposed screws. The interior is where it all happens, though. Five bright colours combine with almost nothing else – it really is bare in there. The steering wheel has been replaced with a bespoke unit that shows off its airbag, the infotainment has been replaced with a phone mount and even the door cards are exchanged for mesh. All very stripped back and fashionable, isn’t it?

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/check-out-paul-smiths-new-mini-collaboration
 
Mini Strip revealed with sustainable design in conjunction with Paul Smith

The Mini Strip is a one-off project built in conjunction with renowned fashion icon Paul Smith that has been designed to showcase an array of sustainable design techniques. This collaboration between these two British icons was announced in November last year and is the result of months of design and development.

The design of the Mini Strip was approached with the issue of sustainability within automotive manufacturing in mind. As a result, Mini and Paul Smith were guided by the overarching theme of “Simplicity, Transparency, Sustainability”. Based off the all-electric Mini Cooper SE, the project showcases inspirational ideas for a more sustainable method of automotive design.

Raw materials have been applied to the exterior of the Mini Strip. This means the body was left in its unfinished state with no coloured paint applied. Instead, a thin film of transparent paint has been applied to protect the surface against corrosion. Grinding marks from the factory have been left intact on the galvanised steel panels to clearly identify the car as a functional object and robust companion for everyday life. This intentionally rough-hewn effect was also dubbed “the perfect imperfection” by Paul Smith.

Select trimmings on the Mini Strip are 3D-printed from recycled plastic and their basic material qualities have been left exposed, like the metal panels. The visible screws seen throughout the body are inspired by road bike designs and displays how simple dismantling would be and how easily the vehicle could be reincorporated into the raw-material cycle at the end of its service life. The functional and distinctive front and rear apron inserts were manufactured in a 3D printing process as well.

 
Mini Cooper (2021) Specs & Pricing

The facelifted Mini Cooper will be launching in SA in September 2021. Here’s what’s on offer, plus how much it will cost.

With an all-new model due in 2023 and the constant advances in connectivity and tech, Mini has given its hatch and convertible range a facelift, both inside and out.

These changes are applied to the One hatch, Cooper hatch, Cooper S hatch, Cooper Convertible, JCW and the electrified Cooper SE. Customers will have the choice of 3-door or 5-door vehicles, excluding the Convertible.

Mini Cooper (2021) Price in South Africa

The updated Cooper is sold with a 2 year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a 3-year/75 000 km service plan.

One Hatch 3-door R 424 554
One Hatch 5-door R434 968
Cooper Hatch 3-door R489 654
Cooper Hatch 5-door R500 068
Cooper S Hatch 3-door R564 058
Cooper S Hatch 5-door R574 058
John Cooper Works Hatch 3-door R668 124
Cooper SE Hatch 3-door R686 400

 
Mini sells one-millionth car in the UK since BMW’s takeover

Mini UK has confirmed its one-millionth sale in its local market since the model was introduced under the watchful eye of BMW in 2001. Over the past two decades, the German-owned British company confirms that global sales amount to just over 5,1 million units in the same period of time.

David George, Director of Mini UK, said: “To have sold over one million Minis in just 20 years is a remarkable milestone; we are all extremely proud. This achievement is testament to the fantastic cars we’ve built and launched during that time, our customers’ continued love for Mini, and the strength and unwavering dedication of our retail network.

“As we see the increasing demand for our Electric and Countryman plug-in hybrid models, which account for nearly a fifth of global electrified sales, we’re excited to see what the next twenty years hold, as we transition into our fully electric future.”

 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X