MINI Gives Brand-New Paceman Crossover its Video Debut

Yesterday, MINI unveiled the production version of the Paceman, which is the three-door version of the Countryman crossover, precisely two weeks before it makes its public debut at the Paris Auto Show.

Some of you complained about the absence of any photos of the Paceman's dashboard in our gallery - don't blame us, blame the BMW Group. If you are still interested, we can now show it to you through a video that details the design of the latest MINI model inside and out.

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MINI Officially Reveals New Paceman Three-Door Crossover [114 Photos]

Its revelation time for MINI and its brand-new Paceman series, which will make its grand premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September before it goes on sale worldwide next spring.

Originally previewed by the Paceman Concept at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show, the newest addition to MINI's growing (both in numbers and in…size) range of vehicles is billed as a coupé interpretation of the Countryman crossover.

From bumper to bumper, the Paceman measures 4,109mm (161.7-inches) or in the case of the sported-up Cooper S and Cooper SD variants, 4,115mm (162-inches), making it 24mm shorter than the Countryman.

It has a 31mm lower roof height and sits 10mn closer to the ground compared to the Countryman with which it shares the same width.

The styling up to the A-pillar is identical to the five-door model, but the Paceman gains a more rakish roofline, longer front doors, muscular rear fenders and a completely new rear end highlighted by a redesigned set of tail lamps that all work together to offer a sportier appearance.

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New MINI Countryman John Cooper Works Priced in the UK, Plus New Gallery with 55 Photos

The Mini family is expanding with the first John Cooper Works (JCW) performance model to come with the firm's ALL4 all-wheel drive system, the new John Cooper Works Countryman that goes on sale in Britain with a starting price of £28,595.

The 4,133mm long, 1,789mm wide and 1,549mm tall crossover packs a 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine that utilizes direct-injection technology and a twin-scroll turbocharger to produce 215hp (218PS) and 280Nm (207 lb-ft) of peak torque or 300Nm (221 lb-ft) with the overboost function.

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New Mini Paceman Crossover Coupe Comes Into Light

The soon to be launched Mini Paceman isn’t much of a secret since the British carmaker not only previewed the car with a prototype at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show but back in July this year, it also released a handful of photos of a barely disguised pre-production model.

Nevertheless, we now have images of the final production version, courtesy of Mini's own fan magazine, at least according to the crew over at MotoringFile.

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MINI Drops New Photos and Details on the 215HP John Cooper Works GP Special [Updated]

Even though MINI first told us about the new John Cooper Works GP back in March, the BMW Group-controlled automaker held back photos of the interior as well as several specification details including the engine output and performance numbers.

With the Paris Motor Show just around the corner, MINI is now ready to share those details with us.

The second generation of the John Cooper Works (JCW) GP special follows pretty much the same recipe as it predecessor with a slightly more powerful turbocharged engine, a tweaked chassis, improved aerodynamics and a two seat setup.

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Mini Tells Us Why the Design of the New John Cooper Works GP is So Special

In response to success of their 2006 John Cooper Works GP, Mini went ahead and revealed to us in early May of this year the newest model to wear its GP moniker.

The 2012 edition of the John Cooper Works GP hatchback is heralded as the fastest production Mini ever made, producing 210bhp from the standard 1.6-liter engine.

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BMW Group Tops One Million Sales Since the Start of the Year, Sets New Record

For the first time in its history, the BMW Group, which includes the BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce brands, delivered over one million vehicles (1,036,088 units to be precise) in the first seven months of the year recording a 7.6 percent increase over the same period in 2011 when it delivered 962,493 cars.

The German company also reported its best-ever sales result for July with a total of 135,537 deliveries, up 5.0 percent compared to last year.

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MINI Remembers 12 Concept Models Created Under the Ownership of the BMW Group

For most people in the northern hemisphere, August is the last summer month of relaxation and freedom before the new season kicks in and we all return to reality.

What this means for most industries and especially the automotive sector, is that there is not a lot going on, which could explain why MINI chose this month to reminisce about its past concepts, from the moment it was acquired by the BMW Group in the mid-1990s to the present day.

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The Mini-Me MINI of the BMW Group's London Olympic and Paralympic Games Fleet

After the 160 BMW 1-Series ActiveE coupes and 40 MINI E hatchbacks, the Bavarian automotive group today presented its third pure-electric vehicle to the London Olympic and Paralympic fleet: the Mini MINI.

Evidently, and unlike the other two models, the Mini MINI was not designed to shuttle athletes and officials within the Olympic Park and surrounding Games sites.

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MINI Prepares us for the New Paceman Crossover with Revealing Photos

You know it is only a matter of time before the presentation of a new model when a carmaker drops pictures of a barely camouflaged prototype as MINI did on Tuesday with the Paceman.

The new images show the three-door crossover model with only parts of the rear end covered in the traditional swirly livery we have come to expect from Mini's engineers over the past few years.

Not that we're surprised, mind you, as back in April, Kay Segler, Senior Vice President MINI Brand Management, had confirmed the name of the new model and announced that the Paceman would be presented in a "few months’ time and launched onto the market in 2013".

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Scoop: MINI Paceman Cooper S Put Through its…Paces on the Nürburgring

No matter who takes over the Nürburgring track after its major stakeholder, the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, filed for bankruptcy this week, automakers will continue to use the fabled circuit to hone their cars, just as MINI is doing with the Paceman Cooper S model.

In regards to the three-door crossover's name, MINI chief executive Kay Segler recently confirmed that the coupe version of the Countryman will be dubbed "Paceman" adding that it will go on sale next year.

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Review and test drive of Mini Countryman

 A big Mini sounds like an oxymoron, but that’s exactly what the Countryman is – a car that seeks to marry the charm & iconic style of a Mini with the space & practicality of a large, four door hatchback. Does the idea work?

Marketed more as a crossover than a hatchback, the Countryman easily looks a couple of sizes larger than the two door Minis, yet is smaller than, say, a Skoda Yeti. Frontal styling is aggressive, with a power bulge on the bonnet, near vertical grille & large, swept back headlamps, lending the Countryman the face of a bulldog. In profile, though, the Countryman is quite conventional, & it’s only the blackened pillars that link this to other Minis. Its squared out tailgate looks neat & the twin exhausts give an indication of the car’s sporty intent. But more on that later.

With a high enough roof, ingress is really easy, & once inside you get a cabin that is unmistakably Mini. Taking pride of place on the dashboard is the very retro oversized analogue speedometer that can be specified to house the optional & easy to use 6.5 inch infotainment screen. There are plenty of other details that take you back in time, but their execution is to the highest of modern BMW standards. We simply loved the exquisitely crafted toggle switches on the centre console & rear doors, & the fighter jet thrust lever like handbrake.

We also liked the back support from the smartly finished front seats, but found them lacking in thigh support. & why is there no electric adjustment for the front seats? Rear seat passengers don’t have it all that nice either. There are no dedicated rear AC vents, the seats offer insufficient thigh support & the flat backrest is not very supportive. Legroom is decent, but the restricted width & high centre tunnel make the rear bench best suited to two occupants. Simply said, for a car of this price, you’d expect a more spacious cabin, but viewed in isolation, the interior is roomy by typical hatchback standards. To add to the versatility, the rear seats can fold & split 40:20:40 to free up more space to supplement the already large 350 litre boot.

But Minis are more about fun than practicality, so how does the Countryman score here? Quite well, actually. India gets only the more powerful Countryman S model that features a 1.6 litre direct injection petrol engine with a twin scroll turbocharger. The motor produces 181bhp at 5500rpm, all of which is routed to the front wheels; there’s no all wheel drive for India. Peak torque is 24.5kgm, delivered between 1600 & 5500rpm, & the turbo’s ‘overboost’ feature momentarily bumps this figure to 26.5kgm (from 1700 4500rpm) under hard acceleration. The result is a motor that is responsive, has almost no lag, & is happy to rev to its 6500rpm redline. Then there is the quick shifting six speed automatic gearbox that, in Sport mode, is ever willing to grant you a downshift when you need more power.

Benchmarked against other cars of this size, the Countryman even handles quite well. The electric steering may be slightly inconsistent, but body control is fairly good & there is less roll than the tall ish stance would have you imagine. Yes, the Countryman S is softer sprung than the Cooper S we’ve road tested elsewhere in this issue, but the ride is still pretty flat at highway speeds. That said, the suspension does have a firm edge, & the low profile tyres mean the car constantly thumps over our potholed roads. Also, the wheels tend to follow imperfections in the road surface, & call for a firm hand on the steering at all times. However, a fairly tight turning circle, light enough steering & good visibility do make the Countryman really easy to live within the city.

But at Rs 35.9 lakh, the Countryman is exorbitantly priced. Sure, it looks unique, is reasonably good to drive & comes with a rich cabin, but in terms of space & comfort, it can’t really compete with similarly priced models from BMW, Mercedes Benz & Audi. The Countryman then, despite its practicality on paper, is for the few Indian buyers who want their car to stand out from the crowd & are willing to pay the price for it. As it stands, the Countryman has its work cut out for it.

Fact File
Price Range (in lakhs)*
Ex showroom price Rs 35.9 (ex showroom, Delhi
Engine
Fuel Petrol
Type 1598cc, direct injection, turbo
Power 181bhp at 5500rpm
Torque 24.5kgm at 1600 500rpm
Transmission
Gearbox 6 speed auto
Dimensions
Length 4110mm
Width 1996mm
Height 1561mm
Wheel base 2595mm
Suspension
Front Independent, MacPherson struts, anti roll bar/Independent
Rear multi link, anti roll bar
Brakes
Front Ventilated discs
Rear discs
Performance
0 20 1.09
0 40 2.29
0 60 3.85
0 80 5.83
0 100 8.44
0 120 11.85
0 140 16.77
0 160 24.01
Acceleration in gear
20 80kph in 3rd gear 4.94sec
40 100kph in 4th gear 6.60sec

BMW Group has officially launched the MINI brand in India

The BMW Group, which owns the Mini brand, has officially launched the iconic brand in India. Available as a Completely Built up Unit (CBU), the Mini will be sold in three body styles; Hatch, Convertible & Countryman. The Mini range will sport 1.6 litre petrol engines with 120bhp & 181bhp power outputs, coupled with a six speed automatic transmission.

India is the 100th country in which the Mini has been launched. The range, which was showcased at the Auto Expo earlier this year, already has 100 buyers in the country. The deliveries will start from May.

Speaking at the launch in Mumbai, Dr Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India, said: “We have brought the world’s most exciting premium small car brand to India. The Mini is more than just a car – it is a personality on wheels – a fashion statement – & a way of life. The Mini expresses a whole generation’s approach to life – it is extrovert, open & full of zest in life. No other brand exhibits the attributes & essence of a modern urban lifestyle like MINI & there is no doubt that it is one of the world’s most emotional auto brands.”

“By launching the new Mini 10 years ago, we created the world’s first premium small car brand in the world. Since then, we have sold over two million Minis & converted the brand from a single model offer to a family of six models. Our main focus this year will be to concentrate on successfully establishing the MINI brand in India.” Dr. Schaaf further added.

Infinity Cars, the first exclusive showroom for the Mini brand, is located at Linking Road,Mumbai. Pooja Choudury, MD, Infinity Cars, said: “We are proud to launch the first Mini showroom in Mumbai. The Mini will open up a whole new world of inventiveness & style here.”

Mini India has announced plans to around five to six dealerships in India including two exclusive outlets in Delhi (NCR) in 2012.


Prices for the Mini range are:
Mini Cooper: Rs 25.5 lakh
Mini Cooper S: Rs 28.6 lakh
Mini Cooper Convertible: Rs 30.7 lakh
Mini Cooper S Countryman: Rs 32.8 lakh
Mini Cooper S Countryman High: Rs 35.9 lakh
(All prices ex-showroom)

Mini Cooper full test drive and review

The Mini is finally coming to India. However, we have been living with its legacy ever since the first Maruti 800. Most small cars even today are front-wheel-drive with transversely mounted, water-cooled engines, a configuration popularised by the first Mini designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in 1959. This configuration enabled the car to achieve truly micro-car exterior dimensions along with a surprising amount of usable space inside. The car was affordable, stylish, fun to drive and easy to park anywhere. It quickly achieved cult status across the world.

Now that it’s being launched in India, I managed a quick drive in a couple of Minis around Oxford, where the assembly plant is located, to give you a first impression of what to expect.

The model we are getting in India is the Mini Cooper that will be available in two body styles, a hatch and a convertible, and with a choice of 1598cc petrol and diesel motors. Both can seat four adults, as long as the adults in the back seat are not too tall. Actually the best use for the back seat is as a place to keep your shopping.

Slam the doors shut and they close with a solid thump. The cabin is dominated by a centrally mounted speedometer that is a nod to the original Mini, but the controls can be frustrating to operate and seem to value form over function. Though this car celebrates British micro-car heritage, it is precise German engineering and construction underneath.

The 122bhp petrol motor provides enough of a kick for most folks. But it isn’t the muscle under its hood that’s the Mini’s selling point. It’s the car’s agility. The steering is accurate and nicely weighted. The shift is precise and light. Body control is excellent and it changes direction keenly. Even the pedals bleed precision. Point it toward a serpentine road and you will be amply rewarded. It’s like a go-kart for adults. The downside is a rather firm ride, but that’s the price you pay for the Mini’s thrilling handling.

Now if you want even more style, get the convertible with the retractable roof. It’s not a hard-top but rather a conventional cloth unit, and it’s a clever little arrangement. Press the switch and the roof slides back 45cm to give a large sunroof-like opening. Press the switch again and the ‘Z-roof’ unlatches and scissors up and back to fold neatly behind the rear seats in 15 seconds. The downside is that rear visibility with the top down is very poor since it stacks up rather high. With the top up, it’s even worse.

The other Mini that’s going to be landing on Indian shores is the Countryman. At over four meters it’s over a foot longer than the regular Mini. It’s also 10cm wider and some 15cm taller than the regular hatch. The Countryman is also the first Mini to get two doors on each side of its body.

What the Countryman does that the Cooper doesn’t is provide a decent amount of passenger space. There’s plenty of head and elbow room for four adults, and the sliding, 60/40 split rear bench is comfortable even for taller passengers.

The extra size and weight has had a penalty on the performance, since it is powered by the same engines. Though it is not as brisk as the Cooper, it will cruise happily in the fast lane all day.

Despite being bit slower and less nimble, many of the Countryman’s traits are unchanged from its smaller sibling. This includes the hefty steering, the mechanical clack of every gear change, and the stiff-legged ride. You are sacrificing a bit of driving pleasure but you get to share the fun with two more adults rather than kids.

The Mini offers a staggering level of customisation, and you can specify just about everything. In fact the company says that no two Minis that come off the assembly line are the same. Though it is unlikely that we in India will be able to specify from the complete basket of options, you can still expect a generous list of customisation options.

Now comes the most important part — the price. Mini has priced the the Cooper hatchback at Rs 24.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) which makes it the most affordable car in the line-up. The 184bhp Mini Cooper S has been priced at Rs 27.9 lakh. The third model in Mini’s India lineup is the Cooper Convertible, priced at Rs 29.99 lakh, it is still the cheapest convertible on sale in India today.

Also on sale is the Cooper S Countryman, it costs Rs 31.99 lakh and uses a 184bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. Mini has not announced any plans yet of brining in its diesel-powered models to our shores, however the manufacturer has confirmed all India-bound cars will come with six-speed automatic transmissions.

The premium hatch is territory that Fiat with its 500 and Volkswagen with the Beetle have been on before. And they didn’t exactly set sales charts on fire. Will the Mini be able to buck the trend and carve out a niche as a premium hot hatch?

The Mini offers something that the Fiat 500 and the VW Beetle didn’t – driver involvement. It is a seriously fun and involving car to drive. A car that will bring a smile to the spirited driver’s
face, and sometimes you can’t put a price on a smile.

2011 MINI Cooper Countryman

Specifications prices Modifications and Image 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman
It feels like we've been waiting a decade for the arrival of the 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman, the crossover version of the Mini.

But not even two years have passed since the unveiling of the Mini Crossover Concept at the 2008 Paris Auto Show. We've followed test mules to the Arctic, to the Nürburgring and to Death Valley. Earlier this month, the Beachcomber concept in Detroit gave us a clearer look at the final styling.

Next stop is the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March, where the production Countryman makes its official debut. And come January 2011, the 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman and the 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman will land in the United States.

INTERIOR
The first thing we noticed about the 2011 Countryman was that the tall people didn't immediately start making snide comments. The Countryman comes with 4-seat and 5-seat options, with either one offering plenty of back seat head and leg room. Trunk space was decent, definitely superior to the original Mini Cooper, and driver head room was drastically improved. Dash styling appeared very similar to the original Mini Cooper, with oversized dials and switches in whatever color you like. With smartphone integration, optional GPS navigation and plenty of room for cup holders, the 2011 Countryman's interior began to feel downright luxurious.

Those extra inches are going to good use, as the 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman's standard rear bucket seats have a 5.1-inch range of fore/aft adjustment. You don't have to be content with a four-seat Mini this time around, though. Order the three-place bench seat at no extra cost and your Mini Countryman will seat five. The bench will adjust fore/aft (albeit in 60/40 sections), and like the bucket seats, its seatback cushions recline.

When everyone's fully reclined, the cargo bay offers 12.2 cubic feet of capacity. Or you can make your passengers sit bolt upright and you'll have 15.4 cubes. Either way, a stroller will fit, says Mini, reminding us that the Countryman is aimed at those of us who have crossed over into the world of diapers and affectionate purple dinosaurs.

Drop the rear seats into the floor and you're met with 41 cubic feet in the Cooper Countryman, which is a significant jump over the 32.8 cubic feet in the Clubman. There's space enough for two 26-inch mountain bikes provided you remove the front wheels, according to Mini.

EXTERIOR
Mega Mini. Maxi Mini. Un-mini Mini. Yes, we're already hard at work inventing cute names for the 2011 Mini Countryman, the biggest Mini of them all.

Mini has yet to release full specifications for the Countryman, but at 161.3 inches from its upright, pedestrian-compliant nose to its pancake-flat rump, the Mini crossover is 5.5 inches longer than the Mini Clubman and 15.7 inches longer than the wee Cooper.

More front and rear overhang is inevitable on a Mini transformed into a utility vehicle, but the wheelbase has also been stretched to 102.2 inches — almost 2 inches longer than the Clubman's and a solid 5 inches over the standard Mini Cooper hatch.

ENGINE
Pumping under the hood of this not so “Mini” 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman is a 1.6 ltr inline-4 engine, churning maximum power of 121 hp and 118 lbs-ft of maximum torque. The standard driveterain for this engine is front-wheel drive only, and the engine here is mated with a 6-speed manual transmission, which is standard transmission and optional transmission here is 6-speed automatic.

As far as performance is concerned, the 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman having manual transmission is estimated to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 9.8 sec; while the same timings for the automatic transmission mated Mini is 10.9 seconds. Considering the fact that it’s foraying into compact SUV segment, we will say that it’s quite a compact SUV.

The 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman S on the other hand is powered by a turbocharged variant of the same 1.6 ltr engine, generating maximum power of 181 hp and 177 pounds-feet of maximum torque. The standard drive terrain here is all-wheel drive. The transmission choices for the S are the same, and even in terms of performance the car delivers almost similar performance.

SAFETY
The standard safety equipments for 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman S includes stability control, antilock disc brakes, side curtain airbags and front-seat side airbags. The Cooper Countryman S gets traction control additionally as standard equipment, while for the base 2011 Mini Countryman it’s optional. There also is option of getting rear parking sensors.
reference:www.automotivecraze.com,www.insideline.com,www.automobile.com

2011 MINI Cooper

Specifications prices Modifications and Image 2011 MINI Cooper
The Mini lineup will enter the 2011 model year with an array of visual and equipment upgrades for the Cooper, Cooper convertible, and Clubman. The visual changes include a redesigned front bumper that helps the Mini meet new pedestrian-safety regulations in Europe. The lower grille and new fog-light surrounds have more pronounced, contoured borders. Base (non-S) models feature a new horizontal bar in the lower air inlet, while S models sport prominent (and functional) brake ducts that can be trimmed in chrome. There are five new wheel designs in 15-, 16-, and 17-inch sizes.

The exterior lighting has been revised with new trim rings for the side-marker lights, while black headlight surrounds, like those on the recent Camden anniversary edition, are now optional on all but John Cooper Works models. The brake lights now use LEDs, and the optional xenon headlights now swivel in turns. Reverse lights migrate to the lower bumper.

Updates to the interior will help appease those, like us, who found the Mini’s ergonomics less than friendly. The audio controls have been consolidated under the large center speedometer, and all secondary controls are now finished in matte black rather than silver, as are the steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls.

INTERIOR
Of all the ways to describe the Mini Cooper's interior, we doubt anyone would call it boring. The massive center-mounted speedometer is a nod to the original Mini, but in terms of practicality, it comes off as a bit gimmicky. One of our main gripes of previous Minis was the oddly placed stereo control knobs. Fortunately, that has been rectified for 2011 with a slightly more conventional layout.

Despite the Mini Cooper's small size, the front seats are surprisingly spacious. There is no shortage of headroom or legroom and the cabin feels extraordinarily airy. The rear seats, by comparison, are much less accommodating, with a notable lack of legroom. Trunk space is also restrictive, at a very meager 5.7 cubic feet, but folding the rear seats flat increases cargo capacity to a very usable 24 cubes.

The convertible features a tailgate-style trunk opening with an upper package tray that can be raised to allow larger items to fit in the tiny 6-cubic-foot trunk. Unlike most convertibles, the Mini's rear seats can be folded flat to accommodate larger items, but the rollover hoops and soft-top mechanism prevent the loading of bulkier objects. Rear visibility for the convertible is poor with the top down and even worse with the top up.

New optional extras include ambient lighting that can be set to any of 756 colors, and auto-dimming side-view mirrors. A cargo cover for Clubman models is now standard. New audio and navigation systems are available, with the latter using a 6.5-inch LCD screen in the Mini’s central speedometer. With Mini Connected software, iPhone and iPod users will be able to watch videos on the display while the car is parked, or see album cover art while playing music. The screen also will be able to display contact information from a compatible cell phone connected via Bluetooth.

The high-performance John Cooper Works trim gains an extra accent color, Chili Red, for the mirrors and roof. The color is also splashed on interior trim panels and stitching for the steering wheel, shifter, and parking-brake handle. JCW cars also score anthracite-gray gauge faces.

EXTERIOR
A more functional improvement is new anti-torque steer programming that keeps the wheels pointed forward under hard acceleration. The car does pull to the side far less than in the past, unfortunately, however, MINI has done nothing new to combat that spinning inside tire.

For several years now no mechanical limited slip has been offered on the MINI lineup and the Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) system, essentially an electronic LSD, is engaged only when the DTC is shut completely off. MINI engineers insist it works as well as the real deal, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way and as it stands you’ll get plenty of wheel spin or DSC interference in low gears, when you input lots of steering and throttle. Besides, it would be nice to have the properties of a limited slip without having to turn off all the safety gear. Just because you’re in the mood for a spirited drive it doesn’t mean you’re at the track. Thankfully it’s by no means as unmanageable as the MazdaSpeed3, but it’s hardly ideal.

Even with the added power for 2011, MINI managed to eek out a little extra fuel economy – always a plus. The 6-speed manual now gets 27/36-mpg compared to 26/34-mpg, while automatics see a similar jump rising to 26/34-mpg from 24/32-mpg.

ENGINE
The 2011 Mini Cooper comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine good for 121 hp and 114 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual with hill-start assist is standard and a six-speed automatic is optional. Mini estimates a manual-equipped hatchback will go from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds (9.7 seconds with the automatic). EPA-estimated fuel economy is 29 mpg city/37 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined with the manual (27/35/31 convertible) and 28/36/31 with the automatic.

The Cooper S has a turbocharged version of the same engine good for 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque (192 lb-ft at full throttle thanks to an overboost function). Mini estimates 0-60 mph acceleration in 6.6 seconds for the manual and 6.8 seconds for the automatic. EPA estimated fuel economy is 27/36/30 with the manual and 26/34/29 with the auto.

The John Cooper Works cranks up the turbo boost to produce 208 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual is the only available transmission. Mini estimates a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds for the hatchback and 6.6 for the convertible. Fuel economy is 25/33/28.

SAFETY
All 2011 Mini Coopers come standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control and front-seat side airbags. Side curtain airbags are standard on the hatchback, while the convertible features pop-up rollover bars and larger front side airbags that extend to head height. Traction control is optional. In Edmunds braking, various Mini Cooper S models with 17-inch wheels stopped from 60 mph between 112 and 115 feet -- excellent results.

The Cooper has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash testing procedure. Its 2010 rating (which isn't comparable to the new methodology) was four stars out of five for frontal and side impacts for both driver and passengers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the hatchback its best rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset test, and its second-best score of "Average" in the side-impact and roof-crush tests.
reference:www.edmunds.com,www.autoguide.com,/www.caranddriver.com