Yes the names keep getting longer. But the engines are also getting both more power and more efficient. Behold our first look a the Clubman version of the upcoming Cooper S Diesel. We first told you about the new hot diesel last year about a curious MINI prototype with went down the Oxford production line with BMW’s highly acclaimed 2.0L diesel. Now Autocar is showing us picture of an R55 Clubman with the engine and some new front air intake meant to cool the new mill. According to Autocar output will be around 150bhp and torque could be as high as 250 ft lbs based on the output with the same engine in the BMW 118d.

Also mentioned in the article is further rumor of a JCW version using the engine. As we’ve reported previously the same 2.0L BMW diesel is also at the heart of the 123d which has an output of over 200 bhp and close to 300 ft lbs of torque. However we can imagine BMW would consider retarding some of that torque either across the entire range or at lower RPMs to help alleviate what could be biblical torque steer.

And now for the bad news for our US readers. Due to engineering costs to cleanse diesel powerplants in a few states (i.e. California) Munich has nixed the chance of these engines of coming to MINI’s largest market. Despite MINIUSA’s interest in bringing them over, it appears the ship has sailed when it comes to R55 or R56 diesels in the US.

One note about the impending refresh of the 2011 models. What you see above is no indication of how those cars will look. Autocar unfortunately jumped to some incorrect conclusions with it comes to that part of the story.

A quick reminder for all those readers who might have missed our design contest launched in conjunction with the internet debut of the MINI Countryman. The idea is simple, design your own accessory that fits on the Countryman’s new interior rail system. We’ll send the best ideas over to Munich and the MINI Design team will pick their favorite. The winner gets an ultra-exclusive copy of the new MINI Design book autographed by MINI Design head Gert Hildebrand.

So to recap, here’s how it works:

1. Come up with the idea.
2. Post your idea in the comment section in our original post or below (a sketch or even a Youtube video of you explaining or even a very detailed description it of course will help.
3. On February 22nd we’ll send the ideas to the MINI Design team and they’ll pick the winner.

Of course really the best part? If it’s a good enough idea, you may even see it end up in a MINI someday.

Need a refresher on the rail system? With the MINI rail you can add and subtract different components depending on your needs. Want an armrest? Easy, snap it in and position where needed. Need an iPhone holder? MINI will surely have that covered. What about different devices? Again the beauty of the system is that MINI can offer a array of options depending on what you need. They even see the aftermarket stepping in and offering all sorts of accessories for things we can’t even imagine. But for more information on it straight from the people that know best, watch the video above where Gert Hildebrand (Head of MINI Design) talks about the concept behind the rail.

You can see a few excerpts of the book below.

It’s the dead of winter in most of the world and for some of us that means driving our MINIs in snow. But that’s not all bad. With the right tires and the right techniques the MINI can conquer almost any snow. That brings us to this week’s Ask MF from Mary:

My 2005 mini is not doing well in 2-6 inches of snow. Is there something I can disable to get better control? I grew up in Maine so I know driving in snow, but my MINI is not handling well. Help.

There are several things that you can do to turn any MINI into a snow devouring beast. First off knowing when to turn off traction control will help in some situations. Secondly if you get a good amount of snow annually, the most important addition to a MINI are dedicated snow tires. These can be ordered by a place like the Tirerack and shipped to any tire installer in your area. It’s a bit of an investment but dedicated snow tires with their own wheels make a night and day difference.

But there are lots of specific recommendations and techniques that are important to remember. And that’s where we’re going to turn this over to our readers. Ideas? Lets hear them in the comment section below.

After five months of motoring in his MINI Cooper Convertible with the top down as part of MINI USA’s Open One Challenge, David Loveall has proven that neither rain, snow nor blistering sunshine can deter his ‘open’ spirit. Loveall is the grand prize winner in MINI’s Open One Challenge, a contest to determine who could accumulate the most top-down motoring hours.

Enduring every type of weather Mother Nature could throw at him between August and December 2009, Loveall motored for 555.55 hours with his MINI Cooper Convertible’s top wide open. To reward Loveall’s dedication to sharing MINI’s open philosophy, MINI will present him with a trip for two people to travel to Oxford, England and a visit to the MINI plant where the MINI Cooper Convertible is built.

“Owners like David are what make the MINI brand great,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President, MINI USA. “The fact that he won this contest with 128 hours more than the runner up is a testament to his enthusiasm for his MINI, and is a great representation of the community that surrounds the brand.”

In addition to the grand prize, Loveall also took home $1,000 in gift cards by placing in the top three rankings all five months of the contest (1st place four times, and 3rd place one time).

As a digital forensic examiner, Loveall travels a great deal. He used the Open One Challenge as an opportunity to see the country and experience his new MINI in a whole new way. During his five-month motoring tour, Loveall and his Interchange Yellow MINI Cooper Convertible visited each of the 48 continental states, shying away from mega freeways and focusing on the classic roads of our motoring forefathers… like Route 66 and his notable favorite, US 50, widely considered the loneliest road in America. Not only did David drive these roads he lived them, often camping with his tent and sleeping bag along the way.

“I took on the challenge for the story I’d get to tell,” said Loveall. “My MINI Cooper Convertible is the first car I have ever bought, and the experiences I have had within the first year of owning it have been amazing.” There were over 400 MINI owners who registered on the Open One Challenge website. The monthly tallies for participants were measured to the minute with the MINI Convertible’s newest instrument, the Openometer. It is devices such as the Openometer that enable MINI to connect with the owner community, and offer more than just a vehicle to get from point A to point B. Commitment to customers and making them feel like they are truly part of the MINI family is a priority for MINI.

MINI customers who entered the contest were asked to personalize a profile page with photos of their Open Motoring experience. Photos of all the participants’ journeys, along with the final monthly and overall rankings can be found at http://www.theopenone.com/home. Loveall’s profile can be found at http://theopenone.com/profile/view/davel137.

Todd, Gabe and DB are all here this week and we wrap up talk of the R60 and sagging hood scoops among the rest of the MF news.

Woofcast 323:

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With the release of MINI’s first crossover MINI enthusiasts and perspective owners have had lots to react to. But more than anything they’ve been asking questions about the car, the business case and what this all means for the “mini” in the MINI brand. While we’ve done some work trying to clear up some of those questions we thought, what could be better than going straight to the source for all answers? So we have enlisted the help of MINI USA Product Manager Vinnie (Tennessee) Kung to help in answering your questions about the new MINI Countryman. That’s right, the man responsible for all product in the US will be answering your questions about the Countryman.

Here’s how it works:

1. Post your Countryman related question in the comment section below by Friday February 5th 11:59 pm.
2. We’ll go through and pick the very best, combine them with a few of ours and interview Vinnie.
3. Finally we’ll post the full Q&A interview right here next week.

Remember, this is about the MINI Countryman only. Your questions about non-metallic green paint will have to wait (or better yet listen to a few of our interviews where we pose that very question).

Now, have at it…

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Unlike previous months MINI USA didn’t talk much about sale other than to give a figure. And it’s curious because sales were actually up 7.9%. MINI USA is reporting that they sold 2,247 MINIs as compared to 2,082 cars reported last January.

Does this signal a trend in sales? Obviously one month doesn’t make a trend. But there is no question that the industry and the economy are slowly coming out of one of the worst recessions in recent history. With that MINI USA has a pretty strong value proposition for people looking for style, performance and economy (not necessarily in that order).

Today BMW announced that they have reached an agreement for both parties to jointly develop a successor to the current four cylinder family of engines found in the MINI and several PSA products. The new engine will be more efficient and will meet EU 6 requirements that will come into force from 1 January 2015 for the registration and sale of all new cars in Europe.

Interestingly we’ve also heard rumors of BMW sharing some of it’s engines directly with MINI that are being developed or its new range of efficient vehicles. We’ll have more on this soon. Until then, the full release is below:

Official Release: The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën will continue their successful engine collaboration. An agreement to that effect was signed by Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën, in Paris.

The two companies have agreed to develop the next generation of the jointly designed 4-cylinder petrol engine which will meet EU 6 requirements. Currently, the engine is being used in several MINI, Peugeot and Citroën brand models.

The partners have also confirmed to examine other possible areas for cooperation at systems and component level, with the aim of leveraging synergies in the development, production and procurement of selected components.

“We have always been very successful in our cooperation with our partners, and that is particularly true with regard to PSA. We are delighted to continue our engine cooperation and look into options for further collaboration.” said Reithofer.

PSA Peugeot Citroën’s Chairman of the Managing Board Varin declared “this new agreement with BMW is confirming the success of the cooperation between our two companies which has produced 1.3 million engines since 2006. I am confident that the next generation of jointly developed engines will reach the same success as the current generation”.

(This article is specifically about the US-spec MINI JCW and not the version that comes with the aero-kit elsewhere in the world)

Last year we gave you our take on the factory JCW and why it wasn’t selling as well as it could be nationwide. For a quick recap we basically said we’d keep the drivetrain just is and focus on making the car look for unique while offering a sportier suspension standard.

Now it’s your turn.

Update: Due to (un)popular demand we took out the JCW Wing from the first choice.

(Obviously one option miss here is subtract $1000 off the MSRP. However that’s just not plausible given the residuals MINI will need to protect of all the current JCW factory cars out there. )

MINI of Australia this week released the JCW Challenge Edition meant to bring the factory JCW car a little closer in visual apparel to the JCW Challenge race cars. There’s no word on if we’ll ever see something like this in other markets but we do know that MINI USA (among other markets) will be tinkering with the JCW factory spec for 2011. Full release below.

Official Release (Australia): More performance. More customisation. More MINI. Introducing the new and exclusive race-inspired MINI John Cooper Works Challenge Edition – bringing the MINI John Cooper Works even closer to the track.

In recognition of the pure pedigree that underpins MINI, the release of the MINI John Cooper Challenge Edition draws John Cooper Works even closer to the MINI CHALLENGE race car, both in its appearance and performance.

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The MINI John Cooper Works Challenge Edition is powered by the same powerplant as the MINI CHALLENGE race cars; delivering 155kW from a twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine. Developing a maximum of 260 Nm of torque (280 Nm torque available during Overboost) the MINI John Cooper works propels from 0-100km/h in just 6.5 seconds.

Exclusive to the Australian market, the John Cooper Works Challenge Edition includes the following features over the already highly optioned MINI John Cooper Works model: John Cooper Works aerodynamics package consisting of front, rear and side aprons, John Cooper Works Carbon spoiler, John Cooper Works Aluminium cross brace, John Cooper Works Alcantara and Carbon steering wheel, John Cooper Works Carbon gearshift knob with Alcantara shroud, John Cooper Works Carbon handbrake lever with Alcantara surround and unique Challenge Edition badging.

The Challenge Edition is available with all new MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop, Clubman or Cabrio models. Representing over $7,000 worth of value, the Challenge Edition is available for a strictly limited time as a $2,500 option.

A testament to the strength and success of the MINI Challenge race series, last year the sales of MINI John Cooper Works reach unprecedented heights, accounting for 26 percent of MINI Cooper S Hardtop sales and 10 per cent of the entire model range.

The 2010 MINI Challenge season kicks off in March with the categories debut at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Standard John Cooper Works model pricing*

• MINI John Cooper Works – $48,800
• MINI John Cooper Works Clubman – $51,300
• MINI John Cooper Works Cabrio – $56,900

*Manufacturer’s Recommended List Price is shown and includes GST and Luxury Car Tax (LCT) but excludes Challenge Edition extras, dealer charges, stamp duty, statutory charges and on-road charges which are additional and vary between dealers and States/Territories. Customers are advised to contact their nearest BMW dealer for all pricing inquiries.

The BMW Group today announced at the Washington Auto Show the first results from a comprehensive study conducted in cooperation with the University of California (UC Davis) and consumers leasing MINI E electic vehicles as part of a year-long program to acquire real world use patterns. The MINI E program is the first large population field test of current generation electric vehicles and therefore sheds a realistic light on both the opportunities and challenges from this innovative new form of mobility.

The UC Davis study results of 57 drivers, combined with updates continually provided from the log books of all 450 users show the following:

• The range of about 100 miles is sufficient for most daily needs
• Charging at home provides enough energy for most daily driving
• Demand for additional charging is centered on the place of work, or where sufficient time is spent during the day (shopping centers, stadiums, etc.)
• Driving the MINI E is a delightful experience and there is no sacrifice of “real car” values
• Unmet demands focus on having enough space for four passengers and more cargo to stimulate even more use of an electric vehicle

“There’s been a lot of conjecture about electric vehicle user demands and being the first to the market with obtaining ‘real world use’ patterns, we’re now able to shed some accurate light on this subject,” said Rich Steinberg, Manager – EV Operations and Strategy for BMW of North America. “What they shared with us is that, for the most part, the MINI E suits their daily driving needs and that they really enjoy driving it. This makes us optimistic that electric vehicles have a role in the future of mobility in America by being a part of the overall vehicle mix.”

More than 1,800 people and organizations applied to be part of this ground-breaking field trial of 450 MINI Es now on the road in the US. From that, 450 were selected based on specific criteria that included the amount and type of use in which they would engage, home suitability to installation of a fast charging system and desire to be engaged in a field trial that requires continual feedback.

MINI E drivers provide ongoing feedback that has already proven invaluable to the development work being done by the BMW Group’s Project i on what is called a Mega-City Vehicle – the company’s innovative program to develop a volume transportation solution to the demands of the world’s biggest cities in the 21st century. This vehicle is scheduled to be introduced just before the mid-point of this decade.

The self-selected group of 57 that agreed to participate in the UC Davis survey is part of a more extensive research project. Feedback from this program shows that the range of the MINI E enables drivers to use it for most daily driving needs. Reported range under normal circumstances varies between 70 – 100 miles with 45 percent reporting a typical range of 100 miles. MINI E drivers reported an average trip length of approximately 30 miles. Other studies have found that driver’s in the US average about 40 miles per day1. This makes the range of the MINI E suitable for most daily driving needs.

Many households in the study have replaced the primary vehicle of one driver with the MINI E. One-third of the participants have reported driving the MINI E even more than the household vehicle it replaced. The lack of a back seat and a usable trunk, rather than range, is most often the reason the MINI E is not chosen for a particular outing.

Drivers have also reported that driving the MINI E is fun. Most adapted quickly to the characteristics of the Brake Energy Regeneration function and like the feeling of control it gives them in being able to proactively extend the range of their MINI E by how they drive. Brake Energy Regeneration captures energy ordinarily lost on deceleration and coverts it into electrical energy to recharge the batteries. All drivers in the US study said they enjoy using one pedal to accelerate and decelerate. Many reported that once they became acustomed to the BER function, they enjoyed driving their conventional vehicles less.

The study found that keeping the MINI E charged did not pose a problem. Recharging in the US requires four – five hours and, while it wasn’t always necessary based on their driving needs, about half of the drivers in the study report recharging daily as a matter of routine. Additional recharging away from their home charging station by-and-large proved unnecessary.

This first field-trial has provided Project i with invaluable insight as it prepares for its second field trial with the BMW ActiveE. The electric drivetrain developed for the BMW ActiveE will be used in the BMW Group’s first Mega-City Vehicle. The newly developed and more compact lithium-ion battery pack in the BMW ActiveE vehicle features liquid heating and cooling in order to provide a more consistent and predicatable driving range. Smartphone apps will enable the user to remotely check the available range of the BMW ActiveE’s battery. The apps will also enable the driver to begin heating or cooling the interior of the BMW ActiveE and thus the battery while still connected to the grid. This will allow the battery to function at its optimal operating temperature without affecting the range of the car.

The field trial for the BMW ActiveE will begin in 2011. As announced at the North American International Auto Show earlier this month, lease extensions will be offered to a number of MINI E drivers who wish to continue their electric driving experience until the BMW ActiveE becomes available.

Due to the design of MINI’s 1.6L turbo engine, much of the heat generated by the engine ends up being emitted from the side closest to the hood/bonnet. One unforeseen consequence has been that the plastic hood scoops on the “S” model have actually warped due to excessive heat. In fact over the years MINI has noticed the issue and even made the non-fuctioning scoop slightly functional by opening a few holes in the black faux mesh. However in the end MINI has decided to change the material the scoops are made from. So from March ‘10 buils onward MINI will be producing a new “metalized” plastic scoop (with metal infused into the plastic) that will be standard on the MCS and JCW models.

Update: What does that mean for current owners with saggy scoops? We don’t have 100% confirmation on this yet but MINI will likely be dealing the problem within the normal warranty guidelines (i.e. it’ll be covered). If you’re out of warranty we’d guess that it’ll be handled on a case by case basis.

Today’s look at MINI Design Past Present and Future is all about the Coupé and to some degree the roadster. It’s also the last look we’ll be giving you into what we believe to be the best book yet detailing new MINI design.

MINI faced a lot of possible scenarios with the Coupé and seeing what they ended up side by side with the initial sketches is essentially a sneak peak into the design process. Many of the sketches in the images here actually show coupes and roadster based on the R50 platform – obviously a clue as to how long MINI has been considering a coupé.

Also of note are the wheels shown in the some of the prototypes and sketches of the final design. Look for them to show-up eventually.

Remember that if you’re interested in an English version of this book, MINI may consider producing an english edition if the feedback on MotoringFile is positive and strong enough. So if you’d be interested in the ultimate coffee table book about MINI design, let us know in the comments section. Otherwise if you’d like the German version seen above, go to Amazon.de .

Over the past week we have bombarded you with Countryman with images, video and enormous amounts of information. So in an effort to help you make sense of it all we’re going to go back over the high points over the next few days. Today we’re going to take another look at the video we exclusively debuted here last week. The version above is a bit short (ie more concise) and is higher quality than what we showed you last week.

Next we’re presenting you with our full photo gallery of the Countryman with every exterior and interior MINI has officially released. Enjoy.

Full Gallery

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The answers; thankfully not so big. The German magazine Auto Bild had chance to get the latest R56 Hatchback in a studio with the just unveiled R60 MINI Countryman to show off the relative size differences. The result? It’s almost shocking how close the two are in overall length and height. While we haven’t had a chance to drive the R60 yet, we’re certainly optimistic knowing the overall size comparison to the R56 and the R55 Clubman. And if it drives as good as it looks, MINI may have a smash hit on their hands.

via bigblogg

The idea of a Gulf Livery MINI is dead. As of March production MINI will be ceasing Oxygen Blue production and replacing it on the Cooper hatchback with Interchange Yellow. In other color news MINI will be eliminating Pure Silver on the JCW hatchback to make way for a new (JCW exclusive color) for release with the refreshed JCW model later this year.

Finally MINI will be eliminating the option of getting a Pure Silver roof with the Sparkling Silver exterior paint on the Clubman.

In today’s look at the book MINI Design Past Present Future, we look at the early stages of the R56.

It’s interesting to see how MINI design was trying to deal with the coming pedestrian regulations dictating taller hood and more space between the hood and the engine. Also obviously in the sketches, designers were trying to find the right balance between that friendly MINI face and the aggressive nature of current automotive design.

Remember that if you’re interested in an English version of this book, MINI may consider producing an english edition if the feedback on MotoringFile is positive and strong enough. So if you’d be interested in the ultimate coffee table book about MINI design, let us know in the comments section.

In part three of our look into the book MINI Design Past Present Future, we look at the sketches that lead to the JCW GP’s interior. What’s really interesting about these is the obvious care given to the GP’s interior strut bar. While it wasn’t ultimately a structural piece, it would seem the designers had originally intended it to be. We can imagine a slew of production realities likely brought an end to that.

Also included below is a sketch of an R56 in JCW Challenge guise that look positively hairy-chested. In fact it’s the most aggressive MINI we’ve ever seen and we only hope points to something (anything) coming in the future.

Remember that if you’re interested in an English version of this book, MINI may consider producing an english edition if the feedback on MotoringFile is positive and strong enough. So if you’d be interested in the ultimate coffee table book about MINI design, let us know in the comments section.

Yesterday we told you about the center rail in the forthcoming MINI crossover. Today we’re giving you a chance to design your own accessory that fits on the rail. But the best part? Come up with the best idea and we’ll give you an ultra-exclusive copy of the new MINI Design book autographed by MINI Design head Gert Hildebrand.

Here’s how it works:

1. Come up with the idea.
2. Post your idea in the comment section below (a sketch or even a Youtube video of you explaining or even a very detailed description it of course will help.
3. After 30 days we’ll send the ideas to the MINI Design team and they’ll pick the winner.

Of course really the best part? If it’s a good enough idea, you may even see it end up in a MINI someday.

All submissions need to be in within 30 days of this post!

Need a refresher on the rail system? With the MINI rail you can add and subtract different components depending on your needs. Want an armrest? Easy, snap it in and position where needed. Need an iPhone holder? MINI will surely have that covered. What about different devices? Again the beauty of the system is that MINI can offer a array of options depending on what you need. They even see the aftermarket stepping in and offering all sorts of accessories for things we can’t even imagine. But for more information on it straight from the people that know best, watch the video above where Gert Hildebrand (Head of MINI Design) talks about the concept behind the rail.

You can see a few excerpts of the book below.