Special edition MINIs are nothing new to us, so when word spreads that the brand is going to release a new limited run model, we shrug our shoulders because we pretty much have an idea of what to expect. The only time a special edition MINI catches our attention is when the car looks stunning enough to make us want to actually buy one.
For better or for worse, the Cooper Mat Edition fits that description to a tee.
The good news is that we absolutely love it, despite the minimal changes done to it relative to other special edition MINIs. The matte black paint finish usually has something to do with it, but in this case, the overall stealth and sleek look certainly makes it a barn-burning, head-turning, smoke-belching piece of machinery.
The bad news is that it’s going to be run on only 250 units making it a little more difficult to scoop one up. Unfortunately, though, that’s not even the worst part. As if the 250 units isn’t bad enough, the cars are being sold exclusively in France. Yep. France. Land of the Louvre and the Eiffel.
So much for getting our dibs in on this special edition MINI…
Details on the MINI Cooper Mat Edition after the jump.
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Rock icon, Paul Weller, gave quite a performance during MINI’s 50th birthday celebration at Silverstone a year ago and the British automaker is paying the rock star in kind by giving him the opportunity to design his own special edition Mini Cooper. The car, which was designed by Weller himself and built in Oxford where it was hand-painted by MINI craftsmen, was sold in a global online auction from November 11th to December 10th with all proceeds to be given to two charities, Nordoff Robins and War Child.
“I’ve decided to donate the car to two charities,” Weller said. “War Child is an amazing organization which works tirelessly to provide protection for kids who live in some of the world’s most dangerous places – Iraq, Afghanistan, Uganda and DRC. Nordoff Robbins is the charity that really uses music to transform the lives of kids and adults fundraising to help and support these vulnerable people.”
Details after the jump.
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Mini has unveiled today at the Paris Auto Show their WRC model for the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship. However, in 2011 the new Mini WRC will only compete in six of 13 scheduled rounds, with only 2012 being a full season for them. The MINI WRC will be powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder Di turbo-charged engine that was derived from from Mini’s production models and improved upon by BMW Motorsport. The engine is then mated to an Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox. Likewise, because of its rallying objectives, the interior of the Countryman WRC has been fitted with a Prodrive-sourced roll cage.
Serving as the team’s principal will be Prodrive chief and ex rally driver David Richards. Together, he and Dirk Hollweg, Mini’s Motorsport head and David Wilcock, the team’s technical director, will form the team’s, shall we say, holy trinity.
Taking the reins for the team will be Kris Meeke and his co-pilot Paul Nagle, a team that took the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title back in 2009. The two will be joined in the team by Daniel Sordo and Carlos del Barrio.
"The Paris Motor Show is the perfect stage, on which to launch our MINI WRC,” says Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing. “The response to our announcement that MINI will return to the world of rallying next year was very positive. The FIA World Rally Championship is the pinnacle of rallying, making it the ideal platform for demonstrating the competitive spirit of our brand. The development of the car isrunning on schedule, and the preparations for the world championship are in full swing. The MINI Countryman production model provided the ideal basis for our new world championship challenger."
Press release after the jump.
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Mini has just unveiled details on the 2011 Cooper S that will go on sale on September 18, 2010, but we have just received new details on the hatchback just ahead of its sales date. German magazines report that Mini is planning to bring a diesel engine to the lineup.
Right now, the Cooper S comes with a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a new 2.0-liter, but starting next year, customers will also be able to get a diesel engine with their little pride and joy. The diesel engine that will be used is a BMW N47 based engine, with displacement change down to 1.6 L (from 2.0 L). The engine will develop a total of 143 HP and a peak torque of 300 NM. The same sources report that the new engine will also be used for the Countryman S.
It’s true that this new engine will not be able to deliver the same output as the 1.6 Turbo engine, but it will still be a desired engine thanks to its autonomy. It is expected to have a fuel consumption of 4-4.5 liters per 100 kilometers and a CO2 emission of less than 110gr.
A similar engine is being used for both the BMW 1-Series and the 3-Series.
Okay, we just don’t get it. The Mini John Cooper Works is a tiny car to begin with and still Mini claims that the tiny tot could accommodate four plus some rear storage. Now, Mini has decided to make the Mini JCW even smaller - bringing it down to three meters in length - and they still claim it can fit four and have a decent size boot? Does anyone else question that?
Besides being a very small car, the future model will also focus on efficiency. Under the hood there will be a new 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder engine turbocharged engine currently being developed by BMW. Given BMW’s work of EfficientDynamics, the engine will be capable of producing 150 HP as well as having a fuel consumption of 50mpg and CO2 emissions of just under 110g/km. These little updates, plus a low curb weight, will allow the Mini to make the 0-60mph sprint in under 7 seconds.
The engine will also be offered with a stop/start system, brake energy regeneration, and an aerodynamic design. The official debut is expected to be made sometime in 2013 and will come with a price tag of £16,000.
