There’s plenty on offer from Mini in 2010, with a new petrol engine range for all Mini First, One, Cooper and Cooper S models in the hatch, covertible and clubman ranges. The Mini First and Mini One will now have a 1.6-litre engine which replaces the 1.4-litre, and will have more power and torque with better fuel consumption.

A new Mini Rainbow colour option is available, and the Mini Graphite Special Edition model range will now include Clubman models. The Mini Rainbow series will offer three different paint options of Sunlight Metallic, Asteroid Metallic and Nightlife Metallic, and will be available in March/April 2010.

A Mini One Covertible car will also now be able, providing an entry level model in the open air range that previously included just the Cooper, Cooper S or John Cooper Works models. The Mini One Convertible will have a 1.6-litre engine with 98 hp and 153 Nm of torque, and should cost less than 15,000 pounds. Check out the new Mini Rainbow paint job in the gallery!

Continue reading: Mini Rainbow paint for 2010 model year

These Mini spy shots show nothing very particular on the exterior, apart from centrally-mounted twin exhaust pipes for the Cooper and the Clubman’s hood scoop, to suggest diesel models. The models are very similar to the standard petrol S versions, but reports say that on the models being started and driven, both had that London-cab, diesel hum of the engine.

This has lead to speculation that Mini is working on S versions of its Mini One D versions. The standard Mini diesel has about 90 hp, while the Cooper diesel has 110. If we see a couple of tuned S diesel versions, we could be looking at 140 to 150 hp, with impressive torque of about 300 Nm.

Source | Autoblog and WorldCarFans

Continue reading: Mini Diesel 'S' version in the works?

We know that Top Gear does some crazy stuff, and has the budget to boot, and word is the nutty British crew might attempt a recreation of the famous Mini car chase scene from The Italian Job. The original version with Michael Caine has the scene filmed in Coventry, but set in Turin.

The remake of the classic had plenty of poetic licence for a modern audience, but seemed to be hinged on the fact that the car chase would be replicated, this time in Los Angeles. Apparently, Top Gear might try the stunt in Belfast, as the city promotes its new sewers project.

While the Top Gear team have done just about everything, this is the first time they would race underground. We leave it up to you in the comments field to suggest other stunts you’d like to see Top Gear attempt.

Source | BBC via Autoblog

Continue reading: Top Gear to recreate Italian Job sewer scene

Its “Connaught Green” is pure British pride, more so than the Sex Pistols and mid-afternoon tea. During the three day Silverstone festival, Mini presented its special John Cooper Works Championship 50, intended to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Formula 1 car signed JC.

And the commemoration shows its grandeur even just with the price, very close to 40,000 Euros, which can be justified only because the series is limited to 250 cars (100 reserved for the United Kingdom), and certainly not for the technical equipment: the 1.6 L 211 horsepower engine is the same as in the basic version; the dynamics do not receive any improvements; and the accessories for the series include a 6 CD changer with a Harman Kardon system, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation and other avoidable amenities.

Continue reading: Mini John Cooper Works World Championship 50: the official photos

These shots from Motorauthority show a new Mini on the road, and depending on your take, it could either be a version to celebrate 50 years or the first test of the facelight. Whatever the case, Mini has been testing an updated version of the current range.

Both the Cooper and the Clubman will have modifications made to the front, with the front bumper changed and the inclusion of fog lights and new air intakes. The changes are minimal and suggest that while they affect the full range, we’re not looking at a full-blown facelift.

Source | Motorauthority

Continue reading: Mini restyling for Cooper and Clubman

In action in this video are the new Mini Cooper Cabriolet and the Mini Cooper S Cabriolet. We have no doubts that the disappearance of the awkward rear roll bar has improved the look of the small cabriolet. The Mini cabriolets are offered with a 1.6 litre petrold engine at 120hp, or 175hp in turbo. It will be presented at the Detroit show and sales will commence in March 2009.

Continue reading: Video: new Mini Cabriolet

Mini is resuming production of the John Cooper Works-tuned Mini, both in the hatch and Clubman version.

The engine of the new John Cooper Works Mini will be the 1.6-litre turbo-charged 4 cylinder unit, tuned to produce 211 ps and a torque of 260 Nm (temporarily boostable to 280 Nm). The sprint from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) will take only 6.5 seconds. The modifications are extensive (details in the press release below) and include a bigger turbocharger with a higher charge pressure. As an added bonus, the JCW Mini will be the first to comply with the Euro5 emission regulations.

Sales of the Mini John Cooper Works and Mini John Cooper Works Clubman will start in July 2008. Prices are yet to be announced.

Continue reading: Mini John Cooper Works