American Mini’s enthusiasts have now been given the chance to enrol in SCCA, Grand Am, NASA and World Challenge championships thanks to this new B-Spec package, firstly introduced at the 2011 SEMA.

This official tuning package consists of Carbotech braking system, upgraded suspension, 15″ Kosei K1 aluminum alloy wheels fitted with Hoosier 205/50 performance tyres, roll cage and racing seat by Kirkey. Obviously, the interior has been deprived of all the accessories that do not serve the purpose of being lighter and/or faster. The engine hasn’t been modified, it is the standard Mini Cooper’s naturally aspirated 1.6 unit delivering 12a hp and 154 Nm (114 lb/ft) of maximum torque.

The B-Spec conversion can be performed on all Mini Cooper models produced since 2007.

Via | MotoringFile

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The 2012 Olympic Games will begin next year and the city of London will be hosting with plenty of splash of British culture. On the car front that means Mini, traditionally a British brand but now the funky child of BMW who is sponsoring the international event, will get to do some serious showcasing.

So that calls for a Mini Cooper London 2012 Edition available in the three colours of the Union Jack and in this example of English patriotism, parked on a grassy verge with Tower Bridge as a backdrop. In a smooth long jump attempt by athlete J.J. Jegede, the models get their video debut on the net.

We can all cope with being British for a while, but especially if you manage to get your hands on one of the 2012 units that will be sold. The Mini Cooper London Olympics edition will be sold at a price of between 17,800 and 20,860 pounds and will come with a white roof and the London 2012 Olmpic Games logo.

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These spy shots could testify to a Mini Cooper JCW Challenge Edition special job that is appearing five years after the John Cooper Works GP model. The new special edition Challenge would be a high performance model for track driving, which will likely have some extra power beyond the current 211 hp.

The front of the new Challenge edition gets larger intakes and a rear diffuser which our spy photographer tells us is similar to the “Challenge” cars. A feature of this particular model could be lighter weight and a sports/racing feel to the interior.

Mini Cooper JCW Challenge Edition spy shots

Continue reading: Mini Cooper JCW Challenge Edition spy shots?

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It’s amazing what optical illusions can do - on seeing these pics, I thought “wow that’s a huge interior” but it’s actually just a quilted ceiling and a camera angle that makes the whole lot look bigger. It’s mostly the Mini Cooper interior that Vilner has reworked on this Mini tuning job.

Vilner has replaced all the plastic surfaces in the Mini Cooper with alcantara, and used nappa leather on the seats - the same as that employed in some Bentley vehicles. The colours and quilted style used evoke the interior luxury of a classy sedan, while on the outside we get a matte grey body with contrasting matte black roof and trim, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Mini Cooper by Vilner

Continue reading: Mini Cooper Vilner tuning

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This is one to make your kids car sick. Russ Swift drives a Mini Cooper S in a campaign titled the “archenemy of boredom”. We get to see the Cooper S in various stunts including driving on two wheels and plenty of handbrake parking and doughnuts. We’re curious to know what the passenger in the vehicle is for. Russ Swift has a few records under his belt, often at the wheel of a mini, including one for the tightest parallel park ever done, which is a skill I wouldn’t mind having.

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The new Mini diesel model is undergoing testing in preparation for its market debut but initial reports that the Cooper SD would appear with a BMW 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine are changing. It’s now being said that the Mini Cooper diesel will appear with a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre engine used in the BMW 1 Series range.

This alternative is said to be nearly as efficient, but offers smooth power deliver and better drive feel. It has more torque which, for a diesel model, could be important in keeping that sporty feel to the Mini. Power should be around the 143 hp mark and fuel consumption is said to be about 4.5 litres per 100 km.

The use of an existing BMW diesel engine also makes sense from a spending point of view, meaning Mini won’t have to over-invest is developing its own, dedicated powerplant. Available from September 2011, the new Mini diesel might also eventually appear on the US market, not traditionally a big consumer of diesel models.

Source | BMWBlog
Photos | WCF

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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