Looked at the MINI range recently?

Looked at the MINI range recently?

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Dr Interceptor

Original Poster:

8,045 posts

203 months

Tuesday 26th July 2022
quotequote all
It seems the whole MINI range has had a bit of a cull....

Headlines...

  • No manual gearboxes anywhere, every car is an auto
  • No more MINI One, its Cooper, Cooper S and JCW only
  • No diesels, it's petrol Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, Hybrid or Electric only
  • No more All4 on the Clubman and Countryman, two wheel drive only, unless its a JCW.
  • No more Sport trim, Classic or Exclusive only
  • All cars have the premium pack as standard
So that's the end of basic spec cars, no more MINI One's with a manual gearbox. No more Cooper S Sport Manuals either... and no diesel four wheel drive Countryman.







WayOutWest

831 posts

65 months

Tuesday 26th July 2022
quotequote all
And the Cooper S power has dropped from 189 to 178hp.

Maybe the lack of manual gearbox is softening people up for electric cars and getting them used to two pedals.

I must admit I thought they'd be quicker at getting a hot, JCW performance level, electric MINI to market, but I guess that is going to be reserved for the all new 2023 model platform now. And the competition isn't massively ahead on that score anyway.

It is just that they were testing an all-electric GP3-looking thing at the end of 2020 that was supposedly due in 2022, but seems to have gone very quiet on that.

Olivera

7,673 posts

246 months

Tuesday 26th July 2022
quotequote all
The diesels were canned years ago, 2018 I think for the hatch models.

In general Mini have allowed their product line to stagnate, the F56 models have been made for what, almost 10 years? In a way it's good because it means residual values for older models are bolstered, e.g. my 2018 JCW. But on the other hand there is zero reason to upgrade.

Dr Interceptor

Original Poster:

8,045 posts

203 months

Tuesday 26th July 2022
quotequote all
WayOutWest said:
And the Cooper S power has dropped from 189 to 178hp.

Maybe the lack of manual gearbox is softening people up for electric cars and getting them used to two pedals.

I must admit I thought they'd be quicker at getting a hot, JCW performance level, electric MINI to market, but I guess that is going to be reserved for the all new 2023 model platform now. And the competition isn't massively ahead on that score anyway.

It is just that they were testing an all-electric GP3-looking thing at the end of 2020 that was supposedly due in 2022, but seems to have gone very quiet on that.
The power will be the particulate filter I guess...

The electric car was just used as a pace car in Formula-E, it never made it to production.

Olivera said:
The diesels were canned years ago, 2018 I think for the hatch models.

In general Mini have allowed their product line to stagnate, the F56 models have been made for what, almost 10 years? In a way it's good because it means residual values for older models are bolstered, e.g. my 2018 JCW. But on the other hand there is zero reason to upgrade.
You could still buy a Cooper D Countryman last year...



But I agree the new models can't come soon enough...

s m

23,511 posts

210 months

Tuesday 26th July 2022
quotequote all
Dr Interceptor said:
It seems the whole MINI range has had a bit of a cull....

Headlines...

  • No manual gearboxes anywhere, every car is an auto
  • No more MINI One, its Cooper, Cooper S and JCW only
  • No diesels, it's petrol Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, Hybrid or Electric only
  • No more All4 on the Clubman and Countryman, two wheel drive only, unless its a JCW.
  • No more Sport trim, Classic or Exclusive only
  • All cars have the premium pack as standard
So that's the end of basic spec cars, no more MINI One's with a manual gearbox. No more Cooper S Sport Manuals either... and no diesel four wheel drive Countryman.
There was a bit of a write-up on the new Resolute Cooper S edition a few days ago. Currently only available in slush box format but they said the manual box will be coming back soon when supplier issues are resolved

mids

1,531 posts

265 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
Dr Interceptor said:
  • No more All4 on the Clubman and Countryman, two wheel drive only, unless its a JCW.
I know it's probably anyone's guess but what do we reckon about this in future? .... Are the non JCW All4's coming back when the supply chain issues improve or is that it, boat missed if you wanted to spec a new one?

Dr Interceptor

Original Poster:

8,045 posts

203 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
mids said:
I know it's probably anyone's guess but what do we reckon about this in future? .... Are the non JCW All4's coming back when the supply chain issues improve or is that it, boat missed if you wanted to spec a new one?
The new X1 has X-Drive available on the higher performance 23d engine option, and just S-Drive on the 18d, I'd imagine the next generation Countryman would be the same.

That might be it though until the next gen car arrives... which I'd guess will be 2024.

Mr Peel

504 posts

129 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
Really surprised to see manual boxes disappearing. Is this a purely product marketing decision or are there supply issues?

Dr Interceptor

Original Poster:

8,045 posts

203 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
Mr Peel said:
Really surprised to see manual boxes disappearing. Is this a purely product marketing decision or are there supply issues?
Simplifying production through standardisation, and ensuring maximum return per unit.

With the chip shortage, they can only produce a limited number of units, so this ensures every unit goes out fully loaded with plenty of margin in them - all autos, no ONE's, all with premium pack etc.

s m

23,511 posts

210 months

Monday 15th August 2022
quotequote all
Mr Peel said:
Really surprised to see manual boxes disappearing. Is this a purely product marketing decision or are there supply issues?
Supposedly it’s only temporary