In Europe, the entry-level Cooper will be powered by a new 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine developed in-house to power a wide range of upcoming products. Under the hood of the MINI it will generate 138 horsepower and 163 lb-ft. of torque from just 1,250 rpms while an overboost function will bump torque up to 170 lb-ft. for short bursts of time.
The next engine up will be a new four-cylinder rated at 195 horsepower and 206 lb-ft. of torque, though the aforementioned overboost function will briefly push that figure up to 221 in order to give the hatchback an acceleration boost. The four-banger is equipped with direct fuel-injection and engineers have installed the turbocharger directly in the exhaust manifold in order to help eliminate turbo lag.
Buyers who prefer oil-burners will have access to a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbodiesel that makes 116 horsepower and 199 lb-ft. of torque. It will be seven percent more efficient than its predecessor, meaning that it should return about 55 mpg in a mixed European cycle. BMW has not announced whether or not the diesel will make its way to the United States.
All engines will send power to the front wheels via newly-designed manual and automatic transmissions.
The entry-level MINI One and the range-topping John Cooper Works model have not been detailed yet, but rumors indicate the JCW could boast as much as 300 horsepower in its most powerful tune.
Lighter platform, more tech
The upcoming MINI will ride on the UKL1 platform that will also underpin the next BMW 1-Series and production variant of the Mercedes B-Class-fighting Concept Active Tourer. Although the car will be larger in all directions than the current MINI, it will be considerably lighter thanks to the widespread use of high-strength steel.
Most trim levels will come standard with an electronically-adjustable suspension that will provide two driving modes that MINI bills as “emphatically sporty” and “balanced and comfortable.” All models will feature an electric power steering system.
On the safety front, the next MINI will boast an active hood that will instantly raise to create a crumple zone in the event of a collision between a pedestrian at speeds between 12 and 34 mph.
Advanced driving aids
Most Cooper models will be available with a host of optional high-tech add-ons including a heads-up display, collision and pedestrian warning systems designed to avoid a crash, a park assist function that helps the driver find a spot in a crowded parking lot and a rear-view camera that transmits images to a high-resolution color screen on the center stack.
The MINI will also be offered with a video-based adaptive cruise control and a road sign and speed limit recognition function.
Spy shots
A batch of spy shots have revealed that the Cooper’s basic design will carry over for the third generation. MINI’s familiar face remains, but the third-gen model receives a more pronounced grille, swept-back headlights and LED daytime running lights. All 2014 Coopers will sport a “power dome” hood bulge while more powerful S models will gain a hood scoop, a rear spoiler, center-mounted dual exhaust tips and double-spoke wheels.
A second batch of spy shots has given us a good look at the upcoming Cooper’s interior. The design is more of an evolution than a revolution but the biggest change is that the speedometer has been relocated from the center of the dashboard to being the steering wheel. Equipped with a configurable thin-film transistor (TFT) screen, the gauge is flanked by a tachometer that is noticeably smaller than the current model’s.
Official details about the third-generation MINI Cooper will emerge in the weeks leading up to its debut.<![CDATA[
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1{
color: #000000;
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;
font-size: 15px;
line-height: 1.333em;
margin-bottom: 16px;
margin-top: 10px;
}
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1 ul li
{
list-style:disc !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;
}
div.post-content1 ol li
{
list-style-type: decimal !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;
}
#editorial_graph ul li
{
list-style:none !important;
margin-left:0px;
}
]]>
Leave a Reply