Lifestyle: Motoring – BMW unveils new mini
IN whatever shape or form the modern Mini has been marketed, it remains just as iconic as its predecessor ever was.
Not surprising then that the third generation is a design which represents the old ethos of ‘evolution not revolution’.
The new car, production of which began at the BMW plant in Oxford – although Mini buffs will only ever know it as Cowley – last November, is officially launched in the UK this spring. It will undoubtedly find a ready market amongst drivers who have owned and loved the new version of the classic since its launch back in 2001.
Despite the new model’s familiar look it is actually a completely new car from the ground up. BMW says every component has been back to the drawing board in an effort to optimise its function, performance and style – would British Leyland ever have said that!
The new model is promised to be bigger and quieter than the outgoing car and packed with new technology plus upgrades to engine efficiency, power delivery, driving dynamics and quality.
Inside, there is a new LED display concept, the first of its kind, which provides the driver with visual feedback whilst operating the car. BMW say this reflects a maturity and confidence in the brand’s design and engineering. Outside it looks similar to the old model but now has a different profile with a more pronounced nose, intended to give the car a dynamic wedge shape.
The new design is intended to give driver and passengers more room, with increased space for luggage, more shoulder space and larger footwells. The display concept sees speed, revs and fuel level all displayed on vertically arranged circular dials. The speedometer scale includes a colour panel for messages and vehicle status displays.
Keyless ignition is now standard across the Mini Hatch range, while the start/stop toggle switch located in the middle of the centre console features a heartbeat illumination which pulses before the engine is started.
The new Mini Hatch features a range of three entirely new engines which BMW say offer improved performance figures, with maximum power across all three variants produced lower down the rev range, while fuel consumption and emission levels have been reduced by as much as 27%.
For those wanting more performance, the new Mini Cooper Hatch has a three-cylinder petrol engine with a peak output of 134bhp. The new Cooper S Hatch is powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine which develops 189bhp. The new Cooper D Hatch comes with a three-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 114bhp. The latter claims an average combined economy of 80.7mpg using the EU test cycle.
CO2 levels have also been reduced compared with the old models. For example, the outgoing Cooper D Automatic Hatch produces 135g/km CO2 with the new version claiming just 98g/km CO2. The new Mini Cooper Hatch now starts at £15,300, on the road. This represents a 2.61% increase compared against the outgoing model but BMW claims customers will benefit from a host of additional equipment. The Cooper D Hatch’s OTR price is £16,450, with the Cooper S Hatch starting from £18,650.
Peugeot cheers rally fans by committing to WRC
RALLY fans will be pleased to learn Peugeot has followed in the tracks of Ford by becoming the second major manufacturer to commit to the inaugural season of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
The French manufacturer is synonymous with rallycross success – having clinched eight French drivers’ championship crowns between 1988 and 2012 and boasting a similar record across the various different divisions in Europe over the same period.
After Ford pledged its official backing to OlsbergsMSE’s World RX effort in 2014, Peugeot has now joined forces with another of rallycross’ leading outfits, Hansen Motorsport, as it prepares to enter the fray for the championship’s debut campaign this year.
Team Peugeot-Hansen will compete in the Supercar class in all 12 rounds on the calendar – beginning at Montalegre in Portugal in May – with a T16 silhouette version of its 208 model.
Peugeot’s broad involvement in motorsport over the decades has yielded title victories in the FIA World Rally Championship, FIA World Sportscar Championship, gruelling Dakar Rally and round-the-clock Le Mans 24 Hours, not to mention the record-breaking feats at Pikes Peak hillclimb in the United States.
