First Look: Mini Gets New Look & Diesel Hearts

Following the March introduction of new, more efficient petrol engines for the MINI range, two all new diesel engines make their debut in the revised and refreshed range. The 1.6 litre, four cylinder engines are based on the accumulated development prowess of diesel power units by the BMW Group. Accordingly they share the efficient bore/stroke ratio of BMW’s two litre units, all aluminium construction for light weight, common rail direct injection and a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. The result is a state of the art diesel engine that marries strong power delivery, high torque from low down the rev range that delivers pulling power whenever it is called for, supreme economy and low emissions and engine acoustics that set new standards in the premium compact car segment.

The new diesel-powered MINIs are MINIMALISM personified. In addition to the high efficiency of the new diesel engine, they employ fuel-saving and emission-lowering technology including Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop, Gearshift Indicator, Electromechanical Power Steering and demand-controlled auxiliary units such as the alternator. All of these technologies and the standard six-speed manual gearbox play a role as it ekes the most out of every drop of fuel while also minimising the tailpipe emissions.

In the same vein a diesel particulate filter and an oxidation catalyst is standard fitment on all the new MINI diesel models. They share the same housing and operate maintenance-free for life. As with all MINI models they all comply with the EU5 emission standard.

All existing MINI models – Hatch, Clubman and Convertible – benefit from design refreshments to both exterior and interior that bring a fresh, dynamic style to the range. At the front, a new bumper with a lower air intake serves not only to update MINI’s face but also to improve pedestrian protection courtesy of larger deformation zones. New style fog lamps adorn either side of the air intake which on MINI One and Cooper features a black cross bar to emphasize the car’s low, wide stance. On the Cooper S two purposeful air intakes feed the brake discs and enhance the sporting intent of this model.

The typical round MINI headlights display new light elements, with optional Xenon lamps featuring Adaptive headlights (bendy lights) as an option. A new side indicator has a distinctive design of concentric circles and sits in the redesigned side gill housings.

At the rear, a new bumper the tail and brake lights are now LEDs while the brake lights use dynamic intensity lighting that varies according to the deceleration force applied. Pulsating light affords following drivers an opportunity to gauge the urgency of the braking manoeuvre. The LED design also gives a distinctive light design at night. Integrated reversing and rear fog lamps are also new and are housed in the rear bumper.

Along with five new dynamic paint colours and five new alloy wheel designs the new MINI models are subtly different, yet immediately distinctive.

All radio systems in the refreshed MINI range are equipped with a CD player and AUX-in connection that supports MP3 players and features DAB radio standard across the MINI range with the exception of the MINI First model. The optional MINI Radio Visual Boost and MINI Navigation system use a 6.5” high resolution widescreen colour monitor in the centre of the dashboard and the redesigned navigation system now incorporates an much improved map display layout. The Centre console, meanwhile, houses Bluetooth hands-free phone preparation including a USB interface. These interacting technologies permit audio streaming from appropriate mobile devices and the display of album covers and innovative office functions. Apple iPod compatible videos can also be stored on the board monitor.

MINI Connected (optional) now offers owners of an Apple iPhone a range of functionality including web radio, which allows you to listen to any radio station in the world that has a web address, Google Local Search and Google Send to Car. The system can also receive RSS news feeds (such as Reuters, BBC, Channel 4, Yahoo , Google and many more) and uses a range of MINI services. Users can even call up Facebook and Twitter messages or play videos on the central display as well as send standard text messages. With the voice control option messages can be readout on a text-to-speech function.


MINI has also introduced new optional equipment usually found on cars in higher segments.

* Adaptive headlights that ‘steer’ round corners to give the driver a better view when turning in the dark.
* Ambient lighting uses LEDs using a wide spectrum of colours inside the cabin.
* Automatic dimming exterior rear view mirrors.
* MINI Visual Boost Radio with 6.5” windscreen display
* MINI Connected

Credits: wilswong