http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101477

 

The 170HP version (with 200HP a chip away) will make for a quick little car...

Still not my style of car though...

 

I hear ya. Too "cute". Still it's a very nice car.

 

Not only will it be turbo'd but there will most likely be a 220HP+ AWD version too. The mini line up will also be expanded with an additional larger 5-door model and this larger model should be big enough for Mini to renenter WRC (World Rally Championship) since the current car is too small meet the minimum size requirement for WRC.

Pics of my Red/White Mini with 18inch wheels- http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/gallery_3482.html

The best places for Mini info are:

www.motoringfile.com
www.mini2.com
www.northamericanmotoring.com

 

Looks sharp. I thought such a small car would look odd with 18's, but they seem to fit in with the mini just right.

220+hp AWD version sounds good.

 

Mercedes is dumping superchargers in favor of turbos as well. It turns out the supercharging is more expensive, generates more noise and offers poorer fuel economy.

The bigger story here is that the new BMW-Peugeot engines will replace BMW's own 4-cylinder units in the 1 and 3-series, not just the Chrysler unit in the Mini. There are some big surprises coming at BMW. The new "magnesium block" Inline-6 might have a pretty short lifespan. Hint...

 

Thanks for the compliments.

The 18inch wheels are forged alloys so they only weigh about 15 lbs each (low unsprung weight) and to my surprise they don't rub.

 

i've always been a turbo fan, so at least to me, the more turbos on the road, the better....

which reminds me of the tragedy that has become the Ford Focus...I remember back in 98 (when i was really into the compact car scene) wishing and hoping Ford would start bringing it's euro-spec Focus to the U.S. (AWD, 220 turbo HP tuned by Cosworth, etc)...I've been waiting confidently that it would happen sooner or later but it never did...it's a real pity Ford only sold the weaker FWD version here...they could have beaten the WRX/EVO to the market by at least two full years

 

Has anyone ever noticed that there's next to no women driving Minis?
More manly car than Camaro, perhaps?

If I did most of my driving in, say, San Francisco or daytime Los Angeles, then I'd be very tempted to get one. Everyone who has one loves them & comments on it's go kart like handling, and point and shoot size.

But since I put 25-30,000 miles a year on my car doing alot of long distance driving at typical "Cal-Nev-Ariz" sparse & flat highway speeds (East Coasters, don't try it at home ), as well as almost getting rolled over by inattentive SUV drivers who never use signals or mirrors, a Mini probally isn't the ideal car for me.

 

Gui,

You're absolutely right, While I think the Mini is the greatest thing when driving along city streets and etc (99% of the driving that I do), but I would not recommend one for someone who does alot of freeway driving or long/extended commutes. While its short wheel base and pint-size makes it the perfect go-kart for the road but when driving along the not-so-perfect FWYs of Southern California things can get pretty bumpy.

The Mini is our (Wife and I) 3rd car so its a great car for the weekends and those picture-perfect driving days during the week.

 

The s version sucked what were they thinking with a supercharger? I think the obvious chioce would have been the turbo.

 

not my kind of car either but they are great for what they are
i want to eventually drive one one day and see how this go-kart handling really feels

 

1.6 liter Tri-tec engine in the current mini Coopers is rock-solid (it has an iron block) that was created in a co-op between Chrysler and BMW. The partnership to make the Tri-tec engine dates back to 1996/97 when the team who made the viper v10 was given the responsibility for creating this new engine that would go into the new Mini and export-only versions of the PT cruiser.

The current Tri-Tec Mini engine is a very simple and robust design and the only weekness it has really has nothing to do with the engine itself but the poor 1st-gen software/code that was created in the 2002 and 2003 models by Siemens and BMW. Mini's built in 2004 and 2005 are far better overall in every aspect when compared to 2002 and early 2003 models.

After Mercedes (BMW's top rival) bought Chrysler in 1999 tensions have slowly created a rift between the two companies to the point that BMW's next Mini engine will indeed be a new engine that will be a co-op with Peugeot.

 

I Always found it funny that BMW was using an American designed OLD motor that Mercedes now owns...(yea i know it was a merger )

 

The current Mini engine (Tri-tec) is far from old since its production only started around 2001/02 and was created from the ground-up exclusively for the new MINI and export-only versions of the PT Cruiser.

I wouldn't be surpised if the the Tri-Tec engine ends up on DCX's new SMART line of cars within the next few years as well

In fact that engine has won numerous awards such as "Engine Of The Year 2003" title in its respective displacement class.