MINI WILL bring a revised range of cars to the market in September to be sold alongside its new Mini Countryman SUV. All the Mini models have been given a very minor facelift. But the real changes are a new diesel engine with lower emissions, along with new gadgets, such as a system that reads out your Twitter and RSS messages as you drive.
There are no prizes for Mini aficionados who spot the changes to the new version, but perhaps there should be. Eagle-eyed experts will spot a new front bumper and redesigned air intakes, but they haven’t overworked the designers here. Xenon lights are now available as an option, as are adaptive headlights.
At the rear, the reversing lights and foglamps are now located in the lower section of the bumper. LED lighting technology has been added to the brake lights too. There have also been some even more subtle revisions to the rear of the Clubman model – a wider opening between the two rear tailpipes in the Cooper S model to be exact.
Arguably there are more noticeable changes inside, with newly designed controls for the audio and air conditioning systems and lots of new interior trim options sum up the update. What caught our attention, however, was a number of the new toys on offer, most notably Mini Connected.
This system lets you to connect devices such as the iPhone to the car, allowing you to play internet radio apps through the audio system and even to have Twitter messages and RSS news feeds read out loud as you drive.
We tried it out and it works very well. However be warned: with most mobile phone operators in Ireland allowing only a set amount of data within most user’s monthly allowance, the costs could quickly add up.
And it’s also not cheap, at an estimated €1,200 when packaged with the Visual Boost information screen, which looks like a satnav screen, but displays all the internet information. You could of course save yourself €1,195 and buy a €5 auxillary lead that connects your iPhone to the speakers without all the fuss.
Under the bonnet, the biggest change is a revised diesel engine which comes with two power outputs. There is the 90hp Mini One D and then in Cooper D models there is 112bhp. In both of these variants in the hatchback, emissions are 99g/km, but they rise to 103g/km in the Clubman model and 105g/km in the Convertible.
All are in Ireland’s lowest VRT and motor tax band A. Fuel economy is very impressive too, returning 3.8 l/100km (74.3mpg) aided by Stop/Start technology that works well. These revised Mini models are still great fun to drive and the diesel engines are refined and quiet.
Pricing has been announced and the range will start at €17,250 for the 1.6-litre 75hp Mini First petrol model, with the 98hp Mini One costing €18,980. The entry diesel, the 90hp Mini One D costs from €20,110, with the 112hp Cooper D costing from €22,360. The Clubman range starts at €20,480 and the Convertible starts at €22,310.
These new cars will launch at the same time as the Countryman, on September 18th. The Mini Countryman will cost from €23,080.