The fun-yet-quirky Mini brand used the New York Auto Show to launch its two latest models. The Cooper Clubman ALL4 adds all-wheel drive capability to the largest Mini variant, while the John Cooper Works Convertible brings high performance to the new Mini convertible model.
Adding all-wheel drive to the Clubman will make Mini's most spacious model more appealing to buyers who live in climates with plenty of snow and rain. The ALL4's all-wheel-drive system is shared with the BMW X1 xDrive28i. It distributes power between the front and rear wheels as needed, quickly reacting to changes in traction. For the sake of efficiency, the system defaults to front-wheel drive, but it can send up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels.
As with the front-wheel-drive version, the Mini Clubman ALL4 is available as a base Cooper with a 134-horsepower, 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, and a Cooper S with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder rated at 189 hp. Both versions come with a six-speed manual transmission, with an eight-speed automatic optional.
See our complete New York auto show coverage.
Don't think the ALL4 system is just for lousy weather, though; it also helps the Cooper S out-accelerate its front-drive counterpart by 0.3 seconds. The six-speed manual hits 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, the eight-speed automatic at 6.6.
The Clubman model is unique in that it's both the biggest Mini–6.6 inches longer overall than the Countryman–and the most spacious, with 47.9 cu-ft of max cargo capacity with the rear seats folded. Then there is also the Clubman's sideways-opening rear cargo doors. While certainly a cool novelty, the split window setup does somewhat hamper rear visibility.
Pricing starts at $25,900 for the base Cooper Clubman ALL4, with the Cooper S at $29,450. The Clubman ALL4 goes on sale in early April.
The John Cooper Works version of the new, larger, third-generation Mini Convertible will hit dealers around the same time as the Clubman ALL4. As with the hardtop JCW, the convertible version gets a hopped-up 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo, which, with 228 horsepower, is the most powerful engine ever in a production Mini. With the standard six-speed manual transmission, the front-wheel-drive JCW convertible hits 60 mph in 6.4 seconds; the optional six-speed automatic with paddle shifters is slightly quicker at 6.3 sec., making this the fastest Mini convertible ever.
The JCW convertible also gets sportier suspension settings for better handling, a less restrictive exhaust system, bigger front brakes, and unique 17-inch wheels. The interior features special sport seats and some unique JCW trim bits. The fully automatic convertible top opens or closes in 18 seconds. And, for the first time, Mini is giving buyers the option to have the Union Jack flag graphic woven into the top of the convertible's fabric material. The car also comes with a system that keeps track of the amount of time spent with the top down, as a way of guilting you into more open-air motoring.
Pricing for the Mini John Cooper Works Convertible starts at $35,600.
