MINI kicked off the 2014 New York International Auto Show with some fresh updates and two new cars! We have the details you want to know about the 2014 MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S hardtop models that are hitting US roads as we speak, as well as a rugged update to the already successful MINI Countryman.
The Countryman seems to now be embarking on a slightly new path with a more rugged look.
With new aggressive accents added all around, the face lifted Countryman now delivers an adventurous feel. Current Countryman owners don’t have to fret as many of the interior technologies and features remain the same. The exterior is where all the excitement is as MINI has added trimmings to entice owners to get off the road and seek more adventure.
The 2014 Countryman features accents that you would generally find on a Jeep Wrangler but with that all too familiar premium MINI feel. The car was shown in an aggressive green paint called Jungle Green metallic which is surely going to be a crowd pleaser.
Of course this wouldn’t be a true MINI event without the original. MINI has dubbed their all-new MINI Cooper hardtop models “The New Original” with good reasoning. For the first time since their reintroduction in 2001, the MINI hardtop models are featuring an engine built entirely by BMW. The new MINIs have 2 all new engines, a 1.5 Liter – 3-Cylinder Engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology for the Cooper and a 2.0 Liter – 4-Cylinder Engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology for the Cooper S model. This is exciting news for anyone in the market for a MINI as the Cooper is expected to get around 45MPG on the highway and the Cooper S will get around 40MPG. That means more driving exhilaration and less trips to the gas station.
Additional exciting news is the breathe-taking technology MINI added to their new hardtops! A new 8.8” navigation screen is offered in the “Wired Package”, an intelligent navigation system taken from it’s big brother the 2 and 3 Series BMW. MINI Connect offers drivers more connectivity on the go with a sleek UI and upgraded functionality. For enhanced driving pleasure, one of three different driving modes can be selected on the go for either aggressive, moderate or green driving.
For more information about the cars, check out our interview with one of MINI product managers on our NJTechReviews YouTube page.
