Latest news with #MINI
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Mini Trader Expands with New MINI Parts Marketplace, Creating a One-Stop Platform for Owners and Enthusiasts
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, June 18, 2025 / / -- Mini Trader, the UK's specialist marketplace for MINI vehicles, has expanded its platform to include a full MINI parts and accessories section, making it easier for owners, restorers, and independent sellers to source and sell everything MINI in one place. Originally built for people searching to sell their MINI car or find a MINI for sale, the platform now supports parts listings across every MINI model and generation. From classic Cooper body panels to modern JCW performance upgrades, the new parts section allows sellers to list inventory with photos, pricing, and direct buyer messaging. 'We've seen growing demand from owners who don't just want to buy or sell a car, but also maintain, restore, or modify their MINI,' said Ikram Nagdawala, founder of Mini Trader. 'Adding a dedicated mini parts section brings everything together, so MINI enthusiasts no longer need to rely on scattered forums or general classifieds.' The expansion strengthens Mini Trader's position as a purpose-built destination for MINI buyers and sellers, offering: Unified search – Buyers can now browse both vehicles and parts in one seamless search. Focused audience – Listings target MINI owners specifically, increasing visibility for sellers. Simplified selling – Private sellers and parts businesses can list individual items or upload bulk inventory files. With MINI models spanning decades of production, access to parts is often critical for restorations, performance upgrades, or repairs. The new parts marketplace gives owners a central resource to find the exact components they need. The expanded platform is now live at About Mini Trader Mini Trader is the UK's dedicated online marketplace for MINI vehicles, parts, and accessories. The platform connects private sellers, specialist dealers, and parts suppliers across all MINI generations, offering listings, secure messaging, and a growing community of MINI enthusiasts. For more information, visit Ikram Nagdawala Mini Trader email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook YouTube Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
MINI's Cooper S and MINI Countryman SE ALL4 are the Perfect Dynamic Duo
The classic British marque has gone through quite a few changes throughout the decades, but it seems their core beliefs have carried on. Once a MINI, always a MINI MINI and the brand's history have always enamored me. The little Cooper is, has been, and always will be a classic, with numerous records in racing, rallying, and just overall cuteness. I've always admired these Brits from afar, never having gotten the chance to experience one. That all changed when Instagram showed me an ad for the 'True Brit, Full Grit Motoring Experience,' a nationwide MINI driving event hosted by numerous dealerships across the country. My local Niello MINI dealership was also participating, and given that both my girlfriend and I love cars of all shapes and sizes, we headed over to see what the hubbub was all about. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:09 Audi A5 replaces A4: So, what's changed? Watch More The vibe was very Monterey Car Week-esque, with catered bites and drinks inside the dealership, a photo op, as well as a merch station with free printed shirts sporting one of three designs, and a laser-etched keychain. Once the wonder of watching the etching machine wore off, we were invited to drive the two cars MINI had on offer: the Countryman SE ALL4 SUV and the Cooper S Convertible. 2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible 2025 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 I am a sucker for design, and MINI's is on point While the route we were taken on involved the freeway in 3 pm traffic, I wasn't fully able to give these two cars 'the beans,' if you will, but I say with the utmost certainty that both of these cars are plain fun. The Countryman's design, while not my girlfriend's favorite, appealed to me. It's a grown-up Cooper, but somehow retains the same proportions and sporty feel, right down to the Union Jack taillights. 2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible 2025 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 The interior is where both of these cars really stole my heart, though, with textile-like finishes on the door panels and dashboards, and a dash pattern on the Cooper that I can best describe as 'urban/digital camo.' My girlfriend particularly loved the Countryman's upright, rectangular air vents that matched the door handles in their design. Rather than a traditional center console, both cars featured two cupholders between the seats as well as a storage box with a lid that reminded me of a small lunchbox. It was definitely cute and quirky, but outside of it and the glovebox, covered storage in the cabin was rather limited. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 2025 MINI Cooper S Convertible 2025 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 The circular touchscreen that has been a staple of MINI models for ages now was a joy to experience, with themes ranging from the retro 'Timeless' mode to the colorful 'Vivid' mode. Drivers can even upload their own image to serve as the background. These themes also change the ambient lighting in the car, and are further controlled by the driving modes: Core, Green, and Go-Kart. These three modes, which MINI calls 'Experiences,' can be controlled through the touchscreen or via a dedicated switch below it. Right next to that switch is another for the gear controls, and a tremendously satisfying 'Start/Stop' switch with the same action as turning a physical key. Unfortunately, the AC controls are housed within a menu on the touchscreen, which, while it is permanently visible, will never beat physical controls. MINI touchscreen themes & modes The driving experience Given the limited seat time and less-than-adequate traffic conditions, I can't properly speak for the way these two cars drive. Since the Countryman SE ALL4 is electric, torque and acceleration were instant, with its dual-motor AWD powertrain making 308 hp and 364 lb-ft of torque. The artificial engine sounds pumped through its speakers were entertaining, and even though we were personally fans of them, I can see how they might be annoying or unnecessary to some. 2025 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 2025 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 The Cooper S Convertible was the real star of the show, with its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 201 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. In its sporty 'Go-Kart Mode,' the little four-cylinder got rowdy, with an exhaust note that made it seem a lot faster than it was. While front seat comfort was good for both the Countryman SE ALL4 and the Cooper S, rearview mirror visibility in the Cooper was nearly nonexistent, with the folded-down top taking up the majority of the mirror. The rear seat in the Countryman was better, as it should be given its personality as a more family-oriented SUV, but my girlfriend found the rear seat in the Cooper to be small and cramped. Final thoughts If I were to have one of these cars for an extended period of time, I think I would personally go for the MINI Cooper S, convertible or not. Its design cues, rowdy nature, and timeless design appeal to my tastes a little more than the more practical Countryman. That's not to say that the latter doesn't have its appeal for families, I'm just not there yet. Regardless of my opinion, I was happy to see that MINI has continued its legacy of small, fun cars (even if small is a relative term nowadays), with a dash of practicality where appropriate. Good on ya, lads! About the Author Gabriel Ionica View Profile
New Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
BMW Malaysia's stunning showcase at MY BMW World
KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia is putting up a stunning show with the return of MY BMW World 2025, showcasing premium mobility experiences across BMW, MINI and Motorrad brands. Headlining the event at Sentul Depot here were four new locally-assembled models namely BMW 330i M Sport, BMW 320i Sport, BMW 218i Gran Coupé Sport and BMW X3 20 xDrive M Sport. BMW Malaysia managing director Benjamin Nagel said the event represents a dynamic balance between honouring past innovation and symbolising progress rooted firmly in tradition. "The last time we hosted MY BMW World in Malaysia was a decade ago. In that time, much has changed, not only within our industry, but also in how customers connect with mobility," he said during the unveiling of the new additions to the company's portfolio on Thursday. Among the highlights was the BMW 3 Series 50th anniversary, celebrated with the introduction of the locally-assembled 330i M Sport and 320i Sport. The 330i M Sport, with a sportier, athletic presence, comes with a 2.0-litre twinpower turbo engine producing 258 horsepower (hp), capable of 0–100 kilometres per hour (km/h) in 5.8 seconds. The 320i Sport delivers 184 hp and reaches the same mark in 7.4 seconds. Both models feature the BMW Curved Display with Operating System 8.5, head-up display and a host of safety features including active cruise control and parking assistant plus. Making a notable entrance as well was the new 218i Gran Coupé Sport, a model aimed at the premium compact segment. It is powered by a new 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 156 hp and 230 newton metres of torque. With an updated exterior and reengineered chassis, the Gran Coupé offers digital features powered by Operating System 9 and includes safety tech such as lane change warning, predictive collision warning and reversing assistant. Nagel said the 218i Gran Coupé Sport is for a generation that values individuality and innovation. "It is agile, bold and digitally immersive". Completing the lineup was the new X3 20 xDrive M Sport completes the lineup with a 2.0-litre engine supported by 48-volt mild hybrid tech, delivering 208 hp. The sports activity vehicle boasts all-wheel drive and hits 0–100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. Enhanced features include a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 14.9-inch control display, and BMW Operating System 9, along with a suite of driver assistance systems like steering and lam control assistant and active cruise control with Stop & Go. Meanwhile, MINI Malaysia also took centre stage with the debut of the all-electric MINI Cooper JCW, the all-electric MINI Aceman JCW, and the locally-assembled MINI Countryman JCW S ALL4. On two wheels, BMW Motorrad Malaysia showcased the all-new BMW R 1300 RT, a premium touring motorcycle that blends long-distance comfort, advanced technology and spirited performance. Adding to the excitement, BMW Group also showcased high-performance and special models including the new BMW M2, M3 Competition M xDrive, and M5. Also making its first public appearance in Malaysia was the globally-launched BMW M4 Competition Coupé M xDrive, delivering track-inspired power with road-going elegance.
TimesLIVE
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
The MINI Cooper S is a small car with big charisma
The first example of the latest generation MINI I drove was the Countryman, and as much as the family car impressed with its relatively nimble driving characteristics, considering its bloated dimensions, it's too big to be considered a real MINI. Its 4,444mm length is comparable to midsized SUVs like the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Toyota Corolla Cross. In the 14-model MINI range that comprises convertibles, five-door hatches and crossovers, it's the three-door hatchback that best exemplifies the spirit of the original 1960s Mini. Like the groundbreaking original designed by Alec Issigonis, the latest three-door MINI is compact, cute as a button, and runs circles around the many top-heavy SUVs that are increasingly dominating the roadways. Priced at R649,395, the Cooper S three-door hatch embodies the charismatic simplicity of the latest fifth-generation MINI, which brings a minimalist design and digital innovations. It isn't just a MINI hatchback with two fewer doors. With a length of 3,876mm the tiny three-door doesn't offer family practicality and loses a lot of cabin and boot space to the 4,036mm five-door MINI hatch. Even small children will struggle to squeeze into the three-door's rear seat unless you adjust the front seats as far as they'll go forward. It's best to look at this as a two-person car, with a back seat that serves as extra luggage space. The tiny 210 l boot expands to a useful 725 l when you flip down the backrests. The car is instantly recognisable as a MINI with its doe-eyed headlamps and 'floating' roof, but the design has been touched up with a new octagonal grille and horizontal LED daytime running lights. There are three selectable light signatures for the daytime running lights and the matrix rear lights. Inside, the car is all about modern minimalism with its giant round OLED display and two-tone textile dashboard. As part of the MINI Experience Modes, two projector units beam various illuminated graphics onto the dashboard. A personal photo can be set as the display background via the MINI app. A dinner plate-sized OLED touchscreen houses all the infotainment controls in large and legible fonts. The digital interface is generally user friendly, though I would have preferred quick-access physical buttons for the climate control system.
TimesLIVE
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
How does a MINI Countryman SE All4 handle a 465km round trip?
Long-distance touring with an electric vehicle can be daunting. Not only is there the prospect of 'range anxiety' to deal with, there is also the notion of 'charger anxiety', as a seasoned consultant on the subject explained to me. The fear is that even though you might have enough juice to get from one point to the next, your intended charging destination could be occupied or offline. Load-shedding is usually the cause for the latter. Luckily, GridCars, which operates most of the charging facilities in South Africa, has app functionality which informs users what the status of their chosen facility is. Last weekend myself and our long-term MINI Countryman SE embarked on our first-ever cross-province drive: from Joburg to Wolmaransstad and back — the furthest I had ever travelled in an electric vehicle, ever. Happily I can report that neither of the earlier-mentioned 'anxieties' wracked my brain. The whole journey was as smooth as one could hope for, popping my long-distance electric trip cherry. I hear you asking, why Wolmaransstad? And where is that anyway? The tiny town lies about 100km outside Potchefstroom in North West province. It's an agricultural stronghold, but it's also a strategic location for an off-grid solar charging facility on the N12 national route. There is space for six vehicles to charge, and it can handle commercial EVs up to eight tons. Operated by the firm Zero Carbon Charge, the Wolmaransstad facility is the first in a planned network of 120 stations, built within 150km of each other. The idea is to enable stress-free, cross-country mobility for electric car drivers. Getting registered to use the Zero Carbon Charge platform proved simple: download an app, link a card for payment, then scan a QR code at the charging infrastructure to get going. My day began at 6.30am. The MINI had been fully-charged using our office AC plug point and the vehicle indicated a range of about 380km. The biggest range I have yet seen on the MINI is 406km, after using a 30kW DC outlet. The range claimed by the manufacturer is 433km. MINI states the average consumption of the Countryman SE as 17kWh/100km. I met up with two other industry colleagues in their electric cars at a spot on Jan Smuts Avenue 7km away. From there, it was a 229km stretch to Wolmaransstad, using the N2 and N12. 'Stretch' might be overselling it though, because with the indicated range of the MINI Countryman, the experience turned out to be a doddle. As a precautionary measure we decided to stop in Potchefstroom (halfway to Wolmaransstad), should anyone require a charge at the GridCars facility at the Mooirivier Mall. By the time we arrived there, my battery life was at 70%, with electricity consumption around 14kWh/100km. It would have been even better, but at some point during the journey I decided to crank up my heater and heated steering wheel. It was a frosty morning. Nobody needed to charge up n Potchefstroom, so onward we trekked. Crucial to mention is that my driving style was not overly conservative. All I did was stick to the speed limits and modulate the accelerator gently on take-offs. No over-the-top hyper-miling techniques were deployed: just a real-world driving style, keeping with the ebb and flow of traffic. The vehicle was kept in the dedicated Green setting, adopting a mapping profile that prioritises range over performance. If you drive the car in the most extreme mode of conservation, it caps permitted speed to 90km/h. By the time we arrived at the solar set-up in Wolmaransstad, the Countryman's battery life was 43%, with consumption in the region of 15kWh/100km. My next move was to plug one of the fast-chargers into the 'tank' of the MINI and initiate the job. The peak output of the charger fluctuated between 30kW to a peak of 75kW, which enabled a juice-up from 43% to 100% in about 90 minutes. We passed the time in the on-site Farm Flair restaurant, stocked with everything from biltong to koeksisters. In all, the vehicle's battery took 37.38kWh to achieve fully-charged status (the total battery size is 66.5kWh); costing R342.03, which works out to R9.15 per kWh. A full battery from empty would cost about R608. The total trip distance from Johannesburg to Wolmaransstad and back was 465km, so in effect I paid R1.35 per km. How does the electric Countryman compare to a petrol-powered one in terms of cost versus range? The current inland price per litre for 95 unleaded is R21.40 and the 2.0l Countryman S has a 54l tank size, working out to about R1,155. With a claimed consumption of 6.5l/100km you could expect a range in the region of 608km — roughly R1.89 per km. The savings in fuel bills represented by the electric model would translate into savings over the long-term, but the difference in initial outlay is also a factor that might influence your purchasing decision. The Countryman SE costs R1,086,000 while the regular S is R810,774. The next item on the agenda for our MINI? The customary Gerotek shakedown. LONG-TERM UPDATE 3 | MINI Countryman SE ALL4 ODOMETER ON DELIVERY: 4,621km PRAISES: Strong range on a full-charge makes lengthier journeys possible. GRIPES: Central armrest has no storage bin.
