BMW Malaysia has introduced the MINI Paceman in the country – the three-door coupé interpretation of the Countryman arrives in a single variant guise, that of the Cooper S.

The Paceman, which was announced in early 2011, is the seventh model in the MINI family, joining the Hatch, Clubman, Convertible, Countryman, Coupé and Roadster in the current lineup. It shares the same platform as the Countryman, measuring in at 4,115mm long in the case of the Cooper S Paceman.

The Cooper S Paceman is powered by a 1.6 litre twin-scroll turbo mill offering 184 hp at 5,500 rpm and 240 Nm between 1,600 and 5,000 rpm, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The box on the ALL4 system hasn’t been marked, so the variant we’re getting is two-wheel drive.

The four-seater – which is the only member of the family to be identified by a rear nameplate – features an interior that has been designed specifically for it, with the highlight being an innovative rear seat, styled around a lounge concept and featuring two individual chairs offering generous levels of head, shoulder and knee room as well as outstanding comfort and support.

No leather interior, unlike that seen in the vehicles during the international media test drive for the car; the seats in the Malaysian cars are clad in patterned fabric. Cargo space is 330 litres, expanding to a maximum 1,080 litres with the rear seats folded. As for wheels, the local Paceman is clad with 19-inch units (wrapped with 225/40 series rubbers), upsized from the standard 16- and 17-inch wheels in Europe.

The ubiquitous MINI interior features some new design cues – fresh deco trim goes on, as are redesigned air vent surrounds and a new placement on the door trim panel for the window toggle switch buttons.

The car exclusively features a full range of MINI Connected features, with Radio MINI Visual Boost and a 6.5-inch LCD display as standard fitment. Functions in MINI Connected include Mission Control, which provides information gained from the vehicle sensors.

There’s also Dynamic Music, which offers the driver a suitable soundtrack (from up to 10 music tracks) in relation to the driving style, raunchier when pushed and more laidback when ambling along, that sort of thing.

For Malaysia, five exterior paint shades are available, including the new Brilliant Copper and a striking Starlight Blue, previously unseen and unique to the Paceman. The roof and exterior mirror caps can be specified in body colour, black or white – a glass roof package is available as an option.

The MINI Cooper S Paceman is priced at RM288,888 (on-the-road, without insurance), with a MINI Tender Loving Care service package included. The optional electrically-operated glass roof package adds RM7,888 to that.

Read our test drive report on the MINI Paceman, and click here for a view of how the Paceman shapes up against the Countryman.

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Here we go again with the next-generation MINI rumours. These latest images from our usual spy photographers in Europe reveal the F56 MINI three-door hatchback’s new body shape and surprise, surprise, it’s set to grow in size again. The long front overhang especially looks very un-MINI like, but the rest of the car follows the same MINI formula we know and love.

The front fascia looks to take some inspiration from the Rocketman Concept from a few years ago, with an upright grille and more angled-back headlamps. The plastic claddings around the car are thicker this time round, and the rear lamps appear larger too. We’re talking small detail changes here of course, as there certainly isn’t much leeway when it comes to designing a new MINI.

There’s supposed to be drastic changes underneath though. The front-wheel drive platform is co-developed and shared with the BMW 1 Series GT (which has been previewed as the Concept Active Tourer), and the engine range will feature BMW’s new turbocharged three-cylinder motors. Four-cylinder Prince engines may live on in certain high-powered models, at least to start with.

We’ve already seen the new MINI’s centre speedo-less interior before, and now we get a closer look at the centre console in low (small monochrome screen) and high spec (larger colour display) forms. The row of toggles below the rotary air-con knobs is particularly interesting, as the red stalk looks like to be the engine start/stop switch. You can also see a new-style automatic gearknob in the high spec test car.

The next generation MINI reveal is still a few months away at the very least, and it will have a longer five-door variant soon after. With more BMW influence in its interior and engine bay, the MINI looks to be growing up both in size and character. We just hope it’ll still have enough MINI in it to attract those wearing miniskirts rather than power suits.

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The MINI Countryman brought about many sessions of controversial banter to the MINI brand amongst enthusiasts on whether a larger than usual four-door vehicle fit within the MINI brand. But whether the spirit of it is right or wrong, it’s probably here to stay, and won’t be part of certain MINI models that might not get renewed with the next life cycle. And the Countryman family has now been extended with a coupe sister called the MINI Paceman.

Here’s a gallery of the Countryman next to its sleeker two-doored cousin, the MINI Paceman, which will be launched in Malaysia later this year. Which do you prefer, the Countryman or the Paceman?

MINI Countryman Review
MINI Countryman Video Review
MINI Paceman Review

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Thinking of what to do and where to go this weekend? Here’s an option. MINI Malaysia is having its MINI After-Dark event this evening, billed as a “not normal” weekend evening planned for the MINI enthusiast.

The event will be happening this Friday and Saturday night (April 12-13) from 8.00 pm to 11.00 pm at all MINI dealerships in the country – MINI Glenmarie, MINI Kuala Lumpur, MINI Ingress Auto Bangsar (pictured above) and MINI Penang.

Nocturnal MINI activities planned include a special test drive with the MINI family. We’re sure there’s more to do and the only way to find out is to head to MINI After-Dark yourself. It is open to the public.

MINI’s latest offering in Malaysia is the returning MINI One, the entry-level MINI with more kit and a slight price increase for 2013. Full details and pics of the One’s new features here.

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It looks like MINI’s fast paced range expansion is about to be shot down, with a high-ranking MINI USA executive telling Edmunds that some of the niche variants won’t be up for renewal come the next generation models. Now that’s a surprise. Or is it?

The German-owned British brand once known for having a great line-up of one now flaunts no less than seven models, which apart from the Hatch and Countryman are each planted in tiny niche markets with not a lot of room to breathe, let alone prosper.

Getting enough demand to sustain both the exceedingly similar Convertible and Roadster models have always been questionable, and the latest Paceman, a two-door variant of the Countryman, itself a bigger four-door MINI hatchback, is already seen as a step too far for some. Then there’s the ever popular Clubman.

Offering endless variants to meet a wider range of customer needs is a noble effort, but ultimately it’s still a business with ends to meet. We’ve already seen the signs of MINI leaving its iconic quirkiness behind for a more conventional future. Now is the brand growing up too fast for its own good, or is a model variation backtrack exactly what it needs? Tell us in the comments section below.

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The entry-level MINI One, brought in yearly by BMW Malaysia in small batches, is back in town. Buyers of this fresh batch stand to get more kit than before, but there’s also an accompanying price increase.

As before, the One is available in either Chili Red or Pepper White. Those rims are the same 15-inch 5-Star Twin Spoke alloys, but there are some new kit such as multifunction buttons, sport steering wheel, rain sensor and automatic lights, radio MINI Boost and Bluetooth hands free kit with USB interface. These make the One feel less bare bones and more like a Cooper from the inside.

The MINI One is powered by a detuned version of the 1.6 litre four-cylinder engine from the Cooper. Here, it makes 98 hp and 150 Nm of torque, and when paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox, delivers good average fuel consumption of 6.7 litres per 100 km.

Fancy one? The price for One is RM146,888 OTR without insurance, a RM3,000 increase over the previous late-2012 batch with less kit.

Buyers would want to add on the MINI Tender Loving Care (TLC) service package for RM4,088 (around RM1k costlier). TLC takes care of everything (engine oil change; air filter, micro filter, spark plugs and brake fluid; maintenance and servicing of brake pads/discs and clutch in the event of wear and tear, replacement of wiper blades, etc) for three years or 50,000 km, whichever comes first.

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Tired of your misfiring wingman (or wingwoman)? Let your MINI play cupid for you, with its latest MINI Connected (now available in the latest MINI range) App called Connect Us. It’s the world’s speediest dating service, and also the most reliable.

Exclusive for MINI drivers, you’re guaranteed to find a date with the same taste in cars. Additionally, not only does it track and match possible pairings’ personal interests, favourite activities and hobbies, MINI Connect Us gets down to the nitty-gritty detail: driving style – crucial in the search for a compatible co-driver on the journey of love.

MINI claims the way you treat your accelerator, steering wheel and brakes shows everyone the real you. MINI Driving Excitement Analyser would process all that, while the Connect Us app would deduce a meeting of minds on the matter of driving fun to oil the wheels of romance between MINI owners.

You’ve been warned however, to not take your eyes off the road just when things are getting interesting. Think MINI is taking the Mickey out of you? Well, let’s just say that the Connect Us app is exclusively available for download today, April 1.

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Here’s the latest pair of spyshots of the next-generation MINI, courtesy of the unlikeliest source – a Reddit user. One shows the car in full camo – nothing much to note there other than the sleeker, less bulbous nose compared to the Clubman parked next to it – while the other exposes the new car’s dashboard.

Shock, horror! The centre binnacle layout that’s long been the signature element of a MINI interior has now been bastardised. Instead of having a comically large speedometer dominate the entire fascia, the circular face now houses the radio display and controls. The speedo now sits behind the wheel, in its own freestanding pod.

The current MINI in its top spec form already has a round colour screen integrated into the centre console, but at least there’s still a speedometer ring around it. Completely ditching the centre speedo concept while sneakily retaining the circular face for brand familiarity, has BMW’s MINI modernisation gone too far?

Ignore the BMW steering in the picture, that’ll be swapped with a MINI three-spoker closer to production. Following the updated Countryman and Paceman, the window switches have been moved away from the lower dashboard to the door panels, a conformist move that would push MINI fanatics even closer to the edge.

What about you? Like the changes or is it a step too far from MINI ideals?

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This is the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013 special edition (quite a mouthful, isn’t it?), created to celebrate MINI’s Dakar Rally 2013 win courtesy of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret, who have won the event in a MINI for the second year in a row.

Only 11 examples of this MINI JCW Countryman Dakar will be built, reflecting Peterhansel’s 11 victories, and all will be sold exclusively in the Dakar living legend’s home country of France. By the way, six of Peterhansel’s wins in the “world’s toughest race” came on a bike, before he switched to winning on four wheels with Mitsubishi.

This special Countryman JCW is in matte black with bright green accents, inspired by the Monster-sponsored rally car. The bonnet sports Peterhansel’s signature and the Dakar Rally winner’s logo, while green stripes along the sides feature “MINI ALL4 Racing” lettering. The race car’s No.302 is proudly displayed on the doors.

Inside, you’ll find green contrast stitching for the gearshift lever gaiter and floor mats, embroidered winner’s logo on the head rests and green stripes for the black interior trim strip on the centre console. There’s also a special-edition logo with serial number above the glove compartment.

Auxiliary spotlights, bespoke side indicator surrounds and 19-inch alloys in “Cross-Spoke Crusher” design wrap up the changes for this special edition. Click here to view the standard Countryman JCW, and here for our review of the MINI Countryman Cooper S.

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The MINI Paceman John Cooper Works is the newest JCW model, on the latest MINI bodystyle. It tops the MINI Paceman range, designed as a three-door “coupe” variant of the MINI Countryman, the maxi MINI. The Paceman JCW was first shown at the Detroit show in January and will reach showrooms next month.

As usual, a turbocharged 1.6 litre sends 218 hp and 280 Nm of torque (300 Nm on overboost for short periods between 2,100 and 4,500 rpm) to all four wheels (ALL4 is standard) via a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. 0-100 km/h is completed in just under seven seconds, while top speed is 226 km/h for the manual and 224 km/h for the auto.

The four-pot features twin-scroll turbocharging, direct injection and Valvetronic. Reinforced pistons, lightweight crankshafts, an aluminium cylinder block and bearing mounts, and an optimised cooling system, air supply and exhaust gas discharge system have been thrown in as well.

To set it apart, MINI has given the Paceman JCW a bodykit, 10 mm lower suspension, lightweight 18-inch alloys (19s are available) and a sports exhaust with twin chrome pipes. Besides white and black, the roof, mirror caps and interior trim strips can be had in Chili Red as an optional extra.

Inside, you’ll find red-contrast stitching on the sports steering wheel, cloth sports seats (leather optional) gear lever gaiter and floor mats, while the dials and headlining are dark-coloured. Nine body colours are available, including the JCW-only Chili Red.

No, we haven’t sampled the JCW yet, but you can read our test drive report of the MINI Paceman Cooper S here. Want two more doors? Check out our MINI Countryman test drive report here.

Mega gallery of the Paceman JCW, shot on-location at the international media drive, is after the jump.

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There are so many variants of the MINI today, but the Clubman was where the diversification plan started back in 2008. Largely forgotten and overshadowed by fresher and flashier siblings like the Countryman, Coupe and Paceman, the estate MINI soldiers on with a Bond Street design model. The MINI Clubman Bond Street will debut at the upcoming Geneva show.

If you’ve been to London, you might agree that Bond Street is the most exclusive shopping street in the city. “Setting off for a shopping trip here, in the heart of the City of Westminster, therefore is an expression of fine taste,” says MINI. The same would apply for buyers of the Clubman Bond Street, we presume.

What sets Bond Street (the car) apart is its Midnight Black paint job with Cool Champagne contrasts for the roof, mirror caps, lower sections of the C-pillars and bonnet stripes. Its 17-inch alloys in Twin Spoke Black design come with an exclusive trim ring in Cool Champagne too, and the side indicator surrounds and door sill strips both display Bond Street lettering.

Inside, you’ll find exclusively designed sports seats and a leather-covered instrument panel. It’s mainly in black, accented by Deep Champagne trim.

To go on sale in March, this Clubman comes in four engine variants: a 122 hp Cooper, 112 hp Cooper D, 184 hp Cooper S and 143 hp Cooper SD. As usual, all the engines link up with a six-speed manual gearbox, while a six-speed automatic is optional.

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Publicity is something most, if not all carmakers want, and while some work on ad campaigns highlighting continuous improvement, some just flip their cars backwards in the air. MINI has teamed up with rally driver Guerlain Chicherit to perform the world’s first “unassisted 360-degree backflip” in a car.

While we’re not quite sure what “unassisted” really means, the word alone sounds scary enough. Our fearless French hero fires up a heavily modified MINI John Cooper Works Countryman and chucks it briefly around a shipyard before aiming it squarely at the ramp…

I can’t wait to see what happens next, either. By the way, that’s a height of 12 metres the car achieved.

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Where MINI is concerned, variety is clearly the spice of life. Since the distinctive Hatch’s introduction over a decade ago, Cabrio, Clubman, Countryman, Coupe and Roadster bodystyles have been added to result in a model range comparable in diversity to Malaysian cuisine.

And that’s before you consider the derivatives – the One, One D, Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper D and Cooper SD – that are offered (some if not all and depending on market) on each model. Even before you add John Cooper Works, electric and special edition versions to the list, it’s clear that it would be understating it to say that MINI buyers are spoilt for choice.

The company’s success in the 21st century can be attributed to this vast range. Sure, there are traditional enthusiasts who swear by the Issigonis original and believe this seemingly never-ending model expansion pushes the brand further away from its core values by calling a car that isn’t a Mini a MINI.

And that’s just it. Can you imagine if the company went down the Model T route and stuck solely with the Hatch, without innovating any further? In this age of instant gratification and five-second attention spans, the youth of the world would quickly get bored. And yes, MINIs are primarily aimed at the youth market, who practically live and breathe ‘new.’

Just when you thought they’d exhausted all possible variations on the MINI theme, the company proves us wrong (again!) with the new MINI Paceman. You saw this one coming – from its introduction as a concept at the 2011 Detroit show and its production go-ahead, to official ‘spy shots‘ and its first public appearance as a production car at this year’s Paris show.

And it’s finally out – recently MINI held the international launch of the Paceman in the beautiful island of Mallorca in Spain, which offered visiting members of the media from many countries a chance to get to know the car, the brand and the men and women behind it better.

Four versions of the MINI Paceman launch in Europe – the 122 hp Cooper, 184 hp Cooper S, 112 hp Cooper D and 143 hp Cooper SD, with ALL4-equipped variants available and a John Cooper Works-tuned version - pictures and details of which recently emerged.

That morning we were welcomed by a fleet of Cooper S Pacemans standing at attention in the Palma Mallorca airport car park, which we were to drive to Puro Beach via a scenic route that took us through long motorways, country roads that swept through sleepy villages and a real spaghetti of curves and corners that snaked up a mountain – and down again. Before we began the drive, I had a good look around the vehicle.

Billed as “the first Sports Activity Coupe in the premium small and compact segment,” the Paceman is, in essence, a three-door version of the Countryman. If both cars were entered for a beauty pageant in which I was the judge, the newcomer would bring home the tiara before we even got to the questions part. I think the Paceman looks altogether more dynamic and purposeful, and certainly less ungainly than the Countryman, which has five doors.

It achieves this dynamism via a tapering roofline and a shoulder line that’s angled rather sharply upwards, so the car appears to be sitting on its haunches, poised to pounce. Roof and shoulder line almost meet at the back, but don’t – thanks to blacked-out B- and C-pillars, the roof appears to be suspended in mid-air – the ‘floating roof’ effect. That rear-three quarter view is particularly pleasing to the eye, too.

The funky, cheeky character associated with MINI is brought out through those bug-eye headlamps, white roof and door mirror caps (these can also be had in body colour or black), and those new rear lamps, which are designed to emulate the shape of the headlamps and are MINI’s first horizontal tail lamps.

The Paceman and Countryman share the same platform and therefore the same 2.6 metre wheelbase. However, the former is very slightly longer overall than the latter – which is unusual given that it has fewer doors – but since every panel aft of its A-pillar is new, the rear may have been extended a bit to give rear occupants more space.

The new car sits 20 mm lower on a suspension tuned more towards sportiness. Also new are those rear lamps; they’re designed to emulate those at the front, and you see the ‘PACEMAN’ nameplate at the back? This is the first MINI to sport a model nameplate.

The interior is recognisably MINI save for a few changes. The window switches, which used to be on the row of toggles below the climate controls, have been moved to the doors, which I find more ergonomic to operate (the latest Countryman gets this update too).

Unlike the Countryman though, the Paceman’s strictly a four-seater – a thin transmission tunnel-like console runs across the length of the cabin, separating the two individual back seats. This console houses an aircraft-style handbrake and a unique sunglass case up front, and cupholders at the back.

The central speedometer on this car had the infotainment system screen integrated within it, and while undoubtedly in the right place for optimal viewing, somewhat takes away the charm that the fully analogue speedo had. But I can’t think of anywhere else to place the screen anyway.

It isn’t a touchscreen; you control the system by means of a tiny knob by the gear lever. I find this iDrive style a little fiddly to operate – it’s all too easy to overshoot your intended selection – but I’m sure it just takes a bit of getting used to. In some cases, the screen disappears off the edge of the circle, presumably because the iDrive system was designed for rectangular screens and the circle isn’t wide enough.

But you would want to know most about how it drives. You can think of the Paceman as a midway point between the Hatch and the Countryman. It rides softer than the Hatch and isn’t quite as agile, but is flatter and more planted through the twisty stuff than the Countryman. The same ‘halfway’ compromise can be applied to the way it gathers speed, which again isn’t surprising when you compare its 1.3 tonne kerb weight to the Hatch’s 1.1 and Countryman’s 1.4.

Still, this Cooper S version is capable of reaching very high speeds with ease. When pedal meets metal, the overboost kicks in to give you 260 Nm of torque between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm – a 20 Nm increase. From rest, the Cooper S Paceman is capable of hitting 100 km/h in a quoted 7.5 seconds, whereupon it will continue towards a 217 km/h top speed.

Factor a quick, communicative steering with good feel and effective brakes into the equation and you have a recipe for unbridled fun, as well as the confidence to have that fun. Yes, the trademark ‘go-kart feel’ is still there, most of it down to that direct steering and a really well-sorted chassis.

The weather that day was perfect for a drive. The sun certainly didn’t hold back its rays, which glistened and reflected off the sea as it ebbed and flowed – much in the same manner with which we tackled the mountain curves, although we were somewhat more urgent than the gentle waves of the Mediterranean.

The Paceman took it all in its stride, the body remaining composed and unflustered as we swung the car left and right. There is a good, solid feel to everything that few small cars can offer. Lift off the throttle with Sport mode activated and a tiny bit of fuel is squirted into the exhaust to create backfire on the overrun, psychologically preparing you for the hairpin ahead. It’s also pretty exciting and sounds great.

The turbocharged 1.6 litre four-cylinder itself is actually pretty muted otherwise; you can hear its rising, sporty note and the accompanying whistle of the blower at higher revs, but quite a lot of the soundtrack is isolated from the cabin. Like in other MINIs, the six-speed manual is notchy in operation – although I tend to prefer a softer, more fluidic shift action, its spring bias is not overly heavy and gear changes can be effected swiftly.

The car we drove was not equipped with ALL4, but the high levels of grip already afforded by those 205/55 R17s made us question if the car even needed four wheel-drive if it wasn’t going to see much off-road action. We know of Range Rovers which never leave the tarmac, let alone a MINI. Whatever it is, you’d have to be carrying quite a significant amount of speed into a corner before you make the front tyres squeal, which of course is then kept in check by the traction control system.

Now, the Countryman was arguably the biggest departure from the MINI ethos among its siblings. What can be said of the Paceman? If anything, I feel it’s a truer MINI as it’s comparatively funkier and more youthful, since it has fewer doors and fewer seats. When all is said and done though, if it’s fun you’re after, the Paceman does deliver, in the way it looks as well as the way it drives.

We can quite confidently expect the Cooper S variant to be introduced in Malaysia, but it remains to be seen if other versions will be added to the line-up. The Cooper S Hatch costs RM240k; the Cooper S Countryman RM286k, so speculatively we’re looking at a price tag of around RM270-280k when the MINI Paceman hits our shores sometime next year.

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Hot on the heels of the MINI Paceman is the John Cooper Works version, the top of the Paceman range and the seventh in the JCW line-up. Next month’s NAIAS in Detroit is set to host its debut, with market launches expected in March.

A turbocharged 1.6 litre sends 218 hp and 280 Nm of torque (300 Nm on overboost for short periods between 2,100 and 4,500 rpm) to all four wheels (ALL4 is standard) through a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. 100 km/h is reached from rest in just under seven seconds, and top speed is 226 km/h for the manual and 224 km/h for the auto.

Technologies such as twin-scroll turbocharging, direct injection and Valvetronic enhance the mill, which also features reinforced pistons, lightweight crankshafts, an aluminium cylinder block and bearing mounts, and an optimised cooling system, air supply and exhaust gas discharge system. Despite the added go, MINI claims a respectable fuel economy of 7.4 litres (manual) and 7.9 litres (auto) per 100 km on the EU cycle.

What about the show? The Paceman JCW gets a bodykit, a suspension that’s been lowered by 10 mm, lightweight 18-inch alloys (19s are optional) and a sports exhaust with twin chrome tailpipes. Apart from white and black, the roof, mirror caps and interior trim strips can be had in an exclusive Chili Red paint finish as an optional extra.

Inside, there’s red-contrast stitching on the sports steering wheel, cloth sports seats (leather optional) gear lever gaiter and floor mats, while the dials and headlining are dark-coloured. Nine body colours are available, including the JCW-only Chili Red.

Want two more doors? Check out the similarly-equipped MINI Countryman JCW, which surfaced only three months back. Last month, the MINI JCW GP, a 2,000-unit limited edition and the fastest production MINI yet, made its debut at the Paris motor show.

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Last year, we saw 14 people squeeze into a MINI Countryman in Penang and snapped a video of it. But that’s nothing compared to this latest feat, which saw a total of 28 people cram themselves into a 2012 MINI Cooper SD.

28 flexible ladies from a gym in East Sussex crammed their way into the MINI Hatch at Potters Fields Park, London as part of the eighth annual Guinness World Records day. The team broke their own previous record of 27 people, which they set in Eastbourne last year. People were stuffed in every inch including the dashboard, the footwells, and four people even fit themselves into the boot.

After that, they repeated their feat with a classic Mini, managing to stuff a staggering 23 ladies into it, beating the previous record by two people.

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This is the MINI John Cooper Works GP, which we first saw back in May. The fastest MINI ever had its world debut at the recent Paris Motor Show, and like its predecessor, will be limited to just 2,000 units. One for the collectors.

The standard 211 hp JCW is already a manic little machine, but the John Cooper Works GP takes things up a notch. The 1.6-litre four-pot gets an aluminium cylinder block and bearing mounts, reinforced pistons, sturdier cylinder head, low-weight crankshafts and sodium-filled exhaust valves.

With all that, the direct-injection twin-scroll turbo engine with BMW’s Valvetronic tech makes 218 hp and 260 Nm from just 1,750 rpm. For extra acceleration punch, peak torque can be increased for short periods to 280 Nm from 2,000 rpm on overboost. Power is transferred to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

When you consider the fact that this MINI weighs just 1,160 kg, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds (0.2 sec faster than JCW) and a top speed of 242 km/h isn’t surprising at all. At the Nürburgring North Loop (the old GP circuit), the JCW GP clocked 8:23 minutes, which is a whole 18 seconds off its predecessor’s best lap time.

The JCW GP’s sits on individually adjustable coilover suspension, which allows ride height to be lowered by up to 20 mm. The front shocks are mounted upside down in the tube, with the piston rod pointing down, in order to increase longitudinal and lateral stiffness.

Front camber has been increased compared with the regular MINI JCW, so that the performance potential of the sports tyres can be used to full effect, without the penalties of early understeer, inevitably leading to increased tyre wear. Other features include reduced front-wheel toe-in and increased rear camber, which alters the forward weight transfer so as to give more speed and more neutral steering close to the limit.

The brakes are powerful, featuring six-piston fixed-calliper disc brakes, vented at the front. The front discs are 330 mm in diameter and 25 mm thick, with 280 x 10 mm discs at the rear. The lightweight 17-inch alloys, derived from the MINI Challenge race car, are wrapped with 215/40 sports tyres.

One more thing. Here, DSC is not combined with DTC, as would normally be the case, but with a special GP racing mode. Under hard driving, the driver may not want ASC engine power reduction cutting in, so instead this system offers just ASC braking, based on the EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control) subfunction.

Crazy little monster!

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Last month, we reported that 30 units of the MINI One would be coming to our shores at the end of October, teased through the One Love online campaign and questionnaire. Now we have a price – a quick call to a BMW dealership revealed that the car will cost RM143,888 without insurance.

The price excludes the Tender Loving Care package (which covers inspection and wear and tear repairs for three years or 50,000 km, whichever comes first). You can pay a fee to add on the TLC package.

The entry-level MINI is powered by a detuned version of the Cooper’s 1.6 litre engine. Output numbers are 98 hp and 153 Nm, with the century sprint executed in 12.3 seconds. Top speed is a quoted 181 km/h. Buyers can have their One in either Chili Red or Pepper White.

Back in August 2011, MINI Malaysia brought in 31 units of the MINI One at RM139,888 – all of which sold out very quickly. More details can be found on MINI Malaysia’s website.

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Back in August 2011, MINI Malaysia brought in the entry-level MINI One model as 31-unit limited edition, and they were all snapped up in no time, thanks to a RM140k price tag. Missed that one? No worries, another batch is coming.

The “Love A Tease” MINI ad that’s popping up online leads one to a MINI One website with the theme “One Love”. Here, a Q&A session (could get a little too personal for some) and some simple maths will reveal that this second batch of MINI One will be launched on October 31, and there are 30 units for sale. Two colours are available – Chili Red and Pepper White.

No mention of the price so far, but the One is powered by a detuned version of the Cooper’s 1.6 litre engine, making 98 hp and 153 Nm. 0-100 km/h is done in a relaxed 12.3 seconds, so this MINI is for those not in a hurry.

You can try the questionnaire yourself at www.minionelove.com.

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BMW Group Malaysia has added Ingress Auto to the network of authorised MINI representatives in the country. The new MINI dealership, MINI Ingress, is scheduled to open on Jalan Maarof in Bangsar by the end of this year.

MINI Malaysia has also unveiled the two-wheel drive Cooper S Countryman. It continues to carry the 184 hp 1.6 litre direct-injected four-cylinder with a twin-scroll turbocharger. The OTR without insurance price tag of RM268,888 includes the MINI Tender Loving Care programme which covers inspection and wear and tear repairs for three years or 50,000 km, whichever comes first.

Occupying approximately 4,700 square feet, MINI Ingress will be the first in Malaysia to be equipped with the MINI Hub – the company’s customer centre concept – which features a cafe and lounge equipped with Apple devices.

“Last year alone, we delivered a record 300 MINIs and as of the month of September this year, we have already delivered 259 MINIs, a 15% increase from the same period last year,” said BMW Malaysia MD Dr Gerhard Pils.

“The location is very MINI,” he said of Bangsar, adding that the area had “a market capability of delivering more than 200 cars in the next two to three years.” Ingress Auto has been a BMW dealer since 2008.

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Ah, on to something from MINI, and it’s the Paceman – the coupé interpretation of the Countryman makes it seven in the family when it arrives next year, joining the Hatch, Clubman, Convertible, Countryman, Coupé and Roadster in the ever-growing lineup.

It sits on the Countryman platform, and measures 4,109 mm bumper to bumper (4,115mm for Cooper S Paceman and Cooper SD Paceman), which makes it almost identical in size to its sibling.

Four versions of the three-door Paceman will be available, these being the 122 hp Cooper and 184 hp Cooper S, and the 112 hp 1.6 litre Cooper D and 143 hp 2.0 litre SD diesels.

All will come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with a six-speed automatic with Steptronic as an option. As for the company’s ALL4 system, it’s available on the Cooper D, SD and Cooper S Paceman models.

Design-wise, the car’s coupé-style stretched side profile features long doors, while the blacked-out pillars create a ‘floating’ roof concept as seen on the Coupé. Incidentally, the Paceman will be the only member of the MINI family to be identified by a rear nameplate.

The four-seater features an interior that has been designed specifically for it, with the highlight being an innovative rear seat, styled around a lounge concept and featuring two individual chairs offering generous levels of head, shoulder and knee room as well as outstanding comfort and support.

Folding down the rear seats expands the rear load-carrying capacity from 330 litres to a maximum of 1,080 litres, with access to the rear cargo area via a large and high-opening tailgate.

Meanwhile, the instrument panel includes many familiar components, including the large round central speedo. However, there’s new decorative trim, and the air vent surrounds have been redesigned. Also, the toggle switch buttons for the windows, found below the speedo on every MINI to date, have been moved to the door trim panel.

Driver aids include Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) as standard across the range, with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) including Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) on the Cooper S Paceman, Cooper SD Paceman and Cooper D Paceman ALL4.

A host of kit is available, including Xenon Adaptive Headlights, Park Distance Control, Auto Start/Stop, an electrically-operated glass roof plus a MINI navigation system. The car comes with 16-inch and 17-inch wheels as standard, with 18-inch or 19-inch units on the options list.

Eight exterior paint shades are available, including new shades in the form of Brilliant Copper and Blazing Red, as well as Starlight Blue, previously unseen and unique to the Paceman.

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Like those MINI WRC cars? Here’s the closest one can get to the Prodrive rally machine, the MINI Countryman John Cooper Works. The JCW becomes the new range topper, sitting above the 184 hp/240 Nm Cooper S ALL4 that was around since launch.

The Countryman JCW’s 1.6 litre twin-scroll turbo engine develops 218 hp and 280 Nm between 1,900 and 5,000 rpm, but the latter can be increased to 300 Nm for short and sharp bursts of acceleration between 2,100 and 4,500 rpm using the overboost function. “A fitting soundtrack” is provided by the sports exhaust system with its slanting tailpipe embellishers.

The Valvetronic-equipped direct-injection engine gets reinforced pistons and intake valves, and further optimisation of the cooling, air supply and exhaust gas discharge system. The turbocharger is also matched to a larger intercooler.

As an alternative to the standard six-speed manual gearbox, customers can order a six-speed auto with shift paddles. Tweaks have been made to both transmissions and the clutch for the manual variant to take into account the extra engine power. Pressing the Sport button alters the engine’s response and acoustic profile, steering power assistance and speeds up gearchanges in D – the latter for the auto variant only.

The Countryman JCW needs just seven seconds flat to dash from 0 to 100 km/h with either gearbox. Top speed is 225 km/h for the manual and 223 km/h for the auto. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle stands at 7.4 litres per 100 km (7.9 litres for the auto).

The fastest maxi MINI gets Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop for the manual and Gear Shift Indicator to coach efficient driving. Other energy saving parts include Electric Power Steering, a map-controlled oil pump and an on-demand coolant pump.

This Countryman is the first JCW car to put power on all four wheels, via the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system. In normal driving situations, ALL4 diverts 50% of drive to the rear wheels, rising to as much as 100% in extreme conditions, such as on ice. The control electronics of ALL4 are integrated directly into the DSC. This can be fun, as we found out driving the Countryman Cooper S ALL4.

More upgrades come in the form of bigger brakes (307 mm front disc, 296 mm rear), standard sports suspension with “extremely firm tuning for the springs and dampers”, strengthened anti-roll bars and a 10 mm drop in ride height. 18-inch twin-spoke light alloys with 225/45 R18 tyres are standard, but 19-inch items are available as an option.

Inside, sports seats in Diagonal Track JCW Carbon Black cloth trim with red contrast stitching can be found, along with piano black trim strips, JCW door sills, sports steering with red stitching and JCW logo, the dark 260 km/h speedo and anthracite roof liner. Chili Red trim is optional.

Read our MINI Countryman test drive report here. Mega hi-res gallery after the jump.

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After implementing Euro 4 fuel standards, Thailand will for the first time get diesel-powered MINIs. BMW Thailand will import oil burning versions of the MINI Hatch, Countryman and Coupe. Slower selling models like the Roadster and Clubman will continue to be petrol-only.

One 2.0 litre commonrail diesel with variable turbine geometry will be offered, but in two different outputs. All variants tagged Cooper D will have 111 hp and 270 Nm from 1,750-2,250 rpm, while Cooper SD cars come with 143 hp and 305 Nm of torque, available from 1,750-2,000 rpm. That’s more twist than a Cooper S, so strong performance is guaranteed.

This is a BMW engine that’s also used in cars with the propeller badge, in various states of tune. No eight-speed auto, though – all MINIs are equipped with a six-speed auto with steering paddle shifters. The diesel Coupe is only available as a Cooper SD in Thailand.

Buyers are likely to be serious diesel enthusiasts, as the diesel-powered MINIs are costlier than their petrol-powered brethren by 250,000 to 300,000 baht (RM25k to 30k) due to higher production costs. The diesels are more frugal, but it will still take some years to “break even” in this case.

Those young and hip Bangkokians shouldn’t complain though, at least they have a choice to make!

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Drivers of BMWs equipped with BMW Apps (6NR) and MINIs with MINI Connected can now get Stitcher SmartRadio fully integrated with their vehicle infotainment systems.

The app, which you can download to your iPhone from the App Store for free, streams news, entertainment, sports, talk and live radio programmes directly to the vehicle, with over 10,000 radio shows and podcasts offered.

A special Smart Station feature helps users discover new content by recommending relevant programmes based on their personal preferences. Feedback is also provided in the form of ‘More Like This’ and ‘Listeners Also Like.’ Custom stations can also be created.

“More people than ever are listening on the go,” said Stitcher CEO Noah Shanok. “Over a third of our users are listening in the car.”

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Sometimes the little things mean the most. BMW has put three of these small radio-controlled MINIs to field duty at the Olympic Stadium: to ferry javelins, discuses, hammers and shots back from the field to the throwing area, saving time during competition and marshals having to run back and forth too.

The 25 kg, 10 hp cars are about a quarter scale of full size, and the sports equipment is simply placed in the car through the sunroof. Maximum capacity is 8 kg, with batteries holding out for 35 minutes of continuous usage before being fully recharged in 80 minutes.

BMW is London 2012′s Official Automotive Partner, and as such has a fully-electric vehicle fleet currently serving the Games which also comprises 160 1 Series ActiveE’s and 40 MINI E’s.

Imagine these little cars replacing ball boys and girls at Wimbledon.

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Another MINI spin-off, this time a sleeker Countryman with two fewer doors. We reported on the Paceman’s production go-ahead at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show, and now we can tell you it will debut at the Paris Motor Show in September and officially go on sale early next year.

MINI has released some pictures of a camouflaged (well, sort of) Paceman on its Facebook page that clearly displays its sloping roofline and Countryman genes. It looks somewhat tauter and slimmer all round than the bulkier Countryman, and is definitely something we anticipate.

Bet at first glance you thought the rear of the car was on fire.

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Just in case you’re in the market to buy a MINI Cooper, but think that the car no longer stands out as much, well then you are in luck. Because MINI Malaysia has recently launched two limited edition cars – MINI Cooper Baker Street and MINI Cooper S Bayswater.

Both sport different exterior and interior design elements so there are no changes to the engine, outputs and performance. You can read about its figures here.

We take a look, first, at the MINI Cooper Baker Street, which comes standard in a colour called Rooftop Grey Metallic. There other special colours include Rooftop Grey, Pepper White and Midnight Black. All colours are accompanied with Black roofing.

Other visual cues to make this MINI special are the Baker Street labels at the bonnet stripes, mirror caps and front wings. Also, this small car slips on a set of 16 inch aluminium 6-Star Twin-Spoke rims in Nightfever Black.

Inside, you’ll find the Baker Street signature Cross Check design contrasted with Rooftop Grey Light finishing on the leather, cloth seats, gear lever knob and handbrake gaiter. Other interior décor include Baker Street door sill finishes and seat badges.

Next, is the MINI Cooper S Bayswater and it is coloured in the exclusive Kite Blue Metallic exterior paint. This edition is also available in Eclipse Grey Metallic and Midnight Black Metallic.

To make it stand apart from the run-of-mill Cooper S, Bayswater features special bonnet stripes, wears its nametag on the front wings and runs with a set of 17 inch Sanblast Turned light alloy rims in Jet Black.

Inside, the car gets Punch Rocklike Anthracite leather trims with a choice of Blue or Brown stitching. Interior surfaces are finished in Piano Black to match the bonnet stripes. Like Baker Street, Bayswater’s seat badges and doorsill carry the car’s model name.

The on-the-road without insurance price (with MINI Tender Loving Care service package) for the MINI Cooper Baker Street is RM198,888 while the MINI Cooper S Bayswater goes for RM248,888.

Gallery after the jump.

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As expected, the MINI Clubvan has successfully made the journey from concept to production, and the newborn is virtually identical with the Geneva concept. Making its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the world’s first “premium compact delivery van” is the seventh unique member of the MINI family, selling alongside the Clubman, Hatch, Convertible, Countryman, Coupe and Roadster.

Pitched at small businesses with an eye for style, the Clubvan is the first commercial vehicle to be offered since the MINI brand was relaunched under BMW’s ownership in 2001. The new car’s heritage can be traced back to 1960, when the original Mini – launched a year earlier – was joined in showrooms by the Morris Mini Van. With an extra 10 cm in the wheelbase, closed-off load compartment and split rear door, it offered workhorse capabilities in a compact body.

This one is no longer that small, but relatively compact compared to supermini based van rivals such as the Opel Astravan and Peugeot 207 Van. Based on the Clubman platform, its exterior dimensions are identical to those of its sibling – 3,961 mm long, 1,683 mm wide and 1,426 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,547 mm.

The load bay extends from the wide-opening double doors at the back of the vehicle to an internal bulkhead immediately behind the driver and passenger seats. That’s made from a solid aluminium lower section with a steel mesh upper, and stowed cargo can also be accessed through the two rear doors or via the Clubdoor on the driver’s side.

The cargo area stretches back 1,150 mm and, even at its narrowest point just behind the rear doors, is 1,020 mm wide. With the bulkhead to protect the driver and/or passenger, it can be loaded right to the roof which measures 840 mm at its highest point. That translates to 860 litres of space and a maximum payload capacity of 500 kg.

The blocked-out rear side windows are body-coloured and feature interior polycarbonate reinforcement. Combined with tinted glass in the rear doors, it means the load compartment is both secure and concealed from prying eyes.

The load floor is completely flat for ease-of-use, and both it and the side walls are trimmed in high-quality upholstery. Above, an anthracite roof liner runs the full length of the vehicle. Six heavy duty attachment loops are recessed into the floor at the sides to help prevent cargo from moving around in transit, while multiple 12-volt sockets can be used to power electrical equipment.

Three engines will be available; the 98 hp MINI One Clubvan, the 122 hp MINI Cooper Clubvan and the 112 hp MINI Cooper D Clubvan. All come with the familiar front-wheel-drive set-up, Electric Power Steering, MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but an optional six-speed auto can be ordered.

Also standard are “MINIMALISM” features including Auto Start/Stop, Shift Point Display, Brake Energy Regeneration and on-demand operation of ancillary units. These will help business users keep a tight rein on fuel consumption and offers low running costs.

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Remember the MINI Rocketman Concept from last year? Well, the car has been given a change of dress, and the new edition is set to go on display in London during the upcoming Olympics.

The revised version of the 3+1-seater sees a play up of the brand’s British roots – the colours of the British national flag, the Union Jack, feature prominently both on the outside and inside of the car, with red and white accents accompanying the dominant dark blue, interspersed with exposed carbon components at the front end and around the doors for the body’s non-metallic paintwork.

Meanwhile, the 18-inch light-alloy wheels now have white polished areas and a metallic red accent, and matte Porcelain White paintwork finds its way on to the mirror caps, boot opener and surrounds for the radiator grille and headlights.

Elsewhere, the grille is now in a red metallic paint finish, with a contrasting white surround, and a red strip emphasises the path of the hallmark MINI diagonal link between the wheel arch and door at the foot of the A-pillar. As for the full-surface glass roof, the illuminated braces recreating the Union Jack continues on, but the borders are now in metallic red.

Inside, the Union Jack-led colour concept continues on, with white, red and blue replacing the more austere look of the original Rocketman’s interior. A new element to the dashboard – and the door panels- is with a new patterned relief structure, which depicts the name of every host city of the summer Olympic Games in the modern era using artistically intricate lettering, with London given particularly prominent billing.

Aside from this, the rocket-shaped key fob is also decked out in British national colours. And finally, the car comes with its own little men – the stowage compartment on the centre console between the driver and front passenger is supposed to symbolise a basketball court with miniature players. Don’t think they’d last very long if you kept throwing stuff in there, especially keys, but cute all the same.

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Sime Darby Motors Division (SDMD) will be bringing its full arsenal of brands to the Super GT race in Sepang this June 9-10. The seven guns are Alfa Romeo, Ford, Hyundai, Land Rover, Porsche, BMW and MINI – the latter two under Auto Bavaria. It will be the first time SDMD is gathering all of its brands in one exhibition.

“Visitors to the Super GT 2012 can look forward to a preview of the many new models by brands under SDMD, some of which have not been launched in Malaysia. This event is definitely a good opportunity for visitors to check out what’s new as well as what’s coming up next,” said Dennis Ho, MD, Malaysia Region, Sime Darby Motors Division.

Vehicles on show include the just launched Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the BMW S1000 RR superbike, MINI Cooper S Countryman, BMW Z4, Ford Fiesta, new Ford Ranger, upcoming Hyundai Veloster, Range Rover, the new Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and a GT3 Racing Cup car.

There will be activities and contests in most of the booths, with prizes of course. Alfa has a “history quiz” while Auto Bavaria has a Tyre Changing Competition and Spin the Wheel, as well as merchandise promotions. Over at Ford, a Voice Control game and “How Many People Can You Fit Into the all-new Ford Ranger” will entertain guests. The Hyundai Veloster HD challenge is an iPad challenge.

Tickets to Super GT 2012 is sold at RM100 a piece, which gives access to the grandstand and pit walkabout area. Upon purchase, a Super GT 2012 Touch ‘n Go card will be given to the visitor. Top ups or credit cards are required to make transactions, which will all be cashless.

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It’s the fastest MINI ever built, and production is to be limited to just 2,000 examples – the new John Cooper Works GP, which made its debut at the MINI United festival earlier in the week, is set to replace the R53 JCW GP as king of the particular hill when it arrives early next year.

The car is currently completing a programme of testing in preparation for series production, part of which has involved setting an 8 minute 23 seconds lap of the Nürburgring, besting the lap time set by its 2006 predecessor by almost 19 seconds.

There’s no mention of output power as yet, but the promise is surely a noticeable jump in power from the 218 hp as seen in the previous outing. Performance kit for this one includes a full-adjustable race suspension and specially developed racing tyres, as well as a race-spec braking system. And yes, the rear seats have again been removed.

Not just to add flair and presence but also offer improvements on the aero front are bespoke bits, and these are large front and rear aprons, striking side skirts, a roof spoiler as well as a newly-developed rear diffuser to optimise airflow around the underbody.

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