MINI Hatch facelift launched in Malaysia – Cooper S 3 Door and 5 Door, JCW 3 Door; RM227k to RM283k

MINI Hatch facelift launched in Malaysia – Cooper S 3 Door and 5 Door, JCW 3 Door; RM227k to RM283k

Four years on from its debut, the third-generation MINI Hatch has been given a facelift, which has just been launched in Malaysia. As before, the fashionable supermini is available in two bodystyles, the F56 3 Door and the F55 5 Door, with numerous detail changes on both.

The 3 Door and 5 Door are available in Cooper S form, with the 3 Door also being offered in the most powerful John Cooper Works variant. The Cooper S 3 Door is priced at RM226,888, while the 5 Door version retails at RM236,888. The JCW, meanwhile, costs RM283,888. All prices are on-the-road without insurance or GST, inclusive of a four-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and a four-year/60,000 km free service package.

The big news is under the bonnet, where you’ll now find a new 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine from the BMW Group. It benefits from numerous upgrades to the engine itself, the turbocharger, engine electronics, oil supply, intake air ducting, cooling and exhaust. For instance, the direct injection system now delivers fuel at a higher pressure, while the turbo fins are made of a more heat-resistant material. The engine cover is also now made from carbon fibre, making it 13% lighter than before.

All this means that while outputs on the Cooper S remain identical at 192 hp and 280 Nm of torque, the new mill achieves a five percent improvement in fuel consumption, rated at 5.5 and 5.6 litres per 100 km for the 3 Door and 5 Door respectively. On the JCW, the engine is boosted to 231 hp and 320 Nm, and has a fuel consumption figure of 6.0 litres per 100 km.

As for performance, the 3 Door goes from zero to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, while the 5 Door completes the same sprint a tenth slower at 6.8 seconds; both will hit 235 km/h. The JCW, on the other hand, blitzes its way to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds before reaching a top speed of 246 km/h.

Even bigger news is that the old six-speed automatic gearbox has been ditched in favour of a new seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission on the Cooper S, which is claimed to provide smoother, faster shifts with zero interruption. The JCW instead gets an eight-speed torque converter automatic.

Both sports transmissions will now allow the car to coast in the default Mid drive mode, instead of only in the most economical Green mode. They are operated using a new BMW-style electronic gearlever and paddle shifters on the standard-fit JCW multifunction steering wheel.

Very few changes can be found on the outside, with the only discernible difference (apart from the flatter MINI badges) being the new light units. The headlights, which are still bi-LED, get redesigned LED daytime running lights – which also function as indicators – that form a full ring around the new projectors. But it’s the intricate Union Jack full-LED tail lights that really steal the show.

The Cooper S 5 Door goes one further with the fitment of the John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit that consists of an angrier front bumper with a protruding centre air intake, deeper side skirts, a more aggressive rear diffuser design and a larger tailgate spoiler. As for wheels, the 3 Door comes with 17-inch Cosmos Spoke alloy wheels, while the 5 Door gains JCW Track Spoke rollers – both are finished in black.

The JCW gets the same exterior kit as the 5 Door, plus an even bigger rear spoiler, piano black instead of chrome exterior trim and unique side scuttles on the front fenders. It rolls on 18-inch JCW Cup Spoke alloys hiding larger JCW brakes with red brake callipers, and linked to retuned suspension with adaptive dampers.

On the inside, the Cooper S 3 Door receive the new MINI Yours Illuminated Cockpit, which consists of trim panels featuring stylised Union Jack graphics, lit up in 12 available colours. The 5 Door makes do with Black Chequered trim, but the seats on both models are upholstered in Cross Punch Carbon Black leather.

The JCW stands out with bespoke sports seats upholstered in Carbon Black leather and Dinamica microfibre, as well as Glowing Red interior trim, JCW-badged side sill plates (also fitted on the Cooper S 5 Door) and stainless steel pedals. Like the Cooper S 3 Door, it also gets the MINI Yours Illuminated Cockpit.

Also fitted on both the Cooper S 3 Door and 5 Door is a revised MINI Visual Boost infotainment system, now with a touchscreen – albeit still the smaller unit measuring 6.5 inches, rather than the 8.8-inch item fitted to the JCW. The latter also receives a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, Qi wireless smartphone charging and a panoramic sliding sunroof.

Other standard features include MINI Logo Projection puddle lights, Comfort Access keyless entry, a toggle switch engine starter, auto lights and wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, reverse sensors and a reverse camera. Safety-wise, all models come with six airbags and Dynamic Stability Control with an electronic differential lock, but none are offered with autonomous emergency braking.

The colour palette includes Chilli Red and Pepper White across the range, with the Cooper S also available in White Silver, British Racing Green and the new Starlight Blue. The 5 Door version receives an exclusive Emerald Grey, while the 3 Door gets Thunder Grey and the also-new Solaris Orange.

Moving over to the JCW, the high-performance model is offered in Rebel Green and Midnight Black as its exclusive hues. The Cooper S 3 Door and 5 Door is available with a black or white roof, door mirror caps and sports stripes, while the JCW has them in either black or red.

Interestingly, MINI Malaysia is introducing MINI Yours Customised Accessories for the first time in South East Asia. The service offers retrofitted accessories like the side scuttles, the dash fascia, illuminated door sills and door projectors all personalised to the owners preferences. Buyers can design their accessories at www.yours-customised.mini.

Read our review of the facelifted MINI Hatch from Mallorca, Spain here, and browse full specifications and equipment of the 3 Door and 5 Door at CarBase.my

GALLERY: F56 MINI Cooper S 3 Door LCI


GALLERY: F55 MINI Cooper S 5 Door LCI
GALLERY: F55 MINI John Cooper Works 3 Door LCI

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • digidigi on Jul 13, 2018 at 12:50 pm

    no autonomous breaking, out! This is the basic in 2018, myvi have it

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 9
    • topkek on Jul 14, 2018 at 10:34 am

      see who onwns Mini. GLC Sime Darby la. paham paham

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
      • Albert's Fake News Pvt Ltd on Jul 15, 2018 at 8:40 pm

        According to MINI website, their owner is BMW. So paham paham apa?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Think harder on Jul 15, 2018 at 10:22 am

      Do not insult the heritage MINI with the lowest inferior low class myvi. MINI dimension is around same with myvi but interior is much smaller, why, because the panels are thick and fill with life saving materials and insulation. Myvi is a tin and drivers always pass away in real accident because it tend to fly or flip easy. Read all over the news. No matter what u throw into myvi, eventually u are just shouting LOW to others about status. MINI is a wants and myvi is a needs. U dont tend to want alot frm wants category. Its just for complimenting your success. You compare needs vs needs faggot.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • Eternalgl0ry on Jul 13, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    283k for jcw. Seriously?

    I might as well buy A45 with that 10% difference

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
    • Rajoo Selvam on Jul 13, 2018 at 10:39 pm

      I can buy a brand new BMW 530e after discounts. Why should I buy this small tiny kuci Mini?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 4
    • Mercedes malaysia not even can settle the car aligment issue, I m owner of c class, very lucky sold it out fast.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • How is this vs golf gti?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • seancorr (Member) on Jul 13, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    Holy macaroni the JCW is now 283k before GST. The pre facelift was retailing at 271k before GST!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
    • Whoever thought that w/o GST prices will be cheaper is really fooling themselves and others.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • johnissohai on Jul 13, 2018 at 2:59 pm

    myvi better..got resale value

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 8
  • BowArrow(Mr.SFA) on Jul 14, 2018 at 11:38 am

    Mini-Hatch
    SPIED
    SPYSHOTS
    TEASED
    LAUNCHED
    QUICK LOOK
    FIRST LOOK
    FIRST DRIVE
    DRIVEN
    INITIAL REVIEW
    REVIEWED
    VS PRE FACELIFT
    REVISITED
    1 YEAR LATER VS PRE FACELIFT(WORTH IT?)

    Paultan.org you can thank me later :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • Think harder on Jul 15, 2018 at 10:25 am

      Whinning babys who think others more capable ppl stupid of this or that. But cant even afford what that supposed stupid persons luxury. Now whos more stupid here?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required