The 2014 MINI hardtop made its debut at the 2013 LA Auto Show with new engines, new safety features and improved connectivity and technology.
Launching in March of 2014, the 2014 MINI Cooper will have a 3-cylinder or 4-cylinder engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology and direct injection. It will be available as either a 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed automatic in all engine variants.
The 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine in the base 2015 MINI Cooper gets a 13 HP increase to 134 HP with 162 lb-ft of torque. It’ll do 0-60 MPH in 7.4 seconds with a manual transmission with a top speed of 130 MPH.
The 2014 MINI Cooper S gets a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 189 HP and 207 lb-ft of torque. When equipped with a manual transmission, it can do 0-60 MPH in 6.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 146 MPH.
There’s also a new drive mode selector that allows the choice of Green, Mid or Sporty modes. The choice will determine just how sporty a drive you’ll experience as well as affecting the MINI’s fuel efficiency. MINI has not disclosed MPG ratings or estimates at the time of this writing, but with decreased overall curb weight and updated powerplants – efficiency should go up over the outgoing model.
Outside, the 2014 MINI now has available LED headlamps with optional adaptive light distribution. This feature helps ensure the best possible road illumination depending on the road surface.
The exterior dimensions of the 2014 MINI have grown to provide a more spacious and comfortable ride. It’s 4.5″ longer, 1.7″ wider and .3″ higher than the outgoing model. The wheelbase has also grown by 1.1″ and the track width has increased 1.7″ in the front and 1.3″ in the rear to help improve handling.
This means the 2014 MINI will have more room inside, too, with increased adjustability in the front seats which are longer by .9″ inches. There’s also more shoulder room and an additional 3 cubic feet of luggage space.
Interior displays have also been improved with a newly designed instrument cluster on the steering column displaying road speed, engine speed and fuel level. There’s also an extendible Head-Up Display designed to keep your eyes more focused on the road and a Driver Assistance option with camera based cruise control and distance control to further enhance the safety of the 2014 MINI.
Technology features also feature prominently on the list of improvements with MINI connected offering smartphone integration, now available for Android in addition to iPhone with plans for more available apps in the near future.
Check out this insider TFLcar video of the 2014 MINI Hardtop from the 2013 LA Auto Show:
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
