Exclusive: MINI Has No Plans to Offer AWD on the F56 Hatch
“At the moment we don’t see a need.” That was the answer that Oliver Friedman, head of MINI product worldwide, gave to me when I asked him about all-wheel drive in the new MINI hatch. He went on to say that MINI will not offer all-wheel drive in any of its smaller platform lineup.
It’s a bit of a surprise, as we had expected AWD to show up potentially on the F55 five door hatch when it debuts late next year. Furthermore, an all-wheel drive F56 could be a great basis for a JCW product. So where can we expect AWD? The next Clubman is a good bet, as it will grow in size off the smaller MINI footprint into a car more comparable to the Countryman of today. Then of course there’s the successor to the Countryman itself, and perhaps an even larger vehicle on the horizon.
What about JCW, though? We’ve been given some hints that it will be plenty special without AWD. In fact, if you go back to our conversations with then MINI Head of Marketing, Kay Segler, it was evident that MINI wanted to stay true to its heritage in offering a high performance front wheel drive car as its halo product.
Where does this land in the MINI community? Were you hoping for AWD across the range? Let us hear from you in the comments.
<p>Anyone else find it very ironic how there is now a “small car segment” within MINI?</p>
<p>The only good thing about this size creep is that there will eventually be room at the bottom for a real MINI, aka city car, aka Rocketman.</p>
<p>Just like with what VW did with the Golf, when it outgrew its original segment, they made the Polo.</p>
<p>Maybe we will get a AWD hatch once it gets as large as the current Clubman ;-)</p>
<p>I think that’s likely correct but not for another 6-8 years.</p>
<p>HAHA. You’re right!</p>
<p>Disappointing. Not in the market right now anyway, but maybe they will change their mind in two years for the new JCW. Unless MINI offers AWD or something more compelling for the hatch than my current R56 JCW, my next car may be RWD based.</p>
<p>Adding more options, gizmos, adjustable this and that only add to the profit margins and final cost of the car without adding huge benefits. Can’t imagine what a loaded future JCW might go for. Give me AWD JCW, lots more power and manual adjustable suspension please :-)</p>
<p>AWD should only be avalaible on the ugly Countryman/Paceman</p>
<p>I’m glad. I really don’t understand why everyone wants the additional weight off AWD. The MINI performs wonderfully as a front wheel drive car. My car is pushing a lot of power and the FWD doesn’t hinder it at all. The only reason I’d be interested in AWD would be to disable the FWD aspect of it and make it RWD. A RWD JCW GP would be approaching driving nirvana.</p>
<p>With the current weight distribution, you wouldn’t get much traction with a RWD MINI</p>
<p>I had a lot of MINI drivers tell me that FWD doesn’t hinder the MINI at all in the snow (we tend to get a fair bit in Detroit), when I expressed concern about trading my Subaru for a Clubman. There isn’t the slightest comparison between FWD and AWD when it comes to snow traction, and the fun of being able to kick the back end out without being at the bleeding edge of the envelope never ceases to elicit a giggle. It’s also hard to notice the weight on numbers alone, when you have that many more wheels pulling the car…</p>
<p><a href="http://jalopnik.com/lets-settle-the-winter-tires-vs-all-wheel-drive-debat-1462180324" rel="nofollow ugc">http://jalopnik.com/lets-settle-the-winter-tires-vs-all-wheel-drive-debat-1462180324</a></p>
<p>Driving in the snow is about talent and tires. If you have summer tires or aren’t much of a driver you shouldn’t be driving in the snow anyway. My JCW is a truck with winter tires in the snow. My commute is about an hour each way. I’ve pulled out of the garage and had so much snow that the bottom of my bumper was plowing as I drove. I passed many AWD germans facing the wrong way on the highway as I puttered home without a problem.</p>
<p>With skill and tires, there’s still not the slightest comparison in the snow between my Clubbie S and my Impreza RS. Knowing that you need good tires is common sense, but actually driving an AWD car in the snow is life changingly different from FWD. My Impreza had no traction control, and even with all season tires it out accellerated (mind, with no turbo and 25 less HP) and out maneuvered (both in terms of control in turning and the effecacy of engine braking) what my Clubbie is capable of. It’s just the reality of AWD vs FWD, and even that article you linked treats it as a common sense thing, when after they mention the best performance was AWD with snow tires they say, “Not surprising.”</p>
<p>MINI does pretty well as far as FWD cars go in the snow (if I’m honest, my VW was a bit better), but you can’t expect to be able to get out and get moving in them, because they don’t have 4 wheels pulling and the traction nanny makes sure you don’t use much throttle (which in an S is pretty mandatory, since even with snow tires the slightest hint of throttle spins your wheels on snow). I was able to save myself from at least a few accidents through the years I owned my Subaru by being able to get out of some sliding SUVs way, or get aroud a corner and moving quickly enough to not be an obstruction if I didn’t leave a ton of room. What’s more, the extra control over the rear of the vehicle saved me from sliding clean off a mountain when I hit a patch of black ice crossing the rockies one January.</p>
<p>Is it easier to end up facing backwards if you’re careless with the throttle? Absolutely. You don’t have on-throttle oversteer in 99% of cases in a FWD car. I agree whole heartedly, the skill of those “AWD germans” you passed didn’t match up with the situation they were in, but I’m not talking about driving skill. I’m talking about the realities of AWD vs. FWD in snow.</p>
<p>I will second this. Snow tires in the snow is the first thing you need. However if you live in an area that regularly gets serious snow then AWD is the ultimate. And AWD with snow tires is unstoppable.</p>
<p>For me FWD is the last thing I want in snow if I’m trying to have fun – I’ll always prefer RWD. However for most FWD and AWD is by far safer.</p>
<p>Totally agree. FWD in the snow is a buzz kill even with good snow tires. You really get into the limit of what the front tires can do – especially when starting from a stand still and making a turn. You can’t get that back end to swing around in that situation. AWD JCW with snow tires would be awesome despite the relatively low ground clearance.</p>
<p>If I had the need and cash for a second car the WRX/STI are one of my favorites (Audi RS6 even better if it were sale over here!).</p>
<p>Back to the front grill area….all of the photos depicted so far for the F56 show it with a wide Euro license tag on that black strip. For those of us in the states lucky enough to live in a state that doesn’t have a front license tag, may reveal a much cleaner look to that front grill area. The black metal ‘bumper’ would tend to blend in with the rest of the grill area. I’m trying to imagine that look. Here in Fl, there is no front tag…….</p>
<p>Got this pic from <a href="http://cars.aol.co.uk/car-makes/mini/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://cars.aol.co.uk/car-makes/mini/</a> in the video “Next generation Mini unveiled at Plant Oxford.”</p>
<p>The new Ford Escort has almost the same grill as the MINI Cooper.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.carnewschina.com/2013/11/27/new-ford-escort-will-be-called-yachite-in-chinese/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.carnewschina.com/2013/11/27/new-ford-escort-will-be-called-yachite-in-chinese/</a></p>
<p>My concern with no AWD comes in when you have JCW products that reach into the mid $40K range. At that price range the FWD label becomes a liability especially in the eyes of the enthusiast.</p>
<p>When I was thinking about how the front grill would look without the long license Euro tag (or any US tag for that matter), I was thinking about the F56 S with its black beehive grill which would blend with the black ‘bumper’. That base F56 with the horizontal ‘chrome’ slats doesn’t blend with the ‘bumper’ at all…tag or no tag……</p>
<p>Like this…</p>
<p>Unfortunate. There is only so much HP the front wheels can deliver.</p>
<p>Mini did a race series over here in China through the dealerships this summer. We used automatic JCW cars. It rained the last day of the race and the track was on concrete. There were only two options for the car. Either it wouldn’t go at all when you pushed the gas pedal of the front wheels spun. You could see what a huge difference AWD would make for any serious driving. Not just snow.</p>
<p>Yup, good point. That reminds me when Audi was racing their A4 Quattro in the mid-late 90’s. BMW got the rules changed because the AWD Quattro, even on dry asphalt, was virtually unbeatable on the track. The only way the 3 series could stay competitive was if they forced Audi to use only the FWD variants, which is what the rule change did.</p>
<p>After the first race I really wanted to get a JCW. All the races were in automatics. MINI doesn’t sell manuals in China. After the next event the car felt closer in power to my little Suzuki Swift I have here that is 103 hp. I think I could have gotten around the track faster with half the horse power in a manual. AWD would make a huge difference in rain. How long until the new version of the Countryman comes out with the new engines?</p>
<p>I think 2015 at the earliest, and I’ve seen 2016-2017 as dates for the R60-61. The R61 isn’t even a year old yet. Came to the US in Feb 2013. I cannot imagine doing much to it, but who knows?</p>
<p>Hello there HH, I recognize you from a different forum. The next Countryman (F60) isn’t due until 2015, though who knows when it will arrive in China.
That said, the Cooper Countryman and Paceman are now available here in ALL4 guise and interestingly enough thesecome with the 1.6 turbo (N18B16A). These are officially rated at 122hp (only 2hp more than the non-ALL4 Cooper) however from what I can tell it is physically the same as the engine in the S, but detuned. It’s probably similar to how the 98hp One uses the same engine as the 120hp Cooper but is restricted in the engine management software. A simple engine tune could probably bring it up to S levels of performance or beyond.</p>
<p>AWD in something the size of the current Clubman or smaller was the only reason I’d buy a MINI again, other than a used R53 for a track toy. Shame. Guess I’m getting a Subaru or an Evo…</p>
<p>MINI offer 2 million other options – why not the 4WD option seeing the platform is engineered for it? I’m hoping my next MINI will be either an F56 or the new clubman if it’s not too big – and I’ll definitely go for 4WD if it’s available.</p>
<p>Living in California, I see zero need for an AWD here.</p>
<p>You live in LA or San Francisco? If you don’t drive hard go to the snow often or drive hard in the rain. Yeah you don’t need it. I drive in the snow and on ice in California 4 times a week. It does ok but not great. I can drive my honda sub 55 on the snow and the mini 35-40. It makes a difference.</p>
<p>Same here, SoCal. I have an Audi Quattro but after moving here, I don’t see much need for me personally. However, if you like driving really aggressively, or will be visiting the mountains or doing some rally driving, AWD is essential. FOr me though, wasn’t worth the extra money or weight, so I checked the FWD box when I ordered.</p>
<p>I am soooooooooooo glad that they finally put the nail in the coffin on this early. I have been receiving these questions quite a bit up here in the northeast and honestly it is completely unnecessary on this car. Its almost like people do not know snow tires exist or they don’t want to bother with the “inconvenience” of changing wheels and tires for a few months out of the year. Snow tires are the safest way to motor regardless of drive type. It gets even better. MINI finally has All wheel drive on the Countryman and Paceman and people actually ask me “Is your All Wheel Drive Good in snow?” This question never makes sense to me. Am I crazy???</p>
<p>Mark, you say “i have been receiving these questions quite a bit’ so there is definitely interest right? who cares why people are interested and why they think they need AWD. If there is a market for it, I think MIni should at least offer it as an order option. Maybe on the S, and/or the JCW with more horsepower. I’ve owned many cars in the last 10 years, FWD, RWD & AWD, they all have there advantages, but it’s hard to beat the AWD for traction in almost any condition. A sub 2900lb car, Mini’s size, with AWD and decent HP would be awesome to drive. :-)</p>
<p>I guess when it comes to performance I don’t see AWD as the end all, be all solution. I especially do not see it as the end all, be all for the people that buy because they perceive it as “safer.” Too many people take AWD for granted and drive off the lot of their respective Audi, Subaru, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, you “Name it” dealership with a car equipped with a Sport package or an aggressive summer tire and then curse that manufacturer for their AWD system being inferior. Or they are fooled by marketing. Audi and Subaru really started this “Safer AWD” marketing craze and while it will never stop I will always be truthful and inform people its not the drive type, its what you do with it. Tires are even more important that what drive wheels your car is using. I feel AWD is a waste of weight and unnecessary for the Hardtop and I will not change my opinion.</p>
<p>Anyone who disses AWD by saying it’s not going to help is delusional. It absolutely is going to help in any instance where you need more traction whether that is in the snow, rain, or even autocrossing on dry pavement with racing tires. There is only so much traction the front tires can provide and it has to divide that traction between pulling AND turning. Give some power to the back wheels and that is less pulling traction the front tires have to provide – letting them do more on the turning portion.</p>
<p>You say the MINI doesn’t have enough power to bring that into play? While I disagree with that even at stock power, many of us mod our engines to push MUCH more than factory power. In my modded 2009 JCW I can spin the front tires in THIRD gear. AWD would drop my 0-60 time tremendously not to mention autocross lap times.</p>
<p>Not everyone who drives a MINI uses it only to go grocery shopping even if that is the trend.</p>
<p>That’s really disappointing to here. I’ve been waiting for a small lightweight AWD since I purchased my WRX back in 2010. At that time I owned a 370Z, Mini JCW and the WRX. I guess you could say that I wanted to try all platforms. 🙂 Each car was fun in it’s own way. I kept thinking to my self, if I could get the acceleration of the 370Z, the quick nimble handling of the JCW Mini, and the AWD (any condition) traction of the WRX I would have the perfect car. Ultimately a sub 2900lb car with AWD and 260ish horsepower in the size of a Mini would absolutely be a thrill to drive!!</p>
<p>Mini doesn’t see a need for this??? Please, it they built a JCW with an AWD option and those specs, they would capture a really large section of the market. Heck I would get rid of my GT500 for a car like that. I bet Mini never even thought a GT500 perspective buyer would cross-shop a Mini. Ever hear of a car enthusiast Mini? Mini, you need to build a halo car, the new GP is cool, but you need to turn it up a notch for $40K
2014 I’m considering 4 cars too purchase. 2015 Mustang GT, Subaru WRX/STi, C7 Corvette or a JCW Mini. All depending on specs, performance test, and reviews.
Pretty Please, with sugar on top, offer an AWD option in the JCW and give it enough power to hold it’s own in a straight line to some of these other cars!! I know, I know, Mini handles like a go-cart, it doesn’t need to go fast in a straight line, but 90% of the time were driving in a straight line ???? 🙂 5.0-5.3sec 0-60 would be a good start 🙂 and then tuning could take care of the rest.</p>
<p>I have been on the configurator and and JCW is close to $40,000 or over by the time you option it up. You get over $40,000 and you have to start looking at other cars too. Bmw 1, I even started considering the porsche cayman. The car needs to be stepped up for the price.</p>
<p>Living in Alaska, it would be nice to have the option for an AWD hatch. In fact, the only reason Alaska has a MINI dealer at all is because the All4 on the Countryman/Paceman opened the market up here…</p>
<p>THIS JUST IN: Motoringfile is proud to bring you the EXCLUSIVE breaking news that the previous exclusive news we brought you was just some bullshit that Gabe made up.</p>
<p>Go back and read the quotes from MINI execs not just hear but elsewhere from the past several years. They publically alluded to it more than once and I was told in pretty certain terms on a couple of occasions.</p>
<p>And I can remember two specific instances when I was in the room with people from MINI talking about how AWD might come to the F56 hatch.</p>
<p>Not just hear.</p>
<p>just hear.</p>
<p>hear.</p>
<p>hear hear hear</p>
<p>So very disappointing. AWD is mandatory when I replace my R56 JCW – that’s literally the only thing missing. The 5-door would have been spot on; JCW trim, 6-spd, AWD and grins for miles. This is honestly a travesty. Hopefully the Countryman will get a refresh with the new engines and some new interior work in the interim and I’ll have something to compare against the new A3.</p>
<p>So very disappointing. AWD is mandatory when I replace my R56 JCW – that’s literally the only thing missing. The 5-door would have been spot on; JCW trim, 6-spd, AWD and grins for miles. This is honestly a travesty. Hopefully the Countryman will get a refresh with the new engines and some new interior work in the interim and I’ll have something to compare against the new A3.</p>
<p>So very disappointing. AWD is mandatory when I replace my R56 JCW – that’s literally the only thing missing. The 5-door would have been spot on; JCW trim, 6-spd, AWD and grins for miles. This is honestly a travesty. Hopefully the Countryman will get a refresh with the new engines and some new interior work in the interim and I’ll have something to compare against the new A3.</p>
<p>So very disappointing. AWD is mandatory when I replace my R56 JCW – that’s literally the only thing missing. The 5-door would have been spot on; JCW trim, 6-spd, AWD and grins for miles. This is honestly a travesty. Hopefully the Countryman will get a refresh with the new engines and some new interior work in the interim and I’ll have something to compare against the new A3.</p>
<p>So very disappointing. AWD is mandatory when I replace my R56 JCW – that’s literally the only thing missing. The 5-door would have been spot on; JCW trim, 6-spd, AWD and grins for miles. This is honestly a travesty. Hopefully the Countryman will get a refresh with the new engines and some new interior work in the interim and I’ll have something to compare against the new A3.</p>