300 hp MINI JCW Countryman and Clubman – Transmission Details
Earlier this week we told you about MINIs plans to bring a 300 hp Mini Countryman and Clubman to market in 2019. Sources are now pointing to these cars as being both the fastest MINIs ever and automatic only. Based on these same sources, we believed that the revised JCW Countryman and Clubman will come standard with Aisin’s 8 speed and will not be available with a manual tradition – breaking a long-held manual tradition with the JCW sub-brand.
300 hp MINI Countryman and Clubman – Why Automatic Only?
Why would MINI go auto only on its fastest product ever? It likely has a lot to do with take-rates, development costs and performance. The new 300 hp MINI JCW Countryman and Clubman will come standard with a heavily revised version of All4 intelligent all-wheel drive technology (identical to BMW’s xDrive). The precision of engineering that will go into that combination will also allow for an all new launch control that should accelerate these MINIs from 0-60 in under 5 seconds. Further MINI plans a front axle differential featuring Torsen-based limited slip capabilities with up to a 39% lock-up. As much as we’d love to see a manual, the cost of engineering it to work seamlessly with all of these systems is likely prohibitive considering the rather small take-rates.
The automatic will be MINI’s quickest shifting yet and will feature steering wheel shift paddles, M Performance specific tuning, additional transmission cooling and updated gear ratios.
<p>As it should be. Manual transmissions should be retired. They have about as much use in 2018/19 as a manual engine crank and drum brakes.</p>
<p>Auto is for lazy pussies…</p>
<p>Auto is quicker and better. Try again.</p>
<p>Ooooh like 2/10th of sec quicker, just laziness…</p>
<p>1/1000th is all it takes to win. Plus, those of us with testicles find driving manual uncomfortable. Pedals are too close and squishes our nuts. And who wants something phallic in their hand all the time?</p>
<p>Manual transmissions have about as much use in 2018/19 as vinyl records. Oh, wait. Never mind.</p>
<p>To me, it’s a pretty big disappointment regardless of how good the auto is, but I understand the business case. Even the next gen M3/M4 will have a manual……..at least for a little while until it eventually goes away.</p>
<p>You lost me at Auto….</p>