New 2014 MINI – Details revealed ahead of debut in November

The 2014 MINI – the third generation of the BMW MINI – will arrive in November, ahead of which we have full technical specs.

[nggallery id=1587 template=customlinks]

We already have a pretty good idea how the new MIN I for 2014 will look thanks to the MINI Vision Concept (pictured above) and we know it will be revealed on 18th November. And now we know what will be going on under the skin.

Engines will include a pair of 1.5 litre 3-cylinder options – a petrol with 134bhp and a diesel with 114bhp – a new 2.0 litre petrol for the Cooper S with 189bhp and a fettled version for the JCW with 220bhp. Despite more power on offer, the new MINIs will be more economical thanks to less weight than the current MINI.

As well as new engines, the new MINI will get new transmissions too with the manual option getting a gear sensor to match engine speed when changing gear and the auto ‘box coming with stop-start and input from the SatNav to make sure the car’s in the right gear for the road and terrain.

MINI has also updated the chassis with adaptive dampers on offer with two settings – Sport and Comfort – so the MINI can be set up for a blast or a cruise at the flick of a switch.

There’s still multi-link suspension at the back, although it’s been heavily reworked, with a wider track all round, variable resistance electric power steering and active rotational damping to keep torque steer in check.

It all sounds very grown-up for a MINI. Let’s hope it doesn’t take away the DNA of the original completely and turn the new MINI in to a re-bodied BMW.