Pricing: 2011 Mini Countryman starts at $22,350

Mini has announced pricing for the upcoming Countryman, a four-door, four-seat model that is the largest, tallest, and roomiest Mini yet. Due in showrooms early next year, base models will start at $22,350, or $500 more than the Mini Clubman, and Mini says a well-equipped model with AWD will start at less than $30,000.
 
In addition to being larger, the Countryman has a more rugged, SUV-like appearance than other Mini models, and it will be available with all-wheel drive. The Countryman  is targeted at buyers fond of the brand's distinctive look and style, but who are in need of more room and foul weather capability. With a wheelbase six inches longer than other Mini models, the back seat is suitable for adults, and rear seats fold down for more cargo room.

NHTSA opens up defect investigations on Honda and Mini

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened up investigations on the 2007-2008 Honda Fit and the 2004-2005 Mini Cooper, Cooper S, and the 2005 Mini Cooper convertible.

NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) has received eight complaints from Honda Fit owners that the low beam headlights have stopped working. Some report replacing the wiring harness connector and headlight switch to fix the problem.

The ODI has also received 54 complaints about the Mini Cooper alleging the loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle. If the power assist stops working, more force is needed to steer the vehicle and drivers have reported difficulty trying to control the vehicle. A failure of the power steering pump may be the cause of the problem.

Here come the electric cars: Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and more

Electric cars, which have grown in fits and starts since the energy crises of the 1970s, make a big splash for 2011. By the end of the year, General Motors will begin selling the Chevrolet Volt, and Nissan will begin selling its Leaf all-electric car.

Both cars are the next step from existing hybrid technology first introduced a decade ago. The Nissan Leaf is a pure electric vehicle that Nissan says will have a 100-mile range between charges. The Chevrolet Volt is designed to run mainly on electricity, but has a gas engine as well. Once the gas engine comes on you can drive it more or less like an ordinary car, and go as far as you want.

The two cars are the first of a wave of electric cars in 2011 and 2012 from major automakers including Ford, Mitsubishi, and Toyota, and several new manufacturers from California, China, and elsewhere. Plug in hybrids such as the Volt are designed to address the “range anxiety” that worry’s those considering electric cars. Limited range has always been the bane of electric-car drivers. Most battery-electric cars can go a maximum of 100 miles before they need to be recharged. And recharging can take hours.

Electric cars, which have grown in fits and starts since the energy crises of the 1970s, make a big splash for 2011. By the end of the year, General Motors will begin selling the Chevrolet Volt, and Nissan will begin selling its Leaf all-electric car.

Both cars are the next step from existing hybrid technology first introduced a decade ago. The Nissan Leaf is a pure electric vehicle that Nissan says will have a 100-mile range between charges. The Chevrolet Volt is designed to run mainly on electricity, but has a gas engine as well. Once the gas engine comes on you can drive it more or less like an ordinary car, and go as far as you want.

The two cars are the first of a wave of electric cars in 2011 and 2012 from major automakers including Ford, Mitsubishi, and Toyota, and several new manufacturers from California, China, and elsewhere. Plug in hybrids such as the Volt are designed to address the “range anxiety” that worry’s those considering electric cars. Limited range has always been the bane of electric-car drivers. Most battery-electric cars can go a maximum of 100 miles before they need to be recharged. And recharging can take hours.

What country builds the most, recommended cars?

The approaching July 4th holiday, and ongoing FIFA World Cup, have made this is a time for national pride and competition. Inspired, our Consumer Reports Auto Price Services studied the latest incentives and produced a list of the best deals on American-made cars. (See our Best Deals on all cars.) In doing this seasonal analysis, we found that among 118 models on the market this month made in the United States, 35 percent are Consumer Reports recommended. This raised the question of how other countries compare.

We identified 293 mainstream models sold in the United States, and they come from factories located in 15 nations. On average, Consumer Reports recommends 37.4 percent of the models sold here—just more than the current recommended percentage of U.S.-built models. To be recommended, vehicles must perform well in our road tests, have average or better reliability, and perform adequately in government or insurance industry crash tests.

Test Complete: 2010 Mini Cooper S convertible

Spring is here and the time is right to put the top down. And glancing around the parking lot at our Auto Test Center, one of our favorite drop-top candidates is the 2010 Mini Cooper S. What's so special about this model isn't just the extraordinary handling and agility, but the 172-hp, 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers quick acceleration and a sporty soundtrack, all the while remaining fuel efficient.

Do we like driving the Mini? You betcha.

However, even in the fun world of Mini Cooper, the car has some drawbacks. For example, many of the controls are overly complicated. The rear seat clearly represents the car's namesake. Rear visibility with the top up is like trying to watch a 3-D movie without the special glasses, and the ride produces motions that are short, quick, and abrupt.

2010 New York auto show: Video previews of 2011 models

The New York auto show press days are over and the show is open to the public until Sunday, April 11th (view hours and admission prices). Visitors to the Jacob. K. Javits Center can see first hand the newest production models heading to showrooms and check out the future concepts. But if your plans don’t include a trip to New York City, our video previews put together with Consumer Reports Television (CRTV) and automotive experts provide highlights of the most significant models unveiled.

Take a tour of the videos below and also see our full show coverage for previews and photos. For more highlights from the event, including pictures from the unveilings, and to keep up with ongoing news, follow our @CRcars Twitter account.

Revealed: 2011 Mini Countryman

Mini is expanding its lineup to four models with the introduction of the Mini Countryman crossover, previewed at the recent Detroit auto show in Beachcomber guise.

The production-bound Countryman translates the familiar Cooper and Clubman styling to a wee SUV, with a more vertical grille, greater ground clearance, and tougher appearance. It features four regular doors and a conventional rear hatch—unlike the Clubman, which only has a reversed-hinged door on the passenger side.

The Countryman is a four seater, with a three-person second-row bench available at no additional cost. The seating position is slightly higher than a standard Mini Cooper, and it may aid in access and visibility. Mini describes the interior as “typical of the brand,” suggesting snug quarters and quirky controls. The Countryman will have center rail that extends from the front to rear, which allows for flexible integration of storage, cup holders, and portable audio connections. The rear seats can move front and back or be split 60/40 increasing cargo capacity from 12.2 to 41 cubic feet. A large panorama glass roof is available, which would no doubt add a sense of space.

2009 Frankfurt Motor Show: Mini Cooper Coupe and Roadster concepts

One of the highlights of the Frankfurt Motor Show is Mini Cooper’s unveiling of coupe and roadster concepts. OK, so that’s two highlights. Either way, these pocket-sized two-seaters are headed for production and eventual sale in the United States, according to corporate parent BMW. The Frankfurt festivities were staged as part of the 50th birthday celebrations for the original Mini, one of the cleverest mergers of fun and frugality in automotive history.

These two additions are brand extensions of the Mini Cooper line, helping to fill out a family that already includes the existing hatchback, cabriolet, and the Clubman wagon. A crossover is expected soon, as well. It’s a pretty clever strategy, since the Mini’s iconic design seems to have no end of appeal. Consider, too, that this gives BMW a channel to market premium small cars to a population that is in no position to buy a new, increasingly pricey BMW this year… or maybe ever.

The coupe and roadster look a little stubby, but they are around the same size as a regular Mini, admittedly with a slightly lower roofline. Disposing of the rear seats makes for more luggage (or roof-stowage) space. Front-passenger leg- and head room was already commodious. The show cars were equipped with the Mini’s largest 1.6-liter turbo engine offering, but we expect the production model will also offer the thriftier normally aspirated engines, as well. 

See our New Car Preview site for more photos of the Mini coupe and roadster, plus check out other new cars heading to market.

 —Gordon Hard

Auto news highlights – June 23, 2009

2010 Buick LaCrosse gets four-cylinder engine
Times are a changing. A direct-injection four-cylinder engine will join a 255-hp, 3.0-liter V6 and 280-hp, 3.6-liter V6 later this calendar year. The new 2.4-liter base engine will produce 182 horsepower. Matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, GM estimates it will enable the luxurious sedan to achieve 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway. [Consumer Reports New Car Preview]

Ford, Nissan, and Tesla receive billions in green tech loans
The federal government set aside $25 billion to advance green automotive technologies, and today it was announced that Ford, Nissan, and Tesla would receive significant loans from this fund. Chrysler and General Motors had previous requests denied, due to their financial situations. Ford will receive $5.9 billion, Nissan $1.6 billion, and Tesla $465 million in advanced technology financing from the Energy Department program. [Reuters]

GM asked to recall 2000-01 model year after trunk deaths
Kids and Cars has asked General Motors recall 2000-01 model year  sedans after two children perish in locked trunk. These cars were made before trunk-release latches became standard equipment. An aftermarket retrofit kit called the Quick-Out Emergency Trunk Release is available for $18 for installation in older cars. [Consumer Reports Safety Blog, Consumer Reports Kids and Car Safety hub]

Mini to expand dealer network
Mini USA announced that it will expand its 83-store network by 17 dealerships over the next year and a half. Mini has been well placed to serve increased consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars. New locations are expected in the following cities: Birmingham, Alabama; Pensacola, Florida; Alexandria, Virginia; Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Fort Myers, Florida; El Paso, Texas; Ontario, California; Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; Loveland, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; Mount Laurel, New Jersey; Allentown, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California and Tempe, Arizona. [Mini, AutoBlog]

No improvement seen for rear seat belt use
Rear seat belt use in the U.S. remains statistically unchanged at 74 percent for 2008 compared to 76 percent in 2007 according to the National Highway Transportation Administration.  Belt use in the rear seats is lower than the front seats, which is at 83 percent. The survey found belt use in rear seats is higher in states that have laws for belt use in all seats. [NHTSA, Consumer Reports]

New Jersey to ban GPS operation while driving
In a move to reduce driver distraction, Democratic State Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith has introduced a bill to “prohibit the manual operation of a global positioning system (GPS) device or similar navigation device by the operator of a moving motor vehicle,” according to Fox News. The legislation is the first of its kind, and the vote will have an important impact on how millions of drivers use these popular devices. [Fox News]

Legislation introduced to create teen driving standards
Some House of Representative members have introduced legislation that would set minimum standards for teen driving in order to reduce death and injuries; automobile crashes are the leading cause of deaths of teens in the U.S. The legislation would act as an incentive with rewards of funding for states that enact graduated driver licensing laws (GDL). Those states that don’t comply will have federal funding withheld. The GDL program will provide a three-stage licensing program, restrictions on night driving and restrictions against driving with more than one other person under 21 during the first two stages. [House, IIHS]

The Northeast prepares for plug-in-friendly infrastructure

As automakers are racing plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles to production, such as the Chevrolet Volt and Mini E, utility companies are preparing to address this new demand for electricity. In a recent move, a New England utility is seeking federal funding for a network of electric car charging stations in parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Northeast Utilities wants to install 575 high voltage stations in public areas, businesses, and private homes over the next two years. The pilot plan is expected to cost $1.4 million, with NU hoping for $693,750 to come from a Department of Energy (DOE) grant.

Those interested in participating in the program would pay the balance of costs, including installation of a 220-volt line to homes and businesses, according to a report in the Hartford Courant. Northeast Utilities says that implementing the plan should not raise utility rates, but that users would be encouraged to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours.

A DOE decision on whether to fund the program is expected in June. We think that only cooperation between automakers, government agencies, and utility companies can bring about a meaningful transition toward using electricity for personal transportation.

Other states and regions are also making preparations for this next-evolution in passenger cars, including California and Oregon.

—Jim Travers