That is so cool to do a test drive on a track. I got to drive around a long block with a 35 mph speed limit. I wonder if you lived in Germany, they would let you do a test drive on the ring? My wife and I got to see the Indy 500 back in ‘78. We had great T3 seats and could see the cars coming out of T2, around T3 and into T4. Quite the day. I was planning on seeing the Indy cars at Watkins Glen, but they cancelled the race. Oh, I looked at Google Maps of your area; you do have some neat roads around there...

Back to the GP3 - I wonder if the instrument panel is final or maybe it will change again before production?

 

Yes, we had a blast our instructors were Gabby Hayes and Pippa Mann. It was great fun and we learned a lot as well. We did it twice, once with the the S series and then with the JCWs. That was when I decided to part with our R56 JCW and get the F. I sometimes miss the R as it was more of a go kart, but the power and the amenities of the F made up for it. We also took the Spring Mountain course in our C7 Z06 corvette and that was a hoot as well. 175 mph is a rush for sure, but I still enjoy the mini more, and the vette will bite you if you don't stay on top of it all of the time.

 

I don’t suppose you will get the chance to do that with GP....

Gabby Chaves and Pippa Mann? They might know just a little about going around that track...

Having instruction, driving on track and really learning how to drive is such an eye opener. Great to get that experience. I have heard that the Vettes can be a handful. I purposefully setup my MCS for the track to not be a handful. Better that way and to be able to drive the car home at the end of the day. I have seen too may cars being flatbedded to the graveyard to not be conservative in my car’s setup.

 

Smart thinking and I totally agree. I may take the GP to VIR and the South Carolina Motor Sports Park. We trained there with Phil Wicks in our R56 JCW and it was great fun and we learned a lot from him as well. Now, just fun laps with some spirited runs, but most of our trips are to North Carolina and Tennessee. We did the Devil's triangle earlier this year and while it is not as good as the Tail of the Dragon, it does have some double and triple switchbacks and some good high speed twisties after the Old Prison located along the route and the locals are really accommodating as well. The switchbacks are particularly challenging and I hope to do some of them with the GP.

 

Here is the display the GP should have:


Not a MINI display, but should be...

Notice where the speed is relegated to?

 

5 years ago i got my 1st HUD ever in a MINI F Series, it costs 600 plus coupled products well over 1000.
The only postive i can say about it: It is in line with the drivers view and so supports that saftey issue.

The new instrument cluster of the GP3 is ok, but I rather like that in front of me, as in past you lose eye contact to street. As long as you have not used a state of the art HUD projection in daily use (not that smoked ****-***** mini-screen), as long you dont know what you miss.

For the GP3 my favourite setup would have been: Tesla-like IPAD in middle, of course round, removal of the cluster ( 100 % symmetric dash) and a high end projector of that in front of me fully adjustabe.

Iam not sure what the GP3 offers, I exspect the F56 system, and the only question is, will MINI offer additional track features. A track orientated HUD, such as seen above. If Corvette offers such a system, i can only say, the new Corvette is anyhow a nice car! On the photo of the new MINI cluster you can see its "velcro" fixed, mybe they following my suggestion ?

And bye the way, one of the most interesting datas for track "tyre temperature" you can code allready in any MINI, lets see if MINI found that hack as well ?

 

Personally, I want a full display right in front of me, just like that Lambo display I posted above. No HUD that may or may not be visible depending on whether I am going in and out of shadows of tree and what not and no Tesla-like “gaming” system. A lot of this stuff today reminds me of the ‘80s displays in cars when digital was coming into existence. Manufactures were putting in digital number displays for everything, including the tach. It was the worst. The automotive world keeps trying new things for displays and always comes back to the old, tried and true - an analog style display like the Lambo has and no gimmicks.

 

I do like the heads up on the corvette and have not had any issues with it regarding sunlight or shadows, but then I don't really use it in daily driving that much. It is handy when approaching curves as it does not require you to move your line of sight to see the speed you are carrying into the curve. It is not perfect, but is a decent product. Sound is important for RPMs and with time I am able to use that, but it is not as reliable as a good tachometer! I am anxious to see what the final product will be with the GP. I think mini is using the suspense of waiting and keeping us involved with tidbits of information in an attempt to maintain buyer enthusiasm over and extended period of time.

 

I will admit to never having used a HUD, but it seems that it could be distracting even if it works well, like a piece of white paper on the dash or a dash that reflects too much sun light (both are annoying to me).

Just like they haven’t pulled the race track wrap off the car to show its true colors, you are probably right about them not yet showing the final driver’s display. Clearly more to come...

 

I was a HUD skeptic. It came on my JCW and after playing with the viewing settings a little, I really like it. Never had a visibility issue nor is it distracting at bight.

That said, you can just close it in settings and not use it if you don’t like it.

 

A decent HUD is not distracting after a period of adjustment. While I would much prefer a system comparable with the Corvette, I needed to find an aftermarket system for a fair price. Mine is made by the now defunct NAVDY folks. Still works like a champ, just no more map and software updates. I like not having to look down to check instruments. All you do is change your focus momentarily from the road to the HUD and then back. You never lose sight of the road.

 

So a little late to this thread. Watching the video above, it seems the engine is the same as the 2020 Clubman/Countryman. Auto only to accommodate fancy traction control for front wheel drive 301hp.

I wonder if the next gen JCWs will be auto only using the same engine? I fear it will be.

I wouldnt be surprised if the new display will eventually trickle through the rest of the range.

 

Sounds like you have an aftermarket version? I hadn’t thought of that. It might be worth looking into to supplement the almost worthless display in the JCW.

Interesting that the HUD is being liked. My fears are unfounded? I was the same way about traction control when we bought our ‘04. Thought it would be more of a distraction than a help. Now that I have had cars with it, I wish we had opted for it in that car. I still like the Lambo display, though...

If the display in the mule GP3 or something like it is available in the production GP3, I would think that it would be retro-fitable into any F56, but will probably need a software update and $$. And it may show up in the next production model to recoup development costs.

 

Leave it to MINI to parley parts from one model to another. That display in the GP3 is cobbled out of the SE (MINI electric):



http://www.motoringfile.com/2019/07/...r-buy-of-2020/

The MINI SE interior. Note the driver’s display!

 

As I said none here has realy seen it, they only know the poor MINI HUD, and the GP3 can only impress with new projector screening and the choice of data of interest !!!!

 

The display on that HUD appears to be distracting to me with the moving lines.

 

I was hoping HUD would be an alternate driver’s display, consisting of parameters for the engine and other parts of the car. Something useful for the enthusiast driver. But, instead, what I found in a search was that they are aimed at being annoying GPS nav displays that require you to fuss with your phone to do anything with it. I know were I have seen this “technology” before, video games...

And what is this about waving your had around to answer the phone? Ugh...
I know, those were aftermarket displays. Maybe a well integrated HUD from the factory would be better, but I wouldn’t count on it if connection of my iPhone to my JCW and the random things that it does is any indication. That is poorly done.

The current MINI HUD is, as said in one comment to this video, “sad”:

What is useful about being able to show engine torque and power? What about showing volts, water temp, boost, oil temp and the like? Give me a good tach.... Nope not there...


Nope, not convinced...

 

Vette confirms it as well, we both are using obviously the best HUD available, there is no match right now for it
Projecting the line of speed with the relevant brake zones -adapted to your cars speed, is certainly something what would fit the JCW Bling Blang world, but it makes no sense, if you have to look down.

 

Latest article on the GP from the Motoring File.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2019/08/...and+Podcast%29

 

Unfortunately, I think MINI is feeding the world a bit of BS about the available transmissions ...

“Yes the new GP will be automatic only. Why? Simply put BMW never had plans to offer a manual with the 301 hp version of the B48 and MINI doesn’t have the resources to independently engineer one. So it was an 301 hp with an auto or a 228 hp manual.”

There are other FWD cars out there making 300+ HP with manuals, and MINI out-sources their transmissions. So what is this excuse that they don’t “...have the resources to independently engineer one.”?

I think there is a flag on that play....

 

They want to make a bug out of it, and don't have the parts needed, such as drivelines, clutch, LSO etc. The Development takes time an add costs. I discussed it with someone who knows, there is no problem to flange the manual, however thats a project "for the few" among us.

Comparing the the BMW Performance parts list for my new M2, including magnesium wheels, aero carbon hood, carbon ashtray, 120 kg downforce carbon rear wing - than you understand what authentic "GO KART FEELINGs" are.For the M2, you can add easy 20.000 in what they call performance parts, for sure a good deal for them.

MINI should be really careful not to place that foiled "Klein-Wagen" any longer before the launch, to avoid bore.

3000 x 20.000 = 60 millions or more what do you think ?

 

The GP3 engine and drivetrain have been developed for the other two cars (the Countryman and Clubman?). They could have easily done the development of a manual application at that time for future cars where people might be interested in having one, if not those. But, clearly the decision was made back than that they would drop the manual and likely that decision was made because of the low percentage of sales. I believe that they are not being truthful when they say that “MINI doesn’t have the resources to independently develop one” as quoted in the article for the reasons in my above post and I don’t believe they are being fully truthful if they say they didn’t have the time to do it. There would have been time to develop a manual if, when they were planning Gen 4, they actually planned to include a manual in any part of the MINI car line using that drivetrain. I think the truth is that BMW made a profit decision to no longer carry a low profit (or loss) item (just like getting rid of the mechanical LSD) and fed us an excuse of “no resources” or “no time”, instead of just saying there isn’t enough of a demand for a manual so we are not going to waste the money on it. Or words along that line, but more politely said.

Just my cynical opinion of BMW/MINI....

 

Business, is well business, and big business is heartless and all about the bottom line, but small business cannot devote the funds required to have a full blown research and development staff with funding required. BMW has figured it out correctly for a successful business and in the event they are wrong they have the resources to survive. Internal combustion engines will be a thing of the past sooner rather than later and O. F. like me won't be around to see it. I plan to ride this pony until it drops or I do first! I just can't get the thrill of the sound and fury of good internal combustion power plant from the whir of an electric motor. Nothing like the sound of tires screaming and the engine roaring coming out of a tight cornering maneuver, or the scream of high RPM engine at full power coming down the straight. Tesla et. al. are the current future of individual transport.

 

Just to clarify bmw/mini did not make the statement “MINI doesn’t have the resources to independently develop one"

BMW gave mini engineers a short leash cost wise to build the GP3. They would not allow mini to spend millions to develop a new manual fwd transmission for a car they are going to build 3000 of. The expensive components of the GP3 are all from the bmw parts bin.

Manual transmission sales of the mini brand are well under 30% of all sales so the ROI for a niche application is not worth it.

 

Well said!
And the truth...

When IC cars disappear I’ll be getting my O.F. fix by driving my JCW with its MT, which will be a classic by that time, to the SVRA races to watch the current IMSA Corvettes, Porsches, etc racing as classics. And if I can’t drive, i’ll have one of my granddaughters drive me there.