motoringfile.com has a good article on the upcoming MINI GP planned for a 2020 model release in 2019. Good review, but as it spells out, the fancy bulging panels on the GP Concept car are off the table as of now, so it will look much more tame than the Concept GP...but still FAST and very cool!...can you say 280hp with 300ft-lbs torque? It will be the fastest MINI ever!

Dan, save your pennies, as the base price will likely be above $45,000 (no surprise at all). It will be worth it to have one of the only 3,000 GP's!

I wonder what color options they will have?

I can't believe my 2015 JCW is 4 model years old already and it still has less than 1200 miles! That's ok....I still have a new JCW! :-) Oh yes, the article said that MINI is considering only having the GP in manual transmission, in keeping with past releases......I really doubt they will do that, but I still prefer the manual so that's cool either way!

 

almost there with my N14.. think I'll save 40k$ and just drive a 1.6L

 

 

I am hoarding my pennies and making plans now! I have already been checking on a wrap that is basically the colors of the concept and it is doable for less than 2K, so it is in the budget if necessary. I am still stoked about it, however, the JCW now has 38K+ miles that have been trouble free so far (Knock on Wood) and it may need some refurbishing! It is still a wonderfully trouble free machine to-date and working on #5 set of tires including the OEM runcraps that crapped out with less the 2k miles! I don't expect the GP to be a daily driver like the JCW and I don't imagine is will be as comfortable as either. I do hope it is available with an auto tranny as I love the paddles on the JCW and so do my grinding knees!

 

I have seen posts about deposits on the F series GPs. I have left voice mails and sent an email to my salesmen, who is an avid mini guy and has several, but he only works part time so I have not heard from him yet about a deposit on a GP. This of course any chance of getting a bargain deal on one and I can live with that, but the real question is are you assured of a GP if you do so? Is there a dealer allocation for the GPs? Do volume dealers get first shot? There are limited options for the GP. Does anyone know what they are, or might be based upon having knowledge of what if any, options were offered on earlier models? Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated!

My mini guy just called me and advised me that I am #1 on their list. They have a board with the names of of customers that are wanting the GP, and we are #1, so I am fairly confident that we will get one. I have read that their will be limited options. Current speculation is 5 and it will be a more streetable auto than the earlier versions. I am excited about this new one with the power and technological advances over the earlier GPs. Alas, there will most likely be no bargains!

 

Another article from motoring file.com on the upcoming GP3, this time MINI USA Marketing Pat McKenna and Product Planning Manger Ishaan Khatri give some further hints:

THE 2020 JCW GP WILL BE VERY FAST AND VERY LIMITED

Ok that sounds great and we learn that 3000 will be build, thats 1000 more than on the previous one ( Limited ?)

Also we might see the final car at the Nürburgring as "the next series of prototypes hit the Nurburgring" in spring 2019. I doubt that this will include a fast round from Augusto Farfus( BTG time under 8 min in traffic-great guy with his sweet wife , in a superior car. 3000 cars is a lot on this niche. Built under the new regulations of "Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure", the gain in performance will cover the loss you have from that new particle filter, and nobody can tell me, that many will feel that dramatically if we talk about 280 HP. So I guess the GP3 will be the perfect surplus usage at the end of F56 life circle and might be a nice JCW.

 

:-)

 

Current speculation includes a lot of chatter that it will be 300+ horsepower and available only with an auto tranny. It appears that there are a lot of (un) educated guesses about what it will be until mini releases the specifications. The 2.0 can capably produce and handle 300 horsepower. I have been running my F56 JCW with 270 for over 3 years with no issues and love the auto tranny, the paddles are the bomb.

 

Lets see whats right of that uneducated talk, I will remember you ;-)

 

If they make it AWD with the GA8G45XAW which includes the front M Sport differential, then I wouldn't mind it being an automatic as much. If it's FWD though, I'd rather it be a manual or DCT, apparently Magna has a hybrid version of the 7DCT300 as well.

 

AWD would be terrific although I still prefer the auto tranny. It is fun speculating about what it will be. I love the looks of the one they are showing, but I doubt it will look quite like that when it is all said and done. Still, it should be a fun machine with good power and we can always tweak it to make it our own.

 

My 2017 JCW is already more powerful with just a tune, and I haven't really done any power mods to warrant a stage 2 or 3 tune. AWD would be the best, to be honest, but it still seems like it will be well out of my price range, so it's a moot point.

 

The possible short bloc for a GP3 - needs def some sort of modified driveshaft. By the way I like the structure coating even decorated with carbon intarsia,, topped with aluminum fake logo - big cinema, this time with substance. Why they don't pimp the suction inlet as well with some structure coating to win any tuning award is their problem, the part is identical to at any 2.0 T B48 from 2014.

It might fit a present F56 with manual gearbox as there is a also a B4820A X2 FWD MT, unfortunately it cost 8.500 Euros, lets see maybe that comes down with early problems and resulting substancial dealer discounts. Crankshaft issue B4820B 3.800,-- Euro

 

It will be interesting to see if we can finally get some B48 turbo swaps now that the B48A20E is running a different turbo. It's running a different crankshaft and pistons though as well.

 

add to *though as well* drastic Improved cooling, for : Water Air Oil.

We will see this motor with MINI (Achtung "uneducated talk follows) already in 2019 used in a JCW GP Version for F56 and F54.

 

From the Motoring File today.

The State of the Manual Transmission in MINIs in the US

Luckily MINI USA is bucking this trend. In every the lowest price “Classic” configuration of every MINI mode you can get a no-cost manual transmission (with the exception of the hybrid). In talking with MINI USA recently they reinforced their commitment to the manual transmission and are in fact leaning in to it as a differentiator they have with the rest of the marketplace.

That said there will be some bad news later this year when the upgraded 302 hp JCW Countryman and Clubman arrive as automatic only. And are sources are will resolute that the 2020 GP will indeed be automatic only.

 

I'm finally learning how to use the paddles in sport mode on our 2015 Countryman S (which I do love!), but I still like the manual trans better in my F56 JCW (despite its flaws)….it's just more natural to me when shifting! I guess I'm too old to change but I truly love both MINI's that we have!

 

Minis are easy to love! I really was not too fond of the one that we had for the North Coast 500, but it was a base Countryman, but it was better than I expected! I was expecting an R56S, but somehow that changed from the initial plan during the interim between the initial booking and arriving in Scotland.

 

The 395 hp engine accelerates the MINI GP Clubman 0 to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds. A sequential 6-speed transmission directs engine power to the permanent all-wheel drive system, guaranteeing optimum power transmission at all times, while gear shifting is achieved using wheel-mounted paddles. Fully adjustable dampers at the front and rear ensure an optimum connection with the road. The maximum speed is up to 290 km/h, depending on the gearbox ratio (specific to each race track).

"The MINI GP Clubman combines all the hallmark MINI design features presented in the sportiest and most exciting style. A MINI like this has never been seen before," says Christopher Weil, Head of MINI Exterior Design.

THERE WILL BE 2 GP`S

 

I will be 66 years old when/if the GP Clubman becomes available.....MUST NOT BUY ONE...MUST NOT BUY ONE... well, maybe..... why not die driving one of them, fast??

 

Go for it! I was 67 when I bought a C7 corvette Z06 and I showed it the proper respect after an unintentional donut! 70 now and going for the GP3. Don't let the old man in!

Here is the latest information from the BMW blog.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/02/12/m...n-with-300-hp/

Good News!

 

And when may we expect that bad boy to come to market? And at what price pray tell?

 

To those which never doubt -not the 260hp pea counters

3000 units........ wait for discount..... No buy one enjoy and have a cayman burger.


https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/deuts...ooper-works-gp

 

 

another good article

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mini/m...s-gp-iii-spied

and now aim out her ........great car MINI, so sad you have no Autobahn.