Mini Hunts Bargain Hunters With the 1499 GT and Countryman Oxford
“Customization is at the core of Mini in the U.S.,” Ishaan Khatri, Mini USA product planning manager told us before introducing two new special edition Minis: The Cooper 1499 GT and Countryman Oxford. The only brand that might come close to the amount of variants is Jeep, which will probably have another Wrangler special edition by the time you’re finished reading this sentence.
Over 2018 and 2019, Mini sold just over 16,000 Coopers and more than 13,000 of those were unlike any other. There are a lot of options is what I’m trying to say. And now we have two more pallets to place them on.
First, the Mini Cooper 1499 GT. The 1499 GT follows the lineage of the 1969 Mini Cooper 1275 GT, named for its displacement in cubic centimeters. Likewise, the 1499 GT will feature Mini’s 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder motor making 134 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. Of the 150 limited edition vehicles, 30 of them will come with a row-your-own six-speed and the rest will get a seven-speed dual-clutch option.
For reference, base Mini Coopers have between a 5-12% manual transmission take rate. Cooper S buyers take a little more and by the time your reach the John Cooper Works level, about half take the three-pedal version.
This 1499 GT will get the same suspension setup as the basic Mini, though it will be fine-tuned for the new model. Mini says it will work for both daily driving and autocross.
The 1499 GT comes only in midnight black and gold stripe accent is optional. It gets a healthy dose of piano black, including the head and taillight rings, grill surround, badges and trunk handle, along with JCW bumpers and roof spoiler.
Inside buyers get a digital instrument cluster, 6.5-inch touchscreen with navigation and Apple CarPlay, JCW dinamica/cloth seats, dual-zone climate control and a JCW sport steering wheel. The total price is $27,890 including destination.
Moving from Mini to bigger Mini, the Oxford name was used on a special edition Cooper, only available to college students back in the day. The program, a cheaper version for first time car buyers, was expanded to include military and eventually everyone. Hence, the Mini Cooper Countryman Oxford will be priced at $26,500, “an overall savings of $5,600!”
There will be no leasing Countryman Oxfords, which helps keep the price low.
The Countryman is the most versatile horse in the stable, says Mini, and can also be had in all-wheel drive form for $2,000 more. It houses the same 1.5-liter turbo three as in the regular model, making 134 hp and 162 lb-ft. Front drivers are only offered with a seven-speed DCT; AWD cars get an eight-speed automatic. Run-flat tires, which are getting incrementally better, are standard.
The Mini Cooper Countryman Oxford comes standard with leatherette seats, an 8.8-inch display, rear camera and park distance control, dual panoramic moonroof, LED headlights and fogs and the Union Jack taillights. It’s available in six body colors and either a black or white roof.
Both the Mini Cooper 1499 GT and Countryman Oxford Edition go on sale early next year.
