The Mini with all the Works
MINI has released the latest version of its popular John Cooper Works Clubman which features all the upgrades already seen on the John Cooper Works hatch and convertible models.
These include the 231bhp engine with modified MINI TwinPower turbocharger, sports suspension and powerful braking system which gives clubman a 0-62 mph time of just 6.3-seconds and a top speed of 148 mph.
But the engine upgrade is not at the expense of economy or emissions, with up to 41.5mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions down to 154 g/km.
Outwardly, the new Clubman is more aggressive with new front and rear bumpers and rear wing which not only help reduce lift, but in the case of the front section, assist with the additional cooling requirements of the more powerful engine.
It also comes with alloy wheels and John Cooper Works badging which denote the top-of-the-range Clubman.
It comes with standard LED headlamps which are surrounded by a daytime driving light ring that also uses LED technology, the lower section of which is white and acts as the turn indicator. The horizontally arranged rear light units also comprise LED lamps.
For the first time the new Works Clubman combines its most potent engine and offers its ALL4 all-wheel drive system.
The eight-speed Steptronic gearbox can be changed either automatically or manually via the shift selector or with paddles on the steering wheel. A launch control function enables the quickest WITH wintry weather predicted to be just around the corner, road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist has come up with some guidelines to help drivers cope.
The group has issued a question and answer bulletin to explain how to drive in poor conditions and tell motorists what to expect.
Here is the list as drawn up by GEM’s road safety officer Neil Worth which takes in driving in heavy rain, snow, fog and ice: What are the best ways to stay out of trouble when the roads are wet? Reduce your speed and leave bigger gaps between your car and the vehicle in front. Stopping distances increase on wet roads, so give yourself time and space to stop safely. Use your dipped headlights to ensure other drivers can see you. Avoid using rear fog lights as their possible acceleration away from rest.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, Bluetooth hands-free telephone facility and electric parking brake, park distance control with sensors at the rear, cruise control with brake function, and strength can dazzle drivers following you – and if your fog lights are on, it can make it harder for others to see your brake lights. What is a safe speed for driving in snow? Experience shows that it is not your speed that’s the problem, it’s how you lose the speed in order to stop in an emergency, or to negotiate a sharp bend, or pull up safely at a junction. If there is snow on the road, your braking distance will be vastly increased compared to what you’re used to on a dry road. Be sure to maintain a risk assessment. If it’s actually snowing and settling, then you must slow right down. Try to maintain momentum by anticipating when you’ll need to slow down and speed up.
What are the best roads to use when it’s snowing? It may sound unhelpful, but the best advice is not to drive at all if you don’t need to. Gentle hills can comfort access – also enabling touch-less opening of the split doors by means of a foot movement under the rear apron.
The standard fit audio system is the radio MINI visual boost including USB socket and operation via the MINI controller in the centre What is ‘black’ ice? Black ice is actually clear and colourless ice, but it is invisible to drivers above the dark Tarmac of the road.
How will I know if I’m driving on black ice? Your steering will feel light, you won’t see tyre tracks on the road ahead, and there will be next to no noise from your tyres. Stay calm and let your car pass over the black ice. Gently lift your foot off the accelerator. Don’t hit the brakes and be very gentle with your steering.
If I can’t see it, how can I look out for black ice? Pay attention to your car thermometer. Black ice forms when the road surface temperature falls to 0 degrees Celsius or below. But road surface temperature is usually three to four degrees lower than air console, as well as the 6.5-inch colour screen in the central instrument fitted with a MINI navigation system.
It’s on sale now, priced at £29,345 with the six-speed manual gearbox, and £30,945 with the eight-speed sports Steptronic transmission. temperature. That’s why you may get an audible cold weather warning when your car thermometer shows 3 or 4 degrees.
When and in what locations is black ice most likely to form? The most likely times for the forming of black ice are around dawn and in the late evening, when temperatures are at their lowest. What is fog? Fog is a thick wet mist that either rolls in from the sea or radiates up from the ground. Fog forms when the temperature drops to the point at which air is saturated, and invisible water vapour in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets.
Is there anything I can do to continue driving safely in fog? Possibly not. You can wind down the window, in an attempt to hear what you may not be able to see, but there’s no magic way for gaining visibility.