4th Generation, F56 Mini Cooper S hatchback arrives into India for homologation

The 4th generation, F56 Mini hatchback range was unveiled late last year, just ahead of the Los Angeles Motor Show, where they eventually premiered. The 2014, 4th generation Mini hatchbacks are expected to make it to Indian shores by the end of this year.

The cars have already begun arriving into the country for the mandatory homologation process at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), after which they will go on sale here. The high performance F56 Mini Cooper S hatchback was imported into India from the UK, on the 11th of September, 2014.

Mini India is likely to launch the Cooper 3 and 5 door, Cooper S, Convertible and Countryman variants of the 2015 Mini range in India. Cars in the new Mini line up are longer, wider and taller than those in the outgoing generation. The larger dimensions, including the longer wheelbase, contributes towards more spacious interiors.

The F56, 2014 Mini range adopt the BMW UKL platform, which will also underpin front wheel driven BMW cars. A major story around the front wheel driven, 2014 Minis concerns the 1.5 liter turbo petrol (136 Bhp-220 Nm) and turbo diesel (116 Bhp-270 Nm) engines, which will replace the 1.6 liter units found on the outgoing models.

The new engines are three cylinder units that sip lesser fuel and emit lower tail pipe gases and particulates. The performance oriented Cooper S will continue to operate with a 2 liter-4 cylinder turbo petrol engine that makes 192 Bhp-280 Nm. 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions on the new Mini line up are also new items.

Other changes on the Mini include revised suspension and steering systems, to make for a tauter, more involving driving experience than ever before. Revised infotainment options and spruced up interiors with more features are a few of the changes on the new Mini line up’s inside. While certain Mini hatchback models are expected to take the CKD route into India, the fewer selling variants will be imported as CBUs.

Via Zauba