You Can Still Buy a Manual Gearbox from MINI In 2025
While many manufacturers have moved away from the manual transmission; focusing mostly on dual-clutch or CVTs in their North American lineups, MINI USA is still committed to providing a 6-speed manual option on all body styles. All front-wheel-drive Cooper models: 2-door, 4-door and convertible styles have a manual gearbox option. Front-wheel-drive Clubman and Countryman models will receive a stick shift option in July 2020. A manual gearbox will not be available though on All4 (all-wheel-drive) models. The trims with a 6-speed manual option includes:
- Clubman Cooper S
- Hardtop Four-Door Cooper/ Cooper S
- Hardtop Two-Door Cooper/ Cooper S/ JCW
- Convertible Cooper/ Cooper S
- Countryman Cooper
By mid-2020, MINI will be one of the few if not only remaining automaker that offers a manual option for every model. Any car is able to get you from A to B, but a MINI is built for the drive. A MINI with a crisp 6-speed transmission is the perfect companion for taking the scenic route.
The Best of Both Worlds: MINI 7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmission
For those seeking the convenience and economy of an automatic transmission, but also the crisp and fast shifts of a manual gearbox, MINI introduced a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission (DCT) in 2019. Sequential transmissions have been a part of motorsports for years. Similar to a manual gearbox, a clutch is used to disengage power from the gears while shifting.
However, in a dual-clutch transmission, one clutch manages the odd gears, while the other handles the even gears. As one clutch disengages the current gear, the second clutch is already engaging the next gear and eliminating the laggy sensation found in conventional automatic transmissions. This allows the MINI DCT to shift faster than a conventional single clutch, manual transmission without any power lost in-between shifts.
