MINI Pausing U.S. Sales Of Manual Models Due To Emissions Certification

Mini will temporarily suspend importation of its models with manual transmissions into the United States from July.

Motoring File recently had the opportunity to interview Mini USA communications head Andrew Cutler and discovered that calibration testing to ensure the cars meet emissions certifications are the reason behind the delay.

Cutler does not know how long the British company will be forced to stop importing manual models in the U.S., stating “as much as we at MINI USA would like to have a definitive timeline, it would be too early to say.”

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While those looking to pick up a new manual Mini model in the U.S. may have to wait for a few months, they’ll be pleased to know that the company has no intention of dropping stick shifts from its range. In fact, Cutler said that manual transmissions remain an important part of the brand and will continue to be available for the foreseeable future.

There are exciting times ahead for Mini, particularly thanks to the imminent arrival of the company’s most powerful and fastest model ever. That model, dubbed the Mini JCW GP, has been spied testing on a handful of occasions in recent months and was previewed back in 2017 with the JCW GP concept.

Powering this potent model will be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine churning out in excess of 300 hp. Spy shots have shown that the vehicle will be sold with an automatic transmission but we don’t yet know if a six-speed ‘box will also be available.