The all-wheel drive Mini has arrived... sorta [w/VIDEO]
The Mini Tec AWD Mini – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you want a chunky Mini CUV, you don't need to wait for the Mini Countryman – you can have this Frankenstein'd love child of a vintage Mini and a Honda engine and all-wheel drive powertrain instead. The folks at Mini Tec have bolted a Honda B20 engine up front, and then they went and built a custom subframe to house all-wheel-drive gubbins blagged from a CR-V.
The result is a stripped-out, widened Mini that rockets off the line and can even do tricks in the snow on Yokohama slicks. If you're interested in buying one, you need to provide the Honda guts and Miata parts – and the Mini. The rest – the custom fabricated subframe, body panels and A-arm suspension will run you $2,695. Check out the high-res gallery below and a video after the jump.
Gallery: Mini Tec AWD Mini
[Source: Super Fast Minis via Speedhunters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
galant14b 1:48PM (7/28/2009)
That looks like entirely too much fun
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SimbaDogg 3:49PM (7/28/2009)
i call shenanigans. i've seen quite a few b series builds in my lifetime, and unless things have really changed that much in the past 4-5 years that i've strayed from it, there's no way in hell you'd make 395 from an obviously non boosted NA motor. unless i'm blind, i see no plumbing for a SC or turbo (duh) but nothing for a significant nitrous shot either. even w/ the most aggressive CR, and lumpiest of cam profiles there's no way in hell they're making 395 (even at the flywheel) on that build.
SimbaDogg 3:51PM (7/28/2009)
ok...after further investigation, its not this car making 395 bhp, its a totally different supercharged k20 swap. Mr. Ramsey, u may wanna update your post.
Jonathon Ramsey 4:07PM (7/28/2009)
Corrected. My bad.
Adam 1:50PM (7/28/2009)
Too awesome for words, and 3 grrr isn't terrible if you can get the rest of the parts from a salvage yard. The classic Mini body though, good luck getting that cheap.
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gefinley 1:51PM (7/28/2009)
I wish I could hear the engine during that movie.
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Rev 2:01PM (7/28/2009)
I'll provide a soundtrack for you:
Buzzz, buzzz, buzz! V-TEC, yo. Whiny, torqueless buzz!
Anyway, the CRV isn't an AWD car by any stretch of the imagination. Is this thing FWD?
Luffy 2:08PM (7/28/2009)
The CRV 4wd can be easily changed to AWD, and good job being another desk_racer with your stupid torqueless comments. Sure torque is nice in the low rpm range, but when you are racing, how often are you in the low rpm range? HP is the measure of true torque output and this has plenty of HP up there.
clicc916 2:09PM (7/28/2009)
The CR-V is AWD, but the all-wheel drive isn't always on. It only "turns on" when there's a difference in speed between the front wheels and rear wheels. Otherwise, it functions as a FWD.
The Mini is FWD until there's slippage between wheels. Once slippage is sensed, the clutch packs connect the driveshaft to the rear diff and distributes engine power to the rear wheels. After traction is gained, the clutch packs disengage and we're back to FWD mode.
ronEbear 2:09PM (7/28/2009)
Rev, did you even watch the movie you R-tard?
Jeff McNeil 1:54PM (7/28/2009)
Awesome car - terrible video
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aj121489 3:43PM (7/28/2009)
This one was pretty good I thought
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTd8WuZcBjU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2FSUPERFASTMINIS&feature=player_profilepage
Farris 1:54PM (7/28/2009)
I wonder what bits they use from a Miata?
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Jason 1:58PM (7/28/2009)
Rear lower control arms so far that I can see.
Stumpy 1:56PM (7/28/2009)
That is one of the coolest cars I have ever seen. I SO want that!
So awesome!
..
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tuna 1:58PM (7/28/2009)
I feel like I should be on acid while watching the video. What the hell is up with the soundtrack?!
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Aki 2:02PM (7/28/2009)
Video fail. They built a 395hp Mini car, and figured that people will prefer to hear that crappy 16-bit music over the engine?
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Banzai 2:45PM (7/28/2009)
I wonder how the Honda drivetrain will hold up over time and use especially w/ a steroid-induced B20
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TimO 2:33PM (7/28/2009)
So...for 10-15k you could have a crap-your-pants-fast awd pint-sized demon...?
Tempting, very tempting.
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Davin Black 1:01PM (7/29/2009)
You took the words right out of my mouth. Maybe I won't get that motorcycle after all...