Weight is the mortal enemy of performance and efficiency. One of the most effective ways of increasing a vehicle’s fuel economy and improving its driving dynamics is to cut unnecessary mass. Every component is fair game for optimization, including turbochargers.

This morning at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, MINI took the covers off the newest member of the high-performance MINI family. Meet the 2015 John Cooper Works Hardtop, which features a more powerful engine, sporty suspension and enhanced aerodynamics.

January is upon us and another 12-month span is in the books. Like tales of Genghis Kahn’s epic Eurasian conquests or new episodes of I Love Lucy, 2014 is history and what a year it was.

We covered everything new and exciting to hit the streets in 2014, and now it’s time to see which cars you, our readers, found most interesting. Based on your clicks, here are the ten most popular reviews from 2014. 

MINI executives might have given the green light to produce a real world version of the Superleggera concept car.

Unveiled ahead of its official debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, MINI is showing off the John Cooper Works variant of its latest Cooper compact.

Each year, WardsAuto evaluates and determines its top 10 best engines and this year, its editors evaluated 37 all-new or improved powertrains before choosing its favorites.

It’s that time of year again.

The power of the Internet is reaching into the boardrooms of automakers around the world and nowhere is that more evident than in the naming of MINI‘s latest model.

After a long list of successful new product launches, MINI is admitting a rare defeat on two of its current models.

As the old adage goes, speed costs money and your velocity is directly proportional to the size of your bank account. Going fast usually ain’t cheap.

MINI and John Cooper Works Tuning just unveiled its lineup of accessories for the new Cooper.

The latest spy photos of the MINI Cooper JCW reveal that it’s nearly ready for production.

BMW is waking up to the potential that displaying vehicles at the SEMA Show holds.

The year’s spookiest month has finally passed. Gone with the calendar’s page-turn are bags of corn syrup-laden foodstuffs, poorly thought-out costumes and strangers ringing your doorbell at night demanding sweets in exchange for protection from vandalism.

Hyundai and Ford aren’t the only manufacturers that have been forced to revise their fuel-economy scores. Now BMW is joining this hall of shame.

Get used to big MINIs, as the new 5-Door Mini Hardtop has officially arrived, marked by its debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

The MINI variants keep on coming and the latest is the all-new 5-door MINI hardtop.

MINI will host a world premiere at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

A decision on whether the MINI Superleggera will be produced is expected to be made in the coming months.

The next-generation MINI Countryman is in its early testing phases.

MINI is working on a new version of the Countryman that is expected to arrive in 2017 with more rugged styling than the current model pictured above.

I tagged along for a two legs of MINI Takes the States, an epic cross-country road rally that’s put on by the company. I participated in just two sections of this continent-spanning trip, but that was still enough for me to experience four Midwestern states and some 700 miles of America. But there’s much more to than this event than just the sliver I experienced.

MINI Takes the States, a bi-annual cross-country road rally is in full swing, with hundreds of rabid Cooper enthusiasts participating in events at diverse locations across this great land. We’re tagging along for a couple legs of this epic trip and tweeting all the way.

Once again MINI and its legions of enthusiasts are going all the way, traversing the US of A by driving from sea to shining sea. The iconic British brand is celebrating summer with a cross-country road trip and you’re invited to participate.

It’s hard to beat the noises a well-designed, high-performance engine makes; experiencing this is of life’s great pleasures, especially when it isn’t adulterated by restrictive exhaust systems or synthesized bullshit piped through a vehicle’s speakers.

Only one compact out of a dozen earned a “good” rating in the latest round of testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with the small overlap crash test proving difficult to protect against.

The 2015 MINI Paceman debuted earlier this year, but now we have our first detailed look at the high-performance John Cooper Works variant.

Each year, Strategic Vision releases its Total Quality Index, which it says includes positive and negative product experiences on vehicles including reliability, actual problems, driving excitement and other measures.

With a price that starts close to the $20,000 mark, the MINI Cooper isn’t trying to compete with other subcompacts that are available for thousands less. Where other small cars compromise interior design, driving dynamics and available features, the Cooper offers a comparatively rich package… for a price.

Would you buy a car with a three-cylinder engine? Believe it or not, the North American three-cylinder revolution has begun.

BMW and MINI owners will now be able to take advantage of their GoPro cameras from within their vehicles.

The MINI family continues its refresh, with the new 4 Door introduced today.

Love Legos? Love MINI? You’re gonna love this.

Mini has already previewed what we can expect from a new John Cooper Works (JCW) performance model with a concept car, and now the brand is readying the production version. 

Thought MINI was done with interesting concepts after the Paceman pickup? Think again.

Mini is looking to expand its lineup with a new five-door version of the Mini Cooper, and our spy photographers grabbed some shots of the car testing. 

After one of the worst winters in recent memory America’s northern extremities are finally starting to thaw out. In addition to longer days, spring is also bringing warmer temperatures as the sun wakes up from hibernation. But were April car sales as nice? Did better weather get more people in the mood… to buy a car, that is?

Ever wondered what a MINI pickup truck would look like? Wonder no more.

MINI sales are in a serious slump, but that doesn’t mean the brand is willing to cater to the lowest common denominator.

It might seem easy to ignore the Beijing Motor Show. After all, it is halfway around the world. But the Chinese auto market is growing quickly. In fact, it surpassed the U.S. in 2010. The auto show in Beijing is getting bigger, too.

MINI wants you to have “a friend with many benefits” while you’re on the road.

With the debut of a new MINI hardtop, those awaiting a second-generation Clubman will have to be patient… maybe forever.

The updates to MINI’s lineup keep on coming, as the 2015 Paceman has debuted at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show.

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MINI‘s Countryman small crossover made its debut today in New York City.

The all-new 2015 MINI Countryman has made an appearance ahead of its official debut at the 2014 New York Auto Show.

The folks at Kelley Blue Book have released their annual Brand Image Awards. The study, now in its seventh year, honors automakers for excelling in certain areas. Categories include things like best performance brand, most refined brand and most trusted brand. Overall there are 13 winners and the results may surprise or even appall you. You’ll need to read on to find out.

Alex Coyle’s “DeLux” MINI Hardtop will become a reality at this year’s New York Auto Show.

Originally introduced as a 2011 model, MINI will debut a refreshed version of its Countryman crossover at the New York Auto Show in just a few weeks’ time.

Spring is here and the U.S. automotive market saw its overall sales rise six percent in March, shaking off the slow start to 2014.

Would you believe it if we told you that the MINI Cooper T runs on a tea-leaf biofuel composite?

The Internet loves videos, and car enthusiasts love AutoGuide‘s videos.

The 2014 MINI Cooper S Hardtop is capturing the attention of our readers and car shoppers worldwide, with our review of the compact topping this week’s most watched videos list. Following that, luxury sedan shoppers are curious to see which diesel model stacks up from BMW and Audi while our first drive of our 2014 Car of the Year, the Mazda 3, garnered plenty of attention too.

Watch the videos below and subscribe to the  AutoGuide YouTube channel here.

MINI introduces its newest Cooper model this year and with it are plenty of new options and accessories.

While attempting to set a new Guinness World Record, Guerlain Chicerit and his custom MINI suffered a terrifying crash.

Each week, car shoppers worldwide tune into AutoGuide‘s videos to help make their purchasing decision easier.

For the past week, our most watched video is our comparison test between the 2014 Audi Q5 TDI and 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 Bluetec. The battle of the luxury diesel crossovers could interest you if you’re in the market for one. In addition, American SUVs garnered plenty of attention with our 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe review. Lastly, sports car owners are wondering if all the changes to the 2014 MINI Cooper S are worth it.

Watch the videos below and subscribe to the  AutoGuide YouTube channel here.

Driver Guerlain Chicherit will attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for Longest Car Ramp Jump on March 16.

Mini is considering ditching the hatchback-based Coupe and Roadster variants along with the Countryman-based Paceman model, to focus on a three-car strategy.

MINI revealed an intriguing design study at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The Clubman Concept hints at a future “higher class” automobile from the famous British brand.

Every vehicle seems to get bigger with each generation; it’s really news if something is lighter or more compact than its predecessor. Of course not even is MINI immune to this diabetic swelling; you could say it’s because they’re so sweet to drive. The company’s latest Hardtop is a good bit larger than its forebear. But the vehicle I’m standing next to takes the cake, and eats it all in one sitting.