Photo: MINI
As you probably expected, the new MINI will be launched with a plethora of new technologies on top of a new design and engine family. Some of these new technologies are directly related to safety and are called Driver Assist Systems.
The most important new feature for the new Mk3 model will probably be the MINI Head-Up display, a first on any MINI model so far. In BMWs, the HUD technology was introduced for the first time in 2003 and, along the way, it progressed becoming one of the best in the business.
The driver will have the possibility to customize the information he wants displayed in front of him with this new feature, allowing him to easily differentiate between information like speed limits and navigation data and urgent warnings.
Another safety feature to be introduced on the 3rd generation MINI is the collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function. The system will work at speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and will ultimately activate the brakes, in case of imminent danger.
In order to do so, the city braking function and the collision and pedestrian warning systems use centrally mounted cameras at the front end of the car that are constantly scanning the street.
The main difference between the two is that the collision warning system will start working after the 15 km/h (10 mph) mark and will warn you when you get too close to the vehicle in front of you both acoustically and visually.
The Speed Limit Info function will make sure you never get a speeding ticket again (and we all know that is easily achieved with the fun you can have inside a MINI). However, unlike other systems that use navigation maps to display speed limits, the system in the MINI will use a camera mounted on the passenger side.
This camera will scan the road signs and combine the data gathered with the car's activity. For example, if the windshield wipers are activated, it will display the speed limit for wet conditions.
The same system will be used to memorize signs on the road regarding passing info. In case you're inside a no passing zone, the onboard system will display the no passing sign on the HUD or the system's navigation screen to make sure you don't break the law.
Video-based speed and distance regulation will also be available on the 2014 MINI Cooper. That means that you'll be able to set the cruise control to a certain speed and the car will automatically brake and then accelerate in case of some sort of traffic jam.
The system uses video feed from the camera and the radar system, depending on which is available. Furthermore, it will work at speeds between 30 and 140 km/h (20-87 mph).
The new MINIs will get Park Assist, the system that parks your car for you (not that parking a MINI was a big problem until now). The car's devices will measure parking spaces as it passes them and let you know when a sufficiently big one shows up.
After that, all you need to do is press a button and the car will park itself. As simple as that! In this regard you'll be helped by a rear-view camera, another new feature for MINI. The video feed from the rear end of your car will let you know that the parking system is working perfectly and you won't crash.
Last but not least, the new Cooper will also benefit from digital headlight assist. This feature will make driving at night more safer and comfortable by automatically activating and deactivating the high beams at speeds of at least 50 km/h (30 mph).
All these new systems will be available for the upcoming MINI. Some of them will be standard and some of them will be optional, we don't know which at the moment. Either way, the future sounds promising for now and the design of the new features looks more than enticing, as you can see in the gallery below.
The driver will have the possibility to customize the information he wants displayed in front of him with this new feature, allowing him to easily differentiate between information like speed limits and navigation data and urgent warnings.
Another safety feature to be introduced on the 3rd generation MINI is the collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function. The system will work at speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and will ultimately activate the brakes, in case of imminent danger.
In order to do so, the city braking function and the collision and pedestrian warning systems use centrally mounted cameras at the front end of the car that are constantly scanning the street.
The main difference between the two is that the collision warning system will start working after the 15 km/h (10 mph) mark and will warn you when you get too close to the vehicle in front of you both acoustically and visually.
The Speed Limit Info function will make sure you never get a speeding ticket again (and we all know that is easily achieved with the fun you can have inside a MINI). However, unlike other systems that use navigation maps to display speed limits, the system in the MINI will use a camera mounted on the passenger side.
This camera will scan the road signs and combine the data gathered with the car's activity. For example, if the windshield wipers are activated, it will display the speed limit for wet conditions.
The same system will be used to memorize signs on the road regarding passing info. In case you're inside a no passing zone, the onboard system will display the no passing sign on the HUD or the system's navigation screen to make sure you don't break the law.
Video-based speed and distance regulation will also be available on the 2014 MINI Cooper. That means that you'll be able to set the cruise control to a certain speed and the car will automatically brake and then accelerate in case of some sort of traffic jam.
The system uses video feed from the camera and the radar system, depending on which is available. Furthermore, it will work at speeds between 30 and 140 km/h (20-87 mph).
The new MINIs will get Park Assist, the system that parks your car for you (not that parking a MINI was a big problem until now). The car's devices will measure parking spaces as it passes them and let you know when a sufficiently big one shows up.
After that, all you need to do is press a button and the car will park itself. As simple as that! In this regard you'll be helped by a rear-view camera, another new feature for MINI. The video feed from the rear end of your car will let you know that the parking system is working perfectly and you won't crash.
Last but not least, the new Cooper will also benefit from digital headlight assist. This feature will make driving at night more safer and comfortable by automatically activating and deactivating the high beams at speeds of at least 50 km/h (30 mph).
All these new systems will be available for the upcoming MINI. Some of them will be standard and some of them will be optional, we don't know which at the moment. Either way, the future sounds promising for now and the design of the new features looks more than enticing, as you can see in the gallery below.
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