Key Takeaways
- Mini lineup for 2025 lacks manual transmissions due to low demand and emission regulations.
- Mini is open to reintroducing manual transmissions, possibly in an electric vehicle.
- Potential return of manual transmissions could be seen in upcoming JCW Cooper model, where take rates have historically been high.
Much to the chagrin of car enthusiasts, the 2025 Mini lineup no longer includes any manual transmissions; both the 2025 Mini Cooper and 2025 Mini Countryman send power through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Speaking with Vice President of Mini of the Americas Michael Peyton, this may not be the case forever. Although manual transmissions are less popular than their two-pedal alternatives, their gradual extinction has been noticed by keen driving enthusiasts, and many automakers are reevaluating whether to introduce the stick shift.
“I wouldn’t say never on the manual transmission,” Peyton told CarBuzz on Mini Takes the States, an event where owners drive across multiple US states. “It’s not a never again.”
Why The Manual Died
Mini used to offer a manual transmission on every single model but has since moved away from it due to several factors, including low take rate and global emissions regulations. “The manual take rate was only around 6% for the whole brand, though the Cooper three-door was much higher,” Peyton explained. In the final year it was offered, the John Cooper Works Cooper three-door saw a 51% take rate. The Cooper S was much lower at around 22%.
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Peyton explained that keeping the manual transmission became a scale issue, even if the take rate was higher. As a reminder, Mini sold 33,497 units in the US last year (2023), which was a 13.5% increase from 2022. Even counting global sales, Mini sold 295,358 units worldwide. To put that into perspective, Mini’s parent company BMW sold 362,244 units in the US alone. To continue offering a second transmission for such a low-volume product would be a tough business case.
When Could The Manual Return?
It’s unclear what form the manual transmission could take in the future, but Peyton said Mini was “looking into” ways to offer some form of shifting in an electric vehicle. We presume it could be similar to what Hyundai offers in the Ioniq 5 N, which has received rave reviews. This is only speculation on our part, but Mini could also tap into its heritage by giving EV owners the ability to choose from iconic sounds, such as the original Cooper or the supercharged (later turbocharged) GP model.
If Mini wants to bring back the manual in a traditional sense, CarBuzz suggests Mini satisfies the demand by offering the transmission as an option on the upcoming JCW Cooper, which has yet to be announced, since that model had the highest take rate in previous years. If you were holding out on buying a new Mini with a third pedal, there may be a small glimmer of hope. Our prediction: you may not have to wait much longer.
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