Minis in U.S. may get dual-clutch gearbox later

DETROIT — Mini's freshened trio of small cars won't get a new dual- clutch transmission in the U.S. for the 2019 model year because of homologation issues.

"We're looking at maybe later on, but it's not decided yet," Thomas Felbermair, vice president of Mini Region Americas, told Automotive News at the Detroit auto show. "In the U.S., we stay with the existing transmission."

In the U.S., the brand offers a six-speed manual and six-speed automatics on the three-door and five-door versions of the Mini Hardtop and the Mini Convertible. Those cars are being freshened this spring for the 2019 model year.

In Europe, the three cars are to get an optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

That transmission is not coming to the U.S. for the 2019 model year because of technical reasons related to homologating it for U.S. regulations, Felbermair said. It's unclear whether it will be included on 2020 models in the U.S.