MINI Night Arts

Nice drawing but what is she saying?

[Source; carollinalauriano # YouTube]

Maxi Snow Globe MINI

[Source: piledson100 @ YouTube]

MINI - Is It Love?

A tribute video -

[Source: MinistryofRICH @ YouTube]

MiniWorld Launches NewMINI.org

 A mew website for everything new MINI.

Car Show Babes From 4Tuning Days in Bucharest, Romania

Carscoop has a rather complete photo gallery.

Canadian Officials Seize And Destroy Street Race Modded Cars

[Source: via CarDomain blog]

What BMW Expects From MINI

Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at the Annual Accounts Press Conference 2010, made the following statements about MINI:

The Countryman, due out in September, will be the next addition to the MINI family and the first MINI with four-wheel drive.

. . . with MINI, we have successfully established a premium brand in the small car segment.

MINI is not a miniature version of another model series. MINI is and will remain the Original – with a signature face, a unique tradition and over 1.5 million fans around the world.

We will launch more MINI and BMW models and variants – also in the small car segment. This segment is expected to grow further. And we will take advantage of this opportunity. We are exploring the possibility of developing a joint architecture for the front and four-wheel drive systems of these cars. In other words: There will be front-wheel drive BMWs in the smaller vehicle classes in the future. We all know that the cost structure in the small car segment is different from that of the larger model classes. We intend to grow profitably in this segment as well.

Customers are currently testing the MINI E for us. Some drivers have told me that they would love to keep their MINI E. Our annual report actually includes a section on customers and their experiences with the MINI E. BMW will follow suit in 2011 with a customer test fleet based on the concept study “BMW Concept ActiveE”. This test fleet will be built at the Leipzig plant.

[Source: BMW Group PressClub USA]

In Honor Of St. Patrick's Day

They say don't drink and drive. How about driving your drink?

[Source: That Will Buff Out]

This Guy's Airfoil Fetish Is Out Of Control

[Source: You Drive What?]

Tired Of Brake Dust On Your MINI's Wheels?

This new wheel protectant product from Armorall may be just what you are looking for. Check out the video - simply amazing if true.

[Source: via The Garage]

Automaker Says "Give Peas A Chance"

[Source: You Drive What?]

Rolling A MINI At The MINI Challenge

[Source: RaikkonenFan1992 @ YouTube]

An Old Time MINI Rally

[Source: alleluiasevents @ YouTube]

Bay Area MINI Tourists Do Lombard

[Source: aztec1382 @ YouTube]

The MINI Challenge

[Source: BcarvalhoMKT @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs Event Reminders

DeLoreans On Parade In Houston

Don't they look like vultures flapping wings?

[Source: CarDomain Blog]

Are You Ready For Three Cylinder MINIs?

MotoringFile reports that 3 cylinder engines will likely be standard on the 2012 MINI refresh and that may not be a bad thing.

This Could Be Usain Bolt's Car

[Source: You Drive What?]

Wall Street Journal Waxes Philosophic And Nostalgic About MINI

The Wall Street Journal has published an article that recounts the history of the MINI, talks of its present place in the US car market, BMW's likely plans for the brand and concern that size and brand expansion may cause MINI to lose its core supporters, reviews MINI's competition, and provides this video review of the Countryman:

Having A Spot On The Open Highway

Darjeeling or Earl Grey?

[Source: Hooniverse]

Free Detailing Instruction From Meguiars

Meguiars has launched a Complete Video Guide that includes Meguiars Product Use Videos, Detailing Tips and TV Commercials. This is a great resource for those unfamiliar with car detailing and highlights many of the processes we expect to use at NorCal MINIs' End Of Winter Detail Day on April 17, 2010. Their newest video shows you how to restore clarity to your headlights:

[Source: via DUB Daily]

A Thrill At Daffodil Hill

Don't forget to sign up for NorCal MINIs' Daffodil Hill Run set for this Saturday, March 20, 2010. With spring-like weather predicted for the weekend this will be one beautiful run.

We will meet at MINI of Concord at 9:30 a.m., and reach Daffodil Hill around noon. Bring a picnic lunch and we will eat at Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park.

Here's our proposed route.

This run is open to everyone. Members should respond to your email invitation. If you did not receive one or lost it, or you are not a Member, add yourself as a guest on the Calendar Of All Motoring Events for this event or RSVP by emailing us at info@norcalminis.com.

A MINI Lap Or Two On The Japanese Mihama Circuit

[Source: hiyoko32 @ YouTube]

MINI Cabrio And A Volvo On A Snow Drift Play Date

[Source: cwiaida @ YouTube]

Gallery Of MINI Print Ads

Check out the gallery of MINI print advertisements from 2006 through 2008 posted at the Library of Motoring.

Steering With A Wrench

What a tool!

[Source: via AutoMotto]

MINI Engine Upgrades Come To The US In September

On the 2010 Cooper MINI has optimized the ECU which ups the engine 2 hp total to 120 hp. On the 2010 MCS MINI added a fully variable valve control that optimizes the engine’s responses reducing fuel consumption and emissions and ups the engine 7 hp to 179 hp. The changes won't reach the US until September to coincide with the US MINI refresh schedule, although, the changes are available with March production for non-US consumption.

[Source: MotoringFile]

Slow But Reliable

[Source: You Drive What?]

Future MINIs Likely To Have Smaller Engines

Autoblog's take on MINI USA VP Jim McDowell's recent Geneva Motor Show speech is that the "next round of upgrades will see smaller displacement engines coming along with dual clutch transmissions."