[Source: FunnyPranksHumorLOL @ YouTube]
WHAT'S COMING UP?
Dunsmuir Railroad Park Weekend - Oct. 13-15, 2023
Come join us for an amazing weekend up in the mountains. We have an awe-inspiring run planned for Saturday that will include beautiful sight...
BACON!!!
MINI of Des Moines presents Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, complete with bacon wrapped Countryman.
[Source: willisautocampus @ YouTube]
[Source: willisautocampus @ YouTube]
Just Found My Favorite Rally Driver
Inesa Tushkanova, she is a professional rally driver, starting her first year in the Finnish Rally Championship, which is two steps down from the World Rally Championship, and, as Jalopnik points out, she likes to pose nude for Playboy.
Auto, Motor Und Sport Magazine Readers Give MINIs High Ranks
MotoringFile reports that German magazine Auto, Motor Und Sport rank of "The Best Cars of 2013" found the MINI Hatchback first in the import rankings of the “Mini Cars” segment. The MINI Coupé took third place and the MINI Paceman took second place in the import rankings and third overall in the class. The results are based on the magazine's annual reader's poll.
The MINI Dancing Lions Of Hong Kong Spring
Found at the MINI X POLYU "MINI. LET'S SPRING!" Exhibition, made by students from School of Design of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in association with MINI Hong Kong, and can be seen from February 2 to 8, 2012 at LG2 of Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong.
Interviews With MINI's Jim McDowell And Tom Salkowski
MotoringFile and White Roof Radio interview the head of MINI USA, Jim McDowell, and MINNI USA's Marketing leader, Tom Salkowski, at the North American International Auto Show 2013 in Detroit, Michigan
Rather Have A Used Goodwood Than A New Bond Street
Car and Driver writer Justin Berkowitz reviews the newly announced 2014 MINI Clubman Bond Street and decides a used MINI Goodwood is a probably a better alternative
Kościuszko Finishes Tenth At Rally Monte Carlo
In his first rally in a MINI John Cooper Works WRC, Michal Kościuszko of the Lotos Rally Team finished 10th at the WRC Rally Monte Carlo with snowy special stages reminiscent of Paddy Hopkirk, Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen in their classic Mini Cooper S cars in the 1960s. MINI Motorsport interviewed Kościuszko about the rally and the WRC season.
An Interview With Dr. Kay Segler
MotoringFile and White Roof Radio a "wide ranging" interview Dr. Kay Segler on the current and future state of MINI.
The MINI JCW Paceman Debuts In Canada
Autos.ca covers the MINI John Cooper Works Paceman's Canadian debut.
Pop-A-Lock Partners With MINI On Clubvan
Pop-A-Lock partnered with MINI on a Pop-A-Lock themed MINI Clubvan that started in San Francisco and traveled to the NAIAS 2013 where it was placed on display to promote the Clubvan as a fleet vehicle.
[Source: VIRTUAL-STRATEGY MAGAZINE]
[Source: VIRTUAL-STRATEGY MAGAZINE]
MINI Clubman Bond Street Special Edition
MINI has introduced another London-inspired special edition, the Clubman Bond Street. The vehicle is dressed in Midnight Black Metallic paint, features a contrasting roof, exterior mirror caps, bonnet stripes, as well as Cool Champagne-finished lower C-pillars. It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels in double-spoke design, which mixes a black center with an outer circle finished in Cool Champagne. The interior has a Carbon Black finish with contrast piping and stitching for the lounge leather seats, Deep Champagne trim, and a Chrome Line pack.
The Clubman Bond Street will be available as a MINI Cooper (122hp), MINI Cooper S (184hp), MINI Cooper D (112hp) and MINI Cooper SD (143hp). Expect production to commence in March 2013, according to autoevolution.
The Clubman Bond Street will be available as a MINI Cooper (122hp), MINI Cooper S (184hp), MINI Cooper D (112hp) and MINI Cooper SD (143hp). Expect production to commence in March 2013, according to autoevolution.
The Truth About Cars Also Admires NAIAS 2013 Booth Babes

It's Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Playing in the back of a MINI in Los Angeles at the Silver Lake Farmer's Market as part of the MINI USA NOT NORMAL Tour.
MINI Paceman JCW Spied Testing In China?
TheTycho's CarNewsChina.com claims it has photos of the MINI Paceman JCW testing around Chinaib advance if its Chinese debut at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2013.
This Definitely Isn't Good
AutoGuide.com reports a study by Warranty Direct in the United Kingdom found the highest rates of engine failure among MG's, Audis and MINIs. The study did not include any products by GM, Chrysler or Ford. MG Rover topped the list for the most engine failures with a 7.88-percent failure rate. Audi was second worst with a 3.71 percent while MINI was in third with 2.51 percent.
MotoringFile Gets Its Hands On The MINI JCW Paceman
MotoringFile looks at, and describes, the MINI John Cooper Works Paceman as seen at The Detroit Auto Show 2013.
Hey Kids! Become A MINI Plant Oxford Apprentce!
MINI Plant Oxford seeks 32 new recruits to apprentice at the Oxford Plant in August. There are another 13 places available at MINI Swindon and Hams Hall, near Birmingham, U.K.
Apprenticeships last between three and four years and cover a wide range of skills from human resources and business to electrical maintenance and engineering, and leads to an NVQ level three qualification.
According to The Auto Channel:
Young people can apply for an apprenticeship through a new Facebook page, which can be found at www.facebook.com/BmwCareersUK, or via the plant’s website at www.miniplantoxford.co.uk and clicking on the “People” button. The closing date for applications is 1March 2013.
Apprenticeships last between three and four years and cover a wide range of skills from human resources and business to electrical maintenance and engineering, and leads to an NVQ level three qualification.
According to The Auto Channel:
Young people can apply for an apprenticeship through a new Facebook page, which can be found at www.facebook.com/BmwCareersUK, or via the plant’s website at www.miniplantoxford.co.uk and clicking on the “People” button. The closing date for applications is 1March 2013.
Detroit Free Press Looks At 2013 MINI Paceman
The Detroit Free Press looks at the 2013 MINI Paceman which it calls "a small, crossover SUV."
Please Don't Be "These Guys"
By "these guys" we mean the idiot BMW biker in this video regaling us with his antics and the MINI Cooper driver he describes in his road play. You don't mess with Texas, the police, road racing or road rage.
[Source: BIMMERK12S @ YouTube]
[Source: BIMMERK12S @ YouTube]
Wait Until Your Mother Gets Home!
1IVANAVI1 @ YouTube writes this description of this video:
Take your mother's car, try to drift and film it. ;-)
The car which I used was a Mini Cooper Cabrio with 114,4HP/116PS.
U.S. MSRP Released For 2013 MINI Paceman
INAUTONEWS reports the MINI Paceman in the United States will start at $23,900, while the Paceman S will start at $27,500.
MINI X-raid Drivers Discuss Their Dakar 2013 Finishes
MINI Motorsport carries quotes from each of the Monster Energy X-raid Team MINI top five finishers of Dakar 2013 including this quote from the winner:
Stéphane Peterhansel (P1 in the green MINI ALL4 Racing): “It’s just incredible that we really succeeded in defending the title. We had to battle it out with numerous extremely competitive opponents but in the end, we were the ones who secured the win. Just as it was the case last year, the MINI ALL4 Racing ran perfectly. I have to thank the entire team that did a fantastic job – and not only during the past two weeks. Again, it was a thrilling Dakar Rally and the victory is unique although I have contested the Dakar for so many times. How the rally would end, was left open until the ninth leg. The X-raid Team needed to be patient for quite some time until it got its first Dakar victory last year. This is why I am happy that I have been able to defend the title.”
The Role Of The MINI Countryman At Dakar 2013
While it bemoans that the actual MINI Dakar vehicles are full build race cars, MotoringFile discusses what the MINI Countryman close-to-production support vehicles did to assist the Monster Energy X-raid Team as disclosed by MINI.
Peterhansel Repeats With X-raid MINI At Dakar
MINI drivers took three of the top for spot and four in the top fifteen. Here are the provisional Top 15 results from MINI Motorsport:
PROVISIONAL 2013 OVERALL STANDINGS (TOP 15).
#
|
Driver/Co-Driver
|
CARS
|
Time
| |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | #302 | PETERHANSEL/COTTRET | MINI ALL4 RACING | 38:32:39 |
2. | #301 | DE VILLIERS/VON ZITZEWITZ | TOYOTA HILUX | 39:15:01 |
3. | #307 | NOVITSKIY/ZHILTSOV | MINI ALL4 RACING | 40:01:01 |
4. | #305 | ROMA/PÉRIN | MINI ALL4 RACING | 40:09:22 |
5. | #331 | TERRANOVA/FIUZIA | BMW X3 CC | 40:21:49 |
6. | #308 | SOUSA/RAMALHO | GREAT WALL | 41:10:55 |
7. | #316 | CHABOT/PILLOT | SMG BUGGY | 41:50:44 |
8. | #309 | CHICHERIT/GARCIN | SMG BUGGY | 42:00:23 |
9. | #328 | THOMASSE/LARROQUE | BUGGY MD RALLYE | 43:08:11 |
10. | #306 | ÁLVAREZ/GRAUE | TOYOTA HILUX | 43:18:27 |
11. | #337 | OLHOLM/ASTON | TOYOTA HILUX | 43:18:52 |
12. | #314 | GARAFULIC/PICARD | MINI ALL4 RACING | 43:18:59 |
13. | #317 | KAHLE/SCHUENEMANN | SAM-MERCEDES | 44:06:12 |
14. | #315 | GORDON/WALCH | HUMMER | 44:10:54 |
15. | #331 | MALYSZ/MARTON | TOYOTA HILUX | 44:38:41 |
This is footage from Stage 12, won by X-raid's Nani Roma:
U.K. Princesses Drive MINI (Poorly) In Germany
Peterhansel Mantains Lead After Dakar Rally 2013 Stage 12
MINI Motorsport reports Stéphane Peterhansel mastered stage 12 of the Dakar Rally 2013 without problems and remains securely in first place. His X-raid Team teammates, Nani Roma and Leonid Novistkiy, also put in excellent performances on the stage. Novitskiy currently occupies fourth place and Roma is third overall.
MINI To Return To The FIA WRC In 2013 At Rally Monte Carlo
MINI Motorsport reports on MINI's return to the FIA WRC in 2013. Michal Kościuszko will debut in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC for the Lotos WRC Team at Rally Monte Carlo. The article also provides an overview of the rally route.
Grassroots Motorsports Reviews The 2012 MCS Coupe JCW
Grassroots Motorsports reviews the 2012 MINI Cooper S Coupe John Cooper Works. Here is the shorthand summary:
Better than: The non-JCW Coupe
But not as good as: The more useful standard Cooper S JCW
GRM Bang For The Buck Index: 88.76
Better than: The non-JCW Coupe
But not as good as: The more useful standard Cooper S JCW
GRM Bang For The Buck Index: 88.76
Countryman Firetrucks Coming To London
news.co.au reports, in part:
FIREFIGHTERS in London will respond to emergency calls in the capital in red Mini Coopers in a bid to avoid growing congestion on the roads and attend fires quicker.
It may sound like the plot of The Italian Job, but the Mini Cooper cars will be deployed across the city fire stations to provide a rapid first response capability at fires.
The Minis were trialed during the London Olympics last year and can carry six fire extinguishers as well as other equipment and can cut through the London traffic and narrow roads in the city.
The move will help fire stations ensure more Triple 9 emergency call outs can be attended to within a promoted target of six minutes.
Each of the $30,000 Countryman model Minis will carry two firefighters and with the back seats folded down can carry all their equipment as well as the six extinguishers and a large medical kit including defibrillators.
The Truth About Cars Sees Paceman JCW Changes Tune
The curmudgeonly The Truth About Cars previously dissed the upcoming Paceman but after seeing the Paceman JCW at the 2013 NAIAS, it posts:
I thought the Mini Paceman was an extraordinarily stupid idea until I saw it on the show floor. The execution is much better than the bloated Countryman. This one has the John Cooper Works engine, which means you’ll get charged an exorbitant amount for 208 horsepower, giant wheels, awful ride quality and $2 worth of badges. But it does have all-wheel drive. Think of it as a cut-rate Evoque. That still costs a lot.
2012 GOOD DESIGN Award Goes To The MINI Roadster
MotoringFile advises that the 2012 MINI Roadster was awarded a 2012 GOOD DESIGN Award,
". . . the most prestigious international accolade in the field of product design."
DIY: Install A JCW Grill On A R56
Turn 17 provides a set by step pictorial how to on installing the JCW grill on a R56 MCS.
Peterhansel Maintains Large Lead As Dakar 2013 Stage 11 Stopped
MINI Motorsport reports Stephane Peterhansel maintains a fifty minute lead in the Dakar Rally when the eleventh stage was called due to torrential rain. Nani Roma remains in third place overall.
Here are video highlights of the stage from bestofrallylive @ YouTube.
Here are video highlights of the stage from bestofrallylive @ YouTube.
A MINI Retrospective On 2012, Its Most Successful Year
BMWBlog provides a retrospective of MINIs' wildly successful 2012.
Photo Gallery Of MINI Paceman JCW At NAIAS 2013
Cars.com's KickingTires blog has an extensive photo gallery of the MINI Paceman JCW at the 2013 North American International Automobile Show in Detroit, Michigan.
Top Speed Tests The MINI Cooper S Paceman
However, we have no idea what they're saying since the testing appears to be in some language we can't identify.
[Source: topspeedtvedition @ YouTube]
[Source: topspeedtvedition @ YouTube]
3rd Generation MINI Set For 2014 Launch
The United Kingdom's Autocar discusses the launch in 12 months time of the "Mk3 BMW Mini" that it says may eventually give rise to 23 different models.
Jarkko Nikara To Drive MINI JCW WRC In Rally Sweden
Autosport.com reports Jarkko Nikara is set to return to the World Rally Championship (in his debut in a World Rally Car in Spain he finished fifth) in a Prodrive-built Mini John Cooper Works WRC in Karlstad, Sweden for Rally Sweden. The Rally runs February 7-10, 2013.
Winding Road Posts The 2013 MINI JCW Paceman Debut Press Release
Winding Road provides a summary of, and the text of the MINI Press Release on the 2013 MINI JCW Paceman that just had its North American debut at the 2013 NAIAS.
Want To Know About The Next Gen. BMW MINI 3 Cylinder Engine?
MotoringFile previews the engine and discusses its attributes.
Best Photos Of Stage 9 Of Dakar 2013
With Stephane Peterhansel firmly in first place overall by over fifty minutes as the final week of the Dakar starts. Don't miss Brian Adkins' "Best Of" series of Stage 9 photos! It is the ultimate off-road rally.
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