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Avenue of the Giants Weekend Run - Sat. March 23, 2024

Saturday will be a very full day of cruising from Novato up through the Avenue of the Giants and ending at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna. Sun...

Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show Coming Up


 PACIFIC COAST DREAM MACHINES SHOW COMING UP

IT'S TWO DAYS AGAIN –– APRIL 27-28, 2013
HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA
ALL YEARS, MAKES AND MODELS WELCOME TO BE SHOWN

The World's Coolest Cars, 

Fantastic Flying Machines, Custom Motorcycles, Quirky Contraptions Headline
HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA –– 
For a remarkable and singular experience, there's nothing that matches up to the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show - Half Moon Bay's massive celebration of mechanical ingenuity, power and style known as the “Coolest Show on Earth” - a benefit event for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center.  It's a whimsical, fascinating, amusing, curious and absolutely unique show and tell spectacle featuring 2,000 magnificent driving, flying and working machines from the 20th and 21st centuries. The world's coolest cars of every era and style, model-T fire engines, vintage busses, custom motorcycles, tricked out trucks, sleek streamliners, one-of-a-kind antique engines and tractors and historic military aircraft will be among the mesmerizing displays.


The spectacular 23rd annual show will be held April 27-28, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport, located in the picturesque seaside town of Half Moon Bay, CA about 20 miles south of San Francisco.

It's one of the west coast's biggest, baddest gatherings of the world's coolest cars. Every automotive style and era will be represented among the mesmerizing displays –– tricked-out hot rods, customs, muscle cars, street machines, lowriders, modified imports, sporty compacts, kit cars, touring, luxury and sports cars –– complete with rumbling engines, impeccable detail work, and sparkling chrome.
Motorcycles will include everything from antique turn-of-the-century models, high-performance sport, racing and off-road bikes to the hottest custom bikes of the modern era.

All vehicles are welcome to be shown.

Additional displays include exceptional vintage warbirds, classics from the 40's and 50's and homebuilt aircraft, Model T fire engines, vintage busses, antique engines and tractors, helicopter and bi-plane rides, kinetic art, rolling sculptures and a Demolition Derby.


The show is the major annual benefit event for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center.
For information, call 650-726-2328 or visit 
Half Moon Bay Airport, at 9850 N. Cabrillo Highway, is located on Highway 1, about 20 miles south of San Francisco and 5 miles north of Highway 92.



REGISTRATION FEE: 

To show a car or motorcycle, the registration fee is $30 good for both days ($40 for entries postmarked after April 15) and includes a dash plaque and admission for two people.

SPECTATOR ADMISSION:  $20 ($30 for 2-day pass) for adults, $10 ($15 for 2-day pass) for ages 11-17 and 65+, and free for kids age 10 and under.

WHEN:      April 27-28, 2013. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.


WHERE:  At Half Moon Bay Airport (9850 N. Cabrillo Hwy) on Hwy. 1, 5 miles north of Hwy. 92.

One of the west coast's biggest and baddest gatherings of the world's coolest cars will be featured at the 23rd Annual Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, April 27-28, 2013 in Half Moon Bay, California.

Have A Great Holiday Weekend!


Gilbert Bannout To Rally A MINI RRC In Lebanese Rally Championship

Biser3a reports Gilbert Bannout has announced he will drive a TOKsport-prepped MINI JCW RRC for Alqudra Holding in this year's Lebanese Rally Championship.

DIY: PlastiDip Spray Wrap A MINI Clubman

Time lapse photography:



[Source: Luke Dupuis @ YouTube]

Top Gear Drives The MINI Paceman JCW

Dan Read concludes in his article for the BBC's Top Gear in true British Top Gear  fashion:
"A big personality and that decent 4WD save the Paceman JCW from banishment to the TG scrapheap..."

Clean Out Your Garage At East Bay MINI!


Nani Roma Wins Rallisprint Les Corbes 2013

That is a great way to start Monster Rally Season 2013!



[Source: Passats de Canto @ YouTube]

JCW Sales Hot In Australia

CarAdvice looks at JCW sales around the world and finds that JCW sales make up 6% of the MINIs sold in Australia. That is three times the JCW take rate in the U.S. and U.K..   The second hottest JCW market is Germany where JCW purchases comprise 5% of all MINI purchases.

2014 MINI Paceman John Cooper Works



[Source: David Bajada @ YouTube]

MINI Indy Performance School Opens This Summer

MINI announced by press release at BMW Group PressClub USA the following:
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey – March 27, 2013… MINI USA has partnered with Miles Ahead to launch a performance driving program called ‘MINI Performance Motoring School.’ Hosted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning in the summer of 2013, the program will consist of performance driving instruction from internationally accomplished professional race car drivers, and offers the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a 2013 high-performance MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop. The Miles Ahead training will take place on the infield road course at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The MINI Performance Motoring School gives enthusiasts a unique opportunity to learn performance driving skills in an iconic motorsports venue. The program includes exercises for slalom / handling, precision braking, skid control, timed sector runs and instructor-driven hot laps. The John Cooper Works engine is MINI’s performance model, with a 208-hp twin-scroll turbocharged engine paired with technology developed for precision handling and responsiveness, making it the perfect MINI model for this thrilling driving experience.

“This program combines an amazing experience with learning skills that can be critical behind the wheel every day on the main roads,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President - MINI USA. “It is for the fans who really want to experience what a MINI is capable of doing, as well as test and refine their own motoring skills. The iconic track setting is an added bonus.”

The new MINI Performance Motoring School is an extension of MINI’s partnership with Miles Ahead, which was established in 2011 to offer a teen driving intensive for new drivers. Created by Indy 500 veteran, Stephan Gregoire, and business partner Ted Woerner, Miles Ahead works to address the disproportionate number of collisions, injuries and fatalities involving teenage drivers.

Miles Ahead is the only driving school in the 104-year history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway licensed to conduct driver training on its grounds. One car per student in the MINI Performance Motoring School program ensures a full day of behind-the-wheel exercises, and classes are capped at 14 students to ensure ample attention and guidance from the instructor team.

“The MINI Performance Motoring School is fun, yet informative, teaching a range of invaluable skills,” said Gregoire. “The sessions, which are expected to appeal to individuals and businesses alike, include instruction on skills that are rarely taught in traditional driving lessons, but need to be called upon in emergency situations on the road. It also provides ideal preparation for those interested in doing track days or even those who have just wanted to really put themselves to the test behind the wheel.”

The international team of instructors is made up of some of the world’s most accomplished race car drivers, including Alex Lloyd, Stefan Wilson, Dan Clarke, Stephen Simpson, Zach Veach, Dillon Battistini, Ryan Lewis and Miles Ahead founder, Stephan Gregoire – a seven-time competitor in the Indianapolis 500, and a four-time competitor in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona.

The one-day program is $995, and class dates are available from June to November 2013. A double-up option is available for an additional $250, allowing a participant to share the driving time with a guest in their vehicle. Corporate event sessions of the program are also available. All participants must be over 18 and have a valid driver’s license. For more details about The MINI Performance Motoring School or to reserve a spot in one of the summers sessions, go to the Miles Ahead website at www.BeMilesAhead.net.

Peterhansel Cottret To Race Again For X-raid Team

According to motorsport.com the rally driving team of reigning Dakar Rally champion Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret will again pilot a MINI WRC at the Dakar Rally 2014 for the Monster Energy X-raid Team.  The article also features a short Q and A with Peterhansel.

MINI Connected Adds Audible, Glympse, Rhapsody And TuneIn

BMW Group PressClub USA has the following press release:
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 27, 2013… MINI announced today that four new partners will provide integrated Apple iPhone apps for MINI Connected, MINI’s flexible and innovative infotainment platform. The addition of the new apps, Audible (spoken digital content), Glympse (location sharing), Rhapsody (on-demand music service) and TuneIn (Internet radio) ensures that the portfolio of MINI Connected Ready apps is well-rounded, addressing wider entertainment options as well as functional needs.

“We regularly identify apps that our owners rely on as part of their everyday life, and adapt them for an in-vehicle experience they’ll find safe, useful and engaging,” said Phil Johnston, Product Manager for the BMW Group Apps Platform from the BMW Group Technology Office. “Audible, Glympse, Rhapsody and TuneIn were natural additions to the family of MINI Connected Ready Apps.”

Johnston continued, “Integrating access to spoken digital content from Audible, was the next logical way to expand audio entertainment for drivers. The ability to use the Glympse app from the existing vehicle controls enables drivers to share their whereabouts and ETA in a much safer way. Music is key to vehicle infotainment, and by partnering with Rhapsody, we are delivering music to our owners in user-friendly formats they prefer. With TuneIn, MINI motorers will not only get thousands of music radio stations, but also live sports, news and talk shows from around the world.”

Previews of all four demo apps will be offered for media guests at the New York International Auto Show on the MINI stand March 27 and 28.

Audible:The leader in audiobooks, providing digital spoken-word content to customers.
Audible is the world’s largest producer and seller of digital spoken-word entertainment. Audible content comprises over 135,000 audio programs from more than 2,700 content providers, including leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers and business information providers. Audible is the exclusive provider of downloadable audiobooks to Apple’s iTunes store.

The addition of Audible’s digital spoken-word content to MINI Connected will be the first time a graphical integration of the app will be available in a vehicle’s infotainment system. Customers will be able to access their library through the BMW iDrive controls and menu display. With Audible’s innovative Whispersync for Voice technology, MINI owners can also switch seamlessly between reading a book on their Kindle at home and listening to the companion audiobook in the car via their iPhone app—without losing their place. With Audible’s suite of mobile apps, last listening position, bookmarks and notes are saved in the cloud, ensuring drivers always pick up where they left off when they open their iPhone app.

Glympse: GPS-driven location sharing.
Glympse’s location-sharing application enables users to share their location with anyone for a specified period of time. By accessing Glympse through MINI Connected, drivers can use the car’s familiar dash and controls to share their location and estimated time of arrival (ETA) while en route, without the distraction of picking up their phone.

With MINI Connected and Glympse, drivers can opt to send a Glympse to other users via text or email (using the phone’s existing contact list). Additionally, they can automatically share location with attendee lists on their iPhone's calendar, or with their personal social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter). Recipients of the Glympse can view the driver’s progress in real-time on a dynamic map for the amount of time specified by the user.

Rhapsody: On-Demand music service.
Rhapsody is the original premium, ad-free on-demand music service, with more than one million members, who can listen to more than 16 million tracks on their favorite device, including connected audio systems, smartphones, iPads and Android tablets, MP3 players, connected TVs, gaming consoles and in-car audio. Rhapsody offers the best music discovery tools, thanks to a team of renowned editors help guide members through Rhapsody's catalog spanning 600 genres with original features and content, including videos, playlists, reviews and radio stations for effortless listening and discovery. Rhapsody makes it easy to find the right song for every moment.

The Rhapsody iPhone app will be fully integrated into the MINI Connected system, meaning users will be able to not only use the vehicle controls to find and listen to their favorite tracks, but also navigate Rhapsody’s music discovery tools, which have been adapted for in-car use.

TuneIn: The World’s Radio.
TuneIn lets people listen to the world’s music, sports, talk and news from wherever they are, with over 70,000 AM, FM, HD and Internet radio stations and more than two million on-demand programs streaming from every continent. The free service includes practically every genre of music, including decades stations, plus live sports, and nearly every podcast show. A free personal account helps drivers access their favorite stations, songs and programs across any device.

The MINI Connected integration will enable Apple iPhone users to access the TuneIn app using infotainment controls of their vehicle, allowing them to navigate the world’s radio from their car.

MINI Apps.
In MINI models, the Apple iPhone can be integrated into the vehicle’s existing infotainment system using MINI Connected. Thanks to extensive functionality and flexibility, “MINI Connected-ready” apps are easily updated. MINI customers stay connected with the latest and greatest services to enrich the driving experience.

MINI John Cooper Works GPII - "Motion n' Style"



[Source: kyriakosMINI @ YouTube]

Zoom TV Reviews The MINI Cooper S Roadster



[Source: thezoomfactor @ YouTube]

The Viking MINI Invasion



[Source: NewCarReview @ YouTube]

Jalopnik Thinks The MINI JCW Paceman Is Pointless

Jalopnik calls it "too heavy" and a "less practical version of the Countryman".

Auto Express Includes MINI Convertible As A Top 10 Drop Top

The MINI Convertible is listed eighth in U.K's Auto Express' list of the top ten convertibles. It explains:
It’s one of the oldest cabriolets on the market, but age hasn’t dimmed the appeal of the MINI Convertible. Its retro looks inside and out work as well as ever, while the car still serves up a compelling blend of BMW quality, strong fuel efficiency and handling agility.

"The Drive" Intro To The Matt And Will Show



[Source: TheMatt and WillShow @ YouTube]

The MINI John Cooper Works Experience



[Source: MINI MexicoTV @ YouTube]

Counting On The Paceman To Counter The Fiat 500 Threat

Bloomberg investigates and believes the release of the Paceman is part of a strategy to counter the Fiat 500 since Fiat 500 sales have recently accelerated.

MINI Countryman's Alpine Makeover

At the Burton European Open in Laax, Switzerland.



[Source: RenovaMediaCenter @ YouTube]

U.S. Base Price For MINI Clubvan Announced

MotoringFile reports that the base price for the MINI Clubvan will be $25,985.

Want To Track Your New MINI From The Factory To The Dealership?

Listen, here's how:



[Source: howpersonalfinance @ YouTube]

DIY: Remove Windshield Wiper Arms

Here, performed on a 2006 MINI Cooper S courtesy of cooperSml @ YouTube:

Automotive.com Gets Behind Wheel Of 2013 MINI Paceman S

Jacob Brown drives the 2013 MINI Paceman Cooper S for Automotive.com. His opinion summarized:

What It Is
A longer, lower, and more stylish two-door crossover take on the Countryman. 
Best Thing
It's hard to argue against its rather chipper and charming demeanor. 
Worst Thing
The two-door shape makes rear leg room that much tighter than the Countryman's. 
Snap Judgment
It doesn't make sense until you drive it.

Spy Photos Of The Interior Of The Upcoming F56

BMW Blog hosts a series of spy photos that provide a glimpse at the interior on the next generation MINI hatchback, the 2014 F56. The accompanying article points out:
Inside, the F56 retains the round display positioned behind the wheel, but with a speed indication instead of tachometer. The classic center console in the middle of the dashboard now contains only the radio, navigation and infotainment technology, and is no longer used as an oversized speedometer. The lights are controlled with a switch placed in front of the left knee of the driver.

This Rally Was A Ditch

From The Race Rent Cup 2013 that took place in Poland.



[Source: via carscoops]

Help S.F.'s Infirm Seniors And You May Win A MINI

Meals On Wheels Of San Francisco is holding a raffle for a Chili red 2013 MINI Cooper.  Tickets are $50.00 each, "an amount that can feed one senior for an entire week":

The drawing will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2013, during the 26th Annual Star Chefs & Vintners Gala at Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion (a great event that raised $1.9 million for homebound seniors last year – but the winner need not be present to win). 

MINI Loves Cal Hoops?

MINI USA might also be a Cal basketball fan.

This One Quacked Us Up

Could MINI USA be a fan of University of Oregon basketball?

Golden Anniversary For The Mini Cooper S

Braminator @ NorthAmericanMotoring.com reminds us that March 1963 is when the first Mini Cooper S was produced.

Would You Use Professor Xpress Decarbonizer On Your MINI?

Abe Klate @ YouTube does and lets his kid help out.

U.K.'s msn Cars Reviews The MINI Clubvan

The United Kingdom's msn Cars reviews the MINI Clubvan for 2013 and beyond, and gives this summary of what it likes and dislikes:

We like: Cult hero feel, diesel economy, performance, kart-like handling [cliché alert!], style
We don't like: can get expensive, no steel wheels option, limited load capacity - for a van

Johnny Loved Bone Shattering Bass

So he put this sub-woofer in the back of his MINI.  We think it also acts as an environmental defibrillator!



[Source: Lauren McCoy @ YouTube]

Three Year Extension Of MINI/Burton Partnership

MINI and Burton Snowboards have agreed to continue theor present partnership for another three years. According to the BMW Group PressClub USA, 
[a]s the presenting partner of the Burton Global Event Series (BGES), MINI will join Burton in the United States, New Zealand, Japan and Europe to produce world-class snowboard competitions that include art installations, creative contests and entertainment events. 

Holowczyc Finishes Second At Baja Italy

Krzysztof Holowczyc, in his first start for the X-raid Team since his injuries sustained during the Dakar Rally, with co-driver Andreas Schulz driving for MINI All4 Racing, finished second at Baja Italy.  Read more at love:mini.

French Test Of The MINI WRC In Advance Of The Rally Season

Great in car footage.  You have just got to love that racing jumpsuit design!



[Source: Redaction Nr @ YouTube]

Magna Steyr Making Countrymans In Graz, Austria



[Source: MagnaSteyrTV @ YouTube]

A Caged Beast

MINI of Baltimore posted on its facebook Timeline this photograph of the MINI at the Maryland Zoo that is being raffled for $25/ticket.

MINI Cooper Club Of The Philippines Does The Harlem Shake!



[Source: xposurefactory @ YouTube]

MotoringFile Reviews The 2013 MINI Paceman Cooper S ALL4

MotoringFile concludes about the new 2013 MINI Paceman Cooper S ALL4:
All I can say is that the MINI Paceman, like the JCW GP, is a car aimed squarely at fans of the MINI brand. I know that sounds like heresy for many MotoringFile readers, but bear with me. Where the GP (and I’d also contend the Coupe, Roadster and all of JCW) exists to swell the arteries of MINI fans focused on performance, the Paceman’s appeal has a different aim. The R61 is aimed straight at the heart of people who love the MINI style — at people who revel in that sculpted, European aesthetic. Does that make the Paceman more of a lifestyle accessory than a car? It could have, if MINI hadn’t been very, very careful with it. Truth is though, the Paceman has as much performance, and as much economy as it needs to properly carry a MINI badge in my opinion. It’s still an intersection of those key MINI criteria. It’s just heavier on the style end. It’s also just heavier, but fantastically so. This is a car that would be a pleasure to own. It’s a pleasure to drive, a pleasure to look at, and a pleasure to ride in. It’s something special, and frankly, in JCW spec it’d be everything some MINI fans are really looking for.

More Spy Shots Of The 2014 MINI Cooper

worldcarfans.com has posted a very interesting photo gallery of spy shots of the upcoming 2014 MINI Cooper.


Riding On Air

Check out this R56 MINI Cooper S riding on a fully adjustable AirREX digital air suspension system.



[Source: airrex008 @ YouTube]

The Harlem Shake - MINI Cooper Egypt



[Source: jok er @ YouTube]

KBB Gives The 2013 MINI Paceman An 8 Out Of 10

Kelley Blue Book reviews all of the flavors of the 2013 MINI Paceman and gives it an 8 on a scale of 10 for miles per gallon and horsepower. It says, in part:
The fuel-efficient Paceman offers Mini's trademark fun-to-drive nature and a premium feel handed down from parent BMW, but comes at a price tag above vehicles like the Nissan Juke and Kia Soul.

You'll Like This Car If...
If you're longing for a bigger Mini and the Countryman doesn't quite do it for you, the Paceman may be what you've been waiting for. Smaller than a compact crossover like the Ford Escape, the nonconformist Paceman boasts a fun-to-drive nature and head-turning looks for a price starting under $24,000.

MINI To Announce New Tech And School At 2013 NY Auto Show

AutoGuide.com reports MINI will not have a new vehicle debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show, but, will announce a number of "new partners" whose apps will be integrated into MINI Connected.  in addition, MINI is expected to announce a new U.S. performance driving school to be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

We Could Go Either Way



[Source: minicooperexperts @ YouTube]

Niello MINI Does The Harlem Shake



[Source: Niellomedia @ YouTube]

Meet The New MINI Boss

BMW Blog reports BMW automotive industry manager Peter Schwarzenbauer will assume the responsibilities of Harald Krüger, the Board of Management member currently responsible for the MINI, BMW Motorrad and Rolls-Royce brands and BMW Group Aftersales, who will succeed Frank-Peter Arndt as head of the Production Division at the start of April 2013.

MINI Paceman "Design With Bite"



[Source: MINIJapanOfficial @ YouTube]

More Professional Talent From The Geneva Motor Show 2013

Not to be outdone by other autocentric websites Autospies.com provides "Part I" of its photo dump of professional auto show ladies at the Geneva Motor Show 2013.

Director's Cut Of JCW Paceman Debut Video



[Source: Nuno Conceicao @ YouTube]

European MINI Tour To Celebrate 100 Years Of Oxford Car Production

Here's the official press release as posted by MotoringFile:
Official Release: At MINI Plant Oxford preparations are afoot for a quite extraordinary anniversary: cars have been produced in Oxford for 100 years now and the history of the plant, like its present, is closely intertwined with the one-off British small car. Where today the MINI is produced, the classic Mini – one of the most important models built in Oxford over the years since 1913 – was also born. The classic Mini embellished its British roots with a very European character; Oxford’s assembly figures were bolstered by Mini cars pieced together over the decades in European pastures beyond the brand’s native borders. To kick off the celebrations, five Oxford-built MINIs are embarking on a tour that will take them to eight former classic Mini production locations the length and breadth of Europe.

The first classic Mini rolled off the production line in Oxford on 8 May 1959, and another 602,816 were to follow in the years up to 1968. During this time, the Oxford factory also built CKD (Completely Knocked Down) vehicle sets to be assembled in other locations. The tour undertaken by the five current MINI models will bring back to mind the cross-border nature of Mini production as it takes the cars – plus an accompanying fleet of media representatives and the MINI Community – to eight former production locations from 13 – 27 March. MINI fans can follow the progress of the tour on the specially launched website www.since1913.co.uk. A tracking function shows the MINI convoy’s latest stop-off as it charts its course across Europe. Detailed updates on the journey and stops along the way can also be found on the MINI Facebook page www.facebook.com/mini and online community forum www.minispace.com. The final destination on the tour will be Oxford – the home of the brand past and present – where 100 years of car production will be celebrated on 28 March.

The tour of former production locations covers more than 10,500 kilometres (over 6,500 miles) and includes stops in Novo Mesto (Slovenia), the Italian city of Milan, the former production plant in Malta, the Portuguese town of Vendas Novas, Pamplona in Spain, Seneffe in Belgium, Amersfoort in Holland and the Irish capital Dublin. Only three of these eight locations are still home to car production today. But all of them count the classic Mini as an important part of their local industrial history, one that is about to roar back into the public consciousness. Looking further afield still, CKD classic Mini sets were also dispatched from Oxford for local assembly in many other parts of the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela and South Africa.

Today, MINI production is concentrated among far fewer locations. All UK operations are carried out within the MINI production triangle, taking in the press shop in Swindon and the Hams Hall engine factory in Birmingham, as well as the Oxford assembly plant. The BMW Group is set to pump around £500 million into the expansion and modernisation of its production capacities in Great Britain up to 2014, bringing the company’s total investment in its British production plants to more than £1.5 billion since 2000. MINI is now one of the country’s three largest automotive producers. Five models in the current seven-strong MINI family roll off the line in Oxford, but MINI production can still claim a European flavour. The MINI Countryman and MINI Paceman are built by production and development partner Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, although they too include a number of components marked “Made in Great Britain” – notably engines from Hams Hall.

Just A Simple Test Drive

With a disguised Jeff Gordon!



[Source: Pepsi @ YouTube; Hat Tip To Scott Hunter]

John Murdoch Road Tests The MINI Cooper S JCW

The Birmingham Mail carries Murdoch's factual assessment.

New MINI Stuffed With New Features

Along with a series of spy photos of the F56 autoevolution's BMW Power blog describes the new features:
The new features that the model will have include a new dashboard that replaces the classic speedometer with a new multimedia system from BMW that has a pulsating light around it whenever the phone rings. Also, the front side of the car will sport new, optional full LED headlights that look impressive.

We should also expect the 8-speed automatic gearbox to be available on the new MINI along with turbocharged 1.5-liter engines with TwinPower technology that will have a range of power outputs from 100 to 200 HP.

Other new features will probably include the new Park Assist system and a rearview camera (that will come in handy for the Cooper, especially for the 5-door version which has some problems regarding rear visibility).

The MINI Paceman Launch Party In Capetown, South Africa



[Source: 48hoursicapetown @ YouTube]

Alexander's Buddy's John Cooper Works

Keeping it clean and on the road!



[Source: Alexander Delgado @ YouTube]

Want R53 OEM Driving Lights But Don't Want To Pay Dealer Prices?

twyman @ northamericanmotoring.com directed us to this look alike from Phat Performance Parts for $53.95 each. His MINI dealer quoted $170 for a single R53 OEM driving light!

From Mini To MINI In A Bit Over A Minute



[Source: Al Faried Yusri @ YouTube]