Yes, MINI may have gone too far with this model. But despite this, it's a complete hoot to look at, sit in and drive. It's quirky in the extreme, and gets better each time you experience it, and I like that.
And — as is the case with my serial line-crossing colleague — life would be far duller were the madcap MINI JCW Countryman not around.
Question is, can you handle the constant craziness?
There are days when I, like most others, appreciate the hedonism that is part and parcel of a finely crafted luxury sedan. Yet, when push comes to shove, I prefer my rides like the JCW convertible - small and sassy, with a wind-in-the-hair driving experience to go with it. Throw in a manual gearbox and a twisty piece of tarmac that will keep my hands and feet in motion and my mind sharp, and precious few are the pleasures that can compete. It should always be thus.
The more you push it, the more it impresses.
"To put their own slant on Paceman's new slant on things"
. . . 11 states are joining forces for the "I-80 Challenge." Implemented by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the "More Cops, More Stops" strategy is aimed at curbing dangerous speeding before accidents happen.
BMWBLOG went to Germany to drive the 2013 MCS Paceman and provides this "Bottom Line" - With its unique design, the MINI Paceman carves out a new niche. The base price is higher than the Countryman but still lower than the Range Rover Evoque, which puts the two-door Paceman in a good spot. The design caters to a new, younger demographic and even the MINI die-hard fans will come to appreciate the boldness of this crossover coupe.
Following the recipes of latest MINI models, the Paceman is hippy, practical and most important, fun to drive, the perfect ingredients [sic] that will help increase MINI’s overall sales.
autoevolution posts Camping Solutions from MINI - automotive MINI Concepts - the MINI Clubvan Camper; the MINI Cowley; and the MINI Countryman ALL4 Camp. The Concepts are design exercises as there are no plans to produce any of them.
Acceleration: A little bit of a stumble off the line when using Drive and simply whacking the throttle. Responds well to some pedal overlap for the launch, and as is the new normal with turbo-4s, there's plenty of torque even in the lower rev range. Sport mode also seems to add a little pop, but I doubt it makes a difference at full throttle.
Braking: Little dive, zero wiggle or wander. Dead consistent from first to last stop with very little to no variance in pedal feedback or distance. Buzz- and vibration-free ABS action.
Slalom: Steering feels unnecessarily heavy, but it is precise and direct. These tires provide more grip than most drivers of this car will ever know. The stability system is properly calibrated to take full advantage of the tremendous tires; little to no intervention approaching the limit, which turns out to be very mild loss of grip at the front that can be easily swapped for mild slide at the rear with the proper throttle technique. Excellent balance.
Skid pad: Again, steering is too heavy for heavy sake, but it does load/unload with variations in grip. Good balance here, too, with mild understeer on the front tires. Exceed the tires' limits and the stability system gently closes the throttle, almost imperceptibly.
McDowell said. "Mini has grown year after year. We never have had a huge burst of sales -- but sustainable growth."McDowell also expects US sales to soon exceed 100,000 units per year.
With a loyalty rate of 30 percent, high resale value and a three-year residual value close to 60 percent . . .
What this car has going for it is a freshness and attitude, where the MX-5 is old and also has that “chick car” stigma. However, this Mini Roadster might also be saddled with that label too one day. The reality is neither should be, they are both fantastic driving cars for any man or woman. Here is some good news if you are single and don’t need a back seat. This Mini Roaster is cheaper than the 4-seat Mini convertible, but just slightly. This car looks fantastic; BMW has done a great job of staying true to the original design but always keeping it fresh. Outward visibility is a real problem, especially for taller drivers, but if the looks and size of this car are just the thing you have been looking for, most drivers will easily adapt. The fact that there is another two-seat roaster [sic] on the market is exciting for all four seasons of the year.
[MINI Press Statement]
Outrageous! MINI secretly photographed at private getaway.
Oxford. "Aggressive and relentless papping is something British celebrities have had to learn to live with. Members of the Royal Family, as well as actors, footballers and top models are all familiar with the sensation of being caught in uncompromising situations, and now MINI is the latest victim. Absolutely unaware and without make-up, the youngest member of our family was caught by sensationalist photographers in a highly private moment. The young one was yellow and completely defenceless. We understand the worldwide interest in our family but it is not the British way to send such unfavourable pictures around the globe.
But like a good stiff-upper-lipped Brit, MINI shall not complain, although we would like to officially state that we are not flattered. The published pictures do not reflect our good looks any way. As every celebrity knows, those extra long telephoto lenses have the devastating ability to negatively distort all surfaces, lines and angles. Therefore our advice: next time come closer to the object of desire. If that doesn’t work, don’t worry, shortly you will have the opportunity to experience the MINI up close and personal, and to take pictures from all angles."
The Mini John Cooper Works GP generates impressive performance numbers, but it’s tough to justify the car’s $9150 premium when you recognize that the performance gains are largely the product of $1000 worth of track tires. Then again, minimalist performers like the Cayman R and 911 GT3 are some of our favorite Porsches, and the GP represents a similar transformation in a much lower tax bracket. The boisterous John Cooper Works becomes downright rowdy in GP guise, energetic and spry to the extent that it’s sometimes difficult to live with. But if you can tolerate its imperfections, the Mini John Cooper Works GP can hustle like very few front-wheel-drive cars can.
