WHAT'S COMING UP?

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...

A MINI Cooper S Versus VW GTI Rematch

MotoringFile comments on the win by the MINI Cooper S in cars.com's KickingTires blog.

The MINI Motoring Challenge At Citi Field

The NY Daily News carries an article headlined:
2014 Mini Cooper plays pinball, stages a getaway, and heads to the races at Citi Field

At the Mini Motoring Challenge last weekend at Citi Field, Mini owners, prospective buyers, and enthusiastic auto journalists had the chance to drive the 2014 Mini Cooper Hardtop around a giant “pinball machine,” a scaled-down version of the UK’s Silverstone circuit, and a coned-off getaway course.

Motoring Research's First Drive Review Of The 2014 MINI Cooper 5-Door


Motoring Research provides a first drive review of the 2014 MINI Cooper Five Door Hardtop and concludes:
With prices starting at £15,900 the 5-door MINI is expensive, but you do feel that you’re getting your money’s worth. It handles better than any of its rivals, and the interior feels genuinely premium. We have no doubt that it’d stand up well to the tough trials of family life.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine we tried suits the car particularly well – providing a good balance of economy and genuine driver enjoyment.

Take A Gamble On Ten MINIs

The Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, CA is giving away two MINIs every Sunday at 6 pm and 10 pm through November 2014.

You Can Give A California Arts License Plate As A Gift

The Los Angeles Times reports, in part:
The California Arts Council is rolling out a new voucher program that will allow people to give arts license plates as gifts. The vouchers, which cost $50, are available starting Tuesday and can be purchased online.

MINI's Five Door Hatch Is "Not For The Country, Man"

That is the opinion of autoblog which provide this official video as part of its article on the new vehicle:

MINI Wins UK's Best Automotive Poster 2014

iris worldwide reports for its MINI outdoor billboard campaign that linked nine outdoor posters the campaign has won Best Automotive Outdoor at the recent Campaign Big awards.

A Rolls Royce MINI With Too Much Goodwood?

autoevolution says the guys from Autoprojecoes have upped the ante on the MINI Goodwood by also changing the exterior to be more like a Rolls Riyce - umm, Rolls Royce.

AutoGuide.com's Video Of The Five Door At The Paris Motor Show



[Source: AutoGuide.com]

Expect To See The MINI Rocketman In Showrooms In 2020

autoevolution reports the MINI Rocketman and BMW i1 (shown) are expected in showrooms in 2020. To fill the small car niche with the Rocketman the article advises:
The upcoming MINI model, the Mk. 4 version, will be going even bigger. The hardtop will migrate to the C-Segment, leaving room for a smaller, city-car to show up in the range. The Rocketman, ladies and gentlemen, will be coming alive.

Virginia Beach'a Alex Coyle Discusses Her MINI Design Competition Win

abc 13 News Now interviews Virginia Beach artist Alex Coyle, one of the winners of the MINI Design Competition whose concept will be produced in a run of 56 Limited Edition vehicles.

MINI Cooper Five Door Is For Individualists With Personality

That is what the headline of 3D Car Shows suggests about the new five door MINI Cooper in its discussion of "MINI Yours" the individual customizing program available to MINI purchasers.

Lasting Mementos Given To New MINI Owners

According to brand channel, MINI USA, in partnership with Relan, a U.S.-based manufacturer of repurposed billboard and banner products, is recycling its ad campaign materials into reusable totes for every new MINI Cooper Hardtop owner in America. Each one-of-a-kind tote is a MINI work of art, sporting the label in the accompanying photograph.

AutoNation Test Drives The 2014 MIN Cooper Hardtop

AutoNation takes a test drive in the 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop and decides:
While the 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop has become anything but “mini” – it’s still an impressive compact hatch for the city drivers looking for a fun, quirky, fuel-efficient vehicle.

MINIUSA's Official Response To EPA Lower Mileage Figures

MINIUSA has issued this press release, carried by MotoringFile, in response to the EPA's required lowering of advertised miles per gallon figures for four MINI models:
Official statement: MINI is adjusting the stated fuel economy ratings for the 2014 MINI Hardtop. The restated ratings will be one MPG lower in the combined cycle for four models including the MINI Cooper Hardtop Manual and Automatic, and the MINI Cooper S Hardtop Manual and Automatic.

This adjustment was made as the result of retesting models following notification by the EPA that road load testing for one model had delivered different results. Engineers worked closely with the EPA to incorporate these findings into MINI’s computer simulation testing.

While this necessitates change, the 2014 MINI Hardtop still delivers outstanding fuel efficiency. We have sent new labels for 2014 models in stock to our dealers.

Four Creatively Customized MINIs

MINI Space highlights four uniquely customized MINIs including this one by England's Kevin Palmer.

Forbes' Take On The 2015 Four Door MINI Cooper Hardtop

Forbes looks at the new for 2015 MINI Cooper four passenger door hardtop. It decides:
With this new variant, Mini will gain a stronger foothold in the increasingly competitive small-car market. The added convenience of rear doors and additional interior space will appeal to a broader group of potential buyers.

MINI Cooper Countryman S/JCW 2015 Best Sport Compact Crossover/SUV

The Daily Toggle reports Car and Driver has named the MINI Cooper Countryman S/JCW the best Sport Compact Crossover/SUV for 2015. The vehicle beat out the Nissan Juke SV AWD and the Jeep Compass Latitude 4×4.

MINI Fuel Economy Numbers To Be Dropped On Four Vehicles

According to autobloggreen:
BMW has to lower the fuel efficiency numbers for four versions of the 2014 Mini Cooper thanks to an audit conducted by the EPA and then some joint re-testing. The models affected include the 3-door with the 1.5-liter engine and the 3-door S with its 2.0-liter powerplant, with both manual and semi-automatic transmissions.

Motor Trend's First Drive Review Of 2015 MINI "4-Door Cooper S"

Motor Trend provides its review of the new 2015 MINI Cooper S four passenger door hatchback, and starts with these summary remarks:
The Mini Hardtop is known for its go-kart handling, eccentric interior, and a wide range of customization options. So what happens when you slap on two more doors and extend the wheelbase by nearly 3 inches? You get the all-new 2015 Mini Hardtop 4 Door that offers the same distinctive handling and signature look, with a few tweaks that have positive and negative effects.

MINI Rocketman Production Gets Green Light

BMW Blog reports the MINI Rocketman has been given the go ahead. It believes MINI will partner with Toyota and the same drivetrain will allow the production of a fully electric Rocketman as well.

517 Cars Crash In One Day In Moscow Watching Moving Billboard?

 According to Autoblog:
The larger-than-life inadvertent distracted driving ads were plastered on no fewer than 30 trucks spread across Moscow's roads.

Edmunds.com's 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop Long Term Road Test

Edmunds.com provides its opinions on the three cylinder dual scroll turbo 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop after a long term road test and observes:
Quick though it may be, it doesn't sound very good. It emits a kind of grumbly indifference, though at a cruise it mellows out nicely.

Forbes Reviews The 2014 MINI Cooper S Hardtop

Forbes tests and reviews the 2014 MINI Cooper S Hardtop and concludes:
. . . the Mini Cooper S offers among the best fun per dollar of any vehicle. Despite some considerable flaws, its wonderful driving demeanor will win most people over in the end.

Ten MINI Tattoos - One MINI

MINI Space has a feature on Spiros Gkotsis from Athens, Greece, MINIac, who sports ten MINI tattoos.

2015 MINI Cooper Cabrio Caught Testing Again

World Car Fans has published new photos of the 2015 MINI Cooper Cabrio testing in Europe and provides a photo gallery of the camo'd car.

Canadian Driving Looks At The 2015 MINI 5-Door Hardtop

Canada's Driving reviews the 2013 MINI 5-Door and headlines its review:
New five-door Mini gets bigger and offers more space, but still feels small and playful

MINI Takes Unofficial FWD Nurburgring Record

According to MotoringFile:
Sport Auto’s resident racer just took a modified JCW R56 around the ‘Ring is a smoking 7:44. That’s over 45 seconds faster than a stock JCW. . . . 
Now, to the video!

MotoringFile Calls On MINI To Get Smaller To Get Bigger

MotoringFile, in an opinion piece, posits that the Rocketman is the key to growing the MINI Brand. Check out the article and see of you agree.

Business Car Manager Gives Its Verdict On New MINI Five Door Hatch

U.K.'s business motoring magazine Business Car Manager reviews the new five door MINI Cooper S Hatchback and provides this verdict:
Verdict: Sporty MINI fun now served up with a measure of practicality

Dialing In Green

Green Living Guy discusses posts at Answers.com about the 2014 MINI Cooper Sport, a mild hybrid vehicle. It notes:
Mini created an amazing “Green Mode” to help the mild-hybrid electric car capture regenerative braking (as you see a battery charging in the visual display for driving). This mild hybrid grabs every last bit of engine efficiency, kinetic energy and regenerative braking charged to the battery.

WTF Does That Mean?

Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor for Edmunds.com got this message on their 2014 MINI Cooper at 2,667 miles and did a little searching that cleared up nothing.

Car And Driver Reviews The New Four Passenger Door MINI Hardtop

In a first drive review Car and Driver looks at the new 2015 four passenger MINI Cooper S Hardtop and concludes:
All of this to say that, in addition to its iconic and high style, this Mini delivers BMW technology in its tiny package. For customers who don’t want to sacrifice sophistication when they downsize—and are willing to pay a substantial premium for it—the new Hardtop 4-Door fits the bill. Then again, so does the one-class-up $21,515 five-door Volkswagen Golf, although that car lacks the design panache of the Mini. It does, however, also have a usable rear seat.

New MINI Best Looking Car Of 2014 In Its Class

MotoringFile carries this official press release from MINI:
Official Release: On the market since spring 2014, the new MINI makes an instant impression – with its classic proportions, the typical three-way structure of its body, all-round greenhouse and roof, and a modern interpretation of hallmark brand design features. The new model, extended in length by some ten centimetres, has now been voted by readers of the automobile magazine “auto, motor und sport” as one of the best-looking new models on the German automotive market. With its powerfully expressive and distinctive design, the new MINI has not only impressed expert juries in important competitions, it has also left its mark on public perception.

Published in Stuttgart, the automobile magazine called on its readers to vote for “The best-looking cars of 2014″ from among 94 vehicles in ten categories. 17,378 readers and online users took part this year. The new MINI finished first in the class of the so-called “minicars”, where it was up against seven new models of other brands. The vote count was legally certified by a notary.

“We at MINI Design are particularly proud to have won this award. Positive feedback from customers and fans is very encouraging to us in our day-to-day design work for the MINI brand,” explains Anders Warming, Head of MINI Design. “We very much look forward to pursuing this work further.”

The latest edition of the MINI features an evolutionary refinement in terms of design and an extensive upgrade of product substance that benefits its sporty, agile handling, ride comfort and efficiency as well as enhancing its unmistakable charisma, functionality and premium style. The additional sporty flair and efficiency achieved by means of new engines fitted with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology, likewise newly developed transmissions and extensive MINIMALISM technology is reflected in even more dynamic lines and strikingly shaped surfaces. The aerodynamic properties of the new MINI have also been further optimised as compared to the predecessor model.

Details with a particularly high-end finish and precisely drawn contours in the area of the headlamps, rear lights, turn indicator surrounds and other hallmark design features underscore the maturity of the latest MINI generation. In this way, the car’s high-end design has become a symbol of its superior level of technology, which includes options such as adjustable dampers and LED headlamps as well as a wide range of driver assistance systems such as the MINI Head-Up-Display and Driving Assistant.

Hints Of A 2015 MINI Facelift In The Rocketman

According to Autoomobile:
The latest rumors now are that Mini is planning to produce a smaller vehicle like the Rocketman to that they have a model that can go up against the Smart For Two.

Anders Warming, Head of Design for Mini told AutoExpress that Mini loves the idea of having a smaller vehicle, but can’t figure out how to make it.

The smaller model will need a different platform that they do not have right now. Warming said “At the moment, we don’t have the right tech solutions, but we are working on it. We don’t yet have a final solution, you could say,” he also added that they might go aluminium for the Rocketman production model.

If Mini can find away around this big problem, we will be seeing an even smaller Mini out on the road in a few years time.

Jalopnik's Take On The New MINI Five Door Hatchback

Jalopnik starts its review of the new MINI five door hatchback with this headline:
The New MINI 5 Can Fit All The Clowns But Isn't Nearly As Amusing

How Fast Do You Have To Go To Beat A Speed Camera?

Car and Driver exclaims:
The speed needed to render your plate invisible to the camera is 119 million miles per hour. Phys.org helpfully explains that this is one-sixth the speed of light. The students used the Doppler Effect to make their calculation. The whole thing is explained here. It’s a fun read.

Top Gear Compares The Top Five Small Hot Hatches

In Top Gear's comparison the MINI Cooper S finished in second place.

A MINI Plug-In Hybrid Expected In 2015

Inside EVs reports an All Wheel Plug-in Hybrid MINI Clubman is slated for the second half of 2015:
The PHEV Mini Clubman is slated to get the same powertrain as the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer:
  • Plug in version will likely feature a a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged (borrowed from the BMW i8) engine with a “high-performance” electric motor (likely borrowed from the BMW i3) and a lithium-ion battery.
  • This setup will crank out somewhere in the neighborhood of 190 hp, which will propel the production vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds.
  • Top speed will be approximately 125 mph.
  • We suspect that the Mini Clubman PHEV will have 15 to 20 miles of electric-only range, which isn’t brag worthy, but the fact that it will have both BMW i8 and BMW i3 bits within is something we’re sure future Mini Clubman PHEV owners will be thrilled to know.

Three Door Or Five Door?

Car examines the new five door MINI Cooper and forecasts that the three door will continue to out sell the five door.

MINI X-raid Team Wins Rally Of Morocco 2014

The Daily Toggle celebrates the X-raid teams win of the Rally of Morocco 2014.  Here are the MINI ALL4 Racing results:
Rally of Morocco 2014 Results:

1. Al-Attiyah / Baumel MINI ALL4 Racing
2. Terranova / Graue MINI ALL4 Racing
3. Van Loon / Rosegaar MINI ALL4 Racing
4. Vasilyev / Zhiltsov MINI ALL4 Racing
[...]
6. Garfulic / Palmeiro MINI ALL4 Racing
[...]
15. Rakhimbayev / Nikolaev MINI ALL4 Racing
[...]
28. Roma / Périn MINI ALL4 Racing
[...]
32. van Merksteijn jr / Chevallier MINI ALL4 Racing

Edmunds' 2014 MINI Cooper Get Long Term Tested

Edmunds.com added a 2014 MINI Cooper to its fleet for long term testing and provides its full review, in advance of test commencement.

Making The 2015 Miss Tuning Calendar

It's that time again, time for the release of next year's Miss Tuning Calendar. Autoevolution posts this video that shows how the calendar was created.

Automotorblog Gives Its Verdict On The New MINI Cooper S

Automotorblog weighs in on the new MINI Cooper S and concludes:
The new Cooper S is a good buy then, and should satisfy both those who actually like the image and those who are here for the performance. It’s not as accomplished as the Fiesta ST, but then no rival really is. The old model is still a decent choice as far as petrolheads are concerned though.

Season Results: Scottish MINI Cooper Cup 2014

The Daily Toggle discusses the Scottish MINI Cooper Cup 2014 Season results.The men’s champion was Kenneth Thirlwall with Kenneth Thirlwall Racing and the women’s champion was Stephanie McMurdo.

São Paulo Stolen Speeding MINI Stopped By Gymnastic Policeman

The Daily Toggle says the São Paulo, Brazil police officer doing the 360 in the video first put one shot into the radiator of the MINI and disabled it. The driver and passenger were arrested for vehicle theft and attempted murder.

I Think It's A Trap

[Source: via  Just A Car Guy]

MINI From Production Line To Dealer



[Source: via autoevolution]

MINI Introduces The 2014-2016 MINI Lifestyle Collection

The Daily Toggle carries the official press release:
Munich. MINI is synonymous with urban lifestyle, and with its new collection for 2014/16 the brand continues to be the perfect partner for everyday life in the city. The collection was born out of MINI’s urban, urbane nature and takes its inspiration from the very place where trends emerge: the street.
From 15 October, around 50 new products will be available, completing a range of products that comprises over 100 lifestyle accessories and items of clothing. In parkas, bags and bicycles, the design language is always typically MINI. The brand’s British heritage is expressed through stylistic motifs such as the Union Jack and racing stripes, and even the new MINI three-door model find themselves immortalised in details on certain items. The new collection will be available from selected MINI stores and online at www.MINI-shop.com. To make sure MINI fans are well prepared for the coming season, our first look at the new collection focuses on the weatherproof highlights.

Dress code: Casual coolness by MINI.
The biker jacket is a timeless cult object that optimises masculine style and rebellion, thanks to iconic figures like James Dean and Marlon Brando. The new Men’s Racing Jacket is MINI’s own interpretation of a classic. The hard-wearing jacket combines high-tech fabric with faux leather and features a stand-up collar. The colour is a powerful sapphire blue with white bonnet stripes on the sleeves. The environmentally friendly Union Jack printed lining is made from recycled PET, while orange lining is revealed under the cuff zips.

The Ladies’ and the Men’s MINI Jacket Yours are dependable companions in wind and rain. The coated outer fabric is water-repellent, windproof and breathable thanks to the integrated eyelets. The male model stands out with its modern field jacket design, while the female variant is a tailored short jacket that keeps the neck of the wearer comfortably warm thanks to the ribbed collar insert. The inside lining of both models features a print of the new MINI, and racing stripes in contrasting colours stretch from the hood down the back of the jackets. A two-way zip allows the wearer to sit comfortably behind the wheel of a car, while the drawstring waist provides an adjustable fit.

The Ladies’ MINI Parka is durable and is one of the collection’s perennial favourites. This feminine hooded coat is characterised by its light weight, water-repellent function and comfortable fit. The grey hood lining is made from jersey and stands in contrast to the black outer material of the parka.

As well as weatherproof jackets, the MINI collection includes several sweatshirts and T-shirts for both men and women. The brand focuses on a high degree of comfort and soft materials. Highlights of the collection include the Men’s T-Shirt Speed Up, which features a print of the new mini on the front, and the fitted V-neck Ladies’ T-Shirt Yours, which displays 3D graphics of a MINI assembly kit.

The new product range also includes a number of accessories, such as the MINI Umbrella Fashion – the perfect companion on a rainy day. The umbrella opens and collapses at the touch of a button, and the Teflon® coating and Fibertec® ribs are perfect for braving stormy weather. A special feature is the handle, which is in the design of the new MINI gear knob.

The MINI Duffle Bag is one of the collection’s classic pieces. This roomy, retro-style bag injects even more colour into autumn and is now also available in vibrant yellow and cordovan – a rich, burgundy. Standard features include a removable shoulder strap, red lining, and a separate zipper compartment. The bag is also available in six other colours to suit every taste.

We're Number 2! We're Number 2!

This infographic, discussed in detail at Oppositelock, reveals California has the second highest gas taxes in the nation at $0.49.78 per gallon, less than a penny behind New York's $0.50.5 per gallon. If you want to pay the lowest gas tax in the United States go to Alaska where they are only $0.12.4 per gallon.

New MINI Is "Better Car For A Larger Audience"

That is the sentiment of David Undercoffler in his Los Angeles Times article that reviews the 2014 MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S.

The Only Car Wash I'll Go To In My MINI

Same with Nat Young the ASP 2013 Rookie of the Year - the best ‘rising hope’ in the surfing community.



[Source: via autoevolution]

The Future Is Coming And Will Bring Hybrid And Electric MINIs

MotoringFile discusses the success of the BMW i3 electric. It is outselling Tesla. Therefore, the article speculates, in part:
We don’t expect a fully electric MINI for years but we do know that BMW has its sights set on electrifying the brand. First up will be a plug-in hybrid Clubman and Countryman (which we broke the news on almost a year ago). After that its anybody’s guess what will come to market. However we know that BMW is looking into creating a fully electric MINI in time for the 4th generation to launch around 2020. That car (likely code-named the G56) will be BMW’s opportunity to create something from the ground up that can be powered by both fossil fuels and electricity. Given the brand’s investment in carbon fiber manufacturing it’ll also be a great opportunity to create something not just 10-15 lbs lighter (as MINI has done with the past two generations) but materially different in weight that the F56.

MINI Water Pump Class Action Dismissed

A California federal judge tossed an $85 million putative class action accusing BMW of North America LLC of concealing defective water pumps in some MINI Cooper vehicles. The Court ruled the plaintiff only vaguely alleged BMW knew about the defect and granted BMW’s motion to dismiss the suit after finding the plaintiff had failed to state claims under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act or California's Unfair Competition Law.

[Source: Law360]

MINI Design Heads Discuss The MINI Superleggera Vision Concept

MINI Space provides commentary by Anders Warming, MINI's Head of Design, and Louis de Fabribeckers, Head of Design at Touring Superleggera, on the inspiration for the MINI Superleggera Vision Concept. Warming says, in part:
I have personally been sketching out ideas for this car for many, many years. It has been a dream of mine to create a MINI Roadster that represents an ideal of automotive beauty and that would sit proudly alongside the classic cars and the concept vehicles at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. I'm a big fan of Touring Superleggera, and I went to see them with my sketches. They weren't aware that we were going to approach them with a MINI project, and their response was, Okay, this is an amazing challenge - and they were thrilled to be taking it on.

Photo Gallery Of The 2015 MINI Five Door Hatchback At The Paris Motor Show

See all the pictures at World Car Fans.

Australia's CarsGuide Judges The 2014 MINI Cooper S

Neil Dowling reviews the 2014 MINI Cooper S for CarsGuide.com.au and concludes:
Enjoyable but very typecast. Consider the cheaper three-cylinder model.