Section: Awards
Jun 20th, 2008

MINI UK Press Release: MINI has won the City Car/Supermini category of this year’s highly influential British Insurance Car Security Awards – yet another accolade for MINI’s trophy cabinet.
Awarded on the basis of its New Vehicle Security Ratings (a scoring system measuring ‘theft of’ and ‘theft from’), MINI beat its rivals to secure first place in the award that has become a leading indicator of all that is best in vehicle security. continued →
Jun 6th, 2008
J.D. Power has released their IQS for 2008 and the results for MINI aren’t good. Out of 9 categories ranging from all aspects of design to overall quality, MINI scored 2 out of 5. From Autoblog.com.
It’s that time of year again when automakers either cringe or giggle with glee at the results of the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. The IQS measures problems per 100 vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership in the areas of quality of design (i.e. poorly designed cupholders) and defects and malfunctions, and the entire auto industry deserves a pat on the back for improving its average in 2008 to 118 problems per 100 vehicles versus 125 PP100 in 2007
Follow the link below for a nice breakdown of all of the major automakers overall scores.
[ J.D. Power Releases 2008 Initial Quality Study ] Autoblog.com
[ Quality ratings by brand ] Jdpower.com
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May 23rd, 2008

2 different lists hit our radar this week. First was the ‘07 list from Kelly Blue Book, who choose the R56 MINI Cooper.
Even though the redesigned 2007 MINI Cooper is both larger and more powerful than its predecessor, highway fuel economy has actually increased from 35 to 40 mpg. Combined with a newly improved highway ride, the latest MINI Cooper makes a pleasant companion on straight stretches, in twisty canyons and at thieving gas pumps.
Over at CNN Money, they revised the list for ‘08 and choose the MINI Cooper Clubman.
The standard-length Mini Cooper made Kelley Blue Book’s list last year. But while the Mini has always been fun to drive, and it’s easy on gas, it lacked a place to put more than a night’s worth of luggage.
The Clubman answers that need with about 8 inches of extra storage space behind the back seats, accessed through a barn-door style tailgate.
I can tell you that a MINI Cooper (R50) is a great road trip car. I can only imagine the Clubman being equally good, if not slightly better.
Thanks everyone for sending this in!
[ Best Road Trip Cars - 2007 ] Kbb.com
[ 10 top road-trip cars - 2008 ] CNNMoney.com
May 22nd, 2008

CNNMoney.com has put together an interesting list of cars they think would be good replacement for the gas-guzzling SUV found in many driveways across the country. As expected, the Ford Escape Hybrid, Saturn Vue Green Line and Mazada 5 are on the list.
So is the MINI Cooper Clubman.
Meanwhile, the Clubman offers a handy extension on the regular Mini Cooper. It’s about 10 inches longer than the regular Mini, and most of that goes into usable storage space behind the back seats. It also gets an additional door that opens backward on the passenger side.
It’s still a Mini - and the barn-door-style tailgate can be an annoying hassle to use - but it makes the fun-to-drive Clubman a viable utility player.
Thanks Frank for sending this in!
[ 8 fuel-sipping SUV alternatives - MINI Cooper Clubman ] CNNMoney.com
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May 9th, 2008

Official BMW Press Release: Munich / Stuttgart. With six awards for five engines gained at this year’s “International Engine of the Year Awards”, BMW has successfully defended its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of efficient high-performance power units. For the second time in succession, the 3-litre straight six engine with Twin Turbo and High Precision Injection has won the overall ranking in this most significant international engine competition. The 225 kW/306 bhp engine employed in the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible, as well as in the new BMW X6, also has repeated last year’s victory in the 2.5 to 3-litre engine category. continued →
Apr 22nd, 2008

CNNMoney and Intellichoice have put together a list of Top 5 Cars that will get you the most bang for the buck. Of course, the MINI Made the list.
It boasts cool design, easy handling, the ability to park in even the tiniest spaces and the lowest maintenance cost in its class (maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles).
Maybe that’s why its resale value is nothing short of phenomenal: 77% after five years.
Nothing we didn’t already know, but it’s always nice to see it on other sites. And, 77% is pretty strong, but I doubt I’d get that with my ‘03 with almost 190K miles on the clock.
[ The Best Cars for Your Money ] Finance.yahoo.com
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Apr 21st, 2008
Last year the R56 made the Top 10 at CNet for best tech. Yahoo has taken the time to put the list together, based on affordability.
Good-looking and one of the most fun cars on the road, the 2007 Mini Cooper S is well-engineered throughout. While we were impressed by the audio and handling, these can be made even better with an optional premium speaker system and a limited slip differential.
Check out the full list below. Feel free to snicker at the Dodge Caravan for making the list.
[ Best Affordable Tech Cars ] Autos.yahoo.com
Apr 17th, 2008
Please note that is a small i, small n, small i. Yes, they do Mini Cooper S Classic. Which could only mean, really, one film. The Italian Job from 1969.
The Mini Cooper which played a starring role in the classic crime caper The Italian Job has been named best movie car of all time. continued →
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Apr 16th, 2008

AOL Autos, via Forbes.com, has assembled a list of cars that would work very well for those of you living in large cities. But, unlike other lists of this type, they stuck primarily to the more upscale small cars, like the MINI Cooper.
But city dwellers want choices beyond the fuel-efficient subcompacts on the market. That includes comfortable vehicles with ample storage space, good road handling and good brakes.
The list, made up almost entirely of Japanes brands, naturally includes the MINI. Other cars on the list are the new Scion xB, Mazda 3 and Audi A3.
[ Ten Best Cars for City Dwellers ]
Mar 15th, 2008

MINI UK Press Release: Fleet News has become the latest media outlet to nominate MINI as a green winner. In the publication’s 20th Annual Awards ceremony, MINI was named Best Small Car 2008 thanks to the introduction of new fuel-saving technologies and amazingly strong residual values.
Cost-conscious, practical and desirable motoring topped the awards criteria. The Fleet News panel* cited the new Clubman model as key to the appeal of MINI for business car drivers, with one judge claiming: “There is no other car in the sector that drivers would like to have more.” continued →
Jan 29th, 2008

Official BMW Group (UK) Press Release: BMW Group has won What Car?’s coveted Green Award. With EfficientDynamics introduced across the BMW and MINI model ranges as standard in 2007, What Car? rewarded BMW’s efforts with one of most coveted awards in the UK automotive calendar. The UK’s self-styled new car buyers’ bible also announced its 2006 car of the year, the BMW 3 Series, as its ‘Best Compact Executive’ car for the third year in a row. MINI Cooper S retained its ‘Best Hot Hatch’ trophy. continued →
Jan 25th, 2008

It must be award season, and MINI is cleaning up. According to Carpages, which has listed quite a few of them.
The January blues have been well and truly beaten by MINI in 2008 with new year awards from Top Gear, What Car?, BusinessCar and Parker’s Car Guides. With successes in these publications that cover retail and fleet, new and used car sales, the champagne is off the ice and the detox will have to wait!
Business Car, Top Gear Magazine, What Car and others have all bestowed some love on our favorite little car.
[ Bumper MINI Awards ] Carpages.co.uk
Jan 22nd, 2008
Time magazine has recently published a great article on the greatest, most important cars of the last 100 years.
Along with the ‘55 Chevy, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and VW Beetle lies the BMC Mini.
First car in the world to lie the engine across the vehicle rather than longitudinally. Revolutionary design proved that cars could get smaller -and still be hot. Its technical layout was copied by everybody and is still basically used in today’s small cars. Ten feet long with 10 inch wheels, it handled like a dream. continued →
Dec 26th, 2007

CNet’s car division is looking for the 2007 Tech Car of the year. Among the list of 10 cars they picked that they think have great technology is, of course, the 2007 MINI Cooper S.
We looked back at the cars we’ve seen this year and came up with 10 nominees for Tech Car of the Year. These cars all showed good cabin technology packages, with some interesting powertrain and platform tech.
continued →
Dec 14th, 2007
Special Events Magazine, the official and premier magazine of the special events industry in North America, nominates events and companies to receive the Gala Award.
Daunting challenges, amazing results: This describes the work of the Gala Award nominees listed below. Members of the Special Events Magazine Advisory Board spent hours poring over hundreds of entries before selecting these companies. Watch for our January issue, which will include profiles of all our nominees; the Gala Award winners will be named Jan. 18 at The Special Event 2008 in Atlanta. See you there! - The Editors
We mention this today because nominated for Best Fair/Festival is MINI United!
As mentioned above, winners will be announced at a special event in January. I wouldn’t be surprised to see MINI United actually pull off the win. It was a great event!
[ Gala Award Nominees 2007 ] Specialevents.com
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