Sections: MINI Competitors, Reviews Jun 26th, 2008 7 Comments 
The 135i may not be a MINI, but it’s one of the most talked about cars of the moment on MotoringFile and our sister publication BimmerFile just wrapped up a full week’s worth of driving it. A highly recommended read if you’re at all interested in the smallest of BMWs and (dare we say it) the most MINI like.
Sections: MINI Competitors Jun 10th, 2008 35 Comments 
Interesting article in Business Week recently about Fiat, a brand that hasn’t been in the States for over 20 years, looking for a partner to help build Alfa’s and the Fiat 500.
Italian automaker Fiat (FIA.MI) is looking for partners to manufacture its Alfa Romeo brand and its 500 subcompact in North America. Although the company hasn’t finalized plans for its return to the U.S. market, an announcement could come later this year, Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said Friday. “The U.S. market is very large, and we’re not looking to occupy a premier position,” Marchionne said. “But I think we do have a couple of brands and products that we can sell successfully there.”
Fiat it still quite a powerhouse in South America where they build 800,000 cars per year at a single plant. That keeps them with a 25% market share, so it would be very difficult for them to take cars from that plant and ship them to North America. They just don’t have the capacity.
Sections: MINI Competitors Apr 23rd, 2008 20 Comments 
A recent AP Wire story announced that Ford is ramping up production on the Focus for the US by 30%.
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. says it will increase production of its Focus small car by 30 percent this year to meet higher demand.
Focus sales are up 23 percent through March compared with the first quarter of last year. The redesigned car is taking 7.6 percent of the U.S. small car market.
Not terribly shocking considering the increase in the price of a barrel of oil, particularly over the past few months.
From a similiar story at the New York Times.
As drivers in the United States grudgingly adapt to higher gasoline prices, automakers seem to be taking a greater interest in building smaller cars that are more than afterthoughts to larger, more profitable models. A look at the vehicles on display at the New York auto show last month suggests that the design of scaled-down models - often called B-class cars by the industry and city cars by marketers - is improving.
And might I add it’s about time!
Sections: Best of the Web, MINI Competitors Apr 21st, 2008 35 Comments 
You must remember when we told you about Lifan 3 Series. It’s really getting built, has gone through a name change and will be debuting at the Beijing Auto Show according to Auto Blog.
The production version of Lifan’s egregious MINI clone is set to debut this weekend at the Beijing Motor Show. The Lifan 320 as it’s called has an 87-horsepower 1.3L underhood that drives the front wheels alone. We’re sure that Lifan will point to the car’s standard 5-door hatchback layout as evidence that its not a true MINI copy, but let’s all be serious here.
Follow the link below for the rest of the story and more pictures that will make you shake your head.
[ Lifan 320 to debut at Beijing ] Autoblog
Sections: MINI Competitors, R55 Apr 4th, 2008 17 Comments 
Could Fiat be aiming for the a piece of Clubman sales?
The extended roofline boosts head-room in the back and frees up more luggage space, making this the most sensible 500 of the range. The compact estate is inspired by the small load-lugger from the Sixties, and could even carry the same Giardiniera badge worn by that model. Fiat will keep development costs to a minimum by using the same front end and wheelbase as found on the hatch. However, a slightly longer rear overhang, a more upright tail and a pair of neat alloy roof rails will set the new model apart.
Click through for full pictures and the rest of the story.
[ Fiat 500 estate to take on Clubman ] Autoexpress.co.uk
Sections: MINI Competitors, R56, Video Mar 28th, 2008 26 Comments It’s a tough fight for the MCS due to the lack of sport suspension and the skinnier tires but it still makes a good showing…
Sections: MINI Competitors Mar 27th, 2008 38 Comments 
Is Alfa Romeo building the next hot hatch? Taking cues from MINI and Fiat, it would seem they are.
As well as having sporting pretensions Alfa Romeo is also making sure the Mito is highly customisable. Having watch Mini’s success, and learnt lessons from Fiat’s launch of the 500, the Mito will come with a large options list. Even the headlamp and taillight surrounds will be switchable so, Alfa says, you’ll be able to give your car ‘eye-liner’.
Sections: MINI Competitors, R56 Mar 27th, 2008 3 Comments Like I said in a previous article, this is a comparison that is going to go on forever. But this time, Cars.com has changed it up a bit by adding the Opel Saturn Astra to the mix with the Volvo C30 and MINI Cooper S.
So you want something small and relatively fuel-efficient, but it also has to be stylish and fun to drive. If that’s you, then a hatchback is a good choice. Here, two new ones - the Saturn Astra and Volvo C30 - square off against the car that jolted the segment when it was reintroduced for 2002: the Mini.
It’s a great comparison with MINI getting the nod on most of the categories and the win (which we all already knew). Still interesting to see the Astra in the mix.
[ Premium Hatchbacks ] Cars.com
Sections: In the Press, MINI Competitors Mar 11th, 2008 6 Comments 
The MINI has won yet another comparison, this time at Cars.com against the Volvo C30 and the new Saturn Astra (which of course is the old Opel Astra elsewhere). Here’s an excerpt:
There’s still nothing on the road quite like a Mini Cooper. Beneath the trendy looks is an authentic driver’s car - with good gas mileage to boot.
+ Cars.comparison: Premium Hatchbacks / Cars.com
Sections: MINI Competitors, Reviews Mar 10th, 2008 43 Comments
The following review coincides with the Smart’s launch in the US and therefore will be reviewed in relation to that specific market.
On paper the Smart micro-car is as revolutionary an ideas as the original MINI. The Smart is mid-engined, small and efficient in both space and economy. The Smart Fourtwo (the only Smart made these days) comfortably seats two while offering a boot not too different from the MINI’s own. However the big difference in terms of space is that lack of rear seats that the MINI offers.
The other big difference? Where the MINI is one of the most entertaining new cars I’ve ever driven, the Smart is easily the worst. And I’m not talking about just mediocre. The Smart’s driving experience is truly appalling. In fact, as much as I’m aware of the 10-12 month waiting lists, I honestly can’t imagine anyone buying this car after a test drive. continued →
Sections: MINI Competitors, Video Feb 28th, 2008 23 Comments Another great shootout by our 2nd favorite British auto show, 5th Gear. If you don’t want to know the result, don’t click the “continued” link.
Sections: MINI Competitors, R56 Feb 22nd, 2008 16 Comments 
This is a comparo I think we will keep seeing until every outlet has done it or one of the cars stops being made. This time it’s Road & Tracks turn (via AOL).
Off to a good start here.
There’s no mistaking that the Cooper S is somewhat pigeon-holed. It can’t seat four full-sized people, it can’t carry anything larger than a couple of duffel bags, its radio layout is non-intuitive. And with a speedometer face that’s more appropriate for use as a satellite dish than a gauge, it’s enough to make “regular” auto enthusiasts squirm. But forget them, as neither the Mini nor the Volvo is meant for the regular enthusiast. These cars are meant for the owner who places style and design a tick higher than performance. But which car is better at implementation?
continued →
Sections: MINI Competitors Feb 20th, 2008 24 Comments 
Wheel24 asks that very question…
The Fiat 500 Abarth is official. And while it looks the performance part, it does seem to be lacking somewhat in the performance department…
Developed by Fiat in the spirit of the legendary Fiat 500 Abarth that tore up the racing circuits in the 60s, the little Scorpion is powered by a 1.4-litre petrol turbo engine.
Sections: MINI Competitors, Reviews Feb 19th, 2008 17 Comments 
Here’s another BimmerFile review more than a few MINI owners may enjoy. While the new BMW M3 won’t be cross-shopped to often with the MINI (even that upcoming factory JCW) we figure most people here like fast cars. And well, the M3 is a bloody fast car.
Sections: MINI Competitors, Reviews Feb 17th, 2008 6 Comments 
Over the years we’ve reviewed a handful of MINI competitors in an effort to bring you the best of the automotive world through the eyes of a MINI owner. Today we have another. However now that we have BimmerFile as our BMW outlet, we’re going to move all of our BMW related content (even cars we would call MINI competitors) over to the new sister site. And that starts with this review.
So with that said, we bring you our first review of the new BMW 135i - a car more than a few MINI owners have an eye on. You can check it out at BimmerFile.
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